Non-League and Academy football writer

The new Islington Midweek Football League season (2025/26) begins on Monday evening at Market Road, with a Division One fixture between St John’s Deaf and Euston Lane (that game starts at 8pm). This will be my first season of covering games on my blog of this league, when I can, in this quality midweek league. Ahead of the new league season starting, the following piece is a bit of a preview of the new league season. Starting with the Premier Division, and departing this division at the end of last season was a very good Southside Sports side, who as well as winning the Tom Keane Memorial Trophy, they also finished in third place in the Premier Division, in 2024/25.

Streatham Vale, who won the 2024/25 Premier Division title on goal difference over NK Dons, will be looking to retain their league title again this season, as NK Dons look to compete once again. Hilltop FC are such an established club, and last season their midweek team finished in fourth place in this division. The winners of the Ken Doherty Memorial Astro Cup, as well as last seasons Invitation Cup, Hilltop will be looking to do well in all competitions again, during this season. Camden United’s Saturday team are at step 7 of the non-League pyramid. They also have a talented midweek team, that competes in the Premier Division of the Islington Midweek League. They finished in fifth place in that division last season.

Tawfiiq FC, Inter Mile End and Wimpole Mews are other sides who are remaining in  the Premier Division of this midweek league, for this season. Ruskin Park Rovers and Maitland United, were both relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season. And the three sides who have been promoted to the Premier Division, are Copenhagen Youth Project (they finished last season unbeaten in Division 2), Macwo and HP Finchley. Division 1 of this league consists of nine teams this season. Competing in that division in 2025/26 are Spicegun FC, Athenians, Aloysius, Rose, Bonva United, who all remain from last season. Additionally, Todo Ciudad, Maitland United (relegated from the Premier Division), Dukes of Wellington (promoted from Division 2), and HP Copenhagen are also in Division 1, this season. Relegated to Division 2 at the end of last season, was Euston Lane, St John’s Deaf, and London Internationale.

Founded in 2023, Euston Lane are a team who this summer played a friendly match against Rayo Vallecano Under 23s, and they will, in my opinion do well this season in Division 2, along with John’s Deaf, in my opinion. AFC Muswell Hill (of the Barnet Sunday League) are another talented side, who enter a team in to Division 2 of the Islington Midweek League for this season. An experienced goalkeeper for AFC Muswell Hill, Christopher Mathers recently joined step 6 non-League side Clapton Community, recently making his competitive debut for them. London Internationale, Barriliete Cosmico, Circle of Legends, Hackney Galacticos, Northside River and Winfield Eagles, are the other sides who will be competing in Division 2, this season.

Finally, competing in Division 3 for the 2025/26 season, are the following teams: Barnet Deaf FC, Bloomsbury, Fullback, Jubba, London Internationale, Regent Legend, Slaughter & May FC, and Walaalo FC. There have been many very good players who have played in the highly competitive Islington Midweek League during its many years in existentce, and when I can this season, I’m looking forward to covering some games on my blog. I would like to wish all of the sides who are competing in the Islington Midweek Football League, all the very best for the season ahead.