Non-League and Academy football writer

(This photograph of FC Baresi player Junior Appiah, with FC Baresi’s manager Tufail Amjad, is from FC Baresi.)

Tufail Amjad has been associated with FC Baresi for many years. As a player, then as a sporting director/coach, and now as the club’s first team manager, Tufail has been on so much of the club’s footballing journey. Back in FC Baresi’s Middlesex League days, the average age of their squad was 17. Tufail, a fine full-back, would make his debut for the club in the Middlesex League in a 7-1 home win over Freezywater, in the Division Three (East) of the Middlesex League, at the beginning of the 2006/07 season. Tufail would make a further six competitive appearances for the club, during the remainder of that season. He also started the club’s 18-0 away league victory over Freezywater, during that successful season for the club.

During the following 2007/08 season, one in which FC Baresi were promoted to Division Two of the Middlesex County Football League, for. Making 20 appearances (all starts) for FC Baresi, in that 2007/08 season, during his time playing for the team, he shared the pitch with current Baresi first team players Marvin Smith, and Junior Appiah. However, in that particular season, another successful one for the club, Tufail would feature in some big games for the club. Such as their 7-2 second round London County FA Junior Cup win over Press Association, and a then very big  1-0 win over established Middlesex League side Indian Gymkhana Club, in a second round tie of the MCFL Senior Open Cup. However, likely the biggest achievement for Tufail and those associated with the club during that 2007/08 season, was their 4-2 Sir John Salmond Division Two Cup final win over Junior All Stars, a game which Tufail started in for FC Baresi.

Fast forward to the current 2024/25 season, with FC Baresi currently at step 6 of the non-League system, and Tufail is the first team manager, following a spell as the club’s sporting director, during the previous 2023/24 season. With this being the club’s very first season at step 6, there have of course been some challenges along the way, and difficult results. However, Fc Baresi have also recorded some big and important wins so far this season, as well. There is a good balance of youth and experience in their squad, with the club providing a real pathway from the club’s reserve side, into their first team squad. FC Baresi’s first team are currently in  12th place in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South table, after 27 league matches played (they have so far accumulated 30 points in the league table). I’m sure that FC Baresi will avoid finishing in the relegation zone, with 11 big league matches remaining, during the remainder of this season.

It must be a great and very proud experience, so far, for Tufail to lead the club’s first team during this historic season in the club’s history. I wish Tufail, and FC Baresi, all the very best for the remainder of this season.