After matches against Step 5 and Step 4 opposition, Boro face a stern test when neighbours Hornchurch, currently playing in National League South, come to Mayesbrook Park tomorrow evening.

While Boro were winners against Witham Town by the only goal of the game - courtesy of Owen Bellamy - on Saturday, Hornchurch were winning for the third time in three pre-season games when they won 2-0 at Brentwood Town. In their previous games they had beaten Gorleston 3-0 and Sittingbourne Town 3-2.

Brief History of Hornchurch FC:

The first Hornchurch Football Club was founded in October 1881, but the current club was established in 1923 as Upminster Wanderers. Subsequent name changes saw the club become known as Upminster FC and later, Hornchurch & Upminster before becoming Hornchurch FC in 1961. After many years of Athenian League and Isthmian League membership, the club won three consecutive promotions to gain a place in Conference South in 2004. That year, while still playing in the Isthmian Premier, they had reached the Second Round of the FA Cup, beating Third Division Darlington before losing narrowly at home against Tranmere Rovers.

In the 2004-05 season they once again reached the First Round of the FA Cup, where they were drawn against Boston United, but shortly before the match the entire squad was released due to financial problems. The club folded at the end of the season, reforming as AFC Hornchurch and entering the Essex Senior League, which they won at the first attempt. They subsequently rose through the leagues to regain a place at Step 2 in 2024, by which time the club had dropped the AFC prefix and become Hornchurch FC once more.

As AFC Hornchurch they won the FA Trophy in 2020-21, beating Hereford 3-1 at Wembley, where Covid restrictions limited the crowd to 6,000 and afforded Remi Sutton the first half of a Trophy-Vase double that he completed with Boro in 2024.

Remi Sutton (left), in action for Boro in the 2024 FA Vase Final. Photo: Bob Knightley

Last season The Urchins finished ninth in National League South, fourteen points off the Play-Off places.

Previous Meetings:

Boro’s most recent meeting with Hornchurch was in 2023 when The Urchins came to Mayesbrook Park for an Essex Senior Cup tie which they won 3-1 after Adalberto Pinto had given Boro the lead. Hornchurch have won 8 of the 16 games between the teams since 1992, while Boro have won 5, including the “double” in 2015-16, Hornchurch’s first season back in Isthmian League North after relegation. Memorably, goals from Greg Akpele and Nick Reynolds won the game 2-0 at Ship Lane while a George Woodward free-kick secured a 1-0 win in the return at Hornchurch Stadium.

Greg Akpele (left, part hidden) scores Boro’s first in the 2-0 Isthmian League win in 2015. Picture: TGS

The teams met in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round in 2017. The game, which was played at Ship Lane, attracted a crowd of 333, Boro’s best for several seasons. The game was rather more low-key than anticipated and was won by AFC Hornchurch by a single goal.

Admission Prices:

As the accompanying graphic shows, admission prices for this game are:
Adults: £5
Concessions: £3
Under 16s: £2

After Wednesday, Romford’s next friendly is on Saturday 19th July , which is a trip south of the river to play Phoenix Sports. The game will kick off at 3pm.