Non-League and Academy football writer

The SCEFL Premier Division (step 5) league table is really starting to take shape, as we head into 2025. The 2024/25 season has been a very competitive one, with plenty to still be decided, going into the new year. After 20 league matches played, and with 13 league wins to their name (as well as impressing in the FA Vase), VCD Athletic lead the way in the Premier Division, ahead of the first set of league fixtures of 2025, this coming weekend. VCD are on course to improve greatly on their 12th placed league finish last season. However, last season’s league runners-up, Faversham Town, are one place and two points behind VCD, with two games in hand over them. Also, Ajay Ashanike, his coaching staff and players are doing a tremendous job so far this season with Fisher, who are currently in third place in the league table, with 41 points after 22 matches played. Like with VCD, Fisher are on course to improve greatly on their final league position of last season, and they have a very talented squad of players. I hope to cover one of Fisher’s games during this season.

Newly promoted (from Division One) for the 2024/25 season, Larkfield & New Hythe are making really good strides so far this season, and they are currently in fifth place in the league table. Former Kent County League side Punjab United are also in the play-off places (they are currently in fifth place in the league table), as they look to secure a play-off spot this season. Punjab United are followed by Holmesdale, Corinthian, and Glebe, in the league table. With Erith & Belvedere (they were relegated from step 4 at the end of last season) in ninth place in the league table, but they still have a chance of making a push for the play-off places during 2025. Six points then separate 10th place Rusthall with 15th place Kennington, in the table, with Sutton Athletic, Whitstable Town, Stansfeld, and Tunbridge Wells in between those two sides in the table.

Last season’s eighth placed side Snodland Town, are currently in 16th place in the table at this point in the season. Bearsted are a talented side, who are one place below Snodland in the table, and who are two points above the relegation zone. However, they have games in hand over the teams around them in the table, and they have some fantastic players in their squad. For Bearsted, Connor French is an excellent forward, who has done well in front of goal for the Kent based club, so far this season. He also has some of the best holdup play in non-League football, and he is very good at bringing others into play. I’m sure that Bearsted will move up the league table in the very near future. Finally, Hollands & Blair sit just above the relegation zone, with Lordswood AFC and Lydd Town currently the bottom two placed sides in the table.

The SCEFL Premier Division is a very strong step 5 league, with so much talent, with this particular season proving to be a very interesting one. I hope to cover some games in this league in 2025.