Hornchurch FC plans Hornchurch Stadium revamp after promotion

Hornchurch FC has revealed plans which will see The Riverside stand "completely redeveloped and replaced with a new covered terrace", complete with a new TV gantry.

A new away entrance will also be built, complete with supporting toilet and catering facilities at the Windmill end of the stadium.

The Eastside terracing would be demolished and replaced with seating, the directors' box refurbished or replaced and a new boardroom installed.

The proposed changes to the stadium come following the club's promotion to the National League, meaning the ground must meet the Step One ground grading criteria by March 31 next year.

In an interview on the club's YouTube channel, chairman Alex Sharp said the club had hoped to move to a new stadium on land acquired by Sharp around a mile away from Hornchurch Stadium.

He said delays due to green belt land regulations meant this development was "probably two years" away, meaning he must focus on improving the current ground for next season.

He said: “Now, the hard work commences because we’ve essentially got to add 1,000 capacity to the ground, which we’ll do predominantly by redeveloping The Riverside of the stadium.

"I think that might come as a surprise to a few people because it's fairly well known that I've acquired a site just over a mile from here with the intention of building a new stadium for the club.

“The reality is we’re probably two years away from being able to develop that site, so that doesn’t work with the timings for the National League.

“We have a timeline of March 2027 put on you to achieve the ground grading, so we’re having to move forward with a plan to develop this stadium."

The Urchins, who finished second in the table, secured promotion to the National League for the first time in the club's history after beating Torquay United in the National League South play-off final on May 9.

Sam Ling scored the winning goal in the 117th minute after Henry Hearn scored in stoppage time of the 90 minutes to force extra time.

Sharp also said turnstiles will be required for "segregation and for separate entry" for away fans.

He added: “And then there’s some general redevelopment around the ground that we would need to do as well.

“So I’m in discussions with the council at the moment regarding that and looking at the various mechanisms, looking at what approvals we would need to do it and then generally making sure that we can put a plan together that all parties are agreeable to, us, the Football League and the council, in terms of doing these improvements to the ground.”

The club's website notes that due to the extent of the works, supporters have been advised that the stadium’s capacity and arrangements may differ game-to-game.

This will be communicated throughout the upcoming season.

There has not yet been an official planning application lodged on Havering Council's website.