The English Football Pyramid officially extends to Level 11. For the 2026-27 season my choices to follow are: Arsenal & Brentford, Wrexham, Plymouth, Exeter, Worthing, Torquay, Wimborne, Exmouth, Bovey Tracey, Teignmouth & Elmore. I am also following the women's pyramid which extends to Level 7. My womens teams are Arsenal, Bristol City, Exeter, Torquay, Yeovil, Feniton & Teignmouth.
Emile Smith Rowe was on target on Tuesday evening as we were beaten by Hibernian at Easter Road in our first game of pre-season.
With much of the focus on fitness and combination play, we started brightly enough and had a golden chance when Eddie Nketiah raced clean through on goal – only for the striker to shoot wide.
Reiss Nelson soon tested former Gunner Matt Macey with a firm strike as we forced the home side back, and from the resulting corner Nketiah sent a glancing header wide.
But out of nowhere, we gifted the Scottish side the lead when Arthur Okonkwo failed to deal with a tricky backpass from Cedric, and Martin Boyle had the simple task of collecting the loose ball and rolling it in from close range.
We fashioned a decent chance for an equaliser when a deep ball to the back post was headed back across goal by Sead Kolasinac, but Nelson’s goalbound shot hit Nketiah and deflected away.
Okonkwo soon made a sharp save to push away Stephen Bradley’s shot, before the Hibs striker hit the post moments later before the half-time break.
Mikel Arteta made seven changes at the interval, and one of them – Nicolas Pepe – came close to an immediate impact as his goalbound free kick from the edge of the area was pushed over.
Pepe soon saw a shot deflected just wide, while Folarin Balogun had an effort saved as we stepped things up – before Thomas Partey struck the post with a superb long-range free kick.
But, just like the first half, we were hit by a suckerpunch when a deep corner swung in from the right was headed back across goal by Paul Hanlon, and Daniel Mackay headed in from close range to double the hosts’ lead.
We looked to have a way back into the game when Pepe was taken down in the area and a penalty was awarded, but the Ivorian’s spot kick was saved.
We got back into the match with seven minutes remaining when, at the end of an intricate passing move, Hector Bellerin picked out Smith Rowe at the back post and he fired in.
But there was to be no late equaliser but Arteta will have seen plenty to encourage him despite the result.
WHAT’S NEXT
We’ll continue our training camp in Edinburgh this week, before taking on Scottish champions Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday – and you can watch it live on Arsenal.com once again.
Then we fly to the United States on Wednesday, July 21, ahead of our two Florida Cup matches there against Inter Milan and the winner of the Everton v Millonarios game.
New signing Nuno Tavares marked his first appearance in Gunners colours with an excellent goal, and Eddie Nketiah grabbed a late equaliser as we twice came from behind to earn a draw in Glasgow.
We generally dominated our second pre-season friendly, but were left to rue a host of missed opportunities, while our defensive lapses were punished from two Rangers' corners.
But there were plenty of positives to take as we stepped up our preparations - none more so than the performance of 21-year-old new signing Tavares.
Before his goal he had already looked lively, looking to burst forward from his starting position at left back, but it was the hosts who took the lead.
Shaven-headed Rob Holding cleared an inswinging free-kick, but from the resulting corner Leon Balogun rose above the defence to glance his header inside the far post.
We had already squandered the best early chance. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pounced on a loose pass by Rangers keeper Allan McGregor, steadied himself but sent his shot just over the bar.
Nicolas Pepe also curled a shot over after some nifty footwork from Aubameyang, and soon we were deservedly level, thanks to the new boy.
Tavares showed great desire and willing to get into the box, and finished excellently with his right foot from a narrow angle.
We were beginning to take control, and created plenty of chances to take the lead - the first fell to Aubameyang, but he headed wide from close range at the far post.
Folarin Balogun was released in the box by the skipper shortly afterwards, and forced a smart save from McGregor before Aubameyang let another chance slip away. He couldn't convert from close range after a wonderful, incisive run by Emile Smith Rowe.
We should really have been ahead at the break, and five half-time substitutions (including goalscorer Tavares) did nothing to disrupt our rhythm. Both Thomas Partey and Smith Rowe were denied by McGregor in the opening five minutes of the second period, as our shot count continued to rise.
