Highly experienced EFL stopper who rejoined the club in June 2026 from League Two neighbours Walsall
A former schoolboy at Walsall before joining Hednesford at the age of 16 in 2011, playing for the club's youth team during the 2011-2012 season before stepping into the first-team picture the following season. He made his only first-team appearance for the Pitmen in December 2012, coming on as a late substitute in a 2-1 defeat at Frickley Athletic after a red card for regular stopper Dan Crane
After departing the club in the summer of 2013, Hornby was Liam McDonald's first signing after taking over as manager of Redditch United. His two seasons at the Valley Stadium saw him establish himself as number one at Redditch in the Southern Premier League, attracting interest from professional clubs in the process. In June 2015, he joined League Two side Burton Albion on a two-year deal
Hornby spent much of the following season out on loan at National League North side Brackley Town, helping the Saints to narrowly avoid relegation with a nineteenth-placed finish at the end of the season with thirty-one starts
The following campaign saw Hornby out on loan at another step two side for the whole of the 2016-2017 season, joining National League North side Kidderminster Harriers. Once again, Hornby was a virtual ever-present as Harriers finished second in the table and missed out on an immediate return to the National League courtesy of a play-off semi-final defeat to Chorley
After his deal from Burton had expired, Hornby remained in League Two and Staffordshire with a free transfer move to Port Vale. It was to prove to be two seasons of struggle for the Valiants, with successive twentieth-placed finishes as they clung onto the EFL status. Hornby made his debut against Leeds United in an EFL Cup game in August 2017 and was to make thirteen starts for the club over the next two years in all competitions
A loan move to Chester came about in December 2017, with Hornby joining National League strugglers on a three-month loan. He made thirteen starts for the Seals before returning to Vale in February 2018
After rejecting a new deal at Vale in May 2019, the stopper remained in League Two with a free transfer move to fallen giants Bradford City, proving to be the most fruitful move of the goalkeeper's career to date. After a handful of starts early in the season, Hornby joined AFC Fylde on a long loan period for the remainder of the season in October 2019
The 2020-2021 season saw Hornby making several first-team appearances for the Bantams as they finished in a disappointing fifteenth position, followed by another underwhelming mid-table finish in 2021-2022. In January 2022, Hornby went out on loan to league rivals Colchester United for four months, impressing sufficiently to secure a permanent move there in May 2022 as the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee
Battling with Shamal George for the number one jersey in 2022-2023, Hornby was the holder of the starting spot until damaging ligaments in his shoulder in November 2022, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season
After returning to fitness at the start of the 2023-2024 season, Hornby joined Solihull Moors for a short loan spell to get some much-needed game time in November 2023 before returning to the Colchester side for the rest of the season
After a spell on trial at Chesterfield in the summer of 2024, Hornby returned home in the July as he signed for Walsall on an initial one-year deal. He and fellow local lad Tommy Simkin vied for the number one jersey throughout the 2024-2025 season as the Saddlers blew a dominant lead at the top of the League Two table before missing out in the play-off final with defeat to AFC Wimbledon
After signing a contract extension in the summer of 2025, Hornby was once again in and out of the Saddlers side as he jockeyed with Watford loanee Myles Roberts for much of the campaign, which proved to be an anti-climactic mid-table finish after another excellent start
Despite initially agreeing to remain at Walsall for the 2026-2027 season, Hornby made the short switch back to Keys Park in June 2026 as the Pitmen's new number one for their return to step two