Non-League and Academy football writer

It’s not very long now until the new Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division (step 7) season gets underway (next month). Departing the Senior Division last season was Lymore Gardens, who finished the season in second place in the table, and who were promoted to the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South (step 6).  Also departing the Senior Division at the end of the 2024/25 season, was Bakers693, AS Rapid Londra and Sporting Hackney, who were all relegated to step 8 of the league.

The 2024/25 Senior Division champions (formerly called Philip United) are now called London Harts United. And after an excellent first season in the Senior Division, they will be looking to win back to back league titles, in 2025/26. London Harts United will be playing at Harlow Town FC for this season. The youthful Haringey Borough Reserves (formerly Haringey Borough Under 23s) are under new management for this season, but they are a quality team, and after having seen them impress in a pre-season friendly this summer, I think that they could do even better than last seasons third place finish in the league.

Wayne Phillips’ Frenford Development finished in fourth place last season and they did well in cup competitions, and Will Brobby’s CSM London side are in my opinion title contenders, this season. CSM are an ambitious club who do a lot of work in the local community, and they started last season in real style. Finishing in a respectable fifth place, last season, the east London club will definitely be looking to really challenge for the league title during this season.

2024/25 Fenton Cup winners Chadwell Heath Spartans greatly deserved to win that particular competition last season. Another club who would be eligible for promotion to step 6 for next season, were they to win the league or finish higher than the other eligible clubs, Aaron Hunwicks’ side are ambitious, very well organised and structured. And they also have a very good squad of players, who play well as a team.

Senior Division Cup (2024/25) winners Woodford Town Reserves, are now called Woodford Town Under 23s for this season. They finished in seventh place in the Senior Division last season, and they are under new management for this season. FC Petrocub London and Ongar Town both finished around mid-table in the league last season, and they are more than capable of beating any team in this league on their day.

Finishing in tenth place in the Senior Division last season, was a Fairlop Rovers side who had an excellent second half of the season. Walthamstow Reserves have rebranded, and are now Ryan FC. Still managed by a very good coach in Eny Okoro, I’m looking forward to seeing how the youthful Ryan FC will do this season. Halil Hassan’s Waltham Forest Borough side finished last season in 12th place, and they did well to finish the season strongly, and they are a side who will undoubtedly be looking to improve on that 12th place finish, this season. Waltham Forest Borough had a very different squad last season, compared to the previous 2023/24 season, when they finished as league runners up.

Kenneth Boateng’s Kulture FC side ended last season just above the relegated bottom three teams. However, Kulture are a very ambitious club who will be looking forward to the future, and of course this season. Joining the league as promoted sides from the Premier Division, are Sporting Bengal United Reserves, Dagenham United, Greengate District and Saint City. All sides who will definitely add further quality to the very competitive Senior Division, the only newly promoted side who I haven’t seen yet, is Saint City. However, I have heard good things about Saint City, who have been on a great journey as a club in recent years. I would like to wish all of the Senior Division sides the very best of luck for the 2025/26 season.