Hornchurch F.C.
| Full name | Hornchurch Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Urchins | ||
| Founded | 1923 (as Upminster Wanderers) | ||
| Dissolved | 2005 | ||
| Ground | Hornchurch Stadium, Upminster | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 (1,000 seated) | ||
| League | Conference South | ||
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Hornchurch F.C. were a non-League football club based in east London. They played in the Conference South, after being promoted from the Isthmian League.
The 'Urchins' stadium was Hornchurch Stadium, in Upminster and the highest attendance was 3,500, when Hornchurch played host to Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup second round.
The club ran into financial difficulties in the 2004–05 season and folded, only to be replaced by A.F.C. Hornchurch.
History
The clubs history dates back to 1923 when the team were formed as Upminster Wanderers. The home ground was the local recreation park in Upminster. The club were quickly elected to the Romford League and won the Second Division Championship in their first season.
After the Second World War the club joined the Spartan League and played in Division One East for several years before being promoted to the Premier Division. In 1953 they moved to the Delphian League and also moved into new premises and still their current home, Hornchurch Stadium at Bridge Avenue Upminster. The club changed their name in that same year to Hornchurch & Upminster. In 1961 the club again changed its name to Hornchurch Football Club.
The club were runners up for the Championship that same year, a performance which was good enough to see them gain election to the Athenian League. The club won the Division One Championship in 1967, were relegated in 1969 and promoted back again in 1971.
In season 1974/5 the club reached the fifth round of the very first FA Vase Competition where they lost to eventual Finalists Epsom & Ewell by one goal. That performance helped the club gain election to the Isthmian League.
In 1978, the club once again suffered relegation but three years later they were back after achieving the runners up spot in the Division behind Feltham.
Disaster struck in 1989 when a fire destroyed the clubhouse and led to years of struggle. Eventually, after the regionalized Isthmian Divisions were in place, the club were relegated to Division 3.
Season 2000/1 saw a disappointing League finish but the team had an excellent run in the FA Vase, before being knocked out by eventual finalists Berkhamsted Town after a very exciting replay. Season 2001/2 saw the club promoted as runners up from Division 3 into the newly formed Ryman Division One North.
That promotion saw the club restructured. The old members club was disbanded and a new Limited Company was formed. The clubs shareholders, a major European Investment Company, provided funds for the redevelopment of the ground, the clubhouse and also the building of a team capable of gaining conference status.
Season 2002/2003 saw the ground dramatically change from the old derelict stadium to a 1000 seater ground with all amenities including a new restaurant, bar, changing rooms and gymnasium, toilet blocks on both sides of the ground and three 'on ground' refreshment points.
The team performed extremely well all season and were never out of the top five, going into the last game of the season against Great Wakering Rovers, and with promotion to the Ryman Premier League already secured, the team needed the away win to 'pinch' the Championship off Northwood. It wasn't to be however and a 3–3 draw sent the title to Northwood and left The Urchins one point adrift.
Cup Runs
The season of 2003/4 saw Hornchurch's greatest performance in the FA Cup to date. After successfully making it through the qualifying rounds, the Urchins faced Darlington in the first round proper. Goals from Steve West and Vinnie John saw them through to face Tranmere Rovers in Round Two.
However, it wasn't to be and after a long and hard-fought game, Tranmere eventually won 1–0.
In the same season Hornchurch performed their best performance in the FA Trophy, eventually being knocked out in the quarter finals by Hednesford Town.
Trivia
Due to a fixture backlog Hornchurch became the first side for many years to play two competitive fixtures at the same time which was featured on the BBC's football programme Match of the Day, and Football Focus.
There was certainly previous incidents for example on 3 May 1952 Corinthian-Casuals lost 0-4 at Wycombe Wanderers and at the same time drew 1-1 with St. Albans City at Champion Hill in Isthmian League fixtures.
A.F.C. Hornchurch
Hornchurch F.C. went into administration during the 2004/05 season, after backers Carthium Ltd. declared bankruptcy with debts of over £7 million. The club announced that there were no longer funds able to sustain the club, and the club was liquidated after a proposed CVA was rejected. At the time the club folded it was managed by Tony Choules, previously of Northwood. A new club, A.F.C. Hornchurch, has been created, and they currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.