Non-League and Academy football writer

The 2026/27 Essex Senior League (step 5) season gets underway in just under a month’s time. Last season (2025/26), the league title was won by Little Oakley, with Buckhurst Hill also winning promotion (from the play-offs) to step 4. Athletic Newham were the only team who were relegated to step 6 (the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South), as Frenford, who finished last season in 19th place, were reprieved from relegation. Hutton and Clapton Community FC were promoted to this division at the end of last season, with Heybridge Swifts joining the league following their relegation from step 4. This season, as ever, and very similar to the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, promises to be a very interesting and unpredictable one, in this very well known and established step 5 league.

One of the clubs who I really think will be right up there competing for the Essex Senior League title again, are Soul Tower Hamlets (their early season fixture against Clapton Community will be a great contest), who finished two points behind champions Little Oakley last time out. The club who play at the Mile End Stadium, and who will be managed by Shipon Miah and Zaheen Khan, have made some really good signings so far this summer. And they will really be looking to build on a very positive 2025/26 season. Great Wakering Rovers, last season’s third place side, are a quality team, and they will be really pushing for promotion again this season.

Beaten play-off finalists, Barking FC will in my opinion also be up there challenging at the top end of the table for promotion this season. And then you have Ilford, who just missed out on the play-offs last season, and also Saffren Walden Town, who impressed me when I saw them last season. In eighth place last season was Benfleet FC, who were then followed by Halstead Town (what a great signing they recently made, in Correy Davidson), and Hullbridge Sports.

Shane Baptiste recently returned to Woodford Town FC as manager, who after a tenth place finish last season, will be really looking to challenge for promotion this season. Following promotion from step 6 in 2025, Hackney Wick (I saw them recently in a pre-season friendly) finished last season in 12th place. Harwich & Parkeston, Romford, Basildon United and White Ensign finished directly below Hackney Wick in the table. James Wakeling’s Sporting Bengal United side did so well to stay up last season, going on a really good late run of form to avoid relegation. As did West Essex, who are another club who have made some excellent and very experienced recent signings, such as the very talented Chaka Barnett. I think that Trevor Grace’s West Essex side have a lot to look forward to this season.

Following the departure of club legend and long serving Frenford first team manager David Forbes at the end of last season, Imrul Gazi and Steven Carvell will lead the club into the 2026/27 season, as joint managers. Steven Carvell joins as player-manager, and no one can question how good a footballer he has been and continues to be in non-League football. Frenford, who have been announcing their signings on social media, have made some really fine signings so far this summer.

Finally, Hutton were superb in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South last season, deservedly winning the title. Both them and runners-up and play-off winners, Clapton Community, will definitely add quality to the Essex Senior League. As of course will Heybridge Swifts, who were relegated from step 4 at the end of last season. A fascinating season awaits. All the very best of luck to the teams who will be competing in the Essex Senior League, for season 2026/27.

The teams who will be competing in the Essex Senior League for season 2026/27: 

Barking, Basildon United, Benfleet, Clapton Community FC, Frenford, Great Wakering Rovers, Hackney Wick, Halstead Town, Harwich & Parkeston, Heybridge Swifts, Hullbridge Sports, Hutton, Ilford, Romford, Saffron Walden Town, Sporting Bengal United, Soul Tower Hamlets, West Essex, White Ensign, Woodford Town.