Non-League and Academy football writer

A highly creative midfield player who is confident in his ability on the football pitch, Zenon Stylianides has become one of the very best and most influential players, in The Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division, this season. A former Spurs academy player, Zenon played alongside the likes of Harry Winks and Josh Onomah at Spurs. However, during Zenon’s time at Spurs, he would often play in a more defensive position on the pitch, often in defensive-midfield, although he also played at full-back. The now 26 year old footballer, has played for the likes of QPR (at Development Squad level), Cypriot side Omonia Aradippou, East Thurrock United and Cheshunt, since leaving Spurs in 2017. However, the player from Edmonton, north London, has established himself as one of the most influential midfield players in The Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division (in step five of the non-League system), for promotion hopefuls FC Romania, this season. Having already previously played for FC Romania, last season Zenon played for clubs such as New Salamis (in step four) and Hertford Town. However, this season the very skilful midfield player has been a real standout for FC Romania, a team who are currently in fourth place in the league.

I watched Zenon play for Spurs at academy level, and I remember when he was a member of the very talented Spurs Under 18 side that reached the semi-finals of the 2014/15 FA Youth Cup, when they were knocked out by an extremely talented Chelsea side. A hardworking and skilful player, with good balance and great ability at driving forward with the ball at pace, Stylianides has been prolific in front of goal for FC Romania, during his time there so far. The midfielder likes to get forward, is always looking to receive the ball, and also drive forward with the ball at pace. His tricky feet makes him a difficult player to get off the ball, and in the FC Romania games that I have seen this season, Zenon has always stood out. Obviously having been in a top category one academy side as a youth player means that he has the skill and the talent, but his workrate on the pitch has always impressed me, as well as his desire to make a real impression in matches. Zenon Stylianides has so far scored 17 competitive goals this season for FC Romania, as well as providing an impressive number of assists.

Zenon is in my opinion one of the very best and most skilful players in step five football, and his current season with FC Romania has shown this. He will be a crucial part of their team, during the remainder of the 2023/24 season, as they look to earn promotion to step four of the non-League system. Achieving that goal certainly isn’t going to be easy, with The Spartan South Midlands Premier Division being so very competitive this season in and around the play-off positions. With players like Zenon, who can finish really well in front of goal and create chances, FC Romania will believed that they can achieve that goal, however. They have a good  group of players, and another player who has been outstanding for them this season is Tobi Coker (I will write a piece on Tobi in the near future), who has linked up really well with Zenon on the pitch, and who is already on 25 goals this season. Every former academy footballer will go on their own footballing journey, and it’s really good to see Zenon excelling at FC Romania this season, and I wish both him and the club all the very best for the remainder of this season.