Non-League and Academy football writer

Next month the Division One season’s of the Middlesex County Football League gets underway. As league press officer I recently wrote the following preview of Division One East, ahead of the 2026/27 season. I wish all of the teams who will be competing in this division, all the very best of luck for the season ahead. I would also like to welcome the teams who are joining this division for the start of the season, and I look forward to seeing you at some of this season’s matches.

Departing the league at the end of last season, were unbeaten champions Apollo London, who have since been promoted to the Premier Division, and Edgware & Kingsbury, who have moved across to Division One Central for this season. In addition, LBS Lions Reserves would fold towards the end of last season. Joining this step 8 division ahead of the start of the 2026/27 season, are three north London based sides, in a talented Athenians side, who have played in the Islington Midweek Football League. They are joined by Rose FC, who will be playing at the New River Sports Centre, and Whitestar, who are also based in north London.

I can see this being a competitive division this time out, with last season’s third place side Soccer Stars Ascenders being, in my opinion, one of the most likely sides to win the division. They will really be pushing for promotion to the Premier Division, and they certainly have the talent to achieve that goal. Hackney Wick Reserves (they finished last season in second place), Stonewall Reserves and Westminster & Kensington are all talented sides however, and they could all challenge for the title this season.

Bloomsbury and FC Marylebone (the 2024/25 season’s Division One East runners-up are under new management for this season), will be looking to improve further on their respective sixth and seventh place finishes last season. Luca Malagigi’s Camden & Islington United Development side, which provides a real pathway into their first team, were then followed by LBS Lions Reserves and FC Wood Green in the 2025/26 Division One East standings.

The teams who will be competing in Division One East of the Middlesex County Football League, for season 2026/27: Athenians, Bloomsbury, Camden & Islington United Development, FC Marylebone, FC Wood Green, Hackney Wick Reserves, Rose, Soccer Stars Ascenders, Stonewall Reserves, Westminster & Kensington, Whitestar.