Hornchurch Football Club, nicknamed “The Mighty Urchins,” is a non-league football club based in Upminster, Havering.
Established in 1923, they currently compete in the Vanarama National League South, which is part of the sixth tier of English football. The team calls Hornchurch Stadium their home ground.
Originally formed in 1923 as Upminster Wanderers, the club joined the Spartan League in 1938 and played under various names, finally settling as Hornchurch FC. After World War II, they won the Romford League and Essex Junior Cup, then oscillated between leagues, eventually joining the Athenian League and winning the Division One championship in 1967. The club faced relegation and promotion cycles in the following years.
Significant challenges in the 1980s included relegation and a destructive clubhouse fire. The 1990s brought improvements under Mick Marsden, leading to an FA Vase run. A dramatic transformation in the early 2000s culminated in entering the Conference South in 2004, but financial issues led to the squad’s release.
Reforming as AFC Hornchurch in 2005, the club achieved immediate success in the Essex Senior League and cups. Under Colin McBride’s management, they secured back-to-back titles and won the Essex Senior Cup. However, the club faced financial struggles, relegations, and managerial changes.
The club, back as Hornchurch FC from 2019, had a promising season in 2019-20 and achieved historic success in the 2021-22 season by winning the FA Trophy at Wembley. Despite a Play Off final loss, they aim to return to the National (Conference) South in their centennial season.