Non League Pre Season Fixtures 2025/26 - Includes fixtures for all Essex clubs in Vanarama/isthmian/Thurlow Nunn North/Spartan South Midlands, & all clubs in Essex Senior & Thurlow Nunn South

As I always do at the end of every season I am compiling a pre season fixture list in preparation for the following season for Non League clubs in Essex and surrounding areas, with the first games taking place on the first evening of July 2025, no rest for the wicked is there, but it won't be long till it's all up an running again, so below are the fixtures I have found so far for Pre Season 2025/26, I will add more as I see them and when clubs, some of who still haven't released their fixtures as yet, release them into the public domain..... 

Tuesday 1st July

Buckhurst Hill Vs Cockfosters (Chigwell School, 7.30pm)

FC Clacton Vs Ipswich Wanderers

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Barkingside (Basildon Sports & Leisure Club, 7.15pm)

Harlow Town Vs Thaxted Rangers (7.45pm)

Hillingdon Borough Vs Brimsdown

Stanway Rovers Vs Halstead Town (Spring Lane, 6.30pm)

Takeley Vs Sawbridgeworth Town (7.45pm)

Woodford Town Vs CSM London (Whitbreads Sports Ground, 7.15pm)

Wormley Rovers Vs Romford (7pm)

Wednesday 2nd July

AS London Vs Renaissance (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park)

Cannons Wood Vs Fisher (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park, 8pm)

Hackney Wick Vs Crawley Green

Hutton Vs Saffron Walden Town (7.45pm)

Lymore Gardens Vs Benfleet

 

Friday 4th July

Aveley Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (7.30pm)

Cornard United Vs Halstead Town (7.45pm)

Newmarket Town Vs Brimsdown

Redbridge Vs Buckhurst Hill (7.45pm)

Springfield Vs Burnham Ramblers (7.45pm)

Welling Town Vs Romford (7.45pm)

Saturday 5^th July

AS London Vs NW London (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park)

Aveley Vs FC Romania (Barking FC Community Trophy, Mayesbrook Park)

Athletic Newham Vs Basildon Town (3pm)

Barking Vs Aveley (Barking FC Community Trophy, Mayesbrook Park)

Barking Vs Walthamstow (Barking FC Community Trophy, Mayesbrook Park)

Brantham Athletic Vs Holland (3pm)

Brentwood Town Vs Leyton Orient (3pm)

Cannons Wood Vs Benfleet (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park, 1pm)

Chadwell Heath Spartans Vs Southend Manor

East Thurrock CFC Vs Hutton (1pm)

Frenford Vs Arlesey Town (3pm)

Gorleston Vs Hornchurch (The Nest, Norwich)

Harold Wood Athletic Vs Great Wakering Rovers (Parsloes Park, 1.30pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs FC Clacton (Kevin Beattie Foundation Game, 3pm)

Hashtag United Vs Basildon United (1pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Burnham Ramblers (11am)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Toby (Lower Road Outside Pitch Two, 2pm)

Ilford Vs Stansted

Kempston Rovers Vs Saffron Walden Town (Hillgrounds 3G, 1.30pm)

Kings Park Rangers Vs Stanway Rovers (3pm)

Little Oakley Vs Ipswich Wanderers (3pm)

Meridian Vs Barkingside (3pm)

Rayleigh Town vs Grays Athletic (3pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Dunmow Town (Leventhorpe School)

Shoebury Town vs Tilbury (2pm)

Soul Tower Hamlets Vs Witham Town

Stanway Pegasus Vs Brightlingsea Regent (Stanway School, 3pm)

Sungate Vs Harlow Town (3pm)

Takeley Vs Hackney Wick (3pm)

Woodford Town Vs Lewisham Borough (Whitbreads Sports Ground, 3pm)

Monday 7th July

Potters Bar Vs Takeley (7.45pm)

 

Tuesday 8^th July

Athletic Newham Vs Tilbury (7.45pm)

Barking Vs Phoenix Sports (7.30pm)

