DARYL DELIVERS URCHINS BELIEF!

DARYL McMahon says Hornchurch are aiming to build on the club’s best ever finish - but knows it will be no easy task in a National League South packed with heavyweights.

- Matt Badcock

The Urchins finished ninth in their first season back at the level following Isthmian Premier title glory last term.

McMahon was proud of their efforts-spurred on by a mid-season rebuild - and is looking to keep the team moving forward again.

Their early summer recruitment has been impressive with the arrival of former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Josh Rees, whose personal circumstances dictate a part time move, and Ramsgate goal machine Joe Taylor. Henry Hearn, who scored eight goals on loan last season, joins permanently from Millwall, while Josh Hare who, like Rees, McMahon managed at Dagenham brings energy and experience to the backline.

There is also a return for Charlie Ruff from Chelmsford City. The playmaker scored in Hornchurch’s famous FA Trophy win at Wembley in 2021.

"As a club, first and foremost it was to try and stay up, this year will be to try and improve," McMahon, who recently signed a new contract until 2028, told The NLP.

"We know if we finish in the same place again it will still be a success. There will probably be ten or 11 teams full-time next year. We will be part-time so we know it’s going to be a really difficult season again.

"Our owner, Alex (Sharp), has said many times we're a club that want to grow but we're not going to be one that overnight turn into something that we're not.

"It’s going to be a slow process to grow.

"And that’s what we're focused on, really. We've made some decent signings early and we hope to make some more."