Team bonding? It's far from easy, admits Horsham manager

Horsham’s new boys are starting to get their know their team-mates – but would find it easier if it wasn’t for the need to follow coronavirus rules.
JJ O'Sullivan is one of the Hornets' new arrivals / Picture: Horsham FCJJ O'Sullivan is one of the Hornets' new arrivals / Picture: Horsham FC
JJ O'Sullivan is one of the Hornets' new arrivals / Picture: Horsham FC

Hornets manager Dom Di Paola says he is delighted by the seven additions he has made to the squad over the summer, but frustrated he can’t integrate them in the normal way.

Horsham have played their first couple of friendlies, and won both, but social distancing rules prevent him having his whole new-look squad in the dressing room or bar together all at the same time.

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“That’s what we’d normally do – having everyone bonding from the start of pre-season,” Di Paola said.

Doug Tuck is another Horsham new boy / Picture: Horsham FCDoug Tuck is another Horsham new boy / Picture: Horsham FC
Doug Tuck is another Horsham new boy / Picture: Horsham FC

“But that’s obviously difficult at the moment. You’re having to limit numbers in certain places even when you’re together for a training session or a game.”

Horsham have added Callum Saunders, JJ O’Sullivan, Lewis Taylor, David Ray, Doug Tuck, Tom Day and Charlie Coppola to the squad for the 2020-21 season – a net increase of three on last year’s numbers that Di Paola thinks is necessary because of the congested fixture list ahead.

Di Paola said many of the new boys knew each other, and some were known to existing squad members from previous clubs, so he did not see squad cohesion as an issue.

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Horsham beat Saltdean 3-0 in their opening friendly but the boss says it’s early days. “You can’t read too much into any friendly, in fact I usually come away from them feeling a bit flat, they’re not like proper games.

“We will step things up over the course of pre-season.”

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