Non-League and Academy football writer

Following Camden United’s 5-0 win over Hilltop Reserves on Saturday afternoon (in a Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture), I did a post-match interview with Camden United’s manager, Leon Louis.

Could you talk me through a bit about your background in football, prior to joining Camden United for the start of this season?

Leon: I didn’t play organised football until about 14/15, when I joined Brent District U15s under Peter Moring — a squad full of players who later went on to play professionally. A few years later I earned a scholarship with Wealdstone U18s. It started well and I was called up to the Reserves, but realistically I was one of the weaker players in a very strong group. They went on to play Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Youth Cup 3rd Round; I narrowly missed out on the squad, and looking back, that level was probably my ceiling anyway.

Around 7 years ago I became the manager of Western Athletic, a team I set up with some mates in Middlesex County Division Two. We only created it to keep fit, but finished runners-up to Hilltop (now Step 5), won the League Cup and earned promotion. The following year we finished mid-table in Division One before eventually folding due to running costs.

From there, I managed Kodak Reserves during the Covid-shortened season, before taking over the first team in 21/22, where we won a League Cup double and earned promotion to the Middlesex Premier Division (Step 7). 

I took a break from football again for a period  – where Last season I focused on coaching — first at Apsley Argyle, then at Broadfields under Sunny Tailor, winning the Middlesex Senior Charity Cup. It ended up being the season I learnt the most about football.

With that experience behind me, the opportunity to manage Camden United felt like the right next step and an exciting project to take on.

How have you found being at Camden United so far?

Leon: Loving it so far!

There’s so much about what the club represents that make me proud of being given the opportunity to manage the club.

Many of the players who were key for the club last season expressed to me that they wanted to explore opportunities at higher levels – with there being some who could no longer be involved due to work commitments – so the big challenge in pre-season was recruitment and getting enough bodies of good enough ability – and have the right sort of character to fit in with what we want to do.

I’ve been blessed with a lot of support from the club with this – with a lot of the players we’ve brought in having experience in this division – with others who have played together elsewhere and are good mates outside of football which has been helpful.

A real togetherness is developing which is making each week fun – and the club is a good place to be.

What did you make of your team’s performance against Hilltop Reserves?

Leon: Really good dominant and professional performance from the group – we’ve got off to good starts in the past few league games and have showed resilience in moments of games where things haven’t gone our way.

It was also good to see Andi get himself on the score-sheet – his season has been a bit-stop start with injury so really happy for him the past few weeks as I know it’s been frustrating for him so far.

Hopefully we can continue the same energy into next week against LBS Lions.

Finally, who for their quality has been the best team that you have faced so far this season?

Leon: I’d Say Brook House in the Middlesex Premier Cup for sure – they were very efficient and very well coached – which enabled some of their better technical players to shine.

They were also a class act in how they operated off the pitch also.

In Terms of the Middlesex Premier Division – it’s a team full of many very good teams – with different styles – all to be respected – so don’t want to single anyone out – we’ll just take each game as it comes and plan to be ready.