Basildon Town vs Toby

Basildon United Vs Southend Manor (Post Office Club, 7.15pm)

Billericay Town Vs Hutton (7.45pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Benfleet

Buckhurst Hill Vs Hoddesdon Town (Chigwell School, 7.30pm)

Brentwood Town Vs Chelmsford City (7.45pm)

Broadfields Vs FC Romania

Canvey Island Vs Braintree Town (7.45pm)

Coggeshall Town Vs Halstead Town (7.45pm)

East Thurrock CFC Vs Romford (7pm)

FC Clacton Vs Hadleigh United

Frenford Vs Chadwell Heath Spartans (7.45pm)

Hadley Vs Brimsdown

Harlow Town Vs Phillip United (7.45pm)

Haverhill Borough Vs Stansted

Hornchurch Vs Sittingbourne (at Oakside, Redbridge FC, 7.45pm)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Rayleigh Town Lower Road Outside Pitch Two, 7pm)

Ipswich Wanderers vs Stanway Rovers (7.45pm)

Little Oakley Vs Holland (7.45pm)

Redbridge Vs Newbury Forest (7.45pm)

Saffron Walden Town Vs Saffron Walden Town Reserves (Swchs 3G, 7.45pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Witham Town (Leventhorpe School)

Wingate & Finchley Vs Grays Athletic (7.45pm)

Woodford Town Vs FC Baresi (Whitbreads Sports Ground, 7.15pm)

 

Wednesday 9th July

AS London Vs Love My Football Career.Com (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park)

Burnham Ramblers Vs Runwell Sports (7.15pm)

Cannons Wood Vs Great Wakering Rovers (7.45pm)

Clapton CFC Vs Hackney Wick

Halls AFC Vs Barkingside (7.15pm)

Thursday 10th July

Hullbridge Sports Vs Leigh Ramblers (Lower Road Outside Pitch Two, 7pm)

 

Friday 11th July

Hackney Wick Vs Waltham Cross

Sittingbourne Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (7.30pm)

 

Saturday 12^th July

AFC Sudbury Vs Brightlingsea Regent (3pm)

AS London Vs Cannons Wood (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park, 12pm)

Aveley Vs Ebbsfleet United (1pm)

Basildon Town Vs Tilbury (3pm)

Billericay Town Vs Braintree Town (3pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Welwyn Garden City

Buckhurst Hill Vs Waltham Abbey (3pm)

Brentwood Town Vs Hornchurch (3pm)

Brimsdown vs Kit Out London

Burnham Ramblers Vs Cornard United (1pm)

Canvey Island Vs Enfield Town

Cambridge City Vs Saffron Walden Town (3pm)

Catholic United Vs Great Wakering Rovers (Goals Southend, 3pm)

Chadwell Heath Spartans Vs May & Baker

Chelmsford City vs Queens Park Rangers (3pm)

FC Clacton Vs Tiptree Heath

Frenford Vs VCD Athletic (3pm)

Haringey Borough Vs Grays Athletic (3pm)

Harpenden Town Vs Cheshunt (3pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Stanway Rovers (3pm)

Hassocks Vs Barking (2pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Hutton (1.30pm)

Hillingdon Borough Vs FC Romania

Hinton Vs Hackney Wick

Hullbridge Sports Vs Concord Rangers (Lower Road Outside Pitch Two, 2pm)

Ilford Vs Wembley 

Ipswich Wanderers Vs Halstead Town (3pm)

Little Oakley Vs Kings Park Rangers (3pm)

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Colchester United (3pm)

Old Southendian Vs Benfleet

Old Southendian Vs Rayleigh Town (3pm)

Redbridge Vs Hashtag United (3pm)

Romford Vs Witham Town (3pm)

Runwell Sports Vs Barkingside (12pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Coggeshall Town (Leventhorpe School)

Southend Manor Vs Southend United U19s

Stanway Pegasus Vs Woodbridge Town (3pm)

Stowmarket Town Vs Holland (3pm)

