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(minster) for the Cup FA Cup Round 1 The potential Cup banana skin at Ryman League Premier side Hornchurch isn't welcome at the best of times, but especially on current form. HORNCHURCH ON TRACK: A view of the stadium. © Photo: Ted Blair/DAFTS.
We will need a similar performance that
we took to Altrincham last season to avoid a potential giant-killing. Hornchurch
have a good record at home and are currently fourth in the Premier Division.
A good DAFTS turnout, especially from the London contingent is expected.
The Urchins have earned a more appropriate nickname - "The Chelsea
of the Ryman" - thanks to financial backing, which has seen them looking
towards instant promotion. They even used to boast ex-Chelsea 'keeper Dmitri
Kharine in their line-up but he was released in the Summer. Former West
Ham forward Steve Jones and pacey striker Vinnie John are worth keeping
an eye on. Another former Hammer is full-back Keith Rowland, while ex-QPR
forward Bradley Allen is a name we've probably all heard of. They're an
ambitious side, with an eye on not only the Conference but the Football
League. Their manager Mick Marsden was somewhat ruthlessly forced to resign
in the close season after seven years in charge, despite successive promotions
and a 12-match unbeaten run!
Urchins' fan Gary Eagar writes: "Two years ago,
a consortium of wealthy backers pumped loads of money into the club. They
improved the ground and all the facilities and have improved the team,
season in, season out. (Sounds like a familiar story! Ed) Last
year we got promoted from the Ryman Division One North to the Premier.
In the summer, the manager changed, being replaced by George Borg, formerly
of the reformed Aldershot team. You can see all the results on the Urchins
web site. Our playing staff is now pretty much all full-time professionals.
We have a number of ex-League and Premier league players on our books
including the goalkeeper Daniel Gay, who played for Southend, Steve West
at the back played for Dagenham, Adam Locke (loads of teams including
Southend & Peterborough), Steve Jones formerly of West Ham, Charlton and
others, Bradley Allen formerly of QPR, Charlton and others, Keith Rowland
of West Ham, Northern Ireland and QPR, Andrew Martin signed from Crystal
Palace and an Under 21 Welsh international. John Martin, signed from Leyton
Orient, won't play as he is suspended. The clubs main aim is Conference
football, then who knows, the skies the limit!"
Man
to watch
Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered and The Tinshed websites.
Ground and
ticket prices Hornchurch FC have been at their Bridge Avenue
ground for more than 50 years - and the first thing to notice is the athletics
track around the pitch. The football club shares the stadium with the Havering
Mayesbrook Athletics Club. Around 300 seats on the Riverside part of the
ground are covered, the rest of the stadium is open to the elements and
it has a capacity of 3,600. Ticket prices £6.50 -
which is the minimum Ryman League price, you couldn't have blamed them for
putting them up for this game. The allocation of 250 tickets at Darlington
FC has now sold out, with the home side saying their tickets are also selling
well. Hornchurch advise to get their a little bit early.
Click for Streetmap of ground Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions.
By car From North: Take the M25 to junction 29 onto the A127. Come off at the next turn-off (signs to Upminster) and turn left into Hall Lane. Follow this road for about a mile and a half, passing Upminster station on your left, until you come to a crossroads with traffic lights. Turn right into St Mary's Lane and continue down the hill. Take the second left into Bridge Avenue and the ground is about 200 yard on the right. There's a decent sized car park at Upminster Station which is one stop from Upminster Bridge and a 10-15 min walk from the ground. Trains and buses
Trains: Thanks to this being an early Sunday
kick-off, it's not an easy run, especially with engineering works. There
are no early trains from Darlington None before 08.27, which
arrives at 13.55 into Upminster so will have to travel down day before.
Sugg return: 1604 BUS from Upminster to Barking, then 16.59-17.09 London
Fenchurch St (17.24) Tube to King's Cross, then 1830-arr Darlington 21.13,
Duration: 4hr 39 mins. Fares: Saver Return £80.20, SuperAdvance £64,
APEX (limited avail) £50 return. Services from Cardiff 0815 (arrive
12.25 - unless you get a 0500 bus via Bristol) with just enough time for
kick off. Nothing early from Birmingham New Street. There is an outside
chance from Sheffield on the 0800, if you taxi to the ground from the
station, you just might not miss too much...!
