John Maggs has masterminded the Horsham revolution in a magnificent seven years.

The Ryman League club are enjoying the greatest season in their 126-year history as they prepare for their first-ever game in the second round of the FA Cup.

Saturday's historical 4-1 win over Conference south Maidenhead in front of a bumper 3,379 crowd was hailed as the club's most famous triumph - and they were celebrating again 24 hours later when the second-round draw paired them with League One Swansea.

Maggs has plotted the club's upturn in fortunes since he was appointed manager in January, 2000.

He was at his lowest ebb and the Hornets were on the verge of dropping back into the County League when they came together.

Maggs had just ended a 37-year association as player, manager, chief executive and chairman of Crawley, carrying the can when Reds went into administration.

Maggs, 64, said: "I was ready to drive my car over the end of Beachy Head. I was devastated. Crawley was my life - what happened at the end really hurt.

"I was so down and depressed my wife told to me to get out of the house and go to a football match so I went to see Horsham.

"The chairman, Frank King, spotted me in the crowd and asked me what I was doing there. He was keen for me to get involved straight away. It looked as if Horsham would be going back to the County League if something wasn't done.

"So we had a meeting and I agreed to help and it's gone from there."

Maggs' first job was to stave off relegation from the Ryman League, which he achieved.

He has since guided them to two promotions and the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup three times.

They have also lifted the Sussex Floodlight Cup - beating Crawley in the final - and finished runners-up to Lewes in the Sussex Senior Cup.

Maggs added: "The success has been planned - it is certainly not a fluke.

"My former assistant Tommy Warrilow, who went to manage Tonbridge Angels last week, was a big influence on the training field and in the dressing with his coaching ideas and motivation.

"We've had to show patience in gradually building a side with limited resources and it has got stronger and stronger.

"We've now got the best group of players I have worked with in more than 45 years in the game and they play good football.

"They are an excellent bunch of lads and there is a superb team spirit.

"I'm not talking about a spirit that is there when we are doing well. It remains if we lose two or three games.

"I am so proud of them and believe there is a mutual respect between us.

"That same spirit runs all the way through the club.

"Our volunteers who look after the turnstiles, sell programmes, tidy up and whatever are special. All clubs have them but ours come all the time.

"And Frank has been at the club for more than 60 years and has been fantastic for Horsham and me.

"People might say the club owe me for what we've done in the last seven years but I owe them. You could say the club almost saved my life."

Meanwhile, Horsham expect to hear today if the tie against Swansea will be screened live on television.

If it is, they would share a £150,000 windfall with their opponents.

The club are in discussions with police, health and safety officials and the FA about increasing capacity at the Atspeed Stadium to 8,000 by erecting a temporary stand at a cost of £20,000.

Maggs is confident long-serving Gary Charman will be available for the big game.

Horsham-born Charman was sent off for two bookable offences in the win over Maidenhead but Maggs said: "It will be a one-match ban and we hope he can serve it in time. It depends on when the FA hand out the suspension, but I believe it will be two weeks after the offence. If it is he would be okay."

Maggs has postponed the appointment of a new No2 because of the Swansea game.

Rob Frankland and Ian Payne assisted him on Saturday following the departure of Tommy Warrilow, who took over as manager of Tonbridge Angels last week.

Maggs said: "We were intending to sort it out this week but we've got enough to focus our attentions on. We'll look at it after the FA Cup run. Rob and Ian will carry on temporarily."

Saturday's heroes Nigel Brake and Lee Carney have been nominated for the the Player of the Round award.

Brake scored a wonder goal which was featured on Match of the Day and Carney struck twice in the 4-1 win.

Fans can vote for their favourite on the FA's website thefa.com.