When the players and supporters left the Cártama Oval on 24th March 2023, after we had been crushed by the French side Dreux, many of us never thought we would return. Our European journey had been unexpected but brilliant and sadly we fell a little short. The journey back to Sunset Beach was a bittersweet one. Proud of how far we had come but disappointed by how close we were. The bus ride back was a very somber affair. However, in those moments of silence, our revenge was being plotted.

Fast forward to 22nd March 2024 and when Hanko pulled Matthew Webb high into the hills of the Andalusian countryside, Cockney Corner exploded, the Chairman of the Board sprinted onto the pitch and half of Essex erupted with joy. We had done it. We had our redemption and European Glory was ours! Hornchurch Cricket Club: Champions of Europe.

Our return to the top table of European cricket was somewhat controversial. Corey had his say as no doubt did plenty of others. However, we were back and this time we were focused on going one step further. We had added Irfan, aka Big Bird’, along with Arthur and Les, who were also new additions from 2023.

We were placed into Group B, alongside fellow English side Wimbledon (who were the only side we lost against in a dead rubber) and managed to get through to Championship Week after defeating the Swedish champions Huddinge in the final. However, when they were 100/0 after 5 overs in the group final, some of us started to worry that our return would be a short stay. However, as we always do things the hard way, we pulled it back and chased down the target and we were back for another shot at glory.

Championship Week started with a 39 run win over Italy’s Jinnah Brescia. Hanko led the way with the bat with 68 and Les’ 3 for 28 and braces for Harry H (2-19) and Dilly (2-10) wrapped up the win against a dangerous opponent. We then made it 2 from 2 with a 6-wicket over the 2022 champions, Spain’s Pak I Care Badalona. Les ripped out the dangerous top order on his way to 3-13 and Gav’s 4-17 saw us limit them to 107/9. Hanko got us off to a flyer with 35 off 12 balls and Dilly’s unbeaten 24 off 13 balls saw us over the line with 8 balls to spare. 2 wins on the opening day: a perfect start.

Day 2 saw us with just the 1 game and we put in an unbelievable performance to crush the much-fancied CIYMS by 10 wickets. The Irish were unable to deal with our bowling attack as we limited them to 73/8 off their 10. Harry took a hat trick, Irfan took 2-7 in the power play and Dilly’s 2-19 as the previously unbeaten Irish champions were put to the sword. If the bowling was impressive, the batting was just as ruthless as Hanko (43* off 21) and JP (30* off 15) saw us chased down the target in 5.5 overs and our 2nd clean sweep of the week saw us sitting pretty at the top of the table.

Day 3 saw us start early with a battle against the Auld Enemy; Scotland’s Forfarshire. Another impressive all round performance saw us secure an 8 wicket win and another 4 points to all-but-secure our place in the top 2. Irfan started proceedings with an absolutely brutish delivery with the 1st ball of the game to remove the dangerous Wallace, Harry took another 2 wickets and Whitlock ‘aka The Flying Bus’ also got in the act with 2 scalps with his first bowl of the week. Hanko continued his electric form with 36 off 16 balls before Big Bird showed his batting prowess with 42 off 14 balls (40 of his runs coming in boundaries) as we reached our target in 7 overs and another bonus point win.

Day 4 saw a repeat of the 2023 final as we squared up against the reigning champions Dreux. Once again we started well with the ball. Irfan removed our nemesis Nabi 1st ball and Harry continued his excellent form with the ball taking 4-17 as we limited them to 111. Knowing that a win within 7 overs would see us secure top spot, and also see the French struggle to progress to Finals’ day, we raced to our target in 6.5 overs as our bowlers flayed the French attack to all parts. JP’s unbeaten 60 came off 22 balls and Irfan’s brutal 27 off just 7 balls saw us take all 4 points and put some of our demons from last year’s final to rest.

