It's National Urchins Day!

It's been a long time since we had a Pitching In Isthmian League club in the FA Trophy Final, and we're very proud of Hornchurch, who will be walking out onto the hallowed turf against Hereford- kick off at 4.15 PM.

We thought we'd remind you of how they got to Wembley, and include the video highlights of the matches- where available- so that you can prepare for the big game in style. Of course, three thousand of you will be heading to Wembley- have a wonderful, marvellous day!

The road to Wembley started for the Urchins back on October 31st, as they entered the competition in the Third Qualifying Round.

'We had an Essex derby as Bowers & Pitsea hosted Hornchurch. The Urchins knocked Bowers out of the FA Cup at the Len Salmon five weeks ago, winning three-nil, but the hosts weren’t about to let that happen again, it seemed, as Luca Albon put them ahead from the spot on the quarter hour. It took a while for the visitors to get back into the game, but they did just that when Alex Osborn equalised on sixty six minutes, and two minutes later they were ahead, Ellis Brown with their second goal. Charlie Ruff ensured it was another three goal haul for the visitors right at the death.'

Next up came Wingate and Finchley, and the result was never in doubt. By this point- December 8th- the league had halted due to the pandemic, and from this point onwards the only time the Urchins got to play was in the FA Trophy- who would have dreamed they'd make it all the way to Wembley?

'We had another all Pitching In Isthmian Premier battle at Hornchurch, where the Urchins hosted Wingate and Finchley. The hosts ran out comfortable winners, by four goals to one, their goals coming from Ollie Muldoon, Charlie Ruff, Sam Higgins and Liam Nash, whilst Tommy Tejan-Sie got an equaliser for the Blues but parity didn’t last long.'

In the Second Round, it was time for the giantkilling to start. Tonbridge Angels were the hosts, and the first of a collection of Goliath's to wish they'd never met the David's of Bridge Avenue.

'Hornchurch travelled to face familiar opponents, our former favourites Tonbridge Angels playing host to the Urchins. Hornchurch had lost only one of their last seven going into the match, and now it’s one of eight, as Joe Christou got the only goal of the game in the very last minute to knock out the National League South side.'

You can relive that night be watching the entire match, courtesy of Angels TV:

The Third Round saw Dulwich Hamlet hove into view, and our heroes were on the way to Champion Hill.

The Urchins headed to Champion Hill, home of Dulwich Hamlet, and fell behind after sixteen minutes when Sanchez Ming fired home from the spot. But a second spot kick nine minutes later, this time for the visitors, was converted by Sam Higgins- and then four minutes from time up stepped Charlie Ruff to get his sixth goal of the season to clinch a famous victory. That was Charlie’s third in four Trophy matches this season, and a second giantkilling for Hornchurch in four days, after they defeated Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night.

Watch the match below, courtesy of Hamlet TV.

Almost a month later, and the Urchins hosted National League side Kings Lynn Town.

Hornchurch cemented their role as giant-slaying specialists by downing a third National League side in the FA Trophy- but this was their biggest win yet, as they defeated Kings Lynn Town, a side thirty three places above them in the Non League pyramid.

The Linnets followed Dulwich Hamlet, Tonbridge Angels, Bowers and Pitsea and Wingate and Finchley in being cast aside by Mark Stimson's men, as the Urchins reached the Fifth Round for only the second time in their history, the last occasion being in 2003-04.

It would be difficult to pick out one player for praise in a heroic performance, but undoubtedly the plaudits will go to goalkeeper Joe Wright. Kairo Mitchell gave the visitors a first half lead against the run of play, but the Urchins were not downhearted, and Liam Nash fired home a volley to level the match seven minutes after the break. Town went down to ten men after Rory McAuley picked up two yellow cards, but the hosts were unable to capitalise in the last three minutes and the match went to penalties. Jordan Clark, Ellis Brown and Sam Higgins scored for Hornchurch, whilst Joe Wright saved all three of the visitors spot kicks to send his side into the draw for the next round, which we will bring you tomorrow.

By the way, you can read the programme from the match here.

You can watch the match below:

The Fifth Round saw them at home once more, with Maidstone United the visitors.

Hornchurch yesterday added Maidstone United to a list of scalps that already included Kings Lynn Town, Dulwich Hamlet, Tonbridge Angels, Bowers & Pitsea and Wingate & Finchley, as they won a rip-roaring FA Trophy Fifth Round tie at Bridge Avenue. In a match full of drama, the winning goal- the NINTH of the afternoon- came in the seventh minute of added time, Liam Nash clipping the ball over Stones keeper Constable to record a quite astonishing five-four win, and send the club into the hat for the Quarter Final draw.

