Non-League and Academy football writer

Sham Darr is the assistant manager of Clapton Community FC’s men’s senior team, who play in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South (step 6 of non-League football). Sham had previously coached, played and managed at the likes of Wadham Lodge, London APSA, and Ilford, in non-League football, towards the latter stages of his time playing the game. Sham was also a very good player in non-League football, and his old London APSA teammate, Urfat Hussain, remembers Sham as “ dynamic, both footed, great goalscorer, as well as being a quality winger ”.

Since joining Clapton Community during their early days in the Middlesex County Football League as a player-coach, in total he made 23 appearances for them, as a player. However, going back to Sham’s time in youth football, and as well as having trials at the likes of Leicester City and Coventry City, Sham was at Dagenham & Redbridge and Leyton Orient, as a youth player. He first got to know Clapton Community’s first team manager, Geoff Ocran, during their time playing for very talented Eastern Junior Alliance League side, Leyton All Stars. At 16, Sham was part of the Leyton All Stars team who finished that season as unbeaten double winners.

Going in to his non-League footballing career, and Sham played for Purfleet Reserves and their first team, making a handful of appearances for them in the Conference South. He also played football in the Ryman League, and one of his standout memories from his time in non-League was scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup tie against Great Wakering Rovers, for Waltham Forest. Sham recalled to me “ I was only one of two south Asian players in the old Ryman North. Players say to me now that I helped to pave way the way for south Asian footballers in east London football, in non-League. ”

Sham Darr is a big part of Clapton Community FC, and following spells at Tilbury, Waltham Forest and Ilford, it is at Clapton where Sham continues to help, alongside the club’s coaching staff, to use all of his experience to help and guide this really good club and group of players. Clapton Community are currently in second place in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South league table, and I certainly wouldn’t rule them out from challenging the league leaders, Hutton, for the league title. I wish Sham, who is a great guy, as well as Clapton Community, all the very best for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. Sham has a lot to be proud of for what he has achieved in both his playing career, as well as in his non-League football coaching journey, so far.