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The Gaffer

 

Colin McBride - Chairman
COLIN McBRIDE – CHAIRMAN– joined Purfleet as a midfield player in August 1985, and made 227 appearances and scored 32 goals. He then joined Concord Rangers and returned to Purfleet (then Thurrock) as manager in August 1997, where he was in charge for 524 matches. Joined Hornchurch for the 2006/07 season, winning the Isthmian League and Essex Senior Cup. He was in charge for 180 matches, before becoming general manager in September 2009 and Chairman in 2010.


Jimmy McFarlane

 

Jim McFarlane - Manager
JIMMY McFARLANE: Became caretaker manager early in 2009-10 when Colin McBride took over the running of the club and was confirmed in the post the following summer. A commanding centre-back who played for Millwall Wanderers and Clapton before joining Purfleet, as they were then called, in 1991. Made no fewer than 634 appearances for the Ship Lane club, scoring 75 times, despite missing one season through injury and spending 1996-97 with Concord Rangers. Jimmy joined us in 2006 and played over 100 games.

John Purdie

 

John Purdie - Assistant Manager
JOHN PURDIE: John signed as a Defender from Thurrock in June 2006. He joined Purfleet in July 1997 from Billericay Town, and made his debut in August 1997 against Yeading. He made 362 appearances for Purfleet / Thurrock. John was previously with West Ham United where he was a regular member of their reserve side. Made his debut for Hornchurch at Enfield Town in August 2006, taking on the role of Club Captain. Became Assistant Manager during the 2009-10 season.


Bill Lappage

 

Bill Lappage - Specialist Coach
Started at Dulwich Hamlet in 1951 and "retired" from Croydon FC in 1998 - in the years between served at seven different clubs involved as player and Assistant Manager/Coach. In this time Bill helped to bring home seven League Titles (two League and Cup doubles!) and eight Cups. Joined Colin McBride at Purfleet (now Thurrock FC) in 2000. Most memorable matches were the two F.A. Cup 1st Round games (both televised) against Luton and Oldham. Bill followed Colin McBride to AFC Hornchurch and had another great season seeing the Club winning the League Title and Essex Senior Cup.

Joe Anderson

 

Joe Anderson - Defender
JOE ANDERSON: Recent signing who was released by Lincoln City at the end of last season, having played 38 league games for them. Previously with Fuklham where he made one start in the League Cup, a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City,and was five times an unused substitute in the Europa Cup.



Tommy Black

 

Tommy Black - Midfield
TOMMY BLACK: Started with Arsenal, where he made one Champions League appearance and one in the Premier League, both as a substitute. Went on to play more than 200 Football League games for a variety of clubs, though more than half of them were for Crystal Palace. Had a spell as player-manager of Hemel Hempstead Town before joining Hornchurch in April 2010.



Michael Bowditch

 

Michael Bowditch - Goalkeeper
MICHAEL BOWDITCH: A youngster who has been a regular in the Capital League side for some time. His only first-team aopearance was in last season’s 6-1 victory over Eton Manor in the Essex Senior Cup.





Frankie Curley

 

Frankie Curley - Midfield
FRANKIE CURLEY: Strong-tackling central midfielder who originally signed for Urchins from Redbridge, where he was club captain, in October 2006. Took time out from senior football for the 2009-10 season, then joined Aveley but returned to us in October 2010.





Tambeson Eyong

 

Tambeson Eyong - Midfield
TAMBESON EYONG: Ex-West Ham junior who spent time with Dagenham, Aveley and Harlow before signing for us in March 2010. A strong-running winger and a crowd favourite.






Aaron Gayle

 

Aaron Gayle - Forward
AARON GAYLE: Another summer signing who spent last season with Southern League side Chesham. A quick striker who has also represented Potters Bar, Bromley, Redbridge and Waltham Abbey.






Simon Glover

 

Simon Glover - Midfield
SIMON GLOVER: Experienced summer signing from Maidstone. Played most of his football for an assortment of Kent clubs but has also had spells at Wycombe and Chelmsford.





Rickie Hayles

 

Rickie Hayles- Defender
RICKIE HAYLES: Returned to Hornchurch in September after brief spells at Thurrock and at East Thurrock. First arrived from Tilbury in February 2010, before which he had Ryman League experience with Ilford, and he has also turned out for Brentwood and Eton Manor.




Jonathan Hunt

 

Jonathan Hunt - Midfield
JONATHAN HUNT: Veteran dead-ball specialist who made well over 200 Football League appearances for a number of clubs, most notably Birmingham for whom he scored a hat-trick against Crewe. Played for St Albans and Woking before moving into the League, and rejoined St Albans before coming to us early in the 2009-10 season.