ROUND THE HORNCHURCH: The away end is likely to be the right of this picture. © Photo: Ted Blair/DAFTS. Taxis
Darlington FC Supporters Club
There are plenty of pubs in Upminster, as well as cafes, fast food places and take-aways close to the railway and Tube stations. There is a supporters' bar at the ground, but it may be closed. Drinking is more of an option after the match, due to the early kick off. Although if you get there early, there is the England v Wales Rugby World Cup quarter final in the morning, so some pubs may be open early! The Essex Yeoman situated next to the station is a chain
pub that does food and the usual array of draft beers, bitters etc. The Masons
Arms, 311 St Marys Lane, Upminster. is also recommended
for its real ales, while The Thatched House is another
pub in the same road. Further away, the wrong direction for the ground,
there's also The Golden Crane Avon Road Click
for map
There's also a clubhouse at the stadium, which is usually
open to all, but as Gary says, "once again, your guess as good as
mine as to whether they will open before, or for that matter, after the
game. What the club wants (which would probably be to have both sets of
supporters in the bar before and after the game drinking together) and
what the police decide, may be two completely different matters! We are
also one of the very few grounds that sells beer in the ground during
the game. However, the licence for the bars in the ground expired and
whilst plans are afoot to get it renewed, there's no guarantee that it
will be back in place before our game. Likewise though, even if the licence
is restored, the police and FA may well stop us selling beer during the
game!"
To eat: There is a small parade of shops to the left
of the Tube - includes The Bridge Fish Bar, Passage to India restaurant
and The Gallery Cafe. By the tube itself is the Lipa Tandoori takeaway
(part of a chain, decent stuff) and Kings Chinese take-way. Turn right
though and under the railway bridge where there is another food outlet
- The Raj Of India. Gary recommends the Indians ("Kusoom Bugh being
the best") and the usual places such as KFC, McDonalds & Pizza Express.
An alternative is Hornchurch, a 15 minute walk or short
bus ride (248, 370 & 373) or taxi (Windmill Cars situated next to Upminster
Bridge Station) from the ground. It has six pubs: Lloyds No.1
(part of the Weatherspoon chain), King's Head (traditional),
Fatling & Firkin (Firkin pub), Hogshead, Cricketers
and JJ Moons (another Weatherspoon's pub), as
well as loads of restaurants such as Indians, Italians, Chinese, Simply
Blues (an American Diner), French, Thai, and the usual McDonalds, Pizza
Hut and KFC.
If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS
Rail
timetables
Virgin
Trains
GNER
National
Express
Online
map London Transport
Surfing there... There's a fair bit of information
on the Urchins.org official website although it's a bit short on detail for the travelling supporter. There is also a Hornchurch fans' messageboard. Apparently they're quite popular at some clubs.
Thanks to Ted Blair, Gary Eagar and to Rob Monger and Hornchurch
FC for advice and allowing us a look around and take some photos on a
Sunday!
Next away match:
Hornchurch FC: No responsibility is taken for accuracy,
if in doubt check before travelling.
© DAFTS 2003
|
Sunday November 9th 2003, 1pm
Nearest BR station is
Upminster on the Fenchurch Street to Southend/Shoeburyness line. Left out
of the station until you come to a crossroads with traffic lights. Turn
right into St Mary's Lane and continue down the hill. Take the second left
into Bridge Avenue and the ground is about 200 yard on the right. Tube:
Upminster Bridge station is on the District Line. From the station, turn
right under the railway bridge and take the second right turning into Bridge
Avenue. Stay on the District Line eastbound or get off at Tower Hill for
Fenchurch Street and C2C train services to Upminster. It's £5.10 for a six-zone Travelcard (zones 1-6) On Sundays, there
are bus services from Barking to Upminster in place of trains the District
Line.
The Bridge House, nr Upminster Bridge station,
Upminster Turn right out of the station and under the bridge,
and on the left. The only real ale on sale was Greene King IPA - I had the
first of a new barrel and it was not brilliant. It has a lot of Sky TV screens
and does decent cheap food. Nothing brilliant and a slightly rough-and-ready
more-Cockerney-than-flash-Eessex clientele. West Ham and England shirts
on the wall. Opposite what's likely to be the away turnstiles, just off
St. Mary's Lane.