Non-League and Academy football writer

South London club Carshalton Athletic are currently in ninth place in the Isthmian League Premier Divison standings, just six points off of the play-off places. Managed by Peter Adeniyi, who is currently in his second spell in charge of Carshalton, the former footballer who had a really good career in non-League, playing for the likes of Bromley and Dulwich Hamlet during a long playing career, has achieved some fine things in the game, and he has a great knowledge of non-League football. Starting out with Slade Green FC’s men’s side in 1998, Peter Adeniyi would go on to play for the likes of Eastleigh, Dulwich Hamlet, Carshalton Athletic and Merstham (in total Peter played for 11 clubs, during a 25 year playing career). A talented midfield player, Peter had a fine career in non-League, and he has since used all of that experience to help some of the current players of non-League football, in his managerial career. Being named as player-manager of Carshalton Athletic for the 2016/17 season, in his second season in charge there, Peter would emphatically lead Carshalton to promotion from the Isthmian South Division during the 2017/18 season, as champions (Peter was subsequently awarded the manager of the year award). It was a really good achievement to win promotion from that league in such a way, and by winning so many games during that season.

As well as leading them to promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division, Peter Adeniyi, during his first spell in charge of Carshalton, also helped to take them to the first round of the FA Cup during the 2019/20 season, and they finished in second place and later fifth place in the Isthmian League Premier Division, under Peter Adeniyi’s leadership. Peter would leave Carshalton Athletic at the end of the 2021/22 season, when he would join one of his old clubs, in Merstham. However, as well as being the manager of Merstham, Peter Adeniyi would also still have an association with Carshalton Athletic, as he was their director of football during the 2022/23 season. Peter would help Merstham to survive relegation from the Isthmian South Central Division, last season. With Merstham remaining in that league after they had won a relegation play-off. However, Peter would return to Carshalton Athletic as their manager, for the beginning of the current 2023/24 season. Carshalton started the Isthmian League Premier Division season really well, recording impressive victories over the likes of Enfield Town (away), Potters Bar Town and Kingstonian (away). 

After a very good start to the 2023/24 season, Carshalton have had some difficult games/results of late. I have watched Carshalton Athletic on two occasions so far this season. The first occasion was an away fixture with Chatham Town, which ended in a 2-2 draw. In a game that will be remembered for an outstanding goal from distance by Chatham player Jack Evans, it was Carshalton who I thought were the better and more creative side for good amounts of that game. It was an excellent and thrilling game of football, with Carshalton’s creativity with the ball really showing throughout the game. I was stood right behind the Carshalton dug-out for that game, and at the end of the game Peter went to shake the hands of some of the fans behind the dug-out, saying what a great game it was. The most recent game that I saw Carshalton involved in, was last Saturday, when they lost 3-2 to Wingate & Finchley at their home ground, the War Memorial Sports Ground. This was a game which I thought that Carshalton were very unlucky not only to draw, but also to win. They were the more creative side against Wingate & Finchley, however, the away side were just that bit more clinical in front of goal on the day. But, Carshalton created more goalscoring chances in the game.

Playing some really good football in the two Carshalton games that I have seen so far this season, Peter Adeniyi’s side is a talented one, which includes Carshalton’s top scorer in the league this season in Oluwabunmi Babajide, former Brighton & Hove Albion academy player Matt Everitt and also Andre Coker. There is a good balance to the Carshalton Athletic squad, and manager Peter Adeniyi has them playing a good and effective style of football. Regardless of the fact that Carshalton have been on a bit of a difficult run of form in recent games, I really can see them finishing in the play-offs by the end of the season, and I’m sure that their good form will return soon. I wish Carshalton Athletic (their next game is away to Billericay, on Tuesday) and their manager Peter Adeniyi all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season.