Hornchurch Football Club

The National League

2026/27 Season

Hornchurch

Current League Position: 9

Played

Points

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goals For

Goals Against

-4

Goal Difference

1.15

Avg Goals Scored

1.46

Avg Goals Conceded

Last 10 Form

Corners

Shots On Target

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

League Position Tracker

Last 5 Results

10 Oct W Hornchurch 2 0 Eastleigh

3 Oct L Harrogate Town 3 0 Hornchurch

29 Sep W Hornchurch 2 1 Aldershot Town

26 Sep L Altrincham 3 0 Hornchurch

19 Sep W Hornchurch 1 0 Scunthorpe United

Introduction

Hornchurch Football Club is based at Hornchurch Stadium on Bridge Avenue in Upminster, within the London Borough of Havering. Known as “the Urchins”, the club traditionally plays in red and white and represents an area that retains strong historical connections with Essex despite becoming part of Greater London in 1965.

Hornchurch has experienced several distinct eras, including steady progress through regional football, a dramatic financial collapse and an impressive recovery under a reformed identity. The club’s modern history includes championship victories, memorable FA Cup campaigns and a famous triumph at Wembley in the FA Trophy.

In 2026, Hornchurch reached the National League for the first time. The promotion placed the Urchins in the highest division of non-league football and represented the culmination of more than two decades of rebuilding.

History

The club was formed as Upminster Wanderers in 1923. Its early years were spent in parks football and the Romford League, where it won three championships and three Romford Charity Cups.

In 1938, the club stepped up to the Spartan League and shortened its name to Upminster Football Club. A shortage of players following the Second World War prompted a temporary return to the Romford League, but Upminster won the championship after losing only once in 26 matches and rejoined the Spartan League in 1946.

The year 1952 proved particularly important. The club entered the newly created Delphian League, moved to its present Bridge Avenue home and adopted the name Hornchurch & Upminster. After finishing as Delphian League runners-up in 1958–59, it was elected to the Athenian League.

Upminster was removed from the name in 1960, leaving Hornchurch Football Club. The Urchins won the Athenian League Division One championship in 1966–67 and subsequently joined the Isthmian League in 1975.

Hornchurch struggled during much of the 1980s and early 1990s. A fire destroyed the clubhouse in 1989, adding significant financial and practical difficulties. The recovery began following the appointment of Mick Marsden as manager in 1998.

A change in ownership brought substantial investment and rapid progress. Hornchurch won promotion from Isthmian League Division Three and then climbed into the Premier Division. Under George Borg, the Urchins reached the newly established Conference South in 2004.

The 2003–04 season also produced one of the club’s greatest FA Cup runs. Hornchurch defeated Football League club Darlington 2–0 before losing narrowly to Tranmere Rovers in the second round at a packed Bridge Avenue.

The ambitious project unravelled during the following season. Despite being unbeaten in 16 matches and leading Conference South under Garry Hill, Hornchurch encountered a severe financial crisis. The full-time squad was released and the club eventually failed.

A successor, AFC Hornchurch, was established in 2005 and placed in the Essex Senior League. Managed by John Lawrence, the reformed club immediately won the league championship and its two principal cup competitions to complete a remarkable treble.

Colin McBride then led the Urchins to the Isthmian League Division One North title. Hornchurch collected 103 points, finished 21 points clear of its nearest challenger and remained unbeaten during its final 35 matches. The club also won the Essex Senior Cup for the first time.

Further promotion followed through the Isthmian Premier Division play-offs in 2012, although Hornchurch was relegated from Conference South after one season. The Urchins returned to the Isthmian Premier Division by winning the Division One North championship in 2017–18.

The club reverted from AFC Hornchurch to its historic Hornchurch Football Club name ahead of the 2019–20 season.

Stadium

Hornchurch plays at Hornchurch Stadium on Bridge Avenue in Upminster. The club moved to the site in 1952, when it was still known simply as Upminster.

The ground offers a mixture of seated accommodation and covered terracing. Its compact stands help retain the character of traditional non-league football, while the surrounding sporting facilities reflect its role as an important community venue.

Bridge Avenue has staged several of the most important matches in Hornchurch’s history. These include the televised FA Cup tie against Tranmere Rovers, a narrow defeat against Peterborough United and numerous promotion play-off fixtures.

The stadium’s main seated accommodation was previously named the Colin McBride Stand in recognition of McBride’s considerable contribution as manager, chairman and vice-chairman.

Promotion to the National League created a need for significant improvements. Redevelopment plans announced in 2026 included replacing the Riverside area with a new covered terrace and television gantry, creating a dedicated away entrance with additional facilities, replacing part of the Eastside terracing with seating and upgrading the directors’ and boardroom accommodation.