Just after the hour mark Mikel Arteta made another group of substitutions, but our attacking intent remained. Reiss Nelson was heavily involved and we continued to look dangerous, but were soon punished for not taking our chances.
Again we conceded from a corner - for the third time this pre-season - with Cedric Itten heading home past Karl Hein.
Our 19-year-old Estonian keeper then made a good low save from Stephen Kelly to keep the deficit at one and we soon made sure it was a costly miss from the Rangers youngster.
Nketiah fired us level after wonderful work inside the area to create an opening, eventually striking home left footed through a crowd.
Hector Bellerin tried his luck with his left foot from just inside the area, while Sead Kolasinac and Willian both shot over as we desperately sought the winner.
It wouldn't come, and we had to settle for a draw in an entertaining friendly match.
WHAT'S NEXT
This concludes our Scottish training camp, but the hard work continues next week, as the side fly off to Florida on Wednesday.
Our next match is against Inter Milan in the Florida Cup on Sunday, July 21 - and you can watch that game live on Arsenal.com.
We'll then take on either Everton or Millonarios on July 28, before the side return to the UK, for our final friendly matches in the Mind Series, against Chelsea (H) and Tottenham (A).
A single goal late in the first half was enough to give Brentford a win over AFC Wimbledon in a pre-season friendly. The game was played in very warm conditions and the first period failed to capture the imagination, but Brentford scored in the dying moments of it. The second period was livelier and threatened further goals, but none were forthcoming, and The Bees got the win.
The first half was, for long periods, unexciting. The strength of the sun, which made it a hot afternoon in South London, probably didn’t help and the number of free kicks given was also a factor. The game was stop-start, it lacked flow and neither team was able to put together spells of attacking possession.
Bryan Mbeumo floated a free kick narrowly wide of the far post early on, and then fired one in at the near post from the right channel later in the half. Nik Tzanev got down well to save the latter shot but was mostly untroubled until Brentford went ahead. That goal came down the right, as did most of Brentford’s attacking play. Saman Ghoddos was able to turn in the penalty area and his cross was half cleared. Fin Stevens lofted a shot over Tzanev, but it hit the crossbar and bounced down. Joel Valencia reacted quickest to dive and head in.
The goal came as Brentford started to take control of the game. While The Bees would probably have wanted to do more in attack, they were solid at the back. David Raya was untroubled and as the half wore on, The Bees were playing more on the front foot and in Wimbledon territory, which enabled them to take the lead before the break.
The pace of the game increased after half time. Wimbledon’s second half line-up had three central defenders, they put more players in to attacking areas and both sides increased their intensity. Luke McCormick had a shot deflected wide for the hosts before an effort from Huseyin Biler was blocked. Patrik Gunnarsson was forced in to a low save when Ayoub Assal miss-controlled a Corie Andrews lay-off with such power that it turned in to a shot. The Brentford goalkeeper got down to palm it wide.
With temperatures remaining high, there was a water break in each half and both sides could have scored just after the pause in the second period. A fine pass from Luke Racic released Sergi Canós on the left side, he played a low ball in, Tariqe Fosu weaved clear of defenders, but shot wide from ten yards. A run from Assal at the other end then set up McCormick, but he fired over the crossbar.
Wimbledon probably had slightly the better of the second half and could have levelled late on. McCormick missed the target after twisting free on the edge of the penalty area and Gunnarsson saved from Assal. The Bees could have had the final word from a half cleared corner. Shandon Baptiste got away from his man and delivered a cross for Racic, but his header was blocked. The ball dropped loose, and Charlie Goode got a shot off, but once again he couldn’t beat the defenders on the line. A second would probably have flattered The Bees but they did enough to get a pre-season win.
Bath City 3 Exeter City 4 - late Matt Jay goal secures Grecians win in pre-season friendly
Goals from James Dodd, two for Sam Nombe, and one for Matt Jay gave City the win in an entertaining friendly
Goal celebrations for Matt Jay of Exeter City during the Pre Season Match between Bath City and Exeter City at Twerton Park, Bath on the 16 Jul. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK (Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Matt Jay struck late on to secure another pre-season victory for Exeter City in an entertaining 4-3 win at Bath City.
