FRIDAY 12-MAY - ELLIOT STYLES TESTIMONIAL

[Dagger03]

On Friday 12^th May, Hornchurch stage the Elliot Styles testimonial match at Bridge Avenue, starting at 7.30 pm.

 

Tickets are available in advance or on the night, price £5.

 

Elliot was one of the many players signed by Colin McBride when he took over as manager in the summer of 2006. He made his playing debut in a pre-season friendly against Eastbourne Borough in July 2006, and was first included in the squad in a competitive match at Biggleswade, in the FA Cup.

 

McBride gave Elliot his playing debut at Redbridge, ironically Elliot’s previous club, in the FA Cup in September, though only in the first minute of stoppage time.

 

Elliot had to wait until October to make his debut in the starting line up, in a League Cup match at Heybridge Swifts.

 

He quickly became a regular squad member, and by the end of his first season at Bridge Avenue he had played in 25 matches, and was non-playing substitute on a further 18 occasions.

 

In season 2007-08 he was a permanent fixture in the team, and he has been a first team regular ever since.

 

John Purdie, who hopes to play in Elliot’s testimonial, was the club captain at the time, and in October 2008 it was Elliot who stood in for an injured Purdie as captain. When Purdie was sidelined for much of the 2009-10 season Elliot became the club captain, a position he still holds. In total, Elliot has led the team out on 362 occasions.

 

Elliot has now played in 499 competitive matches, and in addition has also played in 64 pre-season games, and he has scored 29 goals, plus another four in friendly matches.

 

 

 

Many ex-players are asked to play in Friday’s testimonial, and they include -

 

DONNY BARNARD - Donny played 145 times for Leyton Orient, before joining Hornchurch in 2007. In three seasons at Bridge Avenue, Donny made 94 appearances and scored one goal.

 

DARREN BEHCET - Joined Hornchurch in 2008 and made 107 appearances in his three seasons at Bridge Avenue, including 38 clean sheets. Last season he played for Thurrock, before joining Hendon, and then Ware.

 

CALLUM CHAFER - Callum has been with Hornchurch for three seasons, after moving up from our Youth Alliance team. He has made ten appearances in our first team, and has spent this season on loan at Romford FC, after being on loan at Redbridge FC the previous season.

 

DAVE COLLIS - Dave has had more than one spell at Bridge Avenue, the most recent being when he rejoined us from Canvey Island in 2015. Dave has made 95 appearances and scored six goals.

 

FRANKIE CURLEY - Frankie first played for Hornchurch in 2007, and made 298 appearances, scoring 19 goals, before leaving to join Billericay, where he was made club captain.

 

BILLY COYNE - Billy first joined Hornchurch in 2008, and has also played for Concord Rangers, and his current club, Aveley. He played 244 times for Hornchurch, and scored seven goals.

 

SIMON GLOVER - Simon joined us from Maidstone Utd in 2011, and made 73 appearacnes, scoring one goal, before joining East Thurrock. He has also played for Canvey Island, Thamesmead, and more recently for Brentwood Town.

 

DEAN GREEN - Dean previously played for Hendon, before joining Hornchurch in 2007. In his two seasons at Bridge Avenue, Dean scored 22 goals in his 77 appearances in his two seasons at Hornchurch, before joining Boreham Wood.

 

MARK JANNEY - Mark was another of Colin McBride’s signings, having previously palyed for Dagenham & Redbridge and Purfleet. He made 178 appearances for the Urchins, scoring 41 times. Mark had his own testimonial match in September 2012, when Hornchurch played Dagenham & Redbridge. Several of the players here today - Colin McBride, Jim McFarlane, Kris Lee, Jamie Southon and Andy Tomlinson, played in Mark’s testimonial, on a day when it poured with rain.

 

KRIS LEE - Kris was one of Colin McBride’s first signings, and joined us from Purfleet in 2006. He scored 56 goals in his 150 appearances for Hornchurch, and he subsequently played for Brentwood and Maldon & Tiptree.

 

JIM McFARLANE - Jim played 634 times for Purfleet, scoring 75 goals, before joining Hornchurch when Colin McBride took over at Brige Avenue. Jim pplayed 104 times for Hornchurch, and then took over as manager in September 2009. He has currently been in charge for 422 matches.

 

COLIN McBRIDE - Colin was a player at East Thurrock and Purfleet, but is better known as manager of Purfleet. He became manager at Hornchurch in 2006, and after 180 matches in charge, he stepped aside to resolve the financial crisis inherited from a previous regime.

 

ASA PAMPLIN - Asa joined Hornchurch from Enfield Town in 2005. He made eight appearances in their only season in the Essex Senior League, and then became manager of our Capital League side.

 

JOHN PURDIE - John was another who followed Colin McBride from Purfleet, for whom he made 362 appearances and scored one goal. He played 150 times for Hornchurch and scored one goal, against Ilford in the final match of the 2006-07 season.

 

JAMIE SOUTHON - Jamie first played for Hornchurch in 2002, and played under both George Borg and Gary Hill. He rejoined Hornchurch when Colin McBride took over. In 121 appearances, he score eight goals, and is currently assistant manager and player at Kelvedon Hatch.

 

ANDY TOMLINSON - Andy joined Hornchurch in the wake of the financial crisis and made his debut in the match at Arlesey. He did not play in the Essex Senior League season, but returned when Colin McBride took over in 2006. Andy made a total of 270 appearances for Hornchurch, scoring seven times. After leaving Hornchurch, Andy played for Heybridge Swifts.

 

RICHARD WRAY - Richard played for Hornchurch in 2001, although he only played once in the first team, before joining Aveley, and then East Thurrock. He is currently player / goalkeeper coach at Romford.

[Dagger03]

Three more players added to the 'Legends' squad - Donny Barnard, Callum Chafer and Dean Green.

 

Just to remind everyone that the kick off is at 7.30 pm and admission is £5.

 

And thanks to the Romford Recorder for its lengthy on-line feature on this match. You can find it in the Sports section of their on-line edition, under the heading of "Don't forget Elliot's match!" - (http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/home)

 

[cup of tea]

Yay, the mean machine is back!

[Dagger03]

Just a reminder that the kick off is at 7.30 pm and not 7.45

[Dagger03]

The score was The Entertainers 3 Boring United 3 - I have posted a brief report onto the forum, together with profiles of the players who took part.