Takeley Vs Basildon United (3pm)

Thorpe Athletic Vs Wivenhoe Town (Shrub End, 1pm)

Tooting & Mitcham United Vs Athletic Newham (3pm)

Walthamstow Vs Woodford Town (3pm)

West Wratting Vs Harlow Town (2pm)

White Ensign vs Stansted

 

Monday 14th July

Potters Bar Town Vs Hackney Wick

 

Tuesday 15^th July

Athletic Newham Vs FC Baresi (7.45pm)

Aveley Vs Concord Rangers (7.45pm)

Barking Vs FC Romania (7.30pm)

Basildon Town Vs Great Wakering Rovers (Basildon Sport & Leisure Club, 7.15pm)

Benfleet Vs Rayleigh Town (7.45pm)

Billericay Town Vs Boreham Wood (7.45pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Kings Park Rangers

Braintree Town Vs Cambridge United (7.45pm)

Buckhurst Hill Vs Stansted (Chigwell School, 7.30pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Crawley Town (7.30pm)

East Thurrock CFC Vs Grays Athletic XI (The James Chisnell Memorial Cup, 7pm)

FC Clacton Vs Brightlingsea Regent (7.45pm)

Haringey Borough Vs Cheshunt (7.45pm)

Harlow Town Vs Woodford Town (7.45pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Holland (7.45pm)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Southend XI (Lower Road Outside Pitch Two, 7pm)

Little Oakley Vs Stanway Pegasus (7.45pm)

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Chelmsford City (7.45pm)

Old Southendian Vs Canvey Island

Redbridge Vs Enfield (7.45pm)

Saffron Walden Town Vs Dunmow Town (Swchs 3G, 7.45pm)

Southend Manor Vs Witham Town

Stanway Rovers vs Hashtag United (7.45pm)

 

Wednesday 16^th July

AS London Vs Newbury Forest (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park)

Buckhurst Hill Vs Tilbury (7.45pm)

Cannons Wood Vs France Academy U23s (7.45pm)

Heybridge Swifts U23s Vs Burnham Ramblers (7.45pm)

Hutton Vs White Ensign (7.45pm)

Long Melford Vs Halstead Town (7.45pm)

Romford Vs Hornchurch (7.45pm)

Shenfield AFC Vs Barkingside (7.45pm)

St Margaretsbury Vs Brimsdown

Wivenhoe Town Vs Alresford Colne Rangers (7.45pm)

 

Saturday 19^th July

AFC Rushden & Diamonds Vs Takeley (3pm)

Athletic Newham vs AS London (3pm)

Aveley Vs Tilbury (3pm)

Barking Vs Hadley (3pm)

Basildon Town Vs Basildon United (3pm)

Benfleet Vs Hutton (1pm)

Billericay Town Vs Aldershot Town (3pm)

Bishop's Stortford Vs Southend United (3pm)

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Southend United

Brimsdown Vs CSM London

Buckhurst Hill Vs Cambridge City (3pm)

Brantham Athletic Vs Halstead Town (3pm)

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Ipswich Town (3pm)

Cannons Wood Vs Kulture (Bobby Moore Sports Hub, Parsloes Park, 12pm)

Catholic United Vs Barkingside (3pm)

Chelmsford City Vs Brackley Town (3pm)

Ely City Vs Harlow Town (3pm)

FC Clacton Vs Earls Colne

Grays Athletic Vs Brentwood Town (3pm)

Great Bentley Vs Wivenhoe Town

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Burnham Ramblers (1pm)

Harefield United Vs Enfield Borough

Haringey Borough Vs Woodford Town (3pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs King Park Rangers (3pm)

Haverhill Rovers Vs Saffron Walden Town (3pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Fisher (3pm)

Holland Vs Thorpe Athletic (Plough C, 3pm)

Hullbridge Sports Vs Canvey Island (Lower Road, Pitch TBC, 3pm)

Little Oakley Vs Peacehaven & Telscombe (3pm)

Long Melford Vs Stanway Rovers (3pm)