First half goals from James Dodd – a first in Grecians colours – before Nombe’s first of the night had put them on course for a comfortable win, but just before the break, Cody Cooke’s deflected strike pulled one back for the Romans.
Bath had chances to level, but Nombe, making it four goals in two games this week, put City 3-1 up just before the hour with a calmly taken finish after a defensive mistake.
Tom Smith made it 3-2 when the midfielder scored late on for the hosts, and then moments later completed the comeback, sliding past Scott Brown when one-on-one with the keeper.
But on 83 minutes, Jay, off the bench, used his class to work an opening that never looked on to drill home a late winner and ensure they came away from Twerton Park with the victory as they build towards the start of the League Two season on August 7.
Goal celebrations for Matt Jay of Exeter City during the Pre Season Match between Bath City and Exeter City at Twerton Park, Bath on the 16 Jul. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Manager Matt Taylor named another mix-and-match side as the pre-season campaign continued, making nine changes from the side that started Tuesday’s 5-0 win at Taunton Town.
Scott Brown was in goal, with Jordan Dyer, George Ray and Alex Hartridge were the back three, with Josh Key and Jack Sparkes as wing-backs, Dodd, Archie Collins and Harry Kite in the midfield, and Joel Randall and Nombe up front.
PROMOTED STORIES
And it took just four minutes before City should have taken the lead, but Hartridge, having been left unmarked from a corner, volleyed narrowly over the bar.
One minute later, they came even closer. Sparkes found space down the left wing, fired in a pinpoint cross to Nombe, but his effort bounced back off the post, with the ex-MK Dons man failing to convert the rebound.
But on 17 minutes, the goal came. Nombe picked up the ball in the six yard box after a superb pass by Key, and the striker laid it off for academy product Dodd, and the 20-year-old drilled the effort into the bottom corner.
Goal celebrations for James Dodd of Exeter City during the Pre Season Match between Bath City and Exeter City at Twerton Park, Bath on the 16 Jul. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
On 30 minutes, the Grecians made it two, and Nombe got the goal his performance deserved. Randall used his pace to good effect, bursting free down the right-hand side, who then found the 22-year-old in the box, who swivelled, and powered an effort past the Bath goalkeeper.
Just before the break though, Bath got one back, when Cooke latched onto a cross from Alex Fletcher, and the ex-Weymouth man’s shot a deflection and beat Brown in the Grecians goal.
And the Romans should have drawn level on 56 minutes, with ex-Plymouth Argyle man Fletcher missing a golden chance. Having got on the end of a long ball, he turned past Hartridge, but his attempted lob over Brown only landed on the roof of the net.
Within sixty seconds though, City extended their lead, and it was that man Nombe again. A poor pass was intercepted by Key, who then found Collins, who squared the ball nicely to the striker who placed his effort into the bottom corner of the net.
Goal celebrations for Sam Nombe of Exeter City during the Pre Season Match between Bath City and Exeter City at Twerton Park, Bath on the 16 Jul. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
On the hour mark, Taylor made ten changes, with a whole new outfield unit. Ellis Johnson, Pierce Sweeney and Cheick Diabate were the new back three, with Jake Caprice and Zeph Collins as the wing-backs, Jack Veale, Eli Collins and Jay in the midfield, and Jevani Brown and Ben Seymour upfront.
City were in control, but suddenly found themselves with a nervous last 15 minutes when the National League South side scored against the run of play, with Smith tapping home a dangerous cross at the far post.
And the on-loan Dagenham and Redbridge man grabbed a second in the 80th minute with a lovely composed finish and finding himself one-on-one with Brown, making it 3-3 as the game entered the final ten minutes.
But skipper Jay, with an outstanding finish, gave the Grecians a late winner. Having picked up the ball inside the area, he found space to shimmy around the defence and fire a low effort into the back of the net.
City are next in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Weymouth.
Exeter City first 60 minutes
Scott Brown, Jordan Dyer, George Ray, Alex Hartridge, Josh Key, James Dodd, Harry Kite, Archie Collins, Sam Nombe, Joel Randall
Exeter City last 30 minutes
Scott Brown, Ellis Johnson, Pierce Sweeney, Cheick Diabate, Jake Caprice, Eli Collins, Matt Jay, Jack Veale, Zeph Collins, Jevani Brown, Ben Seymour.
