TLFG: 8-14 September 2025

Greetings everyone and welcome to this week's TLFG.

How was your international break? Did you make good use of it and check out a lower league or women's game?

I was all set to go to the Emirates on Saturday to watch Arsenal open their Women's Super League (WSL) campaign against London City Lionesses but my daughter was unwell and we had to cancel our trip which was very disappointing.

After nearly three weeks off, I returned to work today and I'm writing this on my break.

This meant I didn't get to go to Actonians' big FAWNL Cup match against Chelsea U21s.

Having seen the reigning WSL champions open their season with a crucial 2-1 win over Manchester City on Friday, we were expecting their youngsters to push us hard.

West Ham v Tottenham tickets are on general sale

A bumper crowd, by our standards, at Berkeley Fields watched the A's put in an incredibly disciplined performance as they saw out a very impressive 2-1 win to top their group going into the last game against AFC Wimbledon in three weeks time.

It was a huge moment for the club and I look forward to speaking to Molly O'Reilly, who scored the opener and came up with the assist for the winner, on this week's podcast.

In other news, I took part in a very exciting meeting about expanding Non-League Day into another major European footballing nation - nothing's agreed yet but watch this space.

My next game is likely to be Actonians' home league match against MK Dons on Sunday where they'll hopefully pick up another three points. 

Lastly this week, many thanks to Martin B from Sherborne in Dorset who very kindly donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - it's hugely appreciated.

THE WEEK AHEAD

With the first international break of the season over, London's biggest clubs in the Premier League and Championship return to action - on Saturday alone there are five top-flight games in the capital!

Aside from that, there's a great selection of EFL games and loads of great non-league ones too - including the next round of the FA Cup which is always exciting.

In the women's game, there are a couple of WSL games and many matches in the divisions below.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs and development matches. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 8 September

Premier League Cup

Bromley v Sunderland @7pm - the week begins with a match in the group stage of this U21 competition. Despite the name, most of the participants come from clubs in the EFL with Sunderland one of the handful that don't. The Ravens are the lowest-ranked academy taking part this year so they face a potentially tough evening at Hayes Lane. Tickets

ECL Division 1 South

Barkingside v FC Baresi @745pm - after a reasonable start, the 'Side are now winless in five in the league. When you include cup games too, their record looks even worse. On Monday they play a side who they beat 2-1 on the opening day of the season (why they're playing them again already I don't know) so that should give them some confidence. Tickets are available on the gate for somewhere in the region of £5-7

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Tuesday 9 September

Professional Development League

If you want to see two games on Tuesday, it should be pretty easy to achieve. There are three lunchtime kick-offs in this U21 league with Brentford, Charlton Athletic and Millwall all playing at home - the latter are hosting theirs at The Den too. Check with the clubs for full admission details

Premier League Cup

Leyton Orient v Watford @7pm - the O's didn't have an U21 side until this summer so have never played in this competition before and are the only completely new entrants this year. The Hornets don't have any particular pedigree in this, came bottom of their group last season and got eliminated early. This is being played at Brisbane Road but I can't find any ticket details yet - it will probably be pay on the day, check the club's website and social media for more info

National League Cup

Boreham Wood v West Bromwich Albion U21 @7pm - this competition pits fifth tier National League sides against academy teams from the Premier League and Championship and, like the EFL Trophy, isn't very popular. The Wood beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in their opening group game last month while West Brom lost 3-1 at Forest Green Rovers. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Hanwell Town v Chertsey Town @745pm - there are some good seventh-tier options on Tuesday but this one just about edges it for me. These two famously met in the Isthmian League play-offs just over three years ago. Hanwell won to gain promotion to this division and the Curfews followed them up two years later. The Geordies have the better team but Chertsey get bigger crowds and I'd expect a healthy attendance here for a midweek fixture. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

AFC Croydon Athletic v Broadbridge Heath @745pm - the game of the day in the eighth tier is to be found at Cobham's ground where the Rams are relocating for the night. I'm not sure why this is happening but just don't head to the Mayfield Stadium as you'll be disappointed. These two are currently third and fifth so will hopefully put on a good spectacle. Tickets should be available on the gate for around £10 - I can't find any prices on their website or social channels

Isthmian League Cup

Hayes & Yeading United v Southall @745pm - I rarely feature games in this competition, particularly in the early stages, but the draw has thrown up a big groundshare derby in west London. The 'All have led a nomadic existence for many years but are now tenants at a ground which is probably closer to Southall than Hayes. The sides play in the same division and are both towards the wrong end so it should be close. Tickets are usually £12 on the gate

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Wednesday 10 September

CCL Premier North

Hilltop v Burnham @745pm - the hosts, who are playing at Silver Jubilee Park this season, have made an inconsistent start to the season but still find themselves in the top eight after eight games. On Wednesday they entertain the division's top club who have played two games less but have won all of them. Two points clear of the teams in second and third who have both played more games, the Blues look like strong title contenders already. Tickets will be available on the gate for £8

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Friday 12 September

Women's Super League

West Ham United v Arsenal @730pm - after a quiet Thursday, this women's game at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground tops the bill. The Gunners began their season with a 4-1 win over newly promoted London City Lionesses to underline their title credentials. The Hammers suffered the setback of a 1-0 loss to Spurs after conceding a late penalty. Tickets

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Previews for 13 & 14 September to follow

 

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here 

TLFG: 1-7 September 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of the autumn!

