I’ll be honest, like you I guess the only reason I have heard of Hornchurch before would be through being a football fan and glimpsing over the non league tables in the papers at the weekend. My knowledge of the town (if it is a town), as well as the football club is simply non-existent.
So it’s time to scour the internet to find out everything Peterborough need to know before they travel down to the non-league side this Sunday for their 1st round F.A Cup tie.
Hornchurch is a small town in East London, (wow I was right, and I know Wikipedia isn’t that credible, but I think I can trust it for this small bit of information). It is home to the Queen’s Theatre, which may be a famous theatre, but I’m not too sure. Other than that the town seems to have limited attractions or stories for Wikipedia to tell us about. However, Wikipedia "Hornchurch F.C" and the club has quite a story to tell...
Back in 2005 Hornchurch FC suffered major financial problems and closed down, leading to the revival in the form of AFC Hornchurch the following season. Their first two campaigns as a team saw them crowned champions on both occasions, firstly winning the Essex Senior Football League, and following that up in 2007 by winning the Isthmian League Division One North, and gaining promotion to the Ryman Premier League. It is also worth pointing out that in their first season they completed the treble by winning the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy and the Westview Essex Senior League Challenge Cup. (Yeah, I have never heard of these competitions either, but still, a rather impressive start as a club don’t you think?)
This Sunday is simply the biggest game in AFC Hornchurch’s history, yes that “history” only begins in 2005, but Peterborough should be made aware of how much this game will mean to the club before they travel down to the capital at the weekend. Around 3,500 fans will be allowed into the ground on Sunday, to the stadium that is simply named Hornchurch Stadium, and I’m sure the home fans will try to make it very daunting for the Peterborough players.
As far as the Hornchurch players are concerned there aren’t many players who would ring bells with football fans, maybe Lee Hodges being the most recognizable name. He started his career at West Ham before having spells at 8 other league clubs before dropping down to non-league.
They currently sit in 14th place in the league, and currently are plying their trade against the likes of Staines Town, who of course Peterborough came up against in last season’s F.A Cup. If the difference in quality on that day is anything to go by then Peterborough should be fine on Sunday as they ran out 5-0 winners, thanks to a master class of finishing from Mackail-Smith.
To sum it up then, Peterborough are coming up against a side that has been on the up on previous years, and any football fan knows that the F.A Cup can throw up shocks, but if the boys turn up with the right attitude we should be in the hat for the second round. I do think Darren Ferguson has a big role to play in the getting the players motivated, and making sure they aren’t complacent after going so long without a win.
So there you go, a brief lesson on Hornchurch, the club is younger than a primary school child, their ground, by the size of it, is more embarrassing than a Russell Brand radio show, and they only know how to win cup competitions that nobody has ever heard of...will Peterborough win this Sunday? Of course they will!
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