Non-League and Academy football writer

This summer the Southern Amateur Football League and the Amateur Football Combination merged. The following preview is on Senior Division 1 (I will also write a preview of some of the other divisions, before the season begins) of the new Southern Amateur Football League 2025/26 season, with the division tables (for Senior Division 1 to 4) now showing on the SAL website, as well as on FA Full-Time. Regarding Senior Division 1, and it really does include the very best amateur teams in London and the surrounding counties, following the recent merger of these two excellent amateur football leagues. 

In Senior Division 1, the top division of the Southern Amateur Football League, there is Civil Service, such a famous club, whose first team will be in the top division this season. Civil Service’s firsts had a fine season, in 2024/25. They reached the final of the Middlesex FA Premier Cup, and in Senior Division 1 of the SAL, they finished in a respectable fifth place. Civil Service, as I have said many times before, have a very good first team, and they are also such a nice and friendly club. It will be interesting to see how they do in Senior Division 1, during the 2025/26 season.

Last seasons Amateur Football Combination Premier Division runners up, Dorkinians, are a very good team who I’m sure will be up there competing for this seasons Senior Division 1 title. They finished as runners up last season to an excellent Honourable Artillery Company side, who won the Premier Division title by ten points. Then there is Hammersmith, whose first team finished in third place in the top division of the SAL, last season. Also, NUFC Oilers finished one place behind Hammersmith in that division last season, and they will be another side to watch out for during this season. 

Nottsborough are one of my favourite amateur teams to watch, and they have such great quality within their various squads. Last seasons SAL Senior Cup winners, Nottsborough also won the Surrey FA Saturday Premier Cup, beating a very good Wimbledon Casuals side in the final of that competition. Nottsborough also finished one point behind last seasons SAL Senior Division 1 title winners, West Wickham. And can West Wickham win their second consecutive Senior Division 1 title? It will be tough, but they are another side with tremendous quality. Also, West Wickham (they face Honourable Artillery Company in the Stuart Hyde Trophy, early next month) have a really interesting Kent Senior Trophy tie against step 5 non-League side Fisher FC, in October. That will be a really interesting cup tie.

Thorntonians and Wandsworth Borough both had fine seasons in the Amateur Football Combination in 2024/25, and they will be looking forward to going again in 2025/26. Finally, Rob Roy Rovers are a side that I’ve heard a lot good things about in recent seasons, in the Amateur Football Combination. I’m looking forward to covering a game of theirs this seasons. Rob Roy Rovers finished in third place in the Premier Division of the Amateur Football Combination in 2024/25. A fascinating Senior Division 1 season is ahead of us. The strength and quality of the top division of amateur football within the London and surrounding counties area, is outstanding. I’m a big supporter of amateur football, and I’m looking forward to covering more games this season, when I can. 

I wish all of the ten teams who are competing in Senior Division 1 this season, all the very best of luck for what promises to be a really interesting and competitive season.