Hopes are high at Horden

The last time Horden lifted any sort of silverware was in 1984 when they succeeded in the Dryboroughs League Cup.

But on Easter Monday, the Welfare Park outfit have the chance to finally put that unwanted spell behind them when they aim to complete part one of their ambitious five-year plan.

The Division Two promotion chasers are hoping to cause an upset by overcoming high-flying Division One side Billingham Synthonia in the Durham County Challenge Cup at Durham City's Archibalds Stadium.

And Horden chairman Norman Stephens, who is in his third year in charge at the club, admits he is hoping for a little history repeating itself.

He also revealed team manager, his brother Keith, will have no bother firing the players up ahead of the clash following an alleged slip of the tongue by Synners boss Stuart Coulby on a local radio station.

"Horden won the Challenge Cup in 1981-82 at Darlington's Feethams ground," said Norman, who also owns Stephens Contractors. "That year Horden had to beat Billingham Synthonia and they did 3-1.

"Hopefully there will be a bit of deja-vu and we can do the same on Easter Monday.

"We will be ready to give Synners a game, there's no doubt about that. We heard a recent interview done with the Billingham manager on local radio.

"He stated that Billingham were ready for a hard game on Easter Monday because Hebburn are a decent side.

"We just think by him saying Hebburn he is not taking a Second Division side seriously.

"He may not have meant it in that manner but I'm sure our players will be out to prove we are no easy team to beat."

Horden reached the final in emphatic fashion. They scored 17 goals and conceded just one after matches against Crook Town, Willington, Murton and Birtley.

But, while desperate for silverware, Norman, 52, admits he would rather win promotion to Division One than lift the Durham County Challenge Cup.

After being relegated in 1985, around the time the colliery closed, Horden have never been able to reclaim their place in the top-flight.

However, under the latest regime, everything seems to be in place for a rapid rise - and Norman already has his eyes on taking the club into the UniBond League and, possibly, higher.

"When I took over we set ourselves a five-year plan," said, Norman, who also lined up good sponsorship deals with M.A.P. Electrics and Kozee Homes Mortgage Centre. "What we said was that we want to win promotion to the First Division.

"After three years we are now challenging for the top three promotion places - along with Penrith, Thornaby, Ashington and Seaham - and that is what we are hoping to achieve.

"If I had to sacrifice cup success for promotion I would, although we do want to win something soon.

"We know that if we did go up we would have to change the playing staff. There would not be 11 or 12 changes, because we have the basis of a good footballing side.

"But we would need to add three or four quality players to our first team because we want to win Division One and we want to win it within those five years."

As well as improvements on the pitch since Norman took control of the club, he has also overseen a dramatic transformation off the pitch too.

The whole ground is now well decorated, but the construction of a Press box and an executive box at the back of the main stand shows the vision of the board.

For a small fee those who prefer the salubrious surroundings of carpeted floors, freshly decorated walls and a window view, Northern League followers can watch Horden in relative luxury - progress indeed.

Following positive negotiations with Horden Parish Council further plans are in place to upgrade the changing facilities, provided the club receive the funding they have applied for through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

Horden are heading in the right direction - they boast former Hartlepool midfielder Gus di Lella and ex-Darlington man Martin Gray in their ranks - and attendances have risen from as low as 40 to as many as 300 in the space of a few seasons.

Boss Keith, in his second spell in charge at Welfare Park, steered his side to within one match of playing in the FA Cup first round proper this season - a run to the third preliminary round which earned Horden a healthy £9,500 pay cheque.

It is a dream one day for the historic club - who have had star names like Bob Taylor, Colin Bell and Stan Anderson pull on the red shirt over the years - to recapture the FA Cup glory days of the past.

They made their last of six appearances in the FA Cup proper in 1981 when they were defeated by Blackpool at Victoria Park.

And Keith, a former Hartlepool reserve player, said: "You have got to try to get back to those days because they are a massive bonus to the club.

"Don't get me wrong promotion is priority but money like that helps us to try to bring players in and that's what we are always looking to do."

It's very much a family affair at Welfare Park. As well as brothers Keith and Norman having their parts to play, the latter's son Craig plays in midfield for the Collierymen. And Craig's sisters, Nicola and Maxine, are both fixtures in the Horden Ladies side in the Women's Regional League.

But Keith, whose wife Ann is part of the kitchen staff along with Norman's other half Judith, insists the manager-chairman relationship works well together.

"Norman never interferes on the playing side," said Keith, 45,who as a full-time physio also looks after the players on the treatment table. "It works well because he just lets me get on with it.

"The two roles, as family and in football, are completely different and we are focused on trying to get Horden promoted."

* Horden Ladies are looking for a new manager. Anyone interested in taking charge should contact Norman on (01429) 408776 or Ladies secretary Nicola on (01429) 409217

Published: 23/04/2003