There was a Brighton Road Baptist Church FC formed in 1921. It ran for about 15 years before one of the pastors closed it down.

The modern day Horsham Baptist FC was formed in the spring of 1981 by Paul Brant. Paul had been managing Horsham Olympic 3rds with players that included Rick Brant, Steve and Martin Liu, Malcolm Cracknell, Paul Johnston and Chris Allen. These players formed the basis of the new Horsham Baptists team. Paul had a vision of a church run football in Horsham that would be run by Christians for Christian and non-Christians alike. He felt it would be an outreach that Christian player’s ethics could and would rub off on the other players, opposing teams and referees.  He was right as the team held a prayer before each match (will still do today) it was not un-common for the opposition say that Baptist’s had 12 men including him upstairs!

On the 5th September Baptists won there first league game of 1981-82 season away at Southwater 3-1. Goals from Chris Allen, Peter Venis and Mike Berriman and a penalty save from Rick Brant sealed a memorable victory. The team was Rick Brant, Malcolm Cracknell, Dave Worthington, Johnny Bird, Mark Stratton, Martin Liu, Chris Allen, Simon Clarke, Steve Liu, Peter Venis and Mike Berriman. The majority of the squad were 16 or 17 years of age and came third with a twelve game un-beaten run at the end of the season. (For photos see archived photos page).

The second season the Club grew and the Reserve team were born and the now First team established themselves in division 4. The Club even had a Third team for a number of years in the late eighties to the mid nineties until player strength was not enough for it to continue.

Baptists began to gain a reputation for excellent youth full teams that played the game ‘in the right manor’. Opposition team’s enjoyed playing Baptists and referees received and gave their respect.

Our original home ground was ‘The Needles’ on the south side of the town, moving to Horsham Park in 1988 when changing facilities at the needles were no longer available. The Clubs current home is Bennett’s Field on the south east side of the town only 10 minutes walk from Brighton Road Baptist Church. We moved here at the start of the 1996/1997 season.

The Club has tradition in stability within its Officers having had only 5 Chairman in 26 years, Paul Brant, Malcolm ‘Mick’ Mayhew, Joyce Nichols, Ted Streeter and currently Rick Brant.

Horsham Baptists Football Club was the orginal social club to have links with Lage, Germany now twinned with Horsham since 1982. (Click here).

The Clubs record goal scorer is the one and only Eamonn Geoghegan who started with the Club 1986 and has gone onto score 256 competitive goals up to the end of the 2006/2007 season.

TO BE CONTINUED >>>>>>

Horsham Baptists Football Club - 5th September 1981
Left Back Row; Paul Brant, Dave Hibbs, Simon Clarke, Martin Liu, Glen Matthews, Rick Brant, Dave Worthington, Mark Stratton, Malcolm Cracknell and Jonny Bird.
Left Front Row; Shayne Lammas, Andy Carter, Chris Allen, Paul Johnston, Mick Berriman, Steve Liu and Peter Venis.