Lee Wellings: Pals Marc White & Dom di Paola set for Xmas derby to savour!

By Lee Wellings

You’d struggle to find two closer friends in football management than Dorking Wanderers’ Marc White and Dom di Paola at my team Horsham.

They’ve been pitting their wits against each other since the West Sussex League many promotions ago, and have been a constant source of support, info and camaraderie in their extraordinary journeys up the pyramid.

But on Boxing Day the bromance will have to be colder than Christmas turkey as Dorking host Horsham in National South. They’ve never faced each other this high up.

The clubs are now each other’s closest geographically in tier two, hence the ‘A24’ derby on a festive holiday.

But this has been no ordinary rivalry.

Publicity

In two consecutive seasons before this one, Horsham dumped Dorking out of the FA Cup at our Hop Oast ground, defeats after which White might be described as ‘different from happy’ with his team.

His f-rated rants were captured as always by the ‘Bunch Of Amateurs’ cameras, which have become part of the club’s fabric and given Dorking a wider audience than a small Surrey town.

Yet both times White was gracious in his praise of di Paola’s team, talking about his tactics like a proud brother rather than managerial adversary. It was unusual, fascinating and hard not to like.

Add to that several loan players from Dorking who have played a part Horsham’s historic rise, it’s a relationship that has shown the importance of contacts.

Unprecedented

Horsham’s progress in recent seasons has been outstanding and unprecedented.

There are still Horsham fans who insist they are still looking only at the first target – avoiding relegation in our first season up in National League South.

Yet that points tally has nearly been reached by Christmas, and Horsham have found ourselves in the giddying heights of the play-off positions.

The recent unbeaten run will face its toughest test yet at Meadowbank.

It will be an atmosphere to cherish.

Big clash

For those of us lucky enough to escape the cold meats, pickles and washing up this promises to be the best of Non-League and therefore the best of football.

A packed ground for a game between two good teams near the top of the table.

Unfortunately, though understandably, the fans will be segregated.

My mate Woody was in charge of booking tickets but has a soft spot for Dorking having gone to a fair few of their games over the years.

I feared he might accidentally-on-purpose book us into the ‘home’ support where I’m not sure my yellow and green scarf would be welcome!

Rivalries

Rivalry in football is an endless source of fascination and fun. I like kinships that develop organically.

For instance our bond with Broadbridge Heath, a great club in our area who are doing better than ever under the wily Chris Simmons, has grown stronger, leading to a record crowd at their place for our pre-season friendly.

It doesn’t always work like that. Local rivalries are often defined by mutual dislike.

Dorking and Horsham fans will have plenty to chant to each other while our teams slug it out on Boxing Day. That’s football. While Marc and Dom will be busy trying to outwit each other.

But I hope and trust they’ll take a moment before the game to look around and remember how far they’ve come and what they’ve done for two towns.

The famous twelve promotions for Marc, and a rise of hundreds of places for Horsham in Dom’s decade in charge.

Two of the best in the business, they’ve taken fans to places and heights we’ve never have dreamt of.

Lee Wellings is an author, sports journalist, broadcaster and Horsham fan, formerly of Sky, ITN and the BBC. His book Football Fables is available now.