Non-League and Academy football writer

The 2025/26 Premier Division (step 7) season, of the Middlesex County Football League, has so far been a really competitive one, with a number of sides challenging for the league title. Positioned really well at the top of the league table, are east London based side London Fennecs, who are on 33 points, and who lead on goal difference (after 13 matches played, over both Camden United and Stonewall), having played three games less than second place Camden United, who they face next in the league, on Saturday the 10th of January.

London Fennecs have been in superb form, during the 2025/26 season so far. As a team they play their football so well, and effectively. However, in their second season in the Premier Division, and after winning promotion to the top level of the Middlesex County League at the end of the 2023/24 season, they would have a respectable first season in the division. And this season, with a great squad of players, they will look to really continue their fine form, to challenge for the title. London Fennecs are also challenging for two cup competitions, as well as for the league title.

Leon Louis’s Camden United team are also one of a number of sides who are very much in the title race, going into 2026. They have been impressive this season in the league, and in The Alec Smith Premier Division Cup. Like London Fennecs. Camden United have a home ground which if they were to win the league title, or finish high enough, would ultimately see them win promotion to step 6, if they have applied for promotion.

With 11 league wins from their first 15 matches of the Premier Division season, Eric Najib’s Stonewall side are another side in this division, who are proving to be real title contenders, going into 2026. Like Camden United and London Fennecs, Stonewall have recorded some big wins in the league so far this season, and like London Fennecs, they are still in two cup competitions. 

On 32 points after 15 league matches played is a strong Eagles Land Cricklewood side, who like Larkspur Rovers (they’ve had a great start to the season, and they are currently on 30 points), as well as newly promoted side Sporting Duet Academy, who have a number of games in hand, are all very much in this very open title race. And you also can’t rule out Camden & Islington United of the title race, who are on 28 points after 16 league matches played, and Hayes & Hillingdon, who are on 27 points from 14 league matches played.

A youthful Wood Lane side (they are in ninth place in the table, after 16 matches played), have already shown that in their first season at this level, that they can play their football well, against much more experienced sides in this division. They are a club who I think has a big future in non-League football. One point behind Wood Lane, after the same amount of games played, is another newly promoted side in Harrow United. Then three points behind them in the league standings, after 10 matches played, is a well established Kensington Dragons side.

LBS Lions have a really good and talented squad of players, and they are also in their first season at this level of the Middlesex County League. They are currently in 12th place in the league table, just above of Kodak (Harrow). Like Kodak (Harrow), Indian Gymkhana Club (they are one place below them in the table) are rebuilding this season, with a lot of recent additions, after a number of players had moved on last summer. Having played ten league games, Hilltop Reserves, like Wood Lane and PFC Victoria London Reserves, are a very youthful side, and they are currently just above the bottom two places in the table. They have games on their side, as well as the quality, in my opinion, to move up the table, even though they are currently on -2 points. 

In the bottom two places in the league, going into the first round of league fixtures of 2026, are PFC Victoria London Reserves, who are on -3 points, and east London side Jolof Sports, who are on -8 points. This is without doubt proving to be an incredibly open league season, with so much still to play for, at both ends of the table during the remainder of this season. Happy new year, and I would like to wish all of the Premier Division clubs all the very best of luck for 2026.

The three top goalscorers in the Premier Division, at this point of the season:

1. Ryan Pickles (Camden & Islington United) – 12.
2. Liam Walford (Hayes & Hillingdon) – 12.
3. Raphael Garrett (Harrow United) – 11.