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Home / HFC / Hornchurch FC History
Hornchurch FC Club History
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'The Urchins'
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.
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, 'The 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.
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 Berkhamstead
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 Wakening 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.
Season 2003/2004 saw the Urchins in the Ryman Premier for the very first time. A
sea –saw season left them in 5th place but an excellent run in the FA Cup
(loosing to Tranmere Rovers in a very contentious manner) and reached the
quarter final of the FA Trophy, left all satisfied.
2004/2005 sees the Urchins in the newly formed Nationwide Conference South under
the leadership of ex Daggers boss Gary Hill.
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