Non-League and Academy football writer

This seasons edition of the prestigious London Senior Trophy begins next week (on Tuesday the 30th of September) with what promises to be a great cup tie, with a very inform AFC Greenwich Borough side facing AS London, at home. This very good competition, which was won by Tooting Bec last season (2024/25), features teams from steps 6 to 8 of the non-League pyramid, as well as category two academy side Charlton Athletic Under 18s, and Essex Senior Reserve League side Barking Under 23s, who are in this seasons edition of the competition. 

In the first round of the London Senior Trophy, there are so many great ties. Personally, some of my standout ties include the Sporting Hackney v Charlton Athletic Under 18 tie, which will see a team from step 8 of the Essex Alliance Football League, compete with a category two academy side, in Charlton Athletic Under 18s. That will be a really interesting game of football.

Another standout first round tie, sees two very good step 7 sides, from different leagues, in AFC Cubo and Camden & Islington United, face each other in west London. Camden & Islington United, as I know from following the Middlesex County Football League, are in my opinion one of the finest footballing sides at step 7, within the London area. They could do really well in this competition this season, and I’m hoping to attend their first round tie, in what is their first time entering this competition. 

Another Middlesex League team, Hilltop Reserves, face Tooting & Mitcham Under 23s (away) in round one, with Jolof Sports facing Cockfosters Reserves (away), also in round one. Two SCEFL Division One (step 6) sides in Croydon v and SE Dons also face each other in round one, with Rising Ballers Kensington and Clapton Community, and FC Baresi and Sporting Club Thamesmead, being the other step 6 teams who are facing each other. In the second round, for teams who have received byes, two very interesting ties include the Wimbledon Casuals v NW London game, as last seasons finalists face a step 6 side, in NW London. And former London Junior Cup winners Wood Lane face Barking Under 23s in west London. Wood Lane now play their football in the Middlesex League Premier Division (step 7).

I would like to wish all sides who are competing in this seasons edition of the London Senior Trophy all the very best of luck for the competition. First round ties take place in both late September and early October, with the second round beginning in November.

First round fixtures: AFC Greenwich Borough v AS London, AFC Cubo v Camden & Islington United, Tooting & Mitcham Under 23s v Hilltop Reserves, FC Baresi v Sporting Club Thamesmead, Sporting Hackney v Charlton Athletic Under 18s, Rising Ballers Kensington v Clapton Community, Croydon v SE Dons, Cockfosters Reserves v Jolof Sports.

Second round fixtures: Wimbledon Casuals v NW London, Lewisham Borough v FC Elmstead, Wood Lane v Barking Under 23s.