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Hashtag United (3pm)

Margate Vs Concord Rangers (3pm)

Phoenix Sports Vs Romford (3pm)

Rayleigh Town vs Frenford (3pm)

Rayners Lane Vs FC Romania

Redbridge Vs Hornchurch (3pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town vs Stansted

Southend Manor Vs White Ensign

Stanway Pegasus Vs Trimley Red Devils (Stanway School, 3pm)

Walton & Hersham Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm)

Witham Town vs Hackney Wick

 

Monday 21^st July

Hashtag United Vs Chelmsford City (7.45pm)

 

Tuesday 22^nd July

Alresford Colne Rangers Vs Holland (7.45pm)

Basildon Town Vs Romford (7.45pm)

Billericay Town Vs Faversham Town (7.45pm)

Bishop’s Stortford Swifts Vs Stansted

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Basildon United (7.45pm)

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Hackney Wick (7.45pm)

Buckhurst Hill Vs Kulture (Chigwell School, 7:30pm)

Canvey Island Vs Witham Town

Clacton Regent Vs Wivenhoe Town (Plough Corner, 6.45pm)

Coggeshall Town Vs Stanway Pegasus (7.30pm)

Concord Rangers Vs Colchester United U21s (7.45pm)

Cray Valley (PM) Vs Hornchurch (7.45pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Colchester United (7.30pm)

Enfield Town Vs Braintree Town (7.45pm)

FC Clacton Vs Thorpe Athletic

Frenford Vs Tilbury (7.45pm)

Great Wakering Rovers Vs Old Southendian (7.45pm)

Halstead Town Vs Chelmsford City XI (7.45pm)

Harwich & Parkeston Vs Brantham Athletic (7.45pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Welling United (7.45pm)

Maldon & Tiptree Vs Colchester United U21s (7.45pm)

Sawbridgeworth Town Vs Oxhey Jets

Southend Manor Vs East Thurrock CFC

Southend United Vs Luton Town (7.45pm)

Stanway Rovers Vs Brentwood Town (7.45pm)

Takeley Vs Bishop's Stortford (7.45pm)

VCD Athletic Vs Grays Athletic (7.45pm)

Ware Vs Cheshunt (7.45pm)

West Essex Vs Redbridge (7.45pm)

Woodford Town Vs AS London (Whitbreads Sports Ground, 7.15pm)

Wednesday 23rd July

Cannons Wood Vs CSM London (8pm)

Harlow Town Vs Stevenage XI (7.45pm)

Friday 25th July

Bishops Stortford Vs Cheshunt (7.45pm)

Braintree Town Vs Fulham XI (7.45pm)

Concord Rangers Vs Bromley U21s (7.45pm)

Erith Town Vs Witham Town

Sevenoaks Town Vs Bowers & Pitsea

 

Saturday 26^th July

Brightlingsea Regent Vs Tattingstone United (3pm)

Camden United Vs Hackney Wick

Canvey Island Vs Cambridge City

Chelmsford City Vs Bromley (3pm)

Havant & Waterlooville Vs Dagenham & Redbridge (3pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Hornchurch (3pm)

Leigh Ramblers Vs Concord Rangers (4pm)

Leiston Vs Billericay Town (3pm)

Rayleigh Town Vs Chadwell Heath Spartans (2pm)

Stanway Rovers Vs Enfield (3pm)

Takeley Vs Harlow Town (3pm)

Tilbury vs Grays Athletic (The Stan Veness Cup, 3pm)

Walthamstow Vs Brentwood Town (3pm)

Welwyn Garden City Vs Redbridge (3pm)

 

Tuesday 29^th July

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Rayleigh Town (7.45pm)

Braintree Town Vs Colchester United

Canvey Island Vs Maldon & Tiptree (7.45pm)

Chesham United Vs Billericay Town (7.45pm)

Grays Athletic Vs Cheshunt (7.45pm)

Heybridge Swifts Vs Bishop's Stortford (7.45pm)

