Non-League and Academy football writer

Although I don’t know when the start date will be for the new 2025/26 Spartan Football League Premier Division season, the new season shouldn’t be too far away now, and as pre-season friendlies start next month, I thought that I’d write a preview of this quality step 5 league’s new season. In what will be an incredibly competitive season, let’s look at who departed the division, at the end of last season.

An excellent Milton Keynes Irish side won last season’s Premier Division by 11 points (they finished the season on 85 points), with London Lions also winning promotion to the Southern League Division One Central, for the 2025/26 season, via the play-offs, with London Lions beating Wormley Rovers in the final. FC Romania and Shefford Town & Campton were relegated from the Premier Division, last season.  However, coming in to the league next season, are six teams, taking the total of teams in the division back up to 20.

Promoted as champions of Division One of the Spartan League, was AFC Welwyn, who have been on a really impressive journey as a club so far. After winning two successive promotions, Brett Donnelly’s side will be up there competing for the title this season, and a third successive promotion. They have a quality squad of players. 

Haringey Borough (there’s always a great atmosphere at Coles Park!) join the Premier Division of the Spartan League, following their relegation from step 4, as do Kings Langley. Two very well established clubs, both sides will undoubtedly add further quality and experience to this league. Additionally, last season’s Thurlow Nunn League First Division South champions, Harlow Town, were promoted to the Spartan Premier Division, from step 6. And, Risborough Rangers and Sawbridgeworth Town move across to the Spartan Premier Division, from the Combined Counties Premier Division North, and the Essex Senior League, respectively.

Tring Athletic finished in second place in this step 5 division season last season, and they’ll definitely be a side to watch out for next season. As are third place Cockfosters, who were unfortunate to be knocked out by London Lions in the play-off semi-finals last season. However, so many of last season’s talented squad have  committed for the coming season, and the vastly experienced Gavin Kelsey’s side will really be looking to go for promotion this season, once again. On their day Cockfosters can beat any team at this level, and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see them go far in the FA Vase, in 2025/26.

A really good footballing side, Wormley Rovers only just lost on penalties to London Lions in last season’s play-off final, and the club that has been on a fantastic journey in recent seasons, they will be another side to watch out for this coming season. Finishing not too far outside of the play-off positions, Arlesey Town, Harpenden Town, and Biggleswade United, will all be looking to hopefully improve even further on last season’s respective league finishes.

From tenth to 14th place in 2024/25, was (in order) Winslow United, Dunstable Town, Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, Conley Heath and Baldock Town, who are all very established teams, who will also look to improve further next season. And then finishing just above the relegation zone last season, was Crawley Green and Kempston Rovers. On Kempston Rovers, and their goalkeeper, Kacper Kurylowicz, is a brilliant goalkeeper and leader, who I remember very well from when I used to cover Spurs Academy matches in my spare time. I hope to cover one of Kempston’s matches next season.

I personally think that this is going to be a really interesting Spartan Premier Division season, and one in which will be hugely competitive across this division. And I look forward to covering even more games in this league than I did during the previous season.