Non-League and Academy football writer

On Tuesday evening London Fennecs were crowned champions of the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division, after beating a very good Hayes & Hillingdon side, 4-1. London Fennecs’ story in the non-League footballing pyramid, began in 2022, when they entered a team into the old Division One East & Central of the Middlesex County Football League. The following season (2023/24), the club with roots in London’s Algerian community, would finish that step 8 division as undefeated champions.

Following a solid debut season in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Football League, in 2024/25, London Fennecs would, throughout this season deservedly go on to win the Premier Division, playing some superb football in the process. Going into their final league fixture of this season (away to Larkspur Rovers, on Saturday afternoon), London Fennecs currently have an impressive total of 74 points after 31 league matches played. They have won 24 of those games, drawn two and lost five. Scoring 90 goals and conceding just 34 goals.

Their remarkable league title winning season, in only their second season at this level, is just one side of a hugely impressive season. However, the club who play their home matches at The Terence McMillan Stadium, in east London, also won the prestigious Amateur FA Senior Cup, at the very first attempt, this season. Having defeated household names in amateur football, such as Winchmore Hill, Old Carthusians, and then Nottsborough in a thrilling final, it was a remarkable achievement for a club in their fourth season as a club, to win such a prestigious competition. The cup final against Nottsborough will certainly live long in my memory, for how good a game it was.

London Fennecs actually started the season with a defeat away to Eagles Land Cricklewood, but some excellent form and big wins would follow. And although Zack Bettache’s side haven’t had it all their way with results over the course of the season, they have shown outstanding character as a team in big moments and in big games. They are a club who I have no doubts, will go on to do well at step 6, just like so many former Middlesex County Football League clubs have done, before them.

London Fennecs’ squad throughout the season is listed below, although their squad for the most part this season has been very closely knit, with about 18 players being very regular for them. Players such as their excellent goalkeeper, Saeed Pirmoradi, vastly experienced and consistent defenders Islem Guerniche and Hocine Krouchi, the highly creative Mouadh Kermani, their excellent captain, Ramy Rouighi, and top goalscorers Sofiane Hammouda and Michael Babarinde. However, defensive minded midfielder Youcef Mezaoui (he has scored eight goals so far this season), is another London Fennecs player who has had a great season, although it has been a real team effort, which has got them to where they are now. A team effort which stretches beyond the playing staff, and to Zack Bettache’s talented coaching team, and to those who have dedicated so much of their time to helping the club over the course of this season.

In what has been a long, but ultimately highly successful season for London Fennecs, I really do see them stepping up to the next level and relishing the challenges on the pitch, ahead. As a team the very talented group of players who won them the double this season, deserve to play at the next level of non-League football, and I wish them all the very best for next season, as well as wishing them all the best for their final league fixture of this season.

The London Fennecs squad for the 2025/26 season (players who have made at least one appearance for the club):

Saeed Pirmoradi, Rilwan Alowonle-Taiwo, Suleyman Zahmoul, Ren Mansfield, Billel Lakama, Soufiane Ladjici, Islem Guerniche, Youcef Chahmat, Omar Belkaid, Mohammad Baratnezhad, Mohammad Alzoubi, Mohamed Houcem Ayouni, Adam Toubal, Cameron Sinclair, Sobaan Samad, Xavier Quintero, Kevin Kaci, Mohamed Riad Akroun, Ilyas Tahraoui, Obinna Nebuwa, Hocine Krouchi, Yasser Boughrira, Ramy Rouighi, Youcef Mezaoui, Ahmed Ayoub, Mouadh Kermani, Michael Babarinde, Sofiane Hammouda.