Slough Town Vs Southend United (7.45pm)

Witham Town Vs Chelmsford City (7.45pm)

Wednesday 30th July

Concord Rangers Vs Hashtag United (7.45pm)

 

Saturday 2^nd August

Aveley vs Brightlingsea Regent (3pm)

Brentwood Town Vs Tilbury (3pm)

Canvey Island Vs Bowers & Pitsea

Chelmsford City Vs Arsenal (3pm)

Cheshunt Vs Royston Town (3pm)

Concord Rangers Vs Enfield (3pm)

Dagenham & Redbridge Vs Boreham Wood (3pm)

Eastbourne Borough Vs Hashtag United (3pm)

Hornchurch Vs Folkestone Invicta (3pm) 

Horsham Vs Billericay Town (3pm)

Worthing Vs Braintree Town (3pm)

Tuesday 5th August

Bowers & Pitsea Vs Enfield

Fixtures last updated on 22/06/2025 at 19:30

Oldham Athletic 3 Southend United 2 (aet) - Oldham Athletic twice come from behind to defeat Southend United in a bonkers Vanarama National League Promotion Final to earn their place back in the EFL after three years away

Vanarama National League Promotion Final, Sunday 1st June

My final game of the 2024/25 season was at Wembley Stadium, and it was a big one as it brought together two sides eyeing a return to the Football League (The EFL) after dropping out of it recently due to poor ownership/management off the field which saw both clubs almost go to the wall and not exist, so this was a celebration of sorts for both too as they probably did not think this day would come again.

Oldham fell out of the EFL back at the end of the 2021/22 season, and became the first ex-Premier League side to be relegated out of the Football League and play non-league football, they had been founder members of the new Premier League back in the 1992/93 and amazingly winning promotion to be part of that was the last time the club had won a promotion, some thirty odd years ago.

Southend fell out of the EFL at the end of the 2020/21 season to complete back to back relegation's after they fell out of League One the season before that, and saw them drop out of the Football League after 101 years of being a member of it amid severe financial issues which almost put the club out of existence on several occasions, mainly due to the now previous owner of the club.

Thankfully both clubs have stabilised somewhat now and are now looking upwards rather than downwards, so this game certainly meant a great deal to both clubs and their superb sets of supporters who both deserved this moment at Wembley after what they had been through, neither would have thought this possible only a few years ago when both clubs nearly died, promotion would therefore be a wonderful present for both, who would grab that prize, it was certainly a tough one to call.

Both had certainly surprised many by being at the final, Oldham finished 5th in the regular season and comfortably saw off FC Halifax Town (who finished 6th) before they travelled to much fancied York City who had finished runners up to champions Barnet and had finished a huge 23 points above them in the table, but that meant nothing as Oldham secured a brilliant 3-0 success away from home to stun York and take their place in the final.

Southend's route was far more dramatic to say the least, after squeezing into the final play off spot (7th) on the final day, they found themselves 3-1 down at Rochdale, who finished 4th, before mounting an incredible comeback to net a 4-3 win after extra time, they then travelled to Forest Green Rovers, who finished 3rd, in the semi final, and after netting a late leveller in extra time, won on penalties to earn their place at Wembley and a chance of promotion.

A superb atmosphere greeted the players at kick off, with over 52,000 in attendance, a National League promotion final record, a brilliant effort from both and if more tickets had been available (that is a discussion for another day) then more would have been sold for sure, however, the atmosphere was pretty special, and the Southend end revealed a murial too, with a picture of a boy cleaning the sign at Roots Hall in dark days for the club when fans were asked to come along and get the stadium up to standard to host National League football after the owner left it to rot basically, a reminder of where the club had been and where they were now trying to get back too.

Well, after just four minutes it was the fans from Essex who were celebrating, as their side grabbed an early lead, Gus Scott-Moriss played a ball through which Charly Kendall ran onto, and with defender and keeper coming to try and thwart him, the ball was poked past the keeper and into the net, it went down as an own goal in the end but Southend didn't care, they had the lead!!!