It's certainly felt that way over the weekend with some very changeable weather which saw me soaked one minute, scorched the next and buffeted heavily by wind as well.

All of those conditions made an appearance at the game I went to on Sunday.

After beginning with incredibly tough fixtures against title contenders Norwich City and Fulham, Actonians made the trip to Bedfordshire to take on newly promoted Luton Town.

They'd enjoyed one win and one defeat but were viewed as one of those teams we could beat and certainly needed to avoid losing to.

The WSL makes its return this weekend - tickets

Sadly the game wasn't played at Kenilworth Road so all three of the travelling Actonians Ultras took a cab the seven miles north to Barton Rovers' ground at Sharpenhoe Road.

As non-league grounds go, I liked it. 

Well maintained, a decent amount of cover, a good tea bar and picturesque views of the nearby hills.

There was also a strong crosswind and a significant slope down the pitch.

Things were pretty tight in the first half with the Hatters possibly shading things, but they failed to take advantage and it ended goalless.

After the break, the game ebbed and flowed with the A's starting well but then the hosts re-asserted themselves, hit the bar and then missed another excellent chance from close range.

Then everything changed dramatically.

With Actonians winning a free-kick just inside Luton's half, captain Mara Bramwell fired the ball straight into the top corner - something she has a habit of doing.

This gave the visitors real momentum and 10 minutes later it was 4-0!

Despite finishing the game with 10 players after an injury occurred with all subs used, the West Londoners saw out the win to the delight of all associated with the team.

The tough fixtures return next week when Chelsea U21s pay a visit in the FAWNL Cup but with the league being far more important, it will be viewed as a bit of a free hit.

Sadly I'm working on Sunday so I'll be heading to the Emirates the day before to watch Arsenal's WSL opener against London City Lionesses who have been generating a lot of headlines over the summer following their promotion.

Before I go, many thanks to Nico B from Bochum, Germany for donating to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really appreciate it so thanks again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

It's the first international break of the season so all of London's biggest clubs in the Premier League and Championship have the week off.

The two biggest crowds of the week will almost certainly be found in the Women's Super League where Chelsea play Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Friday and Arsenal take on London City Lionesses on Saturday.

Aside from that we have games in League Two, the EFL Trophy, FA Cup, FA Youth Cup and loads of other games featuring our local non-league sides - so there's no reason to get bored.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs and development matches. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 1 September

ECL Division 1 South

Newbury Forest v Dunmow Town @745pm - the hosts finished second bottom in this 10th-tier division last season but were given a reprieve and stayed up. So far this season, they're making the most of the opportunity to remain at this level and have only lost one of their six games. Up in third, they've made a great start. The visitors aren't tearing up any trees yet but it's early days and they've played two games less - I still expect Forest to come out on top though. Tickets are £5 on the gate

CCL Division 1

RB Kensington v Colliers Wood United @745pm - like Newbury Forest, RBK also finished second bottom in their 10th-tier division last season but also received a reprieve. This season they've moved their home games to Northwood, a significant distance from their inner London home, and their crowds are tiny as a result. Nonetheless, they're doing okay and are locked on nine points in midtable with CWU. With their X account now inactive, they have no online presence I know of so getting info on admission prices is hard but it should be in the £5-7 bracket

FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round

The country's most prestigious U18 competition gets underway this week with ties everyday between Monday and Friday. At this stage, only non-league sides enter the draw but they should play the ties at their main stadiums. On Monday, Dulwich Hamlet will probably draw the biggest crowd for their game against Rusthall whilst there's also a decent looking derby between Hanwell Town and Hayes & Yeading United

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Tuesday 2 September

EFL Trophy

This competition is for all clubs in League One and League Two plus U21 sides from 16 Premier League and Championship clubs. The group stage gets underway for most clubs this week. Since the academy sides joined the competition in 2016, a hugely controversial move, crowds for these games have become notoriously low. AFC Wimbledon were one of the biggest opponents of the change so don't expect many for their game against Stevenage (tickets). Elsewhere, Bromley entertain Crystal Palace U21 - it's a derby so there might be a few more for this (tickets)

