Non-League and Academy football writer

With the new 2025/26 Middlesex County Football League Premier Division season beginning on Saturday the 9th of August, I thought that now was a good time to write my season preview of the Premier Division. Departing the Premier Division at the end of last season, were the 2024/25 league champions, the excellent SL Benfica. Ricky Nelson’s side were deserved champions of the Premier Division over the course of last season, and I’m sure that they’ll do well in Division One of the Combined Counties League during this season, following their promotion to step 6.

Also departing the Premier Division of the Middlesex League at the end of the 2024/25 season, was London Tigers, and Pitshanger Dynamo. I wish both sides well following their relegation to Division One for this season. Also, Shepherds Bush have since left the Middlesex League. At this moment in time the following teams mentioned below, will be competing in the Premier Division of the Middlesex League this season. Joining the Premier Division from Division One East & Central, is LBS Lions. A team who did ever so well last season, and who deservedly won their respective division at step 8 of the Middlesex League, LBS Lions have a lot of quality and experience within their first team squad.

Harrow United were promoted from Division One South & West as runners up last season, after finishing just behind the champions of that division, in Sporting Duet Academy, who were also promoted to the Premier Division. For what will be both side’s first season competing at step 7, I have heard good things about both teams, and I look forward to covering some of their games during this season. And the final team who are joining the Premier Division for the start of this season, are PFC Victoria London Reserves.

PFC Victoria London already have a first team which competes at step 6 of the non-League pyramid, as well as a very talented youth team. So entering a reserve team in to the Premier Division of the Middlesex League will not only add to the competitiveness of the league, but it will also provide the youth team players with the invaluable experience of playing senior football. North London side Camden & Islington United have done ever so well during the last two seasons, following their promotion to the Premier Division. 

Camden & Islington United play a very good brand of positive, forward thinking football, and with such a good squad of players, they will probably be up there competing right near the top of the table, again this season. Finishing six points behind Camden & Islington last season, was Hayes & Hillingdon. A team with a lot of variety to their play, Gavin Shepherd’s side competed alongside eventual champions SL Benfica for a good part of last season. Now playing their home fixtures at Uxbridge FC for the 2025/26 season, Hayes & Hillingdon are another side who will likely be competing once again for the title as well as for promotion to step 6.

Jolof Sports finished in fourth place in the Premier Division in 2024/25, and they had a very good season overall. It will be interesting to see whether they can improve further on that fourth place finish, from last season. Eric Najib’s Stonewall side recorded their highest ever finish in the Premier Division last season. They are a very well organised side who did very well last season, and who will be looking to build on that fifth place finish in the league, during this season.

Eagles Land Cricklewood (they did very well in pre-season) and London Fennecs (they were previously called Soccer Stars Fennecs) are two sides who could well be in contention to win promotion to step 6 for the 2026/27 season. Eagles Land finished last season strongly, and they impressed me on the occasion that I saw them this pre-season. Zak Bettache’s London Fennecs side are another very ambitious club with a lot of potential, who after debuting in the Premier Division season and finishing in a respectable league position, will be looking to go further in the league this season.

Leon Louis is the new manager of Camden United, and he has a lot of experience in the Middlesex League. His side are another one who have the ground which were they to finish in potentially the highest position needed, it would see them be promoted to step 6 for the following season. Camden United are a side who I personally think will improve a lot this season. Kodak (Harrow) and Hilltop 2nds finished in ninth and tenth place respectively, in the Premier Division last season. And then there was Larkspur Rovers, Kensington Dragons and Indian Gymkhana Club (they won the 2024/25 Alec Smith Premier Division Cup), who finished just above the bottom two positions in the Premier Division last season.

I am now the Middlesex County Football League’s press officer, something which I am very thankful and grateful for. I’m looking forward to covering the Premier Division once again during the coming season, getting to as many games as I can, in my spare time. And I would like to wish all of the clubs who are involved in the Premier Division this season, all the very best of luck for the season ahead.