Could Oldham respond? Well they certainly should have been level on more than one occasion, Vimal Yoganathan could only send a close range effort off target before Joe Garner saw a header hit the outside of the post, and then Mike Fondop somehow lofted an effort millimeters wide of the far post and being sent clear on goal, and it meant The Latics went into the half time break scratching their heads as to how they were behind, Southend though would have been delighted on how the game was going thus far, they were forty five minutes from promotion.

However, barely a minute into the second half, Oldham had a golden chance to level, Manny Monthe, the man credited with that own goal early in the game, was hauled down inside the box meaning a penalty was awarded, and Joe Garner rolled home the spot kick and the match was all square, game on!!!

Fondop then saw an effort from inside the box brilliantly saved by Shrimpers keeper Nick Hayes, but the majority of the second period thereafter was tight and tense, no surprise with what was on offer for the winner, Blues best moment of the half saw Scott-Moriss effort go straight at Hudson, and in the nine added on minutes at the end of ninety minutes Oldham had one final opening when Fondop flicked on but James Norwood could not connect.

It meant that for the fifth straight year, the Promotion Final would go to extra time, Oldham had been the better side but it wasn't them who would grab the next goal, this is because Southend were to go back in front a minute or so into the extra half hour, a Scott-Moriss cross took a deflection meaning keeper Hudson could only push across goal right into the path of Leon Parillon who had the simple task of heading into the open net.

Joyous scenes amongst the Shrimpers fans, they were now within touching distance of the Football League, and early on in the second period of extra time they should have sealed their promotion but saw Hudson deny Josh Walker to keep Oldham in the final, Southend though were looking good, but that was all about to change in dramatic fashion.

Firstly the referee Elliott Bennet walked off the pitch with an injury to be replaced by fourth official Aaron Bannister, and with around ten minutes remaining Oldham sprung forward and saw Norwood through to round Hayes and roll the ball into the empty net, and whilst The Shrimpers were still reeling from this set back, Oldham struck barely a minute later to completely turn this final around when Kian Harrat's cross found the far corner of the net, sending the Oldham players, bench, fans absolutely wild with delight, they had around eight minutes to see out and return to the EFL.

It was utter carnage, a bonkers few minutes, typical promotion final stuff really, and it was now Southend chasing the game and trying to find a way back in and keep their promotion hopes alive, it had been a frantic few minutes for sure!!!

Oldham had to defend for their lives in the final few minutes as Southend desperately tried to find a late leveller to send the final to penalties, and after several tense minutes the final whistle went to confirm that Oldham Athletic had netted victory and won promotion back to the Football League in dramatic circumstances!!!

It had been another incredible promotion final, well done to Oldham on securing promotion, and commiserations to Southend who miss out in the cruellest of ways, but considering they almost didn't have a club less than two years ago, they have come a long way and can really give it a go again next year and dream of a better future rather than worry if their club has one.

Full time Oldham Athletic 3 Southend United 2 (aet)

Unity Cup Finals Day 2025 - Ghana thrash Trinidad & Tobago to seal third place, Nigeria take Unity Cup crown after penalty shoot out win over Jamaica following a pulsating final played in an epic atmosphere in West London

(Action between Jamaica & Nigeria in what was a pulsating final played in front of a partisan crowd)

Unity Cup Finals Day 2025, Saturday 31st May

My penultimate day of football for the 2025/26 campaign took me to the G-Tech Community Stadium, Kew Bridge, Brentford, West London, home of The Bees of course, but today it was hosting the finale of Unity Cup 2025, a friendly international tournament between two sides from Africa, and two sides from The Caribbean.

Africa was represented this year by Ghana & Nigeria, whereas the Caribbean was represented by Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica, the two semi finals took place in midweek, both at the G-Tech, Tuesday evening saw Jamaica edge out Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 which included a stoppage time winner from the penalty spot & on Wednesday Nigeria edged out Ghana 2-1 with an own goal proving decisive in that one.

