Non-League and Academy football writer

Bilal Sayoud is a player with great quality on the ball, who has played at a really good level of non-League football, as well as at academy and professional football, for Coventry City. Bilal is currently with Haringey Borough, who play their football in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands Football League. Bilal also plays for Baller League side 26ERS. Last month, I got the opportunity to interview Bilal, about his footballing journey so far.

Could you talk me through a bit about your background in football, prior to joining Haringey Borough?

Bilal: Where do I start! I was a youth player at Tottenham Hotspur from the ages of nine until 15, before they were handing out scholarships. I thought that I was then going to go straight into education and A-Levels, but I got the opportunity to play for the Nike Academy, which was an incredible experience. I was there from the ages of 16 until 18 years old, and we traveled the world playing against the likes of Barcelona and Inter Milan. At the end of those two years I ended up signing a professional contract with Coventry City, at the age of 18.

Tony Mowbray was the Coventry manager who signed me. And I went on to make my first team debut in an EFL Trophy game against Walsall, and I was doing quite well at the club. A new manager, Mark Robins, came in. And at the end of that season he was very honest with me, basically just telling me that at the age of 21, that I wasn’t going to get into his first team, and that I needed to go and play men’s football. And that was my introduction to non-League football, and I’ve been playing non-League football ever since. 

The main clubs for me in non-League football were Enfield Town and Wingate & Finchey, where I did really well, and then I was at the likes of Hendon and Potters Bar Town, before ending up at Walthamstow. For the first year at Walthamstow, that was probably my favourite year of playing non-League football. We made the play-offs and we just missed out on promotion. I was with Walthamstow for the past three years, via some time spent (three months) playing professional football out in Australia, before signing for Haringey Borough for the start of this season.

What are some of your standout moments from your time playing football, so far?

Bilal: I’d say that my first hat-trick in non-League football, which was for Walthamstow in an incredible game which we won 6-5 in added time, with ten men. Making the play-offs with Walthamstow, as well as making the play-offs two years running with Enfield Town, as well as winning the Isthmian League Cup with Enfield, they are some of my standout memories of playing non-League football. Also, signing my first professional contract with Coventry City, has got to be up there as well.

What would be your favourite moment in non-League football, so far?

Bilal: My favourite moment in non-League was that hat-trick against Ware, in the 6-5 win. We needed to win that game, which effectively cemented our place in the play-offs, after scoring three goals in added time.

What has been your favourite goal that you have scored in football?

Bilal: My favourite ever goal would have to be when I was with the Nike Academy, against Inter Milan. I scored two goals against them, and the first goal was the best goal that I’ve ever scored. I went past two or three players before hitting the ball into the top corner of the goal.

Who would you say has been the best player (for their quality) that you have shared a pitch with?

Bilal: James Maddison. We were in the same team at Coventry, although obviously he was with the first team and I was with the Under 23 side. But, when we did play on the same team, he was ridiculously talented, and technically he is one of the best players that I’ve ever seen.

For those who haven’t see you play, could you describe to me what type of player you are?

Bilal: I’m very confident on the ball, and I like to get quite a lot of goals, and every season in non-League, I’ve consistently got to double figures for goals. As a winger I also like to work hard off the ball to win it, and I just like to make a good impression on games.

What is it like to be a player in Baller League?

Bilal: It is honestly unreal. Every Monday in Stratford there’s around 5000 people watching in person, and more than 100,000 watching the games online. So Baller League has really opened my networks personally, as well. I speak to so many different people through it, and I speak to John Terry on a daily basis, which as a Chelsea fan myself, is a dream.

Could you talk me through a bit about the season so far (2025/26), with Haringey Borough? Also, what are some of your thoughts on this season’s Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division, and how it’s going so far, overall?

Bilal: It’s my first season dropping down to step 5, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the league. You have the likes of Winslow United, Kings Langley and Cockfosters, who are just some of the other teams who are looking to get promoted to step 4, for next season. But, I’ve really enjoyed playing in the league so far this season, and Haringey Borough has always been a club that I’ve admired from a far. Everyone at Haringey is very serious about getting back to step 4 for next season, and then, eventually back to step 3 in the near future.