Non-League and Academy football writer

Although I haven’t attended as many matches in the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division as I had by this point of the previous 2023/24 season, I have still attended a decent amount of games, and I still follow the league very closely (I aim to get to even more games this year). This quality step 5 league currently sees Terry Shrieves’ excellent Milton Keynes Irish side leading the way, in the league table. Milton Keynes Irish are a tremendous footballing side, who are very difficult to play against. Their start to the league season was, and continues to be superb, and they lead in first place by six points (they have played a game less than the second placed side), to second place side Cockfosters. On the occasions that I saw Milton Keynes Irish last season, everything from their organisational skills to the way in which they move the ball around the pitch at such pace and play the game, are just some of the reasons why I think that they are a club who will go up the leagues, in the coming years. They also have a really good number of fans who attend their matches.

Former MK Dons academy graduate and Wales youth international, Mason Spence, is a key player for Milton Keynes Irish, and the sheer amount of goals that he has scored this season shows what a quality, but also highly skilful player that he is. Such a talented side, Milton Keynes Irish also have the impressive George Shrieves and James Meadows in their team, who are just some of the players who are making a really good impression on the league this season. In second place, Cockfosters are a team who aren’t going to let the so far unbeaten (in the league) league leaders just run away with the league this season. Gavin Kelsey’s side are very well organised, and difficult to break down. They also play some really good football, score goals, and have real variety to their style of play. After 19 league matches played this season (they are in the quarter-finals of the Premier Division Cup), Cockfosters have an impressive 42 points on the board. They are another team who are doing really well so far this season, and who deserve a lot of credit for the way in which they have improved further from last season. 

Third place side Arlesey Town are on course to improve a lot from last season, in terms of their final league position, as are current fourth place side Biggleswade United. In fifth place are London Lions, who really are challenging for a play-off spot in the league, as well as doing really well in the FA Vase (they face Egham Town in that competition this month). London Lions are a very good side, who look to improve on last season’s tenth place finish in the league table. Potton United are in sixth place in the league standings, at this moment in time. They are tied on 30 points with promoted side (from the Thurlow Nunn First Division South) Wormley Rovers, who are another side who are having a fine season. With games in hand over the teams above them in the table, Wormley Rovers could well find themselves really challenging for a play-off spot over the coming months.

From eighth to 12th place in the table are Tring Athletic, promoted side Winslow United, Harpenden Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, and Colney Heath, who are all good sides. 13th place side Dunstable Town actually finished in 13th place in the table, at the end of the 2023/24 season. And then last season’s play-off finalists, FC Romania, are currently in 14th place in the table. On FC Romania, I was at that play-off final against Leverstock Green, who were just more clinical on the day, in the very rainy conditions. However, the rainy conditions and the pitch, really didn’t allow FC Romania to play their fast passing game effectively. This season has been a bit of a difficult season for them, with some players from the previous season moving on. The club who play at Cheshunt FC, recently named John Pike as their new manager. John had most recently managed the talented Buckhurst Hill Reserves. I’m sure that FC Romania will improve in their form in 2025. They are a real footballing side, who also play entertaining football. And I hope to cover one of their matches this season.

Crawley Green have 14 points from their first 20 league games of this season, and they are currently in 15th place in the table, with Baldock Town one place below them, on 13 points. The bottom two in the Premier Division are Kempston Rovers, who were relegated from step 4 last season, and then a youthful Shefford Town & Campton side. The Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands Football League is a very strong league, and this season is no different in regard to its quality and competitiveness. It will be a very interesting 2025 for fans of this league.