Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, visited Hornchurch FC today as the football club seeks more volunteers. The 'pub team from Hornchurch' has stormed to a commanding lead in the Isthmian Premier League with fourteen home wins so far this season, but now needs more match day stewards as crowds swell at Hornchurch Stadium.
Hornchurch FC Board Members, Alex Sharp and Colin McBride, hosted Mrs Lopez and representatives of Entain, whose Pitching In Volunteer Hub supports Hornchurch FC and other Trident League clubs to recruit volunteers.
Entain established the Pitching In programme in 2020 to help grassroots club through the pandemic. Recognising that many Trident league clubs are run solely by volunteers, who are the lifeblood of grassroots football, the Hub enables clubs to post volunteer advertisements and local people of all ages can sign up and get involved.
Having benefited from the financial support that Entain provided to league members during the initial pandemic period, Hornchurch FC hope to make further use of the Pitching In programme to recruit extra match day volunteers to support the club next season with increased attendances in National League South – a promotion that could be secured with just a handful more of wins!
Speaking after the visit, Julia Lopez MP said:
“It was great to catch up with Alex and Colin but also to learn from Grainne and Lucy of Entain about the support they are providing community clubs like Hornchurch FC. Alex and Colin set out some of their strategic objectives for the club that would allow it to grow even stronger and increase what it does to boost sport in the community. I look forward to continuing those conversations and providing what support I can. They are not just a football club but provide a place for community groups to help local people, like the Alzheimer's support club they now host in the week."
