Non-League and Academy football writer

The 2025/26 Middlesex County Football League season got well and truly underway yesterday afternoon, as the rest of the divisions apart from the Premier Division, started. Starting with the Premier Division of the Middlesex League, and Camden & Islington United got their first win of the season in style against LBS Lions, on Saturday afternoon, on the show pitch at Hackney Marshes. Camden & Islington would win that league match 5-1. At Uxbridge FC the visiting team (Sporting Duet Academy) would record a big 4-2 win away to Hayes & Hillingdon. And at Harrow Weald Recreation Ground, goals from Mohamed-Amin Astan and Abdihakim Daahir helped Wood Lane to their second win of the season, with a 2-1 away win over Kodak (Harrow).

PFC Victoria London Reserves’ first home league fixture of the season (at The Ranch) would result in a thrilling 4-4 draw taking place, with Camden United. That is a great result for PFC Victoria Reserves, against an unbeaten Camden United side who have started the season so well. Also, Eric Najib’s Stonewall side would return to winning ways, with goals from Shane McCullough and Max Oakton (x2) helping them to a 3-2 win over Indian Gymkhana Club. In a first round tie of The Alec Smith Premier Division Cup, Kensington Dragons won 6-2 away to Hilltop Reserves, to progress in to round two of that cup competition. And in a second round tie of the same competition, London Fennecs (the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes) would go on to beat (away) Larkspur Rovers 8-7 on penalties, to make it in to round three.

On to the Division One East, and Bloomsbury’s first game in this step 8 division of the Middlesex League would end in a 3-3 draw with Edgware & Kingsbury Reserves. At Regents Park, a double hat-trick from Ayodele Fagbohunka would help Luca Malagigi’s Camden & United Development side to a 6-0 home win over FC Wood Green. The third and final game taking place in that division on Saturday, would see FC Marylebone draw 4-4 with LBS Lions Reserves, at Paddington Recreation Ground.

In Division One West, a brilliant game at Brunel University Sports Complex, would see AFC Southall win 7-5 against newly promoted side Townmead. Wins were awarded for league debutants Barnes FC (versus Hayes Town), Wiseman West (against CB Hounslow & Abbots A) and Explorers FC (against Ickenham). The only other game which took place in Division One West yesterday (at Feltham Rugby Club) would see Feltham FC win in spectacular fashion against Saturday league debutants Uxbridge Athletic. Feltham won that game 14-0. Among the goals for Feltham was Sam Riddett, who scored six goals on the day.

In Division One Central Bessingby Park Rangers were awarded a home win for their game with London Athletic, and at Harris Lowe Academy Brent United would win 4-2 against Celtic (1995). Rushone Brown (x3) and Kyle Lewis-Sinclair got Brent United’s goals on the day. FH Whistlers would start their season with a 3-0 home win over league debutants Casual Ballerz, and Sam Brown’s Harrow Bhoys side would start their league season in style with a 6-0 home win over London Tigers. And at Kings College Playing Fields Ruislip Rangers won 3-0 at home to Brentham.

At step 9 of the Middlesex League, in The Russell Grant Division 2, there were four fixtures taking place on Saturday afternoon. The FC Sunbury versus Southall Athletic match would finish in a 1-1 draw. Heston would record a good 4-3 home win over Inv3ntive, and there was an impressive 4-0 win for Old Isleworthians against Kodak (Harrow) Reserves. Also, Sudbury Court started the season with a 4-2 home win over Hounslow Lions.

In the Jeff Nardin & Combination Division Old Isleworthians Reserves won 3-2 away to CB Hounslow & Abbots 3rds. AFC Heathrow were awarded the win for their league fixture with The Isleworth, as were Kodak (Harrow) 3rds for their league fixture with Indian Gymkhana Club Reserves. Kensington Dragons Blues won 9-1 against OHM Sports, and finally, from the same division, West London Wanderers won 4-2 away to FH Whistlers Originals. For next Saturday the Middlesex League match which I would like to highlight as my game of the week, is The Alec Smith Premier Division Cup second round tie between Kodak (Harrow) and Stonewall, which a couple of seasons ago, in 2023/24, was the final of this competition, with Kodak winning that final 1-0.