Non-League and Academy football writer

With the 2024/25 grassroots/non-League season having come to an end (last month), I thought that I’d write my annual team of the season piece, for the season just gone. In this following team of the season piece, which is based only on my opinion from all of the games that I watched last season, it was of course very difficult to pick this team, with so many players that I also could’ve chosen to include in the XI. 

A lot of the players that are included in my team of the season, play their football at step 7 and step 8 of the non-League pyramid, with that level of non-League football being one in which I cover a lot, on my blog. Also, four leagues (all based in or around the London area) feature in my team of the season, from step 6 to step 8.

Formation: 4-2-3-1:

Goalkeeper: Harvey Simson (FC Baresi): A consistent goalkeeper who has some really good experience in the game, Harvey Simson was a mainstay of the FC Baresi team, during 2024/25. A former academy player at Blackpool, and previously Chelsea, Harvey Simson was a very reliable goalkeeper for step 6 side FC Baresi, in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South. This was FC Baresi’s first season at step 6 of the non-League pyramid, and the vocal goalkeeper made a really good impression on their squad, during the season just gone.

Right-back: Carlos Angulo (PFC Victoria London): An excellent 1v1 defender, 18 year old full-back Carlos Angulo, is a player who has a good future in the game. Although he was with Kingstonian for much of the 2024/25 season, where he played for the club’s talented Under 18 side, Carlos made a good number of appearances for step 6 side PFC Victoria London. In what was PFC Victoria’s first season at step 6, Carlos really impressed me, from the matches that I saw him involved in for the Combined Counties Division One side, last season.

Carlos Angulo has good balance to his game, and he is a really good defender.

Central-defence: Jay Hines (Wood Lane): The young defender (21) really impressed me when he played in central-defence, for then step 8 Middlesex League side Wood Lane. The 21 year old former Hampton & Richmond Borough player was a very important player for the champions of the Division One North & West of the Middlesex League, Jay Hines was very impressive defensively, from the Wood Lane matches that I saw last season. A tall defender, with good ability on the ball, Jay is excellent in the air, impressing with his reading of the game, as well.

Central-defence: Aaron Hunwicks: (Chadwell Heath Spartans): Player-manager of Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division side Chadwell Heath Spartans, Aaron Hunwicks is someone who has a lot of experience in non-League football. A real leader on the pitch, Aaron reads the game with ease from defence, and he can step out from defence with the ball well. Aaron made a fine impression on his team’s games (that I saw in 2024/25), and he played a big part in leading them to the Fenton Cup final, which they won against FC Petrocub London, last month.

Left-back: Tamás Rétyi (Philip United): Although left-back is one of Tamás Rétyi’s main positions, the former Hungary Under 18 international can play in a number of forward areas on the pitch. This season, for Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division champions Philip United, Tamás’ technical ability and movement, made him, in my opinion, such an effective player for Philip United. He scored 32 goals from 32 appearances for Philip, last season, additionally providing eight assists for the league champions. Tamás had some really fine games at left-back.

Central-midfield: Matteo Toti (LBS Lions): A former AS Roma and Frosinone academy player, Italian footballer Matteo Toti is excellent on the ball, and at keeping possession. A key player for 2024/25 Middlesex League Division One East & Central champions LBS Lions, the midfielder is really good at taking the ball forward, making clever forward passes, and at finishing chances in front of goal. LBS Lions are a very technical side, and Matteo Toti excelled for them in the games that I saw last season.

Central-midfield: Louis Maffia (Haringey Borough Under 23s): Without doubt one of the young players of the season, in the Senior Division of the Essex Alliance Football League, Louis Maffia made an excellent impression on the very talented Haringey Borough Under 23s side, last season. A versatile player who has a real eye for goal, Louis scored an impressive total of 15 goals (from 27 competitive appearances) for Haringey Borough Under 23s, in what was his first season of senior football. A relentless worker on the pitch, who has superb technical ability, Louis Maffia also featured for Haringey Borough’s first team, last season.

Winger: Dylan Flynn (CSM London): With 22 goals from 28 competitive appearances for CSM London, of the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division, highly skilful and creative winger/forward Dylan Flynn, was another real standout player at step 7, last season. A clinical finisher, formerly of Walthamstow Reserves, the youngster had an excellent season for CSM, during 2024/25.

CAM: Mouadh Kermani (Soccer Stars Fennecs): Another really creative player who makes my team of the season, CAM/midfielder Mouadh Kermani continued his progress with Soccer Stars Fennecs, last season. The youngster has excellent balance, quality on the ball, and off the ball movement, and after a really good season in 2023/24, Mouadh helped Soccer Stars Fennecs to do well in their first season at step 7 of the Middlesex League, in 2024/25. Mouadh also played some matches for step 6 side Brimsdown, during last season.

Winger: Dylan Roberts (Lymore Gardens): An outstanding forward/winger, Dylan Roberts is one of the most creative and skilful players at step 7 and 6 of non-League football, in my opinion. Mr consistent, and a real club legend at a talented Lymore Gardens side who finished second in the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division in 2024/25, Dylan Roberts scored 30 goals from 30 competitive appearances for Lymore Gardens, in all competitions.

Centre-forward: Andrei Pogan (LBS Lions) 38 goals from 21 competitive appearances is an incredible return, and despite real competition from forward’s such as Rafael Barbosa Dos Santos, and Kristo Beshiku, LBS Lions centre-forward Andrei Pogan makes this team of the season, as my centre-forward. The Canadian centre-forward featured for both the LBS Lions first and reserve team last season, in the Middlesex League. Andrei is a skilful and physical centre-forward, who was in outstanding form during the most recent season, and his clinical finishing and excellent all-round season, meant that he just had to be in my team of the season.