Non-League and Academy football writer

For the 2025/26 Essex Alliance Football League Division One (step 9) season, there will be two Division Ones, a Division One East, and West. Promoted from last seasons Division One was Condor, Ocean Pacific, Old Esthameians, West Essex Reserves, and Old Barkabbeyans. Relegated from Division One at the end of the 2024/25 season, was Freetown. Starting with the Premier Division East, and after an excellent season for Thomas Chawner’s Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves side, which saw them win promotion from Division Two, as well as winning the Fenton Trophy, they’ll be looking forward to the new challenge in which this season will bring. They did so well last season as a team.

Bealonians Reserves join Division One East, for the 2025/26 season. Dagenham United Reserves, who were promoted from Division Two at the end of last season, will also be in this division. FC Alpha had a good season in 2024/25, finishing in fifth place in Division One, and they will be looking to improve further this season, in Division One East. Lymore Gardens Reserves finished in ninth place in the Division One standings, in 2024/25. However, they are a talented side, which provides players with a real pathway in to their first team set-up, who play at step 6 of the non-League system. Loughton Town also remain in Division One, following last seasons seventh place finish in that division.

Old Parkonians A, a club with roots in amateur football, were promoted from Division Two last season, to the Division One East. And they are a good club, whose A team I reckon will do well in Division One, this season. I reckon that Redbridge Community, who were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season, could well be up there challenging for a top two spot, in this division this season. As could newly promoted side and last season Division Two cup winners, Royal Forest, who have a very good and talented squad of players. Romford Town Flyers Reserves and Old Barkabbeyans Reserves are the other two sides who make up the 2024/25 seasons Division One East.

On to Division One West. And last seasons Division Three cup winners Changing Lives, are a very talented team, who have been promoted two divisions, to the Division One West for this season, and I think that the Harlow based team will do well again this season. Newbury Forest Reserves (their first team are at step 6 of the non-League pyramid), are new to the Essex Alliance Football League for this  season, and they will also be competing in the Division One West. Additionally, Tajik Unity, Hackney Wanderers, Sich London, SP United, and UK Moldova, are all joining the Division One West for the 2025/26 season. On Hackney Wanderers, and the team who will be playing their home games at the Peter May Sports Centre, are a team who I definitely hope to cover a game of, at some point this season.

Parsonage Leys and Saint City Reserves were both promoted (from Division Two) to the Division One West for this season. And, Leyton City (they finished in sixth place in Division One in 2024/25), remain at this level/division for this season. Finally, and London Park City, who were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 2025/26 season, will also be competing in this division for the 2025/26 season. I would like to wish all of the Division One teams all the very best of luck for this season, which starts next month.