It all meant that Trinidad and Tobago, ranked 100th in the FIFA World Rankings, would take on 76th ranked Ghana in the third place play off, and that would be followed by the final between 63rd ranked Jamaica & the highest ranked side in this tournament, Nigeria (ranked 43rd) to see who would come out on top in this short competition.

The 2025 edition of this competition was the third edition, and Nigeria were defending champions so were looking to reclaim their crown, the competing sides are all countries with a large diasporas in London so they were all keen to get a glimpse of their international stars up close and personal in the country they all now call home, which set of fans would be the happier, let's find out.....

Third place play off - Trinidad & Tobago Vs Ghana   

The first game of the day at 12:30pm saw the two sides defeated in the semi finals on Tuesday and Wednesday, both were looking to at least end the tournament with a win and you felt Ghana probably went into this game as favourites considering they were ranked 24 places above T & T in the world rankings.

The Caribbean's though had almost bridged a 37 place gap against Jamaica in the semi final and only lost that one late on, however, it was apparent early on in this contest that it would be a fairly comfortable afternoon for the African's, they flew out of the traps and were ahead in just the sixth minute when Leicester City's Jordan Ayew fired a brilliant effort into the bottom corner from outside the box.

And just six minutes later the Ghanaians doubled their lead when a corner from the right was nodded home in off the post by Razak Simpson, and you already felt how many it would be rather than if T&T would get back into the game, they were being totally overrun by their opponents and that continued to be the order of the day in the remainder of the first period.

T&T did have one big moment which could have seen them get back into the contest when after a free kick had been blocked, the ball was struck powerfully against the post, but this was the only time Ghana were troubled in the opening forty five minutes, and in fact it was Ghana who grabbed the next goal four minutes before half time to rubber stamp their victory already it seemed.

It was a lovely goal too, a lovely pass down the right saw the ball played across and helped along it's way to Mohammed Fuseini, who plays for newly crowned Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise, for him to run in and fire home beyond the keeper, and Ghana had a commanding three goal lead at the break and looked destined to go on and record a heavy win.

Could T&T at least grab a goal and make it a bit more competitive, sadly no, and in fact early on in the second half a terrible error from the keeper handed Ghana a fourth goal just before the hour mark, Lawrence Agyekum burst down the right hand side and sent a ball into the box which the keeper tried to claim but allowed the ball to go through his hands, his legs, and into the net, oops, and that folk was game over if it wasn't already.

All the sparse crowd (at that point) wanted was for a T&T goal, well unless you were following Ghana of course, but even they wouldn't of begrudged their opponents something to cheer, their side had totally outclassed their opponents in this one, but despite this the T&T supporters continued to dance to the calypso band behind one of the goals, they were having fun regardless of what was happening on the pitch.

The Caribbeans couldn't find a goal and could easily have conceded more, but in the end it ended with a four goal win for Ghana and they could at least celebrate third place and a win in this competition for 2025, they certainly played some excellent football in this contest and were comfortable winners.

Full time Trinidad & Tobago 0 Ghana 4

Once that game was done n dusted, there was the small matter of a two and a half hour gap between games with the final not kicking off till 5pm, slightly irritating and with no re entry to the ground and with only one area of the stand food wise open, it was back to their for some refreshments, charging of phone, and a walk around, their was a two hour 'concert' in the stadium, which was basically some DJs blaring out music in the stands, good music though and good vibes throughout, so it wasn't all bad.....

Anyway, as the final approached the atmosphere was building, it was clear to see that the final would be played in front of a much larger crowd and a noisy one too, things were going up a notch you could say, so this was good, let's see what happened in that final when it did eventually come round to 5pm!!!

The Final - Jamaica Vs Nigeria

If Nigeria had the slight tag of favourites and the higher ranking between the two sides, Jamaica would certainly have the advantage in the stands as I reckon it was about three to one in the Caribbeans favour, and boy were they loud and ready to party, but equally Nigeria were well backed too and their fans were just as loud and fun loving too, so even before the game began the atmosphere was electric to say the least, totally different to the first game for sure!!!

