I just want to echo some of what Matt said above.

There has been an interesting topic or two on the Isthmian Fans Site recently about the Conference. A lot of the chat on there is pretty puerile - but these threads were interesting.

Several fans of clubs who have played at the Conference level and then fallen back were discussing the merits or otherwise of that league. In short their feelings seemed to be:
- the Conference has become dominated by ex league clubs
- it doesn't have the feeof non-league football - virtually Div 5 in all but name
- in comes crowd segregation, longer awy trips, less contact with the players, more "league" behaviour, lots of extra cost for everyone
- you virtually have to become a full time club to survive.

It's interesting that the split in football these days is no longer "amature v professional" or "league v non-league" but more "full time v part time".

I can't in all honesty ever see a town like Horsham supporting a full time football club. Look at how Crawley struggle from crisis to crisis - and I think Lewes will have some very big decisions to make if they go up.

One of the beauties of supporting a club like Horsham is the freedom and friendliness we enjoy. Stand where you like - talk to whoever.

Which begs an interesting question - how far do we want to go?

My personal feeling is that I am far more interested in seeing HFC with an assured future - playing at whatever level. I started coming to QS over 40 years ago - and I would like to think that in another 40 years there will be kids and parents still coming to watch the Hornets.

Whether that is at this level or one slightly higher I don't really mind. If the football and the crack is good, and we get the occassional great cup run - I personally would be very happy.