Hornchurch forward Henry Hearn is targeting a Premier League future after the Urchins’ unbeaten start to the National League South season.
Hearn, 21, has netted six goals in 14 games for Hornchurch this term, as the sixth-tier side sit top of the league with ten wins, five draws and no defeats.
The centre-forward was playing U21 football last season when he joined on loan from Millwall, prior to making the switch to the Upminster outfit permanent in May, and is already focused on what lies ahead.
Hearn said: “Every kid wants to play in the Premier League and it’s the same for me.
“Going into men’s football, I got a little taster when I came on loan and I enjoy it a lot more because this is more competitive – and you’re actually playing for something, which is a bit different to under-21 football.
“I just want to be scoring goals, enjoying my football and see what I can get for myself.”
Hornchurch are the only unbeaten team in England’s top six leagues this season and they hold a six-point cushion over second-placed Weston-super-Mare.
But with 31 games left to play, it’s no time to take the foot off the gas for the east London club, and Hearn is demanding more ahead of Saturday’s trip to mid-table Tonbridge Angels.
He said: “We want to get promoted. We’ve got a team that is good enough so I don’t see why not.
“We’ve had a very, very good start to the season, but we aren’t looking at it like that. We’re just looking at it one game at a time.
“We’re proud of what we’re doing, but we just need to keep up the momentum.”
Victory over Tonbridge on Saturday (3pm kick-off) could send Hornchurch nine points clear of the chasing pack at the top of National League South.
The only defeat the Urchins have suffered this season was in their FA Cup second-round qualifying match away to Peterborough Sports, going down 2–1.
Hearn has been at the heart of the club’s run and praised the togetherness running through the spine of the club.
He said: “The boys have been working really hard on and off the pitch, we’re getting to know each other very well, we’re a proper team and obviously it comes down to the gaffer’s tactics.
“I really like the club, the set up, everything from the manager to the chairman and to the players.
“I’ve just felt that way and we’ve grown really well together, it’s sort of insane.
“Obviously we’re still unbeaten and it’s a really good environment.”
Feature image: Peter Trinder
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