After a pair of duels last season in the National League South, the two sides will come to blows again this afternoon as both outfits contest their final friendly before the start of competitive action.
Avoiding defeat this afternoon will result in Worthing completing their entire off-season programme unbeaten, following a string of good performances and results.
During midweek, the Reds ramped up the intensity with an encouraging 2-1 success over a strong Brighton & Hove Albion U21s side.
Two summer signings were on the scoresheet, with former Wealdstone winger Dom Hutchinson netting for a third successive outing with a clever finish after Mark O’Mahony had cancelled out Hull City loanee Ramell Carter’s debut goal.
Their other previous match at Woodside also ended in triumph, with a slender win over Queens Park Rangers U21s courtesy of Ollie Godziemski’s header.
Added to score draws away to AFC Bournemouth U21s, Frome Town and Enfield Town represents a positive pre-season showing from Adam Hinshelwood’s side.
This time next week, they’ll be hours away from making history as the first side to appear in the fifth tier for the Rebels, as they visit Carlisle United at Brunton Park in seven days time.
The Opposition
Horsham are gearing up for another campaign in the sixth tier following a debut season that exceeded expectations.
The Hornets commenced their inaugural foray into the level with ease, practically guaranteeing them safety from the drop by Christmas.
So far during pre-season they have already overcome superior opposition as they edged out National League side Eastleigh in a 3-2 showdown at the Fusion Aviation Stadium in their opening match.
Since then, they have thrashed Crystal Palace U21s and Eastbourne Town, put six past AFC Wimbledon U18s, tied with Dulwich Hamlet and lost away to Sutton United.
Horsham’s season also starts next weekend, with a gruelling trip to Torquay United to relish.
The Gaffer
Former Worthing player Dom Di Paola has forged a career as one of the county’s brightest managers, as he enters his eleventh campaign as Horsham manager.
With the 45-year-old at the helm, the Hornets embarked on a similar trajectory to the Reds and have clinched two promotions and a pair of Sussex Transport Senior Cup trophies.
Di Paola guided the Hornets to their first league title in two decades, as they won the 2015/16 Southern Combination League , before taking the club back to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2019 through the play-offs.
Cup success occurred in other competitions too, with the West Sussex sider recording a record-breaking run in the FA Trophy in 2024 and an FA Cup first round appearance in 2021.
Last season, the Horsham gaffer continued to lead his group to milestones – with their 15th place finish their highest ever in their existence.
Not known for settling for mediocrity, Di Paola will be hoping his side can continue to follow in their neighbours’ footsteps and aim for promotion into the National League in the near future.
One to Watch
A National League South winner with the Reds just a few months ago, forward Ashley Nadesan is a quantity Adam Hinshelwood and his squad are very familiar with.
During a brief loan spell at Woodside Road from March 2026 onwards, the 31-year-old chipped in with crucial contributions in the pivotal portion of the run-in.
Netting on his full debut in the 2-0 against Chelmsford, Ashley would go on to make nine appearances for the Club which also saw the Englishman conjure up an important assist in the 3-2 victory over Weston-super-Mare.
A speedy forward with proven pedigree in the Football League, Nadesan has accrued almost 200 games in League Two, turning out for the likes of Crawley Town and Carlisle United.
Tickets
Tickets remain available to purchase online through FanBase and will also be on sale at the turnstiles for the same price.
Please note, 2026/27 Season Tickets are not eligible for Pre-Season fixtures, so supporters must secure entry separately for today’s encounter.
Ticket Prices and a link to purchase can be found below:
Prices
Adults – £10.00
Concessions/U22 – £6.00
U19 – £6.00
U7 – £1.00
Worthing FC vs Horsham Tickets
HOW TO FOLLOW
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the game via live updates from the club’s official Twitter account.
You can also listen to live commentary via the club’s official commentary service, sponsored by the Worthing FC Supporters Association.
Timings
Turnstiles will open two hours before kick-off at Woodside Road this afternoon.
13:00– Turnstiles & Club Shop open
14:15 – Team news & Warm-Ups
14:55 – Teams Emerge From Tunnel
15:00 – Kick-off
16:45– Full-time
(All timings are approximate and subject to change if necessary)
Food and Drink
For tomorrow’s friendly, food and drink refreshments will be available to purchase from our Stand Bar, located under the Arrow Taxi South Stand, and Main Kitchen Kiosk.
Our 1886 Lounge, in partnership with Jones & Tomlin, will be open for hospitality members only, while our St Elmo’s Chicken Shack, located in the North West Corner of the stadium, will be closed.
A reminder of the menu, containing what food items and beverages on are offer at Woodside, and prices are attached below.
Prices
Bacon Rolls – £4.00
Hamburger – £6.00
Cheeseburger – £7.00
FOOTLONG Hot Dog – £6.50
Chips – £3.50
Cheesey Chips – £4.50
Chicken Burger – £6.00
Chicken Strips – 5/7 £7.00/9.00
Chicken Chunks 6/9 £6.00/8.00
Bacon Cheeseburger £8.00
Add any Chips to a burger or chicken £3.00 extra
WFCSA
Courtesy of the generosity of the Worthing FC Supporters Association, the Club has been provided with state-of-the-art Commentary Gear for the upcoming season , which has already started to be implemented.
The WFCSA has partnered with our Official Commentary service, Rebels Live, for the 2026/27 campaign and beyond to enhance the listening experience for supporters.
At this afternoon’s match, the friendly committee members will be out in their numbers and offering assistance to fans. Approach any of the members to discover find out how to secure your membership, learn about the perks and benefits of being a member and purchase a limited edition Champions Pin.
Club Shop
Our Club Shop will be open for business this afternoon and is the perfect place to grab some official Worthing FC merchandise ahead of the start of our first-ever National League campaign.
Travel and Parking
The ground is situated in the heart of a residential area, so we ask supporters to travel together and use public transport where possible. If travelling by car, please respect our neighbours by parking considerately.
We encourage visitors to travel to the ground by public transport wherever possible to reduce congestion and emissions.
Worthing and West Worthing train stations are both approximately a ten-minute walk to the ground. Supporters travelling by train, please check Southern Rail’s website before your journey. Ensure you leave early and in plenty of time.
There is currently a three-way traffic light system which is in place on Bulkington Avenue. Please leave ample time for your journey if you planning on travelling via that road.
Ground Regulations & Accessibility
For more general stadium information, including our accessibility guide, ground regulations and behaviour guidelines, please visit:
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