Non-League and Academy football writer

CSM London are a fantastic community club (you can read about some of the excellent local community work that they do, in my interview that I did with club chairman Anees Ikramullah, last season on my blog), whose first team have made an excellent start to this season. The club that was founded in 2018, would win promotion from the Premier Division West of the Essex Alliance Football League as champions in 2022/23, and CSM London’s first team finished in 10th place in the Senior Division last season (2023/24), during their first season back in the Senior Division. This season however, experienced and talented head-coach Will Brobby’s side have been in superb form in league and cup competitions. When I saw CSM London last season in the Senior Division (step 7 of the non-League system), it was clear that they play some fantastic passing football, and I was very impressed. However, on the occasions that I have seen them this season, they seem to have gone up another level in their football, and their results so far this season prove that.

Having won 11 of their first 13 league matches of this season (CSM have only lost one game this season, in all competitions), Will Brobby’s third placed side have not only won important games, but they have won so many games in style, so far this season. With big wins against the likes of very good sides, in Chadwell Heath Spartans and Philip United, CSM London also recorded an incredible 16-0 win over Bakers693, in the early rounds of this season’s Fenton Cup (they are currently still in three cup competitions this season). In games against Bakers693 and AS Rapid Londra, that I’ve seen CSM London in so far this season, CSM showed their quality, but also in that away league fixture with AS Rapid Londra, they showed real determination to get the win (4-3) very late on in the match.

Summer signing Dylan Flynn (from Walthamstow Reserves) is just one of the signings for the start of the 2024/25 season who has made a tremendous impression on the CSM first team. The highly skilful and creative forward has already scored a very impressive number of goals, as well as providing a good amount of assists so far this season. And forward Jesse Jones is another player who has made a really good impact on the first team so far this season, with the excellent Ramiz Mahmood starting the season in sensational form, as well. However, the whole CSM first team deserves huge credit for the way in which they have excelled as a team so far this season. They are a very well organised side, whose movement off the ball and free flowing passing game, makes it so difficult for teams to defend against them. 

CSM also have an Under 23 side who play in Division Two of the Essex Alliance Football League, which provides a pathway into the first team, as well as having two Sunday sides. However, the club whose first team currently play their home games at Parsloes Park Hub (last season they were at the West Ham United Foundation Ground), are a club who provide community based activities, for local people from different backgrounds. Just to mention one of their community based projects from some of their excellent local community work, CSM London run Coach Ed. Coach Ed gives people an introduction to coaching (thanks to funding), which is a fantastic and valuable initiative for people who are interested in getting involved in coaching. CSM London are more than just a football club who are doing some great work on the pitch, but off the pitch they do just as good and important work, and the club really is a credit to their local boroughs and community.

From the CSM London games that I have seen during this season, it is obvious that there is a real team spirit among the players, and they’ve definitely improved further from last season. They are a club who I have a lot of respect for, for all of their work in the local community, but also for how friendly and welcoming they are as a club. Will Brobby, his coaching staff and the committee deserves huge credit for how far they have brought the club so far. And I look forward to following their first team during the remainder of this season, as they continue to look like real title contenders in this fascinating Senior Division season.

My interview piece with club chairman Anees Ikramullah – https://nonleagueandacademyfootballwriter.co.uk/2024/02/21/a-piece-on-essex-alliance-league-senior-division-side-csm-london-a-real-community-club-including-an-interview-with-csm-london-chairman-anees-ikramullah/