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Hornchurch boss Daryl McMahon knows there's still a long way to go for National League South's surprise pacesetters
The strength of teams across the National League has never been stronger, and this season it's not just reflected in the fifth tier.
Both in the National League North and South, the leagues feel like they are better than ever, given the profile of teams that feature across both divisions.
This year, the National League South has seen Dagenham and Redbridge and Ebbsfleet United join a party that already includes big names at that level that include Maidstone United and Torquay United.
However, three months into the season, it's none of the expected names setting the pace in the division; instead, it's Hornchurch who surprisingly leads the way at the top of the division.
Three points clear in first place, the Urchins are yet to lose a game this season in just their second season since being promoted from the Isthmian League Premier Division.
The man who spearheaded that promotion and who's currently masterminding their ascent to the top of the National League South is boss Daryl McMahon.
A former coach at Dagenham and Redbridge and Ebbsfleet, his exploits in Upminster have got his owner calling him 'the best manager outside the football league', but despite the early-season success, he's playing down his side's impressive start to 2025-26 - one that's even surprised himself.
"We've obviously had a very good start," he exclusively told DAZN News' Ash Rose.
"It wasn't, I can't say, it was something that we really planned for, that we'd be where we are now. When I think of the size of the club, we're a pretty small club in the division now, given some of the clubs in there.
"But we feel that we've, over these sort of 18 months I've been there, we've grown the club well. We've recruited well. We've got a lot of young players, exciting players, and we're delighted to see where we are now.
"But we know that it's very, very early in the season. A long, long way to go. And we know as well we've got loads to improve on, loads."
hornchurchfc.com
McMahon started life on West Ham's books as a player and enjoyed a fruitful career playing in the Football League and non-league, but admits he had no inclination to go into coaching until his playing days wound down.
And, despite still being relatively young, he's clocked up a lot of miles during his coaching journey, so does he enjoy pitting his wits against some of the well-known names in the league such as former Premier League boss Phil Brown, who's now at Peterborough Sports?
"If I'm being really honest, I don't think about it like that. I started managing quite young. I started managing at 31, so I'm probably not a million miles away from 500 games as a manager," he said.
"Even though at my age I'm quite young, I've got a reasonable amount of experience. So I think I just tend to look at the team.
"I don't look in the other dugout. I think you respect everybody, no matter what their experiences are. But I think it's always a big challenge in the National League.
"There are no easy games at any level at our level and there hasn't been for quite some time now."
Those difficult games continue this weekend when Hornchurch entertain Bath City, looking to continue their unbeaten start, and then McMahon and his team will take it game by game.
However, the 42-year-old sees the potential the club, something he was sold on when he joined in 2023, and having got the club to it's highest ever position, only wants to continue that success and then build on it.
"When I met Hornchurch, I wasn't sure. It's the truth as well," McMahon admits.
"But the owner, Alex and Colin, the vice-chairman, told me the dream of what they wanted to do to progress over a period of time and that was no rush.
"I've really bought into the project. I know that the club have bought into me. So, when you have that feeling, it's an enjoyable place to work.
"So far, we've been reasonably successful in terms of winning promotion when we went there and then the ninth-place finish last season.
"Hopefully, we can have a successful year, this year."
How to watch the National League exclusively on DAZN
You can watch the whole of the 2025-26 season with a National League TV DAZN subscription.
Every game in the National League, and selected matches in National League North and National League South, is available on DAZN, either live and/or on-demand*. That's over 600 games all in one place.
NLTV on DAZN is available on any device, including Smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles, and, for viewers in the UK, your Sky box.
If you do not have the App already then just follow these instructions....
- Download the free DAZN App from your normal App store on your TV, phone, tablet, or streaming device
- On a laptop or PC visit www.DAZN.com/home
- Select 'Get started' or 'log in'
- Enter your email address, or sign up via the Apple, Google or Facebook options
- You then have access to all of DAZN's free content, including the Matchroom boxing channel, LIV Golf and FIFA+
- Then find the National League page and click 'buy now'
For more information and to sign up, head here now.
*3pm Saturday kick-offs subject to TV blackout restrictions, but available to watch later on Saturday on-demand
