Non-League and Academy football writer

With no more games taking place in the Middlesex County Football League during the remainder of 2024, I thought that I would write a bit of a summary of how the respective leagues/divisions of the Middlesex League have gone so far (from step 7 to step 9), ahead of the league action resuming in early 2025. The Premier Division of the Middlesex League has been fascinating so far, at both ends of the league table. SL Benfica are the league leaders going into the new year, and at this stage of the season, they are looking like the the favourites to win the Premier Division, and potentially earn promotion to step 6 of the non-League system. However, despite SL Benfica having impressed greatly following promotion to the Premier Division this season, playing really well as a team, there are other sides who are close to the top of the table, who have games in hand over them. 

Danny Brissett’s Jolof Sports side have made a fantastic improvement from last season, so far. And the east London club sit in second place in the league standings, losing only one game in the league so far this season. They have impressed me greatly on the occasions that I have seen them during this season, and like Benfica, they have played really well as a team. Jolof Sports are also doing well in their respective cup competitions, at this point in the season. Another club that is really looking to challenge for the league title, is Northwood FC based side, Hayes & Hillingdon. Nine points off Benfica, having played three games less in the league, Hayes & Hillingdon currently occupy third place in the table, and like Jolof Sports they have only lost one league game so far. Hayes & Hillingdon are a very well organised team, whose style of play has great variety. What I’ve also noticed from watching some of their games this season, is the great leadership and camaraderie that they have on the pitch, from their squad.

Another Premier Division title contender is Stonewall FC, with Eric Najib’s side having made a very good start to the season. Seventh placed side Camden Islington United, are a team who still have more than half of their matches still to play. Nick Wigmore’s talented side have made a good start to the season, but if they can go on a run in the new year, similar to how they did during the second half of last season, then they could definitely challenge for the league title, in my opinion. Just above Camden & Islington in the league standings are Eagles Land Cricklewood, and then Camden United. Both of those sides have had a solid season, so far. And regarding Eagles Land Cricklewood, they have done well in my opinion, since Eagles Land merged with Cricklewood Wanderers, at the end of last season, as have Camden United, who will be looking to do even better than they did in 2023/24.

Around mid table of the Middlesex Premier Division, are Soccer Stars Fennecs, whose first ever season it is at step 7, Kodak (Harrow), and Indian Gymkhana Club. Footballing side Soccer Stars Fennecs will be looking to finish the second half of the season strongly (they are still in the Premier Division Cup), as will Kodak, and Indian Gymkhana Club, who will look to build on last season’s respective league finishes. London Tigers are in decent form of late, and they are in 11th place in the league table. Below London Tigers in the table, are Kensington Dragons, Larkspur Rovers and Shepherds Bush, respectively. In the relegation zone of the Premier Division, are Hilltop Reserves, and then last season’s champions, Pitshanger Dyanmo. Pitshanger have a very different squad to the one which won them the league last season. However, despite only having won one game this season, they do have games in hand over Hilltop Reserves, and were they to go on a good run of form in the new year, then they could definitely move out of the relegation zone. There is still all to play for in the Premier Division, in 2025. 

In the step 8 divisions of the Middlesex League, there are also some great title races taking place across the three respective divisions. In the Division One East & Central, unbeaten side LBS Lions lead the way, going into 2025. LBS Lions are on 25 points after nine matches played, with FC Marylebone, a club who are so far having a great season, three points behind LBS Lions, also after nine matches played. FC Marylebone are also doing really well in the London FA Junior Cup. Rory Adler’s Hackney Wick Reserves side are in third place in that division, with league debutants Apollo London, just behind them in the table. A team to watch out for in that division is sixth placed Westminster & Kensington, who still have a number of games in hand over the teams above them in the table. 

I have seen a couple of games in the Division One East & Central, which is a very good division within the Middlesex League, and both involved eighth placed side Alexandra Knights, who have recorded some impressive wins so far this season, but who will be looking to become even more consistent during 2025. I was very impressed with Nabeel Hashim’s FC Wood Green side, when I saw them recently. They are currently one place below Alexandra Knights in the table, with Stonewall Reserves in tenth place in the table, but they are on six games at this stage of the season. Unfortunately Estudiantes, and Aloysius, both folded from this division, earlier on in the season.

In the Division One South & West there is a real contest for the title of that division and potentially promotion, with first placed Harrow United, and second placed Sporting Duet Academy, only separated by one point in the table after 11 matches played. It will be really interesting to see who will win that division. Also, it will be interesting to see who will potentially avoid finishing bottom of the Division One South & West, with Brentham currently bottom of that division, and Feltham one place above them. Both Brentham and Ruislip Town are impressively still representing this division of the Middlesex League, in the quarter-finals of the Middlesex FA Intermediate Cup. With ties involving those sides to be played in the early new year.

The Division One North & West is very close, in terms of the title race this season. Bloomsbury currently lead the way in this division (it is their debut season in this league), after 11 games played. However, clubs such as Harrow Bhoys (they are having a great season), FH Whistlers, Bessingby Park Rangers, Brook House Reserves, Wood Lane, and Portobello could all potentially still challenge for the title. Finally, Eastcote British Legion are currently leading the table in The Russell Grant Division 2 (step 9) by seven points. However, second placed Townmead have two games in hand over them, and they are also having a very good season, with them being the main challengers for the title of that division. Townmead are the only step 9 side who are still in the Middlesex FA Intermediate Cup, this season. I’m looking forward to continuing to cover a lot of games from across the different divisions of the Middlesex Football League, during the second half of this season. 

The top goalscorers from the respective divisions of the Middlesex Football League (from step 7 to step 9):

Premier Division – Rafael Barbosa Dos Santos (16 league goals from 11 appearances).

Division One (East & Central) – Jevonte Deabreau (14 league goals from 9 appearances).

Division One (South & West) – William Puvanesan (13 league goals from 10 appearances).

Division One (North & West) – Rhys Murphy (8 league goals from 10 appearances).

The Russell Grant Division Two – Cody Howes (12 league goals from 6 appearances).