Non-League and Academy football writer

Hilltop FC was founded in 2005 by people passionate about football, from London’s Somali diaspora. The club’s journey from the lower levels of the Middlesex County Football League, to step 5 of the non-League system, and to competing in prestigious competitions such as the FA Cup and FA Vase, is a story which deserves a long documentary film made on the history of the club. Such is the club’s incredible footballing journey, so far. 

After joining the Middlesex County Football League two years after their formation (in 2007), the north west London club’s first season in that well known league, came in the old Division Three. They used to play their home matches at Stonebridge Recreation Ground, and during that 2007/08 season, Hilltop finished the season in fifth place in Division Three. Their top goalscorer that season was Simon Noel, who scored a highly impressive league total of 29 goals from 13 Division Three appearances. During the following 2008/09 season, Hilltop would finish in eighth place in Division Two. And then in the resulting season they finished in fifth place in Division Two, with Mohamed Jimacale ending the 2009/10 season as their top goalscorer in all competitions.

Hilltop would leave the Middlesex League at the end of the 2009/10. However, fast forward to the start of the 2014/15 Middlesex League season, and Hilltop had rejoined the league. Once again they were in Division Two (the fourth level/tier of the league). After a bit of a difficult league season following their return to the Middlesex League, Hilltop would finish in bottom place of Division Two in the resulting season. This would result in relegation to the then lowest level of the Middlesex League – the Saturday Combination.

The 2016/17 season was a good one for Hilltop, who finished as runners up (on goal difference) to that seasons Saturday Combination champions, Harrow Bhoys (Ilyas Mohamed was Hilltop’s top goalscorer in the 2016/17 season). This was when Hilltop’s rise to where they currently are in the non-League system, really started to gather pace. Following promotion, they would win Division Two in 2017/18, finishing two points above Western Athletic in the league standings, before going on, in 2018/19, to win Division One West at the first time of asking (Hilltop also won that seasons Middlesex County FA Junior Cup). The curtailed 2019/20 season would see Hilltop finish in an impressive third place, in their first ever season in the Premier Division. And then after the following 2020/21 season, when Hilltop only played six league matches, they were promoted to step 6 for the first time in their history for the 2021/22 season.

In to the Combined Counties Football League Division One, and an excellent first season at that level would see them finish in second place in the league standings, out of 21 teams. This would result in Hilltop earning promotion to the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North (step 5), the level in which they currently play their football at. There have been some incredible recent memories at Hilltop. Their journey to step 5, and becoming an established club at that level, who also has aspirations of going higher, reaching the fifth round of the FA Vase (they have also competed in the FA Cup), as well as multiple successes in the Somali British Champions League, are all great club memories. As is their success in international tournaments. And they will undoubtedly have ambitions of creating more great memories, during the remainder of this league season, as well as in cup competitions such as the FA Vase, and the London FA Senior Cup.

The only club to win two Somali British Champions League titles (they beat FC Olympia in the most recent final, in Bristol), Hilltop, who now play their matches at the excellent Silver Jubilee Park ground, have other teams, as well. The club who have a reserve team that play in the Premier Division of the Middlesex League, as well as a team in the Islington Midweek League, are a club on the up. Their progression from the lowest levels of the Middlesex League to step 5 of the national league system, is incredible. 

Hilltop are a great club, who play their excellent style of football fearlessly, and they will play their fine passing game against whoever they come up against, regardless of the level of their opponents. Club legends such as Hussein Hussein and Mohamed Hussein, still play for the club, as well as the excellent Hussein Mahdi, who has made a really good start to this season, there are also other players who have joined the club more recently. Players such as Kieran Marshall and Adnan Jamaac, who have recently joined the club, and who have made good early impressions on their first team this season. As well as being a hugely successful club over the course of the last ten or so years, Hilltop are also a very friendly club, and I’d like to mention Guuleed Hassan, who I recently interviewed on my blog, and also their legendary first team manager Adbullah Mohammed, who continues to do such a great job at the club.

From those early days in Division Three of the Middlesex League, to playing at step 5 of the national league system, that journey wouldn’t have been possible without all of the players, coaches and people who have dedicated their time to helping this club grow, as they continue to flourish in non-League football.