Hornchurch manager Daryl McMahon go dey hope to add former Premier League side Blackpool to im CV when di two teams meet for FA Cup first round on Saturday. Di National League club get manager wey dey part of di ownership group, so im job dey more secure.
West Ham United, wey dey about 15 miles away, just change manager again dis week, na di fourth time in two-and-a-half years. But Hornchurch get reason to keep McMahon: di 42-year-old don take di club through two promotions in three seasons, from di seventh-tier Isthmian Premier Division reach di National League.
Hornchurch don reach FA Cup first round before, but no be since 2008. Dat time, as AFC Hornchurch, dem lose 1-0 to Peterborough United. Di “AFC” wey dem later remove from di name show say di club na phoenix club, but di full story start from di early 2000s.
For dat time, di original Hornchurch club, wey trace im roots to di 1923 formation of Upminster Wanderers, dey swim in cash. Money from Carthium Group push dem from di lower levels of di Isthmian League to di top of Conference South. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Dmitri Kharine, ex-Ipswich defender Mark Venus and former Spurs midfielder Darren Caskey all play for di club then. By 2004, di wage bill reportedly reach £1.2m a year, and di full-time team, with many players wey get Football League experience, also reach FA Cup first round.
But di money stop. Carthium Group collapse and funds no dey to pay di players, so dem release all of dem. Di chairman Gary Calder talk dat time say “the party is over”. To play di FA Cup tie against League Two side Boston United, Hornchurch field six debutants wey dem rush-rush acquire and five youth team players. Dem lose 5-2. Almost 100 players pass through di club before e fold at di end of 2004-05 season.
Di club come back as AFC Hornchurch for di Essex Senior League, and di journey start again. McMahon don be key part of dia recent history. Na im lead Ebbsfleet United to promotion from National League South, then take dem within two wins of English Football League, but dem lose National League play-off semi-final to Tranmere Rovers. Now im dey aim to go further with Hornchurch, and di club and manager dey share di same ambition.
