AFC WHYTELEAFE
It's been a rapid rise up the football pyramid for AFC Whyteleafe since they joined the football pyramid in 2021 following the demise of Whyteleafe FC who had been playing at Step Four in the Isthmian South-East Division. They were champions of the Southern Counties East Division One in 23/24, followed that up by topping the Combined Counties Premier South in 24/25 and then another promotion via the play-offs last season. They also had a memorable run to the FA Vase final in 2025 narrowly losing to Whitstable Town.
The club will be playing at Cray Wanderers Flamingo Park for the 26/27 campaign whilst Church Road will be used for youth matches and training.
Manager Ennio Gonnella has signed midfielder Ade Cole who spent last season with play-off finalist's Waltham Abbey, midfielder Matty Warren from National South side Tonbridge Angels, defender Montel McKenzie from Isthmian Champion's Folkstone Invicta, attacker Francis Mampolo from Tonbridge Angels and defender Dami Olorunnisomo who re-joins the club after spending last season with Sheppey United.
Warren is a very impressive signing having made 42 National South appearances last season along with Mampolo who played in 31 games at Step Two. Right Back McKenzie, who played an important roll in Invicta's success last season, has also played for Billericay Town and Hemel Hempstead Town. He's also been on Love Island and played for Prime FC in the Baller League.
Midfielders Mason Saunder-Hughes, Jordan Johnson-Palmer, Mannie Mensah and Helge Orome have all been retained from last season's squad along with goalkeeper Slave Huk and forward's Palace Francis and Ryan Gondah.
Gondah is highly experienced having played for Lewes, Ayr United, Wealdstone, Colchester United and Barnet amongst other clubs.
AVELEY
After relegation from Step Two in 2025 and the loss of Manager Danny Scopes it was an impressive first season in charge at Parkside for former Brightlingsea Regent boss Brett Munyard.
The Millers finished second behind runaway leader's Folkstone Invicta before being well beaten by local rival's Brenwood Town in the play-off semi-final.
Experienced Left-Back Giovanni Palmer has signed from Dulwich Hamlet having also played for Farnham Town, Barking, Romford, Hanwell Town and Hendon.
Louis Dunne has signed from Maldon & Tiptree United whom he helped to the North Division title last season. The Midfielder has also played in the National League for Farnborough and Chelmsford City.
Another midfielder Malachi Napa has also made the move from The Jammers. He started his career with Oxford United where he made 14 League One appearances in the 17/18 season. He has also played for Woking, Wealdstone and Billericay Town.
Striker Eddie Dsane has signed from fellow Isthmian Premier side Dartford where he scored 15 goals last season. He has also played for Kingstonian, Horsham, Margate, Hampton & Richmond and Leatherhead. He netted 24 goals for The K's in the 23/24 Premier Divison campaign.
Former Stanway Pegasus midfielder/forward Max Booth has also joined from Peterborough Sports where he spent two seasons in the National North division. He played 61 Step Two games scoring 15 goals.
Munyard has also retained the bulk of last season's squad so the Essex side will be among the favourites for the title in the 26/27 campaign.
BRENTWOOD TOWN
A really impressive 25/26 season for The Blues after winning the North Division in 24/25. Keith Rowland's team finished 5th and went on to narrowly lose 2-1 to Billericay Town in the play-off final.
They have lost Ade Cole (to AFC Whyteleafe), Kymani Thomas (to Dagenham & Redbridge), Alejandro Machado (to Folkstone Invicta), Jon Nzego (to Tilbury) and forward Danny Ogunleye who played 198 times for The Blues scoring 86 goals - 65 of them in the last two seasons. The 24 year old moves to National South side Ebbsfleet United.
30 year old defender Luke Reid has joined from Carshalton Athletic and has also represented Merstham during his career.
Another central defender in the form of Tommy Davis has joined from Billericay Town. He began his career with Southend United where he had spells with Welling United and Hampton & Richmond Borough on loan before joining Aveley before his stint with Billericay where he made 69 appearances in the last two seasons.
Attacking Midfielder Mikey Berry has joined from Isthmian Champion's Folkestone Invicta where he made 37 appearances last season. He started his career in the youth ranks of Arsenal and Charlton Athletic.
Defensive Midfielder Ben Steward has also made the move form Billericay Town where he made 64 appearances over the last two seasons. He has also played Aveley, East Thurrock United and Concord Rangers.
BURGESS HILL TOWN
After six seasons at Step Four it was a decent return to Step Three for The Hillians who finished eighth in 25/26. Manager Gary Mansell has been busy signing played for the 26/27 campaign.
Winger Nicky Wheeler spent the 12/13 season with the club before moving on to Lewes, Tonbridge Angels, Dagenham & Redbridge, Billericay Town, Woking and Eastbourne Borough. He has spent the last three and a half seasons with Dorking Wanderers so is bringing with him lots of experience.
Brad Barry is a vastly experienced central defender. The 31 year old joins from South-East division side Hastings United where he spent last season with his home town club. The majority of his career has been in the football league withv 172 appearances for Swindon Town, Chesterfield, Barrow and Stevenage. He also spent three seasons in the National South with Eastbourne Borough from 2022 to 2025.
Defender Luther Williams joins from fellow Isthmian Premier side Dartford. He spent a shorty loan spell with The Hillians last season and now joins on a permanent basis.
Another impressive signing is forward Shamir Fenelon who drops down from National South side Horsham whom he had been playing for since 2021. The 31 year old started his career with Brighton & HA spending time on loan with various clubs before spells with Crawley Town, Aldershot Town, Maidenhead United and Billericay Town.
Winger Yoan Mark Oliver is a player making his way up the pyramid after spending last season with Harrow Borough and Kingstonian. The 25 year old has played professionally in Kosovo for KF Istogu, FC Malisheva, FC Balkani and FC Prishtina. He has also played for Tower Hamlets in the Essex Senior League.
24 year old defender Luca Cocoracchio has been with Dover Athletic for the last two seasons helping them to promotion from the Isthmian Premier and to a 20th place finish in the National South last season. He is another player who started with Brighton & HA before spending time with Worthing and Whitehawk.
Joel Daly is another player who helped Horsham to promotion to step two in the 24/25 season. The midfielder was with Whitehawk last season.
COMING SOON - C TO D
No comments:
Post a Comment