Non-League and Academy football writer

With one game remaining for John Sewell’s Civil Service 1s side in the 2024/25 season, I thought that I’d write a bit of a summary of how their 2024/25 season has gone so far. This has been the first season that I’ve really been following Civil Service, as well as getting to a good number of games. And I really appreciate the quality of the SAL, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to, and reporting on, a number of SAL (Southern Amateur League) matches, during this season. Civil Service are such a historic football club, and real giants of the amateur game.

Civil Service’s men’s first team would start the season off with a 1-1 home draw with NUFC Oilers (in Senior Division 1 of the SAL), before then winning 3-0 away to Alleyn Old Boys, during the following Saturday, back in September of last year. A 2-2 draw against a very good Hammersmith side would follow, before Civil Service maintained their unbeaten start to the season, with a 2-2 draw away to Weirside Rangers. Then, in the autumn time, John Sewell’s side would start a very impressive cup run in this season’ Middlesex FA Premier Cup, with a 4-0 win over step 7 non-League side, Camden United, in the early rounds of that prestigious competition.

After that emphatic win over Camden United, Civil Service would draw three games in a row, in Senior Division 1, against Old Finchleians, Actonians Association, and Alleyn Old Boys, respectively. And then, in a very lively quarter-final tie of the Middlesex Premier Cup, against step 6 side Bedfont, Civil Service would win that very eventful game of cup football 1-0, courtesy of a really fine goal from Dwayne Sommerville. However, Civil Service would narrowly lose 3-2 away to Weirside Rangers, in the third round of this season’s SAL Senior Cup. Two weeks later, in the early rounds of the AFA Senior Cup, Civil Service would lose 4-2 at home to Hammersmith, in Chiswick. 

Civil Service’s first team’s final match of the year, was a 1-1 home draw with Nottsborough. Nottsborough were in fact Civil Service’s first opponents of 2025, and that match in Surrey, was one of real quality, and one which finished in a 3-3 draw, as well as seeing an exceptional goal from Nottsborough player Dan Barber. Results for Civil Service during the early stages of 2025, were would see a loss against Old Finchleians, and draws against Winchmore Hill and Hammersmith, in Senior Division 1. 

In February of this year, Civil Service would record a very impressive 3-2 win against a very good step 6 side, in AS London, in the semi-finals of the Middlesex Premier Cup, to make the final of that competition, even though they were missing a number of important players to injury. Then, four days later, the 1s would get a crucial three points at home to Weirside Rangers. And although Civil Service would lose their next three games, to NUFC Oilers (away), and then the following two fixtures against a very good West Wickham side, home and away, the famous amateur side still had a big cup final to look forward to.

The final of this season’s Middlesex FA Premier Cup, was played between Civil Service and step 6 side Brook House, at Hanwell Town FC, earlier on this month. Unfortunately, and after the final had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, Civil Service would lose 4-3 on penalties, in what was a heartbreaking loss for all at the club, against the holders of that competition. That brings us to this Saturday, when Civil Service face Actonians Association, away, in their final Senior Division 1 fixture of this season. John Sewell’s side are currently in fifth place in the Senior Division 1 table, after 17 matches played. They have so far won 3, drawn 10 and lost four of those league matches.

An extremely well organised side, with so much quality in their first team and throughout the club, Civil Service 1s have impressed me as a team, in every game that I have seen them involved in during this season. With players such as hardworking and skilful forward Matthew Huntley, the tireless and decisive Sam Hale, and the commanding Dom McCarthy, the talent and depth throughout this famous old club, is very impressive. 

A special mention must also go to Rob Solomon’s Civil Service 3s side, on recently winning the 2024/25 Middlesex FA Junior Cup final, and also, the Civil Service 2s, who have had a fine season in the Senior Division 3, to give just another good example of this season. I’m looking forward to getting to even more Civil Service games, next season (2025/26), they really are a tremendous club. I would like to also say a special thank you to club president, James Kellett, for going out of his way to make me feel so welcome at the Civil Service games in which I have attended this season.