Both sides had won tough semi finals in midweek and both wanted to win this trophy, albeit a friendly one, as said before and earlier in this blog, Nigeria were defending champs, could The Reggie Boyz take the trophy from them or would the Super Eagles soar once again and repeat their 2024 success in London, well we were in for a real treat in this one.

The atmosphere had already made it a fun spectacle, but the sides began the game with real tempo, and it was Nigeria who began the better and were ahead after just nine minutes, dampening the Jamaicans mood somewhat, it was a ball into the penalty area that saw Moses Simon convert from close range, sending the Nigerian supporters wild.

However, if that quietened down the Jamaica faithful, it only did for about three minutes as the Reggie Boyz roared right back and levelled in the 12th minute when the pacey Renaldo Cephas burst past the full back like he wasn't there and sent a ball across the area where Kaheim Dixon was on hand to side foot home, and the noise that greeted that goal was deafening, it was an unbelievable noise and it had been some response from the Jamaica side, game well and truly on you could say, marvellous stuff!!!

Nigeria though to be honest were the better side for the remainder of the half, and did carve out openings which they could not capitalise on, but Jamaica were very dangerous on the break so kept their opponents honest for sure, it had been a belter of a contest so far and although Nigeria edged it I felt, it remained 1-1 as the half time whistle blew, however, the second half was to prove very entertaining indeed.

It looked as if Nigeria would begin to stamp their authority on this contest when they retook the lead eight minutes into the second period, it was a moment of class from AC Milan's Samuel Chukwueze who shifted the ball onto his left foot before firing a lovely effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the area, and again sending the Super Eagle fans joyous.

Could Jamaica respond? Sitting there I didn't think they could again, and it did seem that Nigeria could go on and win this one by more goals, but how wrong was I, because those Reggie Boyz, backed by a wonderful support, responded once again to going behind by levelling the contest up ten minutes later in the 63rd minute, and it was from the same source as the first leveller.

The brilliant Cephas once again burned his marker down the left and used his pace to go past him before again delivering a left footed ball into the box and perfectly for Jon Russell, who plays his football in England for Barnsley, who powerfully sent a first time left footed volley past the keeper and into the net, wow, it was now turning into an epic contest in front of one of the best atmospheres I've even witnessed, truly amazing and a pleasure to be there.

Could anyone win it before the dreaded penalties? Nigeria had their moments trust me but were lacking that killer touch, and with Jamaica also threatening to break and potentially grad a winner themselves, boy was it frantic at times, which made for a very very entertaining contest, with the crowd really getting into it as they had been throughout, you just do not get this sort of atmosphere at a game in the UK, and with both sets of fans sitting with each other in most parts of the stadium enjoying the contest with each other, that was certainly unique.

Alas, their was to be no winner meaning the contest and Unity Cup 2025 would be decided from the penalty spot, both sides converted their first three kicks pretty comfortably meaning 3-3 heading into the fourth penalty each, sadly for Jamaica they missed their fourth one, too much height seeing it glance off the bar and over, Nigeria netted their fourth meaning Jamaica had to net their fifth, which they did, meaning 4-4.

That left the Super Eagles with match point, and if Christanus Uche, who plays in Spain for Getafe, could net the final kick, Nigeria would reclaim their crown, and Uche duly converted to see Nigeria take Unity Cup 2025 honours and end what had been a pulsating final, winning it 5-4 on penalties.

Full time Jamaica 2 Nigeria 2 (Nigeria won 5-4 on penalties)

Well, what a day that was, played in beautiful weather all day too, and the final was a epic encounter played in front of a crowd that enjoyed it all together regardless of who they were supporting which led to a carnival atmosphere, I tell you something, those fans know how to support their team and know how to dance and have fun too, it was really refreshing to see and it's what it's all about isn't it, marvellous stuff, very enjoyable indeed!!! One of the best atmospheres I've been in, amazing.....