Non-League and Academy football writer

As part of a new series of grassroots football articles that I will be writing on some of London’s international diaspora teams/clubs, my first piece will be on some of London’s South American heritage teams. The following grassroots football clubs/teams included in this piece, are only some of the teams with South American roots within the London area, that I know of. However, I’m sure that there are currently more teams who are playing grassroots football in leagues, as well as former clubs.

Teams who have competed in the non-League pyramid: 

Brazilian FSSC were a club who played in the Middlesex County Football League during the mid 2000s. A team representing London’s Brazilian community, Brazilian FSSC would win promotion to the Premier Division of the Middlesex County League, and they were a very talented footballing side, whose games were well attended by supporters. It also wasn’t unusual for their games to be covered on Brazilian television. In more recent years, Fire United Christian FC was another side who had a number of Brazilian players in their team, who competed in the Middlesex County League in more recent years.

Fire United Christian FC started out in the Middlesex County League (step 8), going on to eventually win promotion to the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South during the resulting seasons. The east London side who played at the Terence McMillan Stadium, would withdraw from their step 6 league just before the beginning of the 2020/21 league season. Equinnocial are a current Kent County Football League (step 8) side. A well established football club, that has roots in South America, Equinnocial have made a fantastic start to their league season. They are an ambitious football club, that has ambitions of going up the non-League pyramid.

Step 7 Middlesex County League Premier Division side, LBS Lions, was founded by Rafael Trape, who is from Brazil. With a very international and diverse squad of players, LBS Lions also has a number of players from Brazil, in their squad. As does step 6 Combined Counties Football League Premier Division side SL Benfica, who were promoted from the Premier Division of the Middlesex County League, last season (2024/25). SL Benfica’s footballing journey from the lower levels of the Middlesex County League, is a great story. 

Grassroots and Sunday league teams, with roots in South America:

Argentina (London) FC’s first team plays their football in League Three of the Southern Sunday Football League. A Sunday team consisting of a number of players from London’s Argentinian community, every summer Argentina FC sees some of their players compete in the London Diplomatic Summer Football League (Lusitania Brazil also compete in that summer league) in South London. Argentina FC play their home fixtures at King’s House Sports Ground, in Chiswick. I hope to get to one of their games during this season. Huracan FC London were another (former) Southern Sunday Football League side, who also had links with Argentina/Huracan FC. They had a really interesting story.

In the Islington Midweek Football League, Bonva United compete in the league’s Division 1. Bonva United are a predominantly Chilean team, with roots in London’s Chilean community. Finally, the Inner City World Cup (London) features a number of South American countries who compete in that annual competition. Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil, were just some of the countries who competed in last year’s edition of the two day tournament.