National League

Wealdstone v Southend United @745pm - if you want a much more meaningful game, head to Ruislip in west London where the Stones welcome the Shrimpers for this fifth-tier contest. Sam Cox's side suffered their third straight defeat on Saturday but losing 3-1 to Rochdale, who went top, is no disgrace. Sadly, that run could extend to a fourth loss as Southend are among the early frontrunners too. Unbeaten in their opening six, it looks like another tough assignment. Tickets

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Torquay United @745pm - Saturday's win over Ebbsfleet took the hosts into the top three as their great start to the season continued. On Tuesday they welcome the biggest club in the division who make the long midweek journey from Devon. The Gulls have lost two of their last three but are still in the play-off places. Tickets

Hornchurch v Dorking Wanderers @745pm - unbeaten in six, the Urchins are three points clear at the top. Here they welcome a side who were in title contention last season but who ultimately lost in the play-offs. Dorking have been a bit inconsistent so far but a win here could put them into the top six. Tickets

FA Cup First Round Replays

Dartford v Bracknell Town @745pm - the Darts found themselves 2-0 down in the 87th minute but somehow fought back for a 2-2 draw. Both playing in the seventh tier, these two should put on a good show again. Tickets

Hanwell Town v Cray Wanderers @745pm - another two seventh-tier clubs meet at Reynolds Field after they too played out a 2-2 draw in the original tie. Again, it was the visitors who needed a late equaliser to force a replay. Tickets

Wingate & Finchley v Carshalton Athletic @745pm - two Isthmian Premier sides will have to do it all again after they ground out a 0-0 draw in south London. Although a seventh-tier club, Wingate have never made it to the 'proper' rounds of the competition whereas the Robins last made it in 2019. Tickets

SCEFL Premier Division

Fisher v Sutton Athletic @745pm - the Fish made the play-offs in this ninth-tier division last season and sit a point outside the top five with games in hand coming into this. Sutton are a team that don't get that much coverage in TLFG as they sit right out on the south-eastern perimeter, in Kent, and often potter along in midtable without drawing too much attention. That's not the case now though as they're one point clear at the top. Tickets are £8 on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

AFC Greenwich Borough v SE Dons @745pm - long-time non-league watchers will remember the name Greenwich Borough but sadly they came to an end in 2020. In 2023, this new club appeared but they have no connection to the other one. Earlier this year, they took over all operations of Welling United's academy and decided to enter an adult team in this division. After five games, they're level on points with leaders SE Dons so it's fair to say it's going pretty well. This is being played at Holmesdale FC. I've never seen them publicise any info on ticket prices but expect something in the £5-7 region

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Wednesday 3 September

National League

Sutton United v Boreham Wood @745pm - the U's have made a disappointing start but almost out of nowhere they managed to pick up their first win on Saturday by beating title contenders Carlisle 2-1. That result should work wonders for Steve Morison's men as they prepare for this match. Sutton's matches against AFC Wimbledon are known as the Thameslink derby but this could be too as the Wood are located on the same train line but towards the northern part of London. Back in the division following promotion from the NLS, the Hertfordshire club have made a better start and are unbeaten in four. Tickets

Essex Senior League

SOUL Tower Hamlets v Saffron Walden Town @745pm - STH look like being a club to keep an eye on this season. Following their promotion to this level, they've begun confidently in the league but have done even better in the FA Cup. On Saturday they thrashed Ascot United 4-1, the second team from the level above that they've beaten on this run. Here they welcome second placed SWT who, like them, are unbeaten in the league so far. Tickets

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Thursday 4 September

FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round

Ties in this U18 competition are the main attraction on Thursday. There are four ties across the capital but the one which stands out most for me is the derby between Erith & Belvedere and Dartford which kicks-off at 745pm

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Friday 5 September

Women's Super League

Chelsea v Manchester City @730pm - after England's victorious performance in the Women's Euros in July, the WSL is back with this big game opening proceedings. Being played at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are going in search of their seventh consecutive WSL title. City have been runners-up three times in the last six years and should push Chelsea hard again. I think I'm right in saying that these teams currently have 11 of the Lionesses who were part of the squad which played in Switzerland so it should be a good chance to see several of them in action. Tickets

Professional Development League

If you want to see two games on Friday then there are two men's U21 games at lunchtime. QPR host Hull City at Loftus Road at 1pm (entry by donation to the club's trust) whilst Watford take on Sheffield United at Vicarage Road at 2pm (tickets)

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Romford @745pm - at the time of writing, Woodford are in sensational form winning all four of their league games and also making it through three rounds of the FA Cup. They face a midweek trip to White Ensign before this so that could change but they look like winners here as Romford are down in 14th. Tickets are £7