Potential opponents for the Urchins are Darlington, Notts County, Hereford, Oxford City, Torquay United, Woking, Aldershot Town and Chesterfield- the last two yet to play their Fifth Round tie, which was postponed for covid reasons.

In a match which included two own goals- one for each side- Hornchurch struck first, Sam Higgins backheeling home just before the quarter hour mark, only for the visitors to equalise two minutes later with the first of those own goals. Maidstone then went ahead just before the half hour, but it was level at the break as Ronnie Winn struck back for the hosts.

Higgins put the Urchins ahead in the fifty eighth minute- his fifth FA Trophy goal of the campaign- but again Maidstone struck back immediately, making it three-three just a minute later. It was four-three after sixty five minutes after United got on the wrong scoresheet, but again the visitors struck back to level with nineteen minutes to go- and it looked like the tie was heading to a penalty shootout when Nash stepped up to score a beauty.

Congratulations to the Urchins- and you can watch the entire match below, courtesy of Hornchurch TV.

Next, we were into the last eight- and a long, long trip up the A1 to Darlington. It must have seemed a much shorter trip on the way back!

Maidstone United, Kings Lynn Town, Dulwich Hamlet, Tonbridge Angels and now Darlington! That's some list of higher-league scalps for Mark Stimson's Urchins, and it leaves them just one step from Wembley- in the Semi-Finals of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history.

Mark Stimson's Urchins had a new name in their squad with the arrival of Matt Bentley, who has moved from Basildon United until the end of the season- and end which has now been extended. He must have been buzzing to be involved, but the eleven who started the game showed only one change from the win over Maidstone United, Lewwis Spence coming in to replace Joe Christou.

Darlington had the early chances, and then Liam Nash took over. Nash had previously scored in the wins against Wingate and Finchley, Kings Lynn Town and Maidstone United- where he got an added time winner- so you'd have expected the Quakers defence to have been well aware of his abilities, but he'd already had one shot saved and when he got a second chance he took it, fed by full back Remi Sutton.

The hosts piled on the pressure, and it told just before the break, when danger man Erico Sousa grabbed the equaliser in added time. Nine minutes after the restart, however, the Urchins were ahead once more. That man Nash found himself upended in the box, and Sam Higgins kept his cool to rifle home the spot kick. Could they hold on?

They could. Darlington pressed and pressed, pinning the Urchins back, but inspired defending and goalkeeping kept the visitors ahead, and when the hosts went down to ten men six minutes from the end surely that was that? Another five minutes of added time this time came without an equaliser, and Hornchurch had made history!

You can watch the highlights below:

Into the Semi-Final, and the biggest test yet, as they travelled to face favourites Notts County.

Hornchurch yesterday defied the odds once more, in a season where they've made a habit of it- but this was the biggest upset yet, as they defeated FA Trophy favourites Notts County on their own patch to reach Wembley for the first time.

This has been a season to forget for most of us, and the Urchins have almost single-handedly set out to make it memorable, carrying the flag of the Pitching In Isthmian League past Bowers and Pitsea, Wingate and Finchley, Tonbridge Angels, Dulwich Hamlet, Kings Lynn Town, Maidstone United, Darlington and now County. That's two sides from Step Three, four from Step Two, and two from the National League.

County started the day forty seven places above the Urchins in the pyramid, with a fully professional squad. They should have been better. They should have been fitter- they'd played sixteen matches this calendar year, whereas their opponents had played only three. They were playing on their own Meadow Lane, with no prospect of a replay. Yet our Urchins matched them blow for blow. Falling behind three times, first Lewwis Spence, and then Liam Nash- twice- drew them level, the last goal coming in added time. Off to penalties we went, and it was the home side who felt the pressure- Joe Wright saving one of the home penalties whilst the visitors scored each of theirs.

We're not going to write a match report. Watching a match on a live stream doesn't give you a real feel for the game, so we'll leave that to the likes of the Non League Paper, who have a two page spread and interviewed Urchins boss Mark Stimson- whose side [i]"dared to dream- and the dream came off."

Congratulations to Hornchurch. Congratulations to the players, the management team, the officials, the legion of volunteers who we meet on a matchday, and to the supporters who will be in dreamland this morning.

The whole of the Pitching In Isthmian League is very, very proud of you.

Watch the highlights below:

Only one obstacle awaits now, as Hereford hove into view at the national stadium- but we're confident that the Urchins can triumph once more. The very best of luck- we're sure that, whether in the stadium or in front of the television, the entire Isthmian League will be shouting you on!

Image from Ritchie Sumpter- see more by heading here.

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