Romford meet local rivals Hornchurch for the first time since 2018 in tomorrow’s BBC Essex Senior Cup 4th Round clash, and Boro fans can probably expect to see a few changes from the side that opened 2023 with a win at Sawbridgeworth Town ahead of this coming Saturday’s FA Vase tie against Jersey Bulls.

Hornchurch were 3-0 winners at Hastings United yesterday, a result that saw them extend their lead at the top of Isthmian League Premier Division to three points as second placed Cray Wanderers drew 1-1 at Canvey Island.

Brief History:

Formed in 1923 as Upminster Wanderers, the club started life playing in the Romford League. n 1938 they dropped the Wanderers suffix and joined the Spartan League before joining the Delphian League in 1952. That same year they moved into the Hornchurch Sports Stadium and changed their name to Hornchurch & Upminster. In 1960, the club changed its name again - to Hornchurch FC this time - and a year later moved to the Athenian League – which they won in 1966-67 - where they stayed until 1975, when they joined the Isthmian League.

Promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division was gained in 2003, and a year later Hornchurch joined the newly formed Conference South where, despite having ten points deducted, they finished 17th. Off the pitch problems led to the club folding and reforming as members of the Essex Senior League under the name AFC Hornchurch in 2005. In their one ESL season, Hornchurch won the league title, League Cup, and Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy. The won the Isthmian League North the following season and by 2012, had returned to Conference South, although they were immediately relegated.

Relegated from the Isthmian League Premier Division in 2015, Urchins spent three seasons in Isthmian League North with Boro until promotion back to the Premier Division was achieved in 2017-18. The following season the AFC prefix was dropped and in 2021 they surprised the non-League world by winning the FA Trophy despite the covid regulations that limited their ability to train and restricted the crowd for the Final against Hereford – which they won 3-1 - to 6,000.

Having finished fourth in the Isthmian League Premier Division last season, Hornchurch reached the Play-Off final but were beaten 2-1 at home by Cheshunt.

Previous Meetings:

There have been fifteen games between Romford and Hornchurch since Boro reformed in 1992, of which Romford have won five, while Hornchurch have won seven.

The first meetings between the sides were in 1994 in the relatively low-key Eastern Floodlight Competition – both games ended in draws – but in Hornchurch’s one Essex Senior League season, the sides met in three somewhat more high-octane fixtures. In that, the 2005-06 season, AFC Hornchurch beat Boro 2-0 at Rush Green in front of a crowd of 416, while there were 702 for the return at The Stadium, which Urchins won 3-0. They also won the First Leg of the Essex Senior League Cup Semi-Final there, 1-0 in a game watched by 446 in which Boro keeper Neil Finn was injured and replaced by Chris Davies, whose ineligibility meant that the Second Leg was not played and the tie was awarded to AFC Hornchurch.

It wasn’t until 2015 that Romford and AFC Hornchurch met again, in the Isthmian League North this time, and Boro did the double, winning 2-0 at Ship Lane and 1-0 at Hornchurch Stadium. In 2017 the sides met in an FA Cup First Qualifying Round game at Ship Lane, watched by Boro’s best crowd for a decade (333) but they witnessed a disappointing, low-key affair won 1-0 by Hornchurch.

Boro celebrate George Woodward’s goal that won the 2015 Isthmian League game at Hornchurch Stadium. (Picture: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo)

Tomorrow will be the first time that Romford have met Hornchurch in the Essex Senior Cup since Boro reformed. Back in 1976-77 however, there was an Essex Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie at Brooklands that Boro won 3-1 after extra-time in front of a crowd of 373. Mickey Hanson, Pat Ferry, and Frank Bishop (from the penalty spot) were Romford’s scorers after Alan Noonan had given Hornchurch the lead. Hornchurch’s former Boro winger Bernie Lewis was sent off following an altercation with Romford’s former Hornchurch defender Paul Gilbert.

BBC Essex Senior Cup Round-up

Although Boro have had to come through ties against Coggeshall United, Stanway Pegasus, and Waltham Abbey to reach this stage of the competition, this is where Hornchurch – who won the trophy in 2007 and 2013 – enter the fray.

So far only one 4th Round tie has been played – Colchester United beat Saffron Walden Town 10-0 last week – but Billericay Town have also advanced to the 5th Round having been granted a walk-over against Harlow Town, who have withdrawn from all football for the remainder of the season.

Other 4th Round ties waiting to be played are:

9th January
Chelmsford City v Coggeshall Town

10th January
Concord Rangers v Grays Athletic
Witham Town v East Thurrock United
Bowers & Pitsea v Canvey Island
Southend United v Braintree Town