Two of my teams take on each other in a pre-season friendly tonight. 19:30 is the kick-off time and although I expect Exeter to field a weakened team as Tiverton are a Southern League outfit, the result could go either way and I hope the fans who turn up enjoy the match.
My spreadsheet tells me that a number of things are happening today and we have already had a few pre-season friendlies so the new season is underway at least in terms of pre-season.
Arsenal are back at London Colney and they have released the Scottish and American fixtures for those who might want to travel. Travel? Does anyone know what is allowed now that Boris Johnson has decided to declare "Freedom Day" and allow the population of England to kill themselves. Get together, have a party and if a few of you die so be it. Let the bodies pile high!
The National League released their fixtures for the season today so I have been able to log where Weymouth and Bath City will be week by week.
The first few fixtures for my teams took place on Saturday 3rd July with Tiverton being the only team that failed to score. Travelling away to Cribbs they earned a creditable 0-0 draw. Willand Rovers are new for me this season and I was aware that their internet coverage is poor. I did, however, find their Twitter feed and the last post on there says that Buckland Athletic have taken a 3-2 lead to I assume that was the final score. Willand Rovers 2 Buckland Athletic 3.
My favourites Exmouth Town had a good pre-season win beating Verwood Town 4-1 at home.
Finally for Saturday Bath City travelled to Larkhall Athletic and beat their hosts 5-1. A very good start.
Bath City played again on Tuesday night and won again, this time beating Frome Town away 4-1.
An Exeter City eleven travelled to Weston-super-Mare and lost 2-1 to open their pre-season with a defeat.
As my blog has developed I have linked and signed up to many websites connected to the teams I have been following over the years so I have decided to stick with some teams that I know but living in Exeter I have decided to drop Plymouth Argyle and keep Torquay United on the back burner.
My choices for the new season which is just around the corner are now :-
0-Arsenal (I cannot ignore my main team but they are no longer my premier league selection).
1-Brentford (I have thoroughly enjoyed watching my Championship side finally achieve promotion).
2-Bournemouth (My new championship team are in with a chance and Jack Wilshere plays for them).
3-Cheltenham (I saw the kit and the red shirts with white sleeves convinced me to follow them this year).
4-Exeter (My local papers always give me information about this lot. They are my nearest league club).
5-Weymouth (I was fully prepared to drop them but internet coverage of transfers brought me back).
6-Bath (This was another team I considered dropping but the town itself is a lovely place to visit).
7-Tiverton (I have been so close to watching live many times but I remain firmly an internet watcher).
8-Willand (I rejected this team years ago because of poor internet coverage but this year I shall search).
9-Exmouth (I have become a fan of this lot since attending live matches with a friendly atmosphere).
10-Bovey Tracey (Nice ground not too far away and I hope to watch more matches this season).
11-Liverton (Five minutes down the road and the girls team just achieved promotion this year).
The teams from 12 to 16 are not officially part of this blog but you will hear about them from time to time. Roll on the new season and playing football in the summer sun.
I think a lot but my review of the league names got me thinking big time.
The Essex Senior League is the last league with a county name in it still competing at level 9 in the pyramid. This step 5 league have always been a bit out there, rather like the Hellenic League when it comes to running things their own way.
The Football Association stated a few years ago that they wanted level 11, step 7 to be the point at which County Leagues competed in the National hierarchy and they renamed the Kent League to be the Southern Counties East League and they renamed the Sussex League to be the Southern Combination League so the last remaining "Blot on the landscape" is the Essex Senior League.
Rather than give the Essex League a second division the F.A. chose to give the Eastern Counties League a second subsidiary division which now acts as the feeder to the Essex League. So, I thought, what names could I come up with for a revamped Essex Senior League?
The Essex Olympian League is already sitting in the correct place for a county league so they would take over as the County League once we have renamed the Essex Senior League but what name can we come up with?
The Eastern Counties League Premier South is the obvious choice. Do we need to persuade the committee that runs the Essex Senior League or can the F.A. just run roughshod over the will of the league itself? The Sussex League thought long and hard before agreeing to become the Southern Combination on the basis that the same initials as the Sussex County could be used.