Our final group game was a dress rehearsal for the Qualifier 1 against Old Victorians from Jersey. We batted first and posted our highest score of the week: putting 173/7 on the board. Hanko’s 84 off 24 saw him hit 13 maximos and that was too much for the Channel Islanders who reached 134/8 in reply. Dilly took 3-16 although the game wasn’t played at full tilt as both sides seemed to hold something back ahead of the business end of the tournament.

Having won the toss in the Qualifier, we put Old Vics into bat and got off to the best possible start. Irfan’s pace was too much as he removed the dangerous Jenner 2nd ball and their wildcard, Sumerauer for a golden duck as we reduced them to 3/2. Harry then took a wicket in his 1st over as the shell-shocked Jersey boys found themselves 17/3 off 2. It soon became 17/4 as Irfan took another on his way to almost-unbelievable figures of 3/7. Old Vics staged a mini recovery to reach 82/6 but we reached the halfway stage the happier of the 2 sides. In reply, we lost both openers cheaply and when Les and Irfan fell soon after, there were a few nerves in the camp. However, Dilly and Harry batted superbly to calm everyone and even though Dilly was removed, Muz joined Bobby Charlton and they saw us into the final as we reached our target with 14 balls to spare.

So, almost a year to the day, we had our big chance at redemption. Another shot at European glory. We watched Qualifier 2 to see who stood in our way and Old Vics blasted their way to 209/1. Jenner scored 106 and Sumerauer 98* as they crushed the Italians by 83 runs and the stage was set.

Old Vics won the toss and elected to bat. We knew we had to remove their dangerous top order. 3 balls in and we had done so. Jenner gone 1st ball- Irfan’s pace proving too much for the international. 2 balls later, Sumerauer was gone. Irfan’s 9th and 10th wickets of the week put us in dreamland. There was still work to do and the whole bowling attack, as it had done all tournament, continued to turn the screw. The fielding, which had been immense as well all week, was once again brilliant and Old Vics ended their allotted overs on 93/5. This meant we needed to score 94 to secure the biggest prize in European club cricket. When we were invited back in October, of someone had offered us the chance to chase less than a 100 for the trophy, we would have bitten off your hand. However, this was now real and we needed to bat well.

Nerves filled the wonderfully appointed Cártama Oval at the halfway stage. Cockney Corner was nervous. The 100s, maybe 1000s watching at home were nervous. Group chats were pinging left, right and centre: we can do this, can’t we?

Hanko and JP started well 14/0 off the 1st over. 25/0 off 2. Nerves started to calm. We were on our way. Over 3 saw us reach 44/0: almost halfway. Over 4 saw Wilson removed JP. 50/1. Irfan came and went. He didn’t trouble the scorers. Dilly, the calmest man ever, batted well. Hanko kept hitting 6s. Overs 6 and 7 both went for 12 meaning we were 10 runs from glory. Still no-one could relax. We are Hornchurch and we never do things the easy way. Over 8 went for just 3. The commentators started talking about the possibility of it going to the final over. Then anything can happen. Dilly was caught on the boundary. We still needed 6. Les guided his first ball down to 3rd man. Hanko on strike. 5 to win. Webb bowled. Just short of a length…………………BOOM! Hanko smashed it high into the trees and we had done it; EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS.

The watching masses streamed onto the outfield. Jeremy, Chairman of the Board, led the way. The rest of Cockney Corner followed. The parties at home get started and the next few minutes are a blur. Tears are shed on the pitch but this time they are tears of joy. Tears are shed back in Hornchurch, and many other places around the world. Hornchurch Cricket Club; a pub team from Essex now Kings of Europe.

Moments later, the trophy was held aloft. Whitlock and Billy, sadly injured for the majority of the tournament, held the European Champions League trophy high in the Andulcian night and the party had just began. The party continued throughout the night and into the next day. In fact, the party will go on and on and on…most likely until next year when we return to defend our trophy and once again a little part of Spain will our home once again.

HORNCHURCH CRICKET CLUB. Little old ‘Church..a pub team from Essex…European Champions.

Plans are already afoot for our defence of the crown next year. In the words of David Gray ‘if you want it, come and get it!’