A.F.C. Hornchurch
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| Hornchurch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | AFC Hornchurch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Urchins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 2005 (or 1923 as Upminster Wanderers) |
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| Ground | Hornchurch Stadium, Bridge Avenue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 3,500 + | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Jon Smith(officially managing director) |
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| Manager | Colin McBride |
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| League | Isthmian League Division One North | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Essex Senior League, 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AFC Hornchurch are a non-League football team based in Hornchurch in Essex/East London.
The club formed in 2005 when Hornchurch Football Club came in to financial problems and was closed down. A.F.C. Hornchurch played in the Essex Senior Football League during the season 2005/06, and were crowned champions of the division on the 11th March after a 3-1 away victory against Southend Manor. They currently play in the Isthmian League Division One North in which they are presently top of.
The Hornchurch home kit has a red and white striped shirt and black shorts whilst the away kit and shorts have yellow and black stripes. The Hornchurch kits are sponsored by Majestic.
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[edit] 2005/2006 On the Up
The 2005/06 season proved to be an historic one for the Urchins. After being relegated three divisions following their financial problems, A.F.C. Hornchurch joined the Essex Senior League. Del Edkins, former physio, has been attributed with many of the teams new signings and recent success. They signed many of the top players from the league, including Danny and Nicky Cowley, previously of local rivals Romford.
Hornchurch dominated the Essex Senior League from the start, going on an unbeaten run from the second game of the season through to the start of December. The Urchins recorded a record attendance for the league when 702 fans packed Bridge Avenue to watch the derby match with Romford which Hornchurch won 3-0.
There was some sad news for Hornchurch in February 2006, when Club President Jim Bradshaw died. Bradshaw had been at Hornchurch since 1971, when he first joined the committee. In 1972 he was made Chairman where he enjoyed the club's promotion to the Isthmian League and faced the challenge of rebuilding the club in 1989 when an arsonist set fire to the clubhouse. He eventually resigned as Chairman in 1993, when he was deservedly made President. Many former official and committee members of the club have stated that without Jim there would be no Hornchurch Football Club today.
After the death of Jim Bradshaw, Hornchurch continued to dominate the league. They were crowned champions of the ESL after a 3-1 victory away at Southen Manor with six games still to play. Goals from Danny Cowley, Billy Drake and Greg Tiffin secured the title. Hornchurch won four of the six games, drawing two, meaning they ended the season with 78 points - all time record for the Essex Senior League.
A month later and Hornchurch were celebrating again, this time at the final of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy played at Burnham Ramblers. The game was between Hornchurch and Barkingside, and AFC Hornchurch won the game one nil with a first half goal from Billy Drake.
Hornchurch ended their season in style in the Westview Essex Senior League Challenge Cup Final. The game against Brentwood Town attracted an all time record attendance of 712 at the New Recreation Ground in Grays. The first half passed by with neither team playing very well, although Brentwood had the best of the chances. In the second half, the Urchins showed why they are the Champions, and two goals from Rikki Burbridge saw Hornchurch complete a domestic treble.
It turned out to be a great end to what was a great first season for A.F.C. Hornchurch, the club which rose from the ashes of the old Hornchurch F.C..
[edit] Team
The championship winning squad of 2005/06 was:
Manager: John Lawrence
Sam Williams
Steven King
Lee Perry
Glen Golby
Billy Holland
Danny Heale
Danny Coyley
Nicky Cowley
Michael Collier
Sean Dear
Tony Maynard
Brad Kite
Ket-Koka Makitu
Darren Brewer
Rhys Madden
Dean Roberts
Asa Pamplin
Scott Ballard
Danny Gill
Bil Drake
Greg Tiffin
Lee Sontag
Jordan Bostock
Rikki Burbridge
[edit] Fans
The fan base - the 'Urchin' faithful - have not abandoned their team after they were demoted into the Essex Senior Football League. In fact, A.F.C. Hornchurch get by far the highest attendances in their league, recently getting a crowd of over 1000 in a match against Welling United in the latter stages of qualifying for the FA Cup, in October 2006. A visit from local rivals Romford brought a crowd of 702. A.F.C. Hornchurch get an average home attendance of 414 whilst a pre season friendly against West Ham got an attendance of 911.
[edit] Stadium
A.F.C. Hornchurch play at Hornchurch Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster - also home to an athletics club. The stadium has two stands, the Riverside and the East Side. In addition to this, during the 2003/04 season when Hornchurch achieved a good run in the FA Cup, tempory stands were erected at both ends of the ground. The end nearest the tunnel was appropriately refered to as the 'Tunnel End' however these stands were removed shortly after meaning there is no standing or seating behind either goals.
[edit] A.F.C. Hornchurch Club Honours
Westview Essex Senior League Champions: 2005/06
Gordon Brasted Trophy Winners: 2006
Westview Essex Senior League Challenge Cup Winners: 2006
[edit] Hornchurch F.C. Club Honours
Essex Elizabethan Trophy Winners: 1962/63, 1971/72
Essex Thameside Trophy Winners: 1984/85
Athenian League Division 1 Champions: 1966/67
Also, Hornchurch F.C. reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup in 2003/04 and the 1st round in 2004/05. They were also quarter finalists in the FA Trophy in 2003/04, respectively.
[edit] External links
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