Essex is east of London so could become the East of London League but London is a bit specific. There is already a Thames Valley league but another option for the ESL is to become the Thames Estuary League.
Going back to roman times I think the Iceni came from somewhere out east so The Iceni League is an option but I doubt that it would be that popular.
Given the main thoroughfare of the area the league could be renamed The A12 league but then it would stand out like a sore thumb, just as it does now.
One of my favourite footballers was Ray Parlour who never got the credit he was due when he played. The superstars took all the credit while he did most of the work. The Romford Pele could be a lynchpin in the renaming and we could call it the Romford Pele League.
Taking the Sussex idea of keeping the same initials for the league we need to find some words to fit the E and the S while we can leave the L as it is. How about the Eastern Southhalf League, or the Express Shithot League? The Easy Supporters League? The European Super League?
O.K. I just hit a nerve for some people. Other people can come up with a suitable name but I know the F.A. want to change the name and it is only a matter of time as it was for the restructure to 1-2-4-8-16.
Essex is a proud county and when cricket first started printing the name on sports shirts I was pleased to wear the name Essex across my chest as a young man. Now I am a little ashamed that my old home county is the last to move into the modern era and remove the county name from level 9.
How long can the Essex Senior League go on at this level?
So the Football Association have arrived at their perfect pyramid with 1-2-4-8-16 divisions.
There are 17 divisions at step 6 so I have to presume that the F.A. are looking to increase that to 32.
15 more divisions will be appearing over the next few years so that should include something like an East Midlands League and perhaps a West Midlands (Regional) League. Many teams at the top of their County Leagues must be included so perhaps some County Leagues will be absorbed and renamed.
Another way to go would be to include Scottish and Welsh leagues in the English system but I think that is outside the current thinking which has probably already stopped.
The fantastic news is that my Championship team just got promoted via the playoffs. When they sober up again after the party they can set about building the squad to take on the Premier League.
Under my original rules I can only have one team from each level of the pyramid. I have been an Arsenal supporter since I was a child so I will be watching them but as the Kroenkes have turned my club into a laughing stock I think I will drop them from this blog.
My new premier league team is Brentford. They have rebuilt the passion I used to have for the wonderful game. Rico Henry is the best defender. Ivan Toney is the best striker. Sergi Canos is the spiky one who will either make or break a game. Christian Norgaard is the holding midfielder without which strikers can get at the defence. The defence is solid in the Championship but I fear that they will have to step up a notch in the Premier League.
I am looking forward to watching and comparing a good Championship side compete in the Premier League. I expect survival but there will be disappointments too.
They have left a gap for me in the Championship so I am going to fill that with AFC Bournemouth who must stay down in the Championship so that Arsenal can be top of the Premier League at the start of every season.
I felt awkward having Torquay in my selection a while back and the same happened with Plymouth in my selection last season. Exeter fans are supposed to hate both those teams. My new selection for League One is the promoted team Cheltenham Town.
League Two can keep Exeter City and they probably will.
I return to my old home town in the National League as Southend United were ejected from the Football League at the end of the current season. It will be interesting to watch Phil Brown being Phil Brown and at National League level he will be a loud voice.
The non league finals rekindled my interest in some Essex names from the past and this season I will be following Concord Rangers who must be missing the Cowley brothers by now. That covers the National League South.
In the Southern League Premier Division South Tiverton Town retain their place and I hope to go watch them at some point this season.
In the Southern League Division One South I am dropping Barnstaple Town in favour of Plymouth Parkway who have just come up from the South West Peninsula League.
Exmouth Town are my Western League pick and I have become a fan as a result of the few matches I was able to watch before COVID took fans out of the stadiums.
Bovey Tracey have a pleasant little ground in the park with a few holes in the fencing if I cannot afford the entry fee or I just want to watch part of the match. They will remain as my level 10 team.
Liverton United remain my Devon League pick at Level 11. It is a two minute drive for me to the ground and the beer is drinkable.
These picks may change but that is my current plan.
The FA has agreed to the League’s request on behalf of Ipswich Wanderers that they be moved from the First Division North to the First Division South for season 2021/22.
