Non-League and Academy football writer

The 2025/26 Surrey South Eastern Combination Intermediate Division 1 season begins next month. Ahead of the new season beginning across this very competitive and good quality league, I thought that I’d write a bit of a preview of the Intermediate Division 1 season, of which there are 12 teams competing in this season. I do hope to get to some games in this division, during the coming season. Last season (2024/25) the Intermediate Division 1 (step 8 of the non-League pyramid) title was won by a very good Selhurst side, who were subsequently promoted to the Surrey Premier County Football League Premier Division. Sadly Selhurst recently folded, and they will no longer be competing at step 7, during this season. 

With 58 points from 26 league matches played during 2024/25, London Hibernian, a club that has roots in London’s Irish community, would finish six points behind last seasons champions – Selhurst, in the table. On the occasion that I saw London Hibernian (they are under new management for this season) play last season (against Farleigh Rovers), they greatly impressed me. A real footballing side, who move the ball around really well, they had a squad of very good players, such as David Dalton and Gavin Falconer, who have both played the game at a good level in Ireland. The team who play at Southfields, and who won last seasons Gordon Worsfold Senior Cup, will surely be one of the contenders for the Intermediate Division 1 title, in 2025/26.

Last seasons third place side – Kew Park Rangers, will also be looking to challenge for the title this season, along with Earlsfield, who finished in fourth place in this division, in 2024/25. In fifth place in the table last season, was Exeter Old Boys, who were promoted to the division at the end of the previous 2023/24 season. Back to back London FA Junior Cup finalists, that speaks volumes about their quality as a team, and they really impressed me when I saw them play against Camden & Islington United in the 2023/24 final of that prestigious competition. Farleigh Rovers and Westminster Casuals, are both very established sides, who will be looking to improve further on their respective sixth and seventh place finishes, in 2024/25.

Also competing in the Intermediate Division 1 again for this season, are Earlsfield United (there will be an Earlsfield derby match this season, with Earlsfield FC also competing in the same division, this season) and Westside Reserves, who are the reserve side of Westside FC, who are at step 6 of the non-League pyramid. Former London FA Junior Cup finalists Goldfingers, and a good Chelsea Rovers side, will also be competing in this division again, in 2025/26. With last seasons Intermediate Division 2 champions – AFC Ewell, having subsequently been promoted to Division 1, for the 2025/26 season, with Surrey Casuals also being promoted from the same division, as runners up.

Departing Intermediate Division 1 at the end of last season, were Tooting Bec Reserves, South Croydon, and NPL, who were all relegated to Division 2. I would like to wish all of the sides who are competing in Division One of this very good league this season, all the very best of luck for the season ahead. I will definitely aim to cover some games in this division, when I can.