Non-League and Academy football writer

This step 6 league (Thurlow Nunn League First Division South) is a brilliant league at this level of the non-League system. Last season (2023/24) saw Benfleet FC promoted to step 5 (the Essex Senior League) as league champions, with league runners-up Wormley Rovers, going up via the play-offs, after beating Dunmow Town in the play-off final. There weren’t any teams from last season’s league who were relegated to step 7 of the non-League system, although for the 2024/25 season, Clapton Community FC, Clapton FC (they would later withdraw from the SCEFL league) and Soul Tower Hamlets FC (formerly Tower Hamlets FC) have all been transferred to the SCEFL Division One.

Last season I really enjoyed reporting on various matches in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, and with the new season starting in just over two weeks time, I thought that now was a good time to write my preview of this season. In what promises to be a great and very interesting season, there will be 20 teams competing in the league this season. The newly promoted sides from step 7, FC Baresi and Rayleigh Town (both league champions of their respective leagues last season), are clubs who will be relishing the challenge of this season. Although I didn’t see Rayleigh Town play last season, I did see FC Baresi play on numerous occasions, and the club who groundshare at Ware FC’s Wodson Park, have a fantastic squad, and they also play great football. 

FC Baresi have vastly experienced former professional footballers Marvin Hamilton and Romuald Boco (Romuald is the player-manager at the club), whose experience of playing the game will be so important for FC Baresi. However, they have a really good squad, and it is a squad of real balance as well. I reckon that they’ll do well in this league this season. A club who were in FC Baresi’s position at the beginning of last season, was Brimsdown FC, and Junior Matti’s side would impressively finish in ninth place in 2023/24. And Brimsdown are a very talented and youthful side, who I’m looking forward to watching again this season in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South.

One of my favourite teams to watch in the First Division South last season, was Enfield Borough, another club who provide a real pathway into senior football for youngsters. Enfield Borough are a great club, who will be managed this season by Kiernan Hughes-Mason, and they finished last season really strongly. One of the games of the season in the First Division South last season, involved Enfield Borough winning 5-4 against Southend Manor, and it was an absolutely fantastic game of football. Near the top of the league table last season, was Harlow Town, who are a very good team, and they are a club with a rich history. Them, Cannons Wood (they finished just outside of the play-off positions last season), play-off finalists Dunmow Town, Hutton and Hackney Wick, are all clubs who I’m sure will be looking to improve even further on last season, as they were all sides who were in or around the play-off positions.

Former Middlesex County Football League side NW London FC are another club who provide great opportunities for young players to play senior football. Last season whenever I saw them play I thought that they looked very good, and they also play really good football. NW London will be ground-sharing with Haringey Borough at Coles Park, this season. At AS London FC (formerly Park View) former Athletic Newham manager Francesco Zabotti is now the manager at AS London, and they recently announced the signing of a very clinical centre-forward, in Reece Simpson, for this season. I’m looking forward to catching some of their matches this season, and they are a club who I personally think will do well in 2024/25.

Teams such as Hoddesdon Town, May & Baker, Basildon Town, Newbury Forest and Barkingside are also all good sides, and they are teams who I really wouldn’t be surprised to see improve on last season’s respective league positions. In addition to the league season, most clubs will also be entering the League Challenge Cup, for the 2024/25 season. This is a very competitive league of step 6 football, and this season will in my opinion be another very good one. I’m looking forward to the 2024/25 season starting, and I wish all of the teams who are competing in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, all the best for this season.

The clubs who are competing in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, this season (2024/25):

• Barkingside 
• Basildon Town 
• Brimsdown 
• Burnham Ramblers 
• Cannons Wood
• Coggeshall Town (Relegated from the Essex Senior League)
• Dunmow Town
• Enfield Borough 
• FC Baresi (Promoted from the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division)
• Hackney Wick
• Harlow Town
• Hoddesdon Town
• Hutton 
• May & Baker ECFC
• Newbury Forest
• NW London 
• AS London (Formerly Park View)
• Rayleigh Town (Promoted from the Essex Olympian League Premier Division)
• Southend Manor
• St Margaretsbury