Non-League and Academy football writer

For the third season in a row, and although this season isn’t quite over just yet, I thought that I’d pick my personal grassroots/non-League football team of the season. This team, as ever, has a real emphasis on the lower levels of non-League football, such as steps 6 and 7 of the non-League pyramid. As always it is a very difficult decision to name a squad of 11 players, from all of the many games that I have covered so far this season (2025/26) on my blog. However, I hope that fans of non-League and grassroots football enjoy reading through my team of the season, as difficult a decision as it was to make. I saw every player who made this team of the season on at least three occasions during the season just gone.

Formation (4-3-3): 

Goalkeeper: Jack Francis (Clapton Community FC). Jack Francis (36) is a vastly experienced and talented goalkeeper, who was also the captain of the Clapton Community FC side which won promotion to step 5 last season. With an impressive amount of clean-sheets, some outstanding saves made, and some fine distribution from his penalty area (once again!), Jack Francis is the goalkeeper in my team of the season.

Right-back: Erol Hassan (FC Baresi). Another experienced player in non-League football, who makes my team of the season, is the versatile Erol Hassan. Now in his early 30s, the right-back and fine one versus one defender (Erol can also fill in at left-back or in central-defence) is a solid defender who gives his absolute all out on the pitch. He is also good on the ball, and the player who plays his Sunday football for Yeni Bogazici, is also a good crosser of a football.

Centre-back: Islem Guerniche (London Fennecs). Islem Guerniche is an experienced defender, who started 35 of London Fennecs’ games during the season just gone. A very reliable and solid central-defender, Islem Guerniche has been at London Fennecs since their days in Division One (step 8) of the Middlesex County Football League, and he will continue to do well for them at step 6 next season (2026/27).

Centre-back: Kieran Marshall (Hilltop FC). The only step 5 player who makes this team of the season, is Hilltop’s calm and composed central-defender, Kieran Marshall, who had a season of fine progress for the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division North side. The young central-defender started the 2025/26 season really well, putting in a man of the match performance against step 4 side Deal Town in the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup. And although he was  out for a while with an injury last season, I saw him put in some really strong and commanding defensive performances for Hiltop.

Left-back: Stefan McKie (FC Baresi). One of the most skilful players when driving forward with the ball from deep that I’ve seen this season. FC Baresi youngster Stefan McKie (21), in his first full season at step 6, had a very good season for the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South side. His two goals and two assists over the course of the season only tells one side of his season. Despite being a right footed left-back, Stefan McKie was often one of FC Baresi’s most creative players whenever I saw them play last season.

Defensive-midfield: Youcef Mezaoui (London Fennecs). Having returned to London Fennecs for the start of the 2025/26 season, versatile defensive-midfielder Youcef Mezaoui had an excellent season for the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division side and double winners. Tenacious, skilful and a player who gives his all for his team, Youcef Mezaoui is a very good player who also scored a good number of goals from midfield during this season, and I’m sure that he will do well for London Fennecs at step 6, next season.

Central-midfield: James Briggs (Clapton Community FC). Although the excellent James Briggs is a deep-lying midfielder, he scored nine goals and provided 18 assists for Clapton Community FC during the season just gone. A superb midfield technician, who is one of the most technically gifted players at steps 5 and 6 of non-League, James Briggs (33) is one of my favourite players in non-League football, and what a season he had in 2025/26!

Central-midfield: Ryo Brown (Lymore Gardens FC). Lymore Gardens’ quality captain was instrumental in their successes over the course of their first ever season at step 6, and excellent FA Vase run. Ryo Brown can do an excellent job in central-defence, but in midfield, where he dictates the tempo of the game, and does both sides of the game really well, is in my opinion, where he is at his very best. He links the play really well, and is capable of running games from midfield.

Left-sided winger/forward: Malik Donaldson (Lymore Gardens). The scorer of a very impressive 17 goals for Lymore Gardens last season from out wide, Malik Donaldson had a superb season for a very impressive Lymore Gardens side in 2025/26. Highly skilful, Malik Donaldson consistently scored and assisted goals. At times last season, including in the FA Vase, Malik Donaldson was unplayable.

Centre-forward: Liam Walford (Hayes & Hillingdon). After 37 goals scored in 36 competitive appearances for Middlesex County Football League Premier Division side and runners-up, Hayes & Hillingdon, centre-forward Liam Walford makes my team of the season for season 2025/26. His movement off the ball is very clever, and he is so clinical inside of the penalty area. However, Liam is also a very hard worker, whose off the ball pressing and closing down off defenders, is very good.

Right-sided winger/forward: Michael Babarinde (London Fennecs). The third London Fennecs player who makes my team of the season, is highly skilful winger and big game player, Michael Babarinde. Unpredictable and very difficult to defend against one versus one, the youngster scored and assisted in hugely important games for London Fennecs last season, and he will do really well for them at step 6 next season.