Non-League and Academy football writer

Once again, I thought that I’d write a piece on five of some of the many interesting grassroots and lower level non-League football matches which are taking place within the London area, across this weekend. Before I get into the article, I’d just like to highlight, once again, the quarter-final tie of the London Sunday Junior Cup, between AFC Muswell Hill and East London Ballers Reserves, which was postponed last Sunday. That will be a great game of football, when it takes place this Sunday morning (look out for the kick-off time and venue details, before Sunday).

Soccer Stars Ascenders versus Apollo London: 

This is a very big match in the context of the title race in Division One East of the  Middlesex County Football League, at Paddington Recreation Ground (kick off is at 4pm on Saturday). The home team, Soccer Stars Ascenders, are in second place in Division One East (step 8), and after both them and Apollo London have played 14 league matches each, three points separates the sides in the league table. Two sides to be admired in this division, for their football, this big game could be decisive in the title race. And, this game, which I will be reporting on this Saturday, will be a fantastic and highly competitive contest, that is for sure.

London Fennecs versus Hayes & Hillingdon: 

In the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Football League, two title and promotion contenders, in London Fennecs and Hayes & Hillingdon, will be looking to achieve all three points, when they meet at the Terence McMillan Stadium, this Saturday afternoon. London Fennecs, who only last Saturday put in a great team performance in a 2-1 cup win over Old Carthusians, will be looking to win again this Saturday, as they return to league action. It’s second versus fourth in the Premier Division, and there’s already been some great matches between these sides since they first met last season. However, this promises to be a quality game of football, with so much to play for.

FC Petrocub London versus CSM London FC:

In Romford, at Noak Hill (kick-off is at 3pm on Saturday afternoon), two very good footballing sides in the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division, go head to head, in FC Petrocub London and CSM London. Both sides are in fine form, with the home side, Petrocub, in third place in the Senior Division standings (after 21 matches played), with Will Brobby’s CSM side one place and one point above them in the league table. Although it will be very difficult, given how many points that league leaders London Harts United have already this season, for either side to win the league, this season. Both sides will be looking to finish the league season as high up the table as possible.

East London Ballers Under 23s versus East United: 

In this season’s Division Four Cup semi-final, of the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League, the youthful East London Ballers Under 23s side take on East End United, at Parsloes Park Hub (kick-off is at 12:30pm) on Sunday. East London Ballers Under 23s are currently in sixth place in the Division Four table, at this stage of the league season, with an inform East End United side currently in second place in the table. With this being a one off cup tie, I’m expecting a really interesting game of cup football.

Roísín Rovers versus Armenian Youth Association:

In a quarter-final tie of this season’s Middlesex FA Junior Cup, Roísín Rovers, of the Harrow Sunday Challenge Football League Division Two, and who are in their first ever season in Sunday football, face an Armenian Youth Association side who have been involved in Sunday football since the 1960s. The winners of this important cup tie will face West Drayton Reserves in the semi-finals, as two sides from different Sunday leagues (Armenian Youth Association play their football in the Barnet Sunday Football League) meet for the first time. Roísín Rovers are enjoying a really good debut season in Sunday football, and they will be looking forward to facing Armenian Youth Association this Sunday morning, in west London.