Dave McSweeney

 

Dave McSweeney - Defender
DAVE McSWEENEY: An experienced full-back, signed in the summer of 2010. He made 70 Football League appearances for Southend before spells with Crawley, Dagenham, Billericay, Grays and Billericay again. Player’s player of the year last season.




Reiss Noel

 

Reiss Noel - Defender
REISS NOEL: A summer signing from Woking, whom he joined from Brentwood in December 2010 after impressing in an FA Cup tie between the clubs. Started his career as a youth at Southend United, and has had spells at Potters Bar, St Albans, Enfield Town, Eastleigh and Aveley.





Lewis Smith

 

Lewis Smith - Forward
LEWIS SMITH: All-action forward, a former Fulham junior who spent time at Bishop's Stortford before being offered a contract by Bournemouth at the start of 2009-10. Unluckily for Lewis, the Cherries were under a transfer embargo and the move was vetoed. Returned to Stortford, then had spells with Chelmsford and Thurrock before joining Hornchurch a week into last season.



Michael Spencer

 

Michael Spencer - Midfield
MICHAEL SPENCER: Turned out for Enfield, Thurrock and Fisher before becoming an Urchin early in 2009 and scoring on his debut, a 2-1 win at Harrow. Equally accomplished on the left of the defence or the midfield. The final match of last season was his 100th for Urchins.




Elliot Styles

 

Elliot Styles - Defender (Club Captain)
ELLIOT STYLES: The tough-tackling club captain made his 200th appearance last season, his fifth at the Stadium, and is now third on the all-time list. Previously played for Ilford and Redbridge.






Les Thompson

 

Les Thompson - Forward
LES THOMPSON: Started his career with Bolton, and although he failed to make the first-team squad he had Football League experience during a loan spell at Stockport. Later had a loan spell with Torquay. After trials at Gillingham and Yeovil he joined Thurrock. Last season he had brief stays with Croydon Athletic, Concord and Aveley.

Andy Tomlinson

 

Andy Tomlinson - Midfield
ANDY TOMLINSON: Made his Urchins debut in the famous FA Trophy win at Arlesey in 2004, when he was the only outfield player not plucked from the youth team. Tommo had previously played for Heybridge, Billericay, Brentwood and Enfield. Spent 2005-06 with Leyton and Maidenhead before returning to Hornchurch. Joined Brentwood in the summer of 2011, then played one game for Billericay and came home again.

Martin Tuohy

 

Martin Tuohy - Forward
MARTIN TUOHY: One of the league's most feared strikers, he made fleeting appearances for Barking and Redbridge before becoming a regular squad member at East Thurrock five seasons ago. He moved on to Aveley for 2006-07 but it was after switching to Great Wakering in mid-season that he began to make a name for himself. A return to East Thurrock for 2008-09 saw his form explode. His 39 league goals earned him the league’s Golden Boot and he passed the 50 mark in all competitions. Stepping up to the Premier with Aveley in 2009-10, he scored another 28. Joined Urchins in summer 2010 and a tally of 21 last season was modest by his standards. Already well into double figures this time.

Joe Woolley

 

Joe Woolley - Goalkeeper
JOE WOOLLEY: Former Charlton youngster who joined Urchins in September. Won a player of the season award at Thurrock and has also turned out for Grays, Barkingside and Harlow. Signed for Chelmsford in the summer before moving to Bridge Avenue.






The following players left the Club in 2011/12


Darren Behcet

 

Darren Behcet - Goal Keeper
DARREN BEHCET: Now entering his third season as an Urchin, having joined the club in January 2009. Behcet started with West Ham and then spent two years at Yeovil without seeing Football League action. He had loan spells at Cambridge United, Dorchester and Bognor. Short stays at Sutton and Grays followed before he came to the Stadium and soon became an undisputed first choice.




Dave Collis

 

Dave Collis - Midfield
DAVE COLLIS: Burly midfield man who started as a trainee at Charlton in June 2000. Played one match on loan at Barnet in April 2001, and then joined Grays in May 2002. Also served Redbridge, Thurrock, Bishop’s Stortford and Billericay Town before joining Urchins in October 2010.




Jo Flack

 

Jo Flack - Forward
JO FLACK: Topped our scorecharts in 2009-10 with 12 league and cup goals, despite not joining us from Billericay until October and then missing the last two months through injury. Left early last season for Thurrock but returned in the summer. Previously played for Havant and Stevenage.




Ronnie Fletcher

 

Ronnie Fletcher- Defender
RONNIE FLETCHER: Another former West Ham junior, he had a short spell with Sutton before signing for Colin McBride at Thurrock in March 2004. Joined Urchins for the 2006-07 campaign and, despite sitting out the 2008-09 season, he has almost 140 outings for the club.




Ed O'Neill

 

Ed O'Neill - Midfield
ED O’NEILL: Teenager who was released by Barnet in the summer and has yet to make a senior appearance in Urchins colours.





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