The work is intended to bring Hornchurch Stadium into line with the requirements of fifth-tier football while preserving Bridge Avenue as the club’s long-term home. Hornchurch FC

Achievements

Hornchurch’s principal honours include:

FA Trophy winners: 2020–21
National League South play-off winners: 2025–26
Isthmian League Premier Division champions: 2023–24
Isthmian League Division One North champions: 2006–07 and 2017–18
Essex Senior League champions: 2005–06
Athenian League Division One champions: 1966–67
Essex Senior Cup winners on two occasions
Conference South play-off winners: 2011–12
FA Cup second round: 2003–04

The 2021 FA Trophy victory remains the club’s most celebrated cup achievement. Hornchurch’s league season had been abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Trophy competition continued. The Urchins eliminated higher-ranked teams including Maidstone United, Darlington and Notts County to reach Wembley.

In the final, Hornchurch recovered from a goal down to defeat Hereford 3–1. Charlie Ruff equalised before late goals from Liam Nash and Ellis Brown completed an extraordinary victory. The Guardian

Famous Players & Managers

Colin McBride is among the most important figures in modern Hornchurch history. After becoming manager of the reformed club, he delivered the 2006–07 Isthmian Division One North championship and the Essex Senior Cup. He later took control as chairman during another period of financial uncertainty and remains involved as vice-chairman.

Jimmy McFarlane succeeded McBride as manager and led Hornchurch to promotion through the Isthmian Premier Division play-offs in 2012. Michael Spencer scored the decisive goal in the final minute of extra time against Lowestoft Town.

Mark Stimson added a national trophy to the club’s honours. A noted FA Trophy specialist, he guided Hornchurch through its remarkable 2020–21 campaign and masterminded the Wembley victory over Hereford.

Former Millwall and Wales striker Steve Morison became manager in 2023. His modern and demanding approach helped transform Hornchurch into the dominant team in the Isthmian Premier Division. Although Morison left for Sutton United during the season, Daryl McMahon maintained the team’s momentum and completed the championship campaign with 100 points and 95 goals.

McMahon subsequently led the Urchins into the National League. His team finished second in National League South in 2025–26 before defeating Weston-super-Mare in the play-off semi-final and Torquay United in a dramatic final.

Several players have become closely associated with the club’s finest moments. Liam Nash, Charlie Ruff, Chris Dickson and Ellis Brown were central to the FA Trophy triumph. Sam Ling entered Hornchurch folklore by scoring the extra-time winner against Torquay in the 2026 promotion final, after Dominic Poleon and Henry Hearn had twice brought the Urchins level. Hornchurch FC

Supporters & Culture

The Urchins nickname is one of the most distinctive in English football. Several explanations have been offered for its origin, but it has been associated with Hornchurch for generations and now forms an essential part of the club’s identity.

Supporters traditionally wear red and white, and Bridge Avenue is noted for an atmosphere that places spectators close to the action. The club’s rise has attracted larger crowds without completely losing the familiarity associated with non-league football.

Hornchurch’s traditional local rivalry is with Romford. The clubs’ shared geographical roots and long association with the Romford and Essex football systems have given their meetings added significance. Fixtures against Dagenham & Redbridge, Billericay Town, Chelmsford City and other clubs from Essex and east London can also generate considerable local interest.

The Hornchurch Supporters’ Association contributes to matchday activity, travel and fundraising. Volunteers have played a particularly important role throughout the club’s periods of financial difficulty and recovery.

Hornchurch’s identity draws from both Essex and east London. Although the stadium is situated in Upminster, the club represents supporters across Hornchurch, Upminster and the wider Havering area. That blend of local identities is part of what gives the Urchins their distinctive character.

The Club Today

Hornchurch began the 2026–27 season in the National League, competing at the fifth level of English football for the first time. The historic promotion was secured in dramatic fashion when Sam Ling scored during extra time to complete a 3–2 play-off final victory over Torquay United at Bridge Avenue.

Daryl McMahon remains the manager and has been given a long-term contract after overseeing two promotions in three seasons. His coaching staff includes former Charlton Athletic, West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

The club is led by chairman Alex Sharp, with Mark Hammond appointed chief executive and co-owner in 2026. Hammond arrived after helping Bromley progress into the Football League, reflecting Hornchurch’s intention to develop both its football operation and its commercial infrastructure.

Improvements to Bridge Avenue are central to those plans. The club must balance the immediate requirements of National League football with the need to grow sustainably and retain its community character.

Hornchurch has travelled a considerable distance since its collapse and reformation in 2005. An Essex Senior League restart has been followed by multiple promotions, an unforgettable Wembley victory and a place in the National League. The challenge now is to establish the Urchins at that level while building a club capable of progressing even further.