Max Anderson retires as Hornchurch FC stadium announcer

Len Anderson, known as Max, first picked up the microphone in Horchurch FC in 2002 and left it last on Easter Monday (April 21).

“My first game in the PA system (Public Directorate) was against Wealdstone in August 2002, we won 3-0,” Max recalled.

“It is simply used from there and I think we had approximately 900 games over the years.

“I had looked back from day one.”

Max saw for the first time the Horchurch FC reserve team played in 1993 and said he was “hooked.”

In 2000 he joined the club’s committee and two years later he assumed the tasks of the announcement of the stage, but believes that it is now the right time to resign.

Max has been the stadium announcer since 2002 (Image: Helen Anderson) “I have seen many, many games and players and has a very good bone, but now it is time to go, my reasoning is that I just think it has happened,” he said.

“My reactions are slower, my view is worse and I think it’s time for a younger person to step on.”

There he was a fan of the West Ham, Max found himself looking at Horchurch FC more regularly than his beloved Hammers and attributed it to the spirit of the club that is not from the league.

“People here are unsurpassed, since they are in 99 percent of football clubs not the league.

“The people of Horchurch FC are fantastic and I am still in contact with the old players and their parents, it is like a great family really.

“That is what attracted me immediately.”

When asked about his best memory at the club, Max reported the victory of the FA trophy in Wembley in 2021.

Max described Horchurch FC as a family (Image: Ken Mears) “Win the FA trophy after beating seven teams along the way, some of which play in higher divisions than we were absolutely phenomenal.

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“I get to the coach with the team and the directors invited me to Wembley’s Royal Fund.”

Max said he has been seeing West Ham in numerous finals and that he has never seen them lose, but seeing Horchurch FC lift the trophy “overcome the lot”.

He said: “When you are involved in a club and you go to Wembley in club colors and salts and listen to fans to sing, it really brings you a lump to your throat.

“That was the highest moment I can remember in the club.

“Pull the videos of that day every week.”

Max said winning the FA trophy in 2021 in Wembley was his best memory of his time in the club. (Image: Ken Mears) After the Horchurch FC for more than 20 years it means that on weekends and Max afternoons were or occupied by football, but said he is grateful for his “comprehensive” family, including his two daughters Helen and Louise.

Louise described this as a “quiet child of sacrifice” driven by “pure love for the game and a belief in what base football returns to the community.”

Helen added: “The voice and presence of Dad in the club have interwoven in the Horchurch FC fabric.

“His voice is part of the club’s identity as the badge in the shirt.

“Many times we have talked to people who have a game in a game or a sporting event on the stage and leg astonished when he heard that our father was the voice of the microphone.”

Max’s last game as an stadium announcer Vio Horchurch beat Aveley FC 2-0.

The number one club fan calls himself (Image: Helen Anderson) “I treated him as just another game,” he said.

“We had 1,000 fans there and always try to do everything right, but I really made a fog. I come to the goal scorer.

“But correctly and that is what you should always be prepared to do.

“A big thing for me was always trying to do everything that was approaching: I always did my task before the games because you get teams with some old fun names and you have to do them well.

“You have to show players the respect they deserve and that is what I have always tried to do.”

Althegh Max has now moved away from PA’s tasks, confirmed that he will still attend the games at home from the stands.

“I am the number one fan, I will be there for each game at home.

“This is a fantastic club and it’s about people.”