Hornchurch won 3-0 and 2-1 to start their first ever National League season second in the table. Their first National League Cup tie is at home on 18 August.

Hornchurch have won the first two matches they have ever played in the National League. The Urchins beat Kidderminster Harriers 3-0 at Bridge Avenue on Saturday 8 August, then won 2-1 at Barrow a week later. Six points from six put them second in the table, and tonight they play their first tie in the National League Cup, at home against Norwich City’s under-21 side.

This is the highest level the club has reached in its history, one promotion below the Football League.

What happened in the two games

The opening day, Saturday 8 August, was the club’s first National League fixture. Ryan Inniss scored Hornchurch’s first ever goal at this level after 20 minutes, an own goal followed on 26, and Makai Welch made it three on 34. The crowd was 1,213, of whom 281 came from Kidderminster (Hornchurch FC match report).

The following Saturday took the squad about 300 miles to Barrow-in-Furness, with the supporters’ coach leaving Bridge Avenue at 7am (Hornchurch FC match preview). Joe Kizzi scored on 57 minutes and Henry Hearn on 62. Innes Cameron pulled one back from the penalty spot on 75, and Hornchurch held on, clearing off the line in the final minute in front of a crowd of 2,388 (Hornchurch FC match report).

The club’s own site put them second in the National League after that result, on six points with a goal difference of plus four. The league’s official table sits behind a page our tools cannot read, so treat the position as the club’s, checked on 18 August.

Hornchurch FC: results so far and the fixtures to the start of September 2026 Table. Saturday 8 August, Kidderminster Harriers at home, National League, won 3-0, crowd 1,213. Saturday 15 August, Barrow away, National League, won 2-1, crowd 2,388. Tuesday 18 August 7pm, Norwich City PL2 at home, National League Cup. Saturday 22 August 12.30pm, Carlisle United away, National League. Friday 28 August 7.45pm, Woking at home, National League. Monday 31 August 3pm, Boston United away, National League. Saturday 5 September 3pm, Forest Green Rovers at home, National League. The Urchins' first month in the National League Two played, two won. Home games in bold. DATE OPPONENT VENUE COMPETITION RESULT / KO Sat 8 AugKidderminster HarriersBridge AvenueNational LeagueW 3-0 Sat 15 AugBarrowAwayNational LeagueW 2-1 Tue 18 AugNorwich City PL2Bridge AvenueNational League Cup19:00 Sat 22 AugCarlisle UnitedAwayNational League12:30 Fri 28 AugWokingBridge AvenueNational League19:45 Mon 31 AugBoston UnitedAwayNational League15:00 Sat 5 SepForest Green RoversBridge AvenueNational League15:00 Source: Hornchurch FC fixtures and match reports, checked 18 August 2026. Kick-off times can change. Graphic by Romford Today
Three of the four league games that follow tonight's cup tie are against former Football League clubs: Carlisle United, Boston United and Forest Green Rovers.

Tonight: the first National League Cup tie

Hornchurch play Norwich City PL2, the Norwich under-21 side, at Hornchurch Stadium on Bridge Avenue tonight, Tuesday 18 August, kicking off at 7pm. It is the club’s first match in the National League Cup. If the scores are level after 90 minutes it goes straight to penalties.

Cup prices are lower than league prices, and season tickets are not valid. From the club’s matchday guide:

  • adults £10
  • concessions £7.50, which covers over-65s, students, disabled supporters, carers, armed forces and Blue Light Card holders
  • 12 to 16 year olds £5
  • under-12s free with a paying adult or concession

Tickets are sold online until 5pm on matchday, and then on the gate by cash or card, subject to availability. Anyone under 14 has to be with an adult or concession holder aged 18 or over.

Getting there, and the parking warning

The ground is at Hornchurch Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster RM14 2LX. The club car park is for players and officials only, so there is no supporter parking on site. Disabled parking has to be booked at least 48 hours ahead by emailing matchday@hornchurchfc.com.

That leaves street parking on Bridge Avenue and Brookdale Avenue, and the club’s own guide flags increased traffic enforcement in those roads and asks people to walk or use public transport where they can. It is worth taking that seriously on a 7pm kick-off, when the surrounding streets are still full of residents’ cars. If you are driving in from the west, check our roadworks and travel page first, because the Gallows Corner westbound closure is still in place.

How the club got here

Hornchurch were formed in 1923 as Upminster Wanderers, became Hornchurch and Upminster in 1952 on joining the Delphian League, and dropped the Upminster half of the name in 1960. After financial trouble the club reformed as AFC Hornchurch in the Essex Senior League in the late 2000s and has since climbed back, taking the Isthmian title in 2006-07 by 21 points and winning the FA Trophy at Wembley in 2021 (club history).

Promotion came on Saturday 9 May 2026, when Hornchurch beat Torquay United 3-2 in the National League South play-off final at Bridge Avenue. The match sold out in advance, with no tickets available on the day, and it was broadcast worldwide by DAZN (National League). Daryl McMahon manages the side.

What it means for you

If you have never been to Bridge Avenue, this is the season to go, and the cheapest way in is tonight. A cup ticket is £10 for an adult against £20 to £22 for a league match, and children under 12 get in free either way.

The next three home league games are worth planning around. Woking come to Bridge Avenue on Friday 28 August at 7.45pm, at £20 online or £22 on the gate for adults, £15 or £18 concessions, £10 or £12 for 12 to 16 year olds, and free for under-12s with an adult. Away supporters have to buy in advance for that one (ticket details). Forest Green Rovers, a former Football League club, visit on Saturday 5 September at 3pm.

There is no home game this coming Saturday: the team are at Carlisle United on 22 August with a 12.30pm kick-off, and at Boston United on bank holiday Monday 31 August at 3pm. If you are travelling to either, note that c2c has late-night engineering work at Upminster on the bank holiday Monday.

Sources