Now defunct. Hornchurch went into administration duing the 2004/05 season, and have now folded. A new club, A.F.C. Hornchurch, has been created; the league in which they will ply their trade is the Essex Senior Football League. 2004(MMIV) is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A.F.C. Hornchurch were formally known as Hornchurch F.C. The club formed in 2005 when Hornchurch F.C. went bankrupt. ... The Essex Senior League is an English football league covering Essex and East London. ...

Overview

Hornchurch F.C. are an English football team based in East London. They are currently in the Conference South, after being in the Isthmian League. 'The Urchins' stadium is Hornchurch Stadium, in Upminster and the highest attendance is 3,500, when Hornchurch played host to Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup 2nd round. They were at the time the club folded managed by Tony Choules, previously of Northwood F.C.. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... In typical game play, players attempt to move towards a goal through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling (running with the ball close to their feet); by passing the ball from team-mate to team-mate; and by taking shots at the goal. ... East London is the name given to the eastern part of London on the north side of the River Thames. ... Conference South (often referred to as Nationwide South for sponsorship reasons) is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. ... Located in Upminster, Hornchurch Stadium was built in the 1950s. ... Upminster is a place in the London Borough of Havering. ... Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English football club, based in Birkenhead, Merseyside. ... The FA Cups trophy is also known as the FA Cup. ...

History

The clubs history dates back to 1923 when the team were formed as the '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. Upminster is a place in the London Borough of Havering. ...

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 and Upminster FC. In 1961 the club again changed its name to Hornchurch Football Club. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Located in Upminster, Hornchurch Stadium was built in the 1950s. ...

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. The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing in the lower regional leagues of England. ... Epsom & Ewell is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons. ... The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England. ...

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 Berkhamstead 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 F.C. in the first round proper. Goals from Steve West and Vinnie John saw them through to face Tranmere Rovers in Round Two. The FA Cups trophy is also known as the FA Cup. ... Darlington F.C. are an English football team based in the English town of Darlington, currently playing in Football League Two. ... Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English football club, based in Birkenhead, Merseyside. ...

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. The Football Association Challenge Trophy is an English football competition for clubs playing in the Football Conference, Southern League, Isthmian League, and Northern Premier League. ... Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. ...

Trivia

Due to a fixture backlog Hornchurch became the first side to play two competitive fixtures at the same time which was featured on the BBC's football programme Match of the Day. Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... In typical game play, players attempt to move towards a goal through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling (running with the ball close to their feet); by passing the ball from team-mate to team-mate; and by taking shots at the goal. ... Match of the Day is the BBCs principal football programme. ...

External Link

Official Site