Non-League and Academy football writer

Next month (August) the 2026/27 Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division season begins, with three Senior Division fixtures taking place on Friday the 14th of August, which is the opening weekend of the league season. The following is a bit of a preview of this very competitive step 7 division.

Departing the Senior Division at the end of the previous 2025/26 season, were the excellent, unbeaten league champions London Harts United, who were promoted to the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South (step 6). Relegated from the Senior Division at the end of last season, were Frenford Development, Woodford Town Under 23s (they have since left the league), and Dagenham United. 

Haringey Borough Reserves would leave the league at the end of last season. Also, promoted from the Premier Division East, were two very well known and established clubs, in Old Barkabbeyans, and Bealonians. Joining them from the Premier Division West, were Newham Wanderers, and Vallance. I wish all of the promoted sides all the very best of luck for the season ahead, along with the teams already in the Senior Division. Finally, relegated from the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South at the end of the 2025/26 season, into the Senior Division of the Essex Alliance Football League, were Barkingside.

FC Petrocub London, a team with roots in London’s Moldovan community, and a team who has so often excelled in cup competitions in recent years, finished last season as runners-up in the Senior Division. That second place finish along with their Fenton Cup victory concluded a successful season last time out. They are always a team who can produce big results, and do well against any team at this level. Halil Hassan’s Waltham Forest Borough side finished last season in third place in the table last season, and I fully expect them to be up there challenging for the league title this season. As will Will Brobby’s CSM London side, in my opinion. The Newham based side who will be eligible for promotion this season (they will be playing their home matches at The Terence McMillan Stadium), are a team to look out for this season.

Saint City had a fine debut season in the Senior Division last time out, finishing just below a side who like CSM London also have a ground that would be suitable for promotion, in Aaron Hunwicks’ Chadwell Heath Spartans. The Spartans will be looking forward to another big season in the Senior Division, as they aim for promotion to step 6. Recently relegated Barkingside will also be hoping to earn promotion, as they look to return to step 6. Greengate District and Ongar Town (they play their home matches at Ware FC), finished last season in seventh and eighth place respectively, in the league table. And they are both sides who I think will improve during this season.

In order, a good Fairlop Rovers side were followed by Kulture FC in last season’s Senior Division table. They were then followed by the departing Haringey Borough Reserves, and Eny Okoro’s talented Ryan FC side, with Sporting Bengal United Reserves being reprieved from relegation last season, as they remain in the Senior Division for season 2026/27. I’m also intrigued to see how the promoted sides do in the Senior Division, during the season. I did see Newham Wanderers earlier on this year, and they looked like a very good team. However, it’s so difficult to predict how the always competitive Senior Division will play out, this season. 

As ever it will be fascinating to follow all of the clubs who are competing in this step 7 division. I hope to see as many of the clubs as possible on my travels to cover games in this division, this season. Who will follow London Harts United, Lymore Gardens, FC Baresi and Cannons Wood, to become the next team to win promotion to step 6? It’s going to be a really interesting season! 

The teams who will be competing in the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division for season 2026/27: Barkingside, Bealonians, Chadwell Heath Spartans, CSM London, Fairlop Rovers, FC Petrocub London, Greengate District, Kulture, Old Barkabbeyans, Ongar Town, Ryan, Saint City, Sporting Bengal United Reserves, Vallance, Waltham Forest Borough, Newham Wanderers.