Non-League and Academy football writer

With the 2024/25 Essex Alliance Football League Premier Division season (East and West) starting on Saturday the 7th of September, with the first game on that Saturday afternoon (between FC Baresi Reserves and Greengate District) kicking off at 12:30pm, I thought that it was a good time to write a season preview. These two step 8 divisions of the Essex Alliance Football League are very good divisions/leagues in step 8 football. And I will be covering more of the matches at step 8, of both the Essex Alliance Football League, and also the Middlesex County Football League, during this season. For the Essex Alliance Football League Premier Division East, there will be 12 teams competing in that division, this season. Newly formed club Greengate District are a team to watch, this season. They have a very talented side, and play some great football. The club who will be playing at Noak Hill Sports Complex during this season, could be a club that are competing near the top of the division, come the end of the season.

In addition to Greengate District, Motormen are a newly formed side, who are new to this division for the start of this season (I believe that they are a part of Redbridge FC). Kit Out London were relegated from the Senior Division last season, but they’ll be looking to win promotion back to step 7 for next season. And the other new team to this division for 2024/25, is Romford Town Flyers, a club who were founded back in 2007. Both Fairlop Rovers and Ongar Town were promoted from the East Division (last season), to the Senior Division of the Essex Alliance Football League, for the 2024/25 season. Leyton City finished bottom of this division, last season, and they have since been relegated to Division One, for the start of this season. Soul FC finished in seventh place in the Premier Division East, in 2023/24. However, they have since gone onto merge with Tower Hamlets, to become Soul Tower Hamlets FC. However, taking their place in this division this season, is Soul Tower Hamlets Reserves. Finally, Unitey FC have since been moved across to the Premier Division West, for this season.

A side who came very close to winning promotion to the Senior Division, last season, was Dagenham United. Player-manager Chris Mascall’s side (check out my interview with Chris, from earlier on this summer) finished two points behind Ongar Town, in the league last season. And I’m sure that the former Senior Division side will be up there competing for one of the promotion places, this season. Although I didn’t see Waltham Abbey A play last season, the side who finished in fourth place in the Premier Division East last time out, are a side who from my numerous football interviews on my blog, are mentioned quite a bit, for their quality as a team. They’ll be looking to improve on last season’s fourth place finish, this season. Something From Nothing, Barkingside Reserves (formerly of the Premier Division West), Redbridge Community, FC Baresi Reserves (formerly of the Premier Division West) and Inter Newbury are other sides who will be looking to improve on their respective finishes last season. This promises to be a very interesting and competitive division, during 2024/25.

From last season’s Premier Division West (there will be 12 teams competing in the division this season), division winners Philip United are currently playing in the Senior Division, but second placed side Snaresbrook won’t be competing in the Essex Alliance Football League, in 2024/25. Also, Wanstead FC (they finished in bottom place in the Premier Division West, last season) will also not be competing in the league this season. There will be three newly formed/reformed clubs that will be competing in the Premier Division West for the first time, during 2024/25. They are City Of Westminster, who seem to be a reformed side from the historic former London club who were originally formed during the early 1880s, Vallance and Stratford East. Priory Park Rangers join this division for the start of this season, having been relegated from the Senior Division, with Sporting Bengal United Reserves and Saint City (they were promoted from Division One), other sides who are new to the division.

Saint City are another very good side, who I’m sure will do well this season as they make the step up to step 8. Renegade will also surely be up there competing for a promotion place, after having finished in third place in this division last season, as will Newham Wanderers. London Cranes are an established side, who will be looking to improve on their fifth place league finish last season, as will North East Lions, Unitey (formerly of the Premier Division East) and London Park City, respectively. Just like with the Premier Division East, the Premier Division West promises to be a fantastic season, but also a competitive and unpredictable one, as well. I’m looking forward to covering as many games that I can at this level during this season (I also plan on writing weekly updates on all of the results at step 7 and 8 of the Essex Alliance Football League). And I’d like to wish all of the sides who are competing in both of these step 8 divisions, all the very best for the season ahead.

Teams who are competing in the Essex Alliance Football League Premier Division East (in 2024/25):

• Barkingside Reserves
• Dagenham United
• FC Baresi Reserves
• Greengate District 
• Inter Newbury
• Kit Out London 
• Motormen
• Redbridge Community
• Romford Town Flyers 
• Something From Nothing 
• Soul Tower Hamlets Reserves
• Waltham Abbey A

Teams who are competing in the Essex Alliance Football League Premier Division West (in 2024/25):

• City of Westminster 
• London Cranes 
• London Park City
• Newham Wanderers
• North East Lions 
• Priory Park Rangers 
• Renegade
• Saint City 
• Sporting Bengal United Reserves
• Stratford East 
• Vallance
• Unitey