Hornchurch’s unbeaten start in National League South has surprised the club but fuelled their ambition for more.
An unprecedented FA Trophy success at Wembley in 2021, followed by two successive play-off defeats, finally culminated in a long-awaited promotion in 2024.
The Urchins’ seven wins from their opening nine matches in the 2025/26 season has inevitably caught the eye across the country too, as they sit top of the sixth tier of English football by one point.
Hornchurch FC Supporters Association chairman Jordan Newman said: “The place has a real buzz, it’s been a rollercoaster.
“We’re really happy with the start we’ve made, it’s been absolutely fantastic.
“We think we’re the smallest team in the league and we have the second-lowest attendance, [so] it’s maybe a little bit surprising.”
An impressive 100 point tally to conclude their successful Isthmian League Premier Division campaign in 2024 set the club up to rennovate Hornchurch Stadium with a freshly re-laid pitch.
Plans for a new stadium are progressing too, with staff responding to growth on the pitch with new endeavours off it.
Newman said: “Once we move to our new stadium, that’ll be the springboard for us to finally progress as a club.
“Our main aim is to build our fanbase and provide stability for the players to reach the National League.”
Winning at Wembley four years ago marked a change in culture at the club and ever since, their league form has been consistent.
Newman said: “Going to Wembley was incredible to win for a club like us.
“The commentators even called us on a live stream.”
Newman identified academy players as the driving recruitment strategy, focusing on loaning high-calibre talents from professional clubs.
One of those is Millwall loanee Henry Hearn, who has made an instant impact with three goals and two assists so far this season at the age of just 21.
Hornchurch’s players are part-time and among the squad are school teachers who can only train twice a week.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, The Urchins only played one game a month with league games suspended and FA Trophy matches still on.
Hornchurch aim to continue their impressive start on Saturday when they host eighth-placed Dover Athletic (3pm kick-off).
Photo Credit: Peter Trinder
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