Even over the phone you get the feeling that the Guernsey FC manager is rolling his eyes when giving his verdict on a Southern Combination Premier Division top five rival signing quality youngsters from the League Two leaders in a push to get them up to Step Four by the end of the season – and, coincidentally, just a few days before they face the Green Lions.
The two sides meet today as fifth hosts third in a battle of the two form sides of the division with both unbeaten in the league since the turn of the year.
‘It’s ridiculous isn’t it? It even happens at this level,’ said Vance.
‘That’s the difference for the top few sides and the potential prize at stake.
‘Year on year we see it [promotion-chasing sides making a host of new signings] and it’s just crazy, but that’s the rules.
‘You are either in the pro leagues or you’re not, that’s my spin on it, but that’s coming from a point of frustration.’
The YM are on a five-game winning streak since starting 2026 with an admirable draw against Haywards Heath Town, who are still regarded as the standard-setters in the division despite having slipped into second place behind Steyning Town due to match postponements.
Last week Horsham won 5-1 away to Pagham when the two Bromley players, Ade Ajagbe and Jermaine Essien, were on the bench, while another new signing, Sam Freeman, was between the sticks and a further debutant, Richard Pingling, was among the goal-scorers.
‘We are not entirely sure who we will be playing against in terms of personnel, but it will be a proper test for us, no doubt about that,’ said Vance, whose side have won their last seven.
‘It will be for them, too, because we are going to have to go toe-to-toe against these guys.
‘We know we are in for a game, but I think they’ll know that, too, and that’s the exciting bit.
‘Hopefully we are ready for them because if we have a lack of focus like we did last week, then we are in for a tough afternoon.’
When the two sides met at Victoria Park on a particularly windy day back in October, Horsham beat the Green Lions 3-2 in a game in which all the goals came in the first half.
‘It was definitely a game of two halves, accelerated by the wind,’ said Vance, whose side were unlucky not to find an equaliser in the home fixture.
‘We did not have Charlton Gauvain that day, which was huge for us. You can never be sure, but he might have been the difference for us had he been playing because of the influence he has.’
GFC will still be without Gil Hunter this weekend while Fin Du Port is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an ankle ligament injury last week.
‘It might be more positive than we first feared because he has responded really well this week, but it is still going to be a while until he is back,’ said the manager whose side are arguably facing their most difficult back-to-back fixtures of the season this month.
‘With these guys this weekend and then Haywards Heath coming to town next weekend, they are two massive games for us and, to a certain degree, they may dictate how our season pans out.’
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