ECL Division 1 South

Lymore Gardens v FC Romania @745pm - in the 10th tier, the hosts have made a blistering start after their promotion from the Essex Alliance League. With five wins from six, they're top of the division and they also managed to knock Woodford Town (above) out of the FA Vase. FC Romania play just outside the M25 and are primarily made up of ex-pats from the south-eastern European nation. Sadly they've had funding issues in recent years and have suffered two relegations in three seasons. It hasn't begun well this time either. Tickets are £7 on the gate

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Saturday 6 September

Women's Super League

Arsenal v London City Lionesses @130pm - the biggest crowd of the weekend will be found at the Emirates Stadium where European champions Arsenal will begin their WSL season with a hugely intriguing game. The Gunners, like their male counterparts, are expected to challenge for the title again but they haven't won it since 2019. Coming up against them are newly promoted LCL. The first independent women's football club to play in the WSL have invested millions in new talent with former Arsenal players Danielle van de Donk and Nikita Parris probably being the most recognisable. Their intention is to finish in the top four which would be some achievement. Tickets

League Two

Barnet v Shrewsbury Town @3pm - the highest level men's game you'll be able to get a ticket for will be this one at The Hive. The Bees struggled in the opening games of the season following their promotion but are now unbeaten in three and climbing the table. This game against the struggling Shrews presents them with a great chance to extend that run. Tickets

Bromley v Gillingham @530pm - this later kick-off looks like being a cracker and sadly for you, it's sold out already. Not only does it see the team in third host the leaders but it's also effectively a derby with the Gills coming from just outside London, a 30-minute train ride away

National League

Boreham Wood v Morecambe @3pm - with only one defeat from six, The Wood have made a fine start to life back in the fifth tier. Sitting just outside the play-off places, they have a great opportunity to pick up three points here. After their well documented off-field issues, the fact the Shrimps are even in a position to fulfil this fixture is something to celebrate. However, aside from a win in their first game, they've lost the rest. Tickets

National League South

Dagenham & Redbridge v Worthing @3pm - the Daggers suffered relegation last season and find themselves down in the sixth tier for the first time since 2000. With one win from seven, the new campaign has not begun well and they're sitting just above the relegation zone again. Sussex club Worthing are only one win and three points ahead of them so they should fancy their chances of getting something here. Tickets

Enfield Town v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - the Towners fought a long and ultimately successful battle against relegation last season to preserve their sixth-tier status. Like Dagenham, the early signs aren't encouraging with just a solitary win from their opening seven games too. It's not going to get any easier here with WSM in a position to go top if they win and Hornchurch lose to Ebbsfleet. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dulwich Hamlet v Welling United @3pm - the biggest game of the day in the seventh tier is this south-east London derby. After a few seasons of pretty underwhelming football which saw them relegated in 2023, the Hamlet have begun really strongly. One point behind leaders Brentwood Town, they could be top by the end of the day. The Wings have just dropped down from the sixth tier and have not landed well. With three points from five, they're in the bottom four already. With average crowds of over 2,000, Dulwich are the best supported club in the division and you're always well advised to buy tickets in advance 

FA Trophy First Round Qualifying

After a preliminary round a couple of weeks ago to get the numbers in order, this national competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley gets properly underway this weekend. At this stage, it's just eighth-tier teams who take part. There are ties all over London, here are my pick:

Kingstonian v Merstham @3pm - for me, the best tie on Saturday will be this one at Grand Drive. Both sides are in the top five of their respective divisions of the Isthmian League so are in good form. The K's also won the FA Trophy twice in 1999 and 2000 but those glorious days are sadly becoming a distant memory. The Moatsiders, on the other hand, have never gone beyond the second qualifying round. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Harrow Borough v Eastbourne Town @3pm - the Boro are third in the Isthmian South Central which makes them the highest ranked London club in the eighth tier to be at home on Saturday. Aside from a superb run to the Fourth Round in 2023, Harrow have rarely got beyond the qualifying rounds in the last 20 years. The visitors, who hail from Sussex, are towards the wrong end of the Isthmian South East and have never been beyond the qualifying rounds. Tickets are £12 on the gate

Redbridge v Waltham Abbey @3pm - of the remaining ties, I'd say this is marginally the next best and that's primarily because it has a bit of a derby feel to it. Both sides play in the Isthmian North and whilst the Motormen haven't started so well, the visitors are up in fifth. Tickets are £10 on the gate

CCL Premier North

Broadfields United v Windsor & Eton @3pm - my game of the day in the ninth tier sees two of the top three in this division meet at Tithe Farm. The hosts, who groundshare with Rayners Lane, are currently top but their position is inflated by the fact that they've played more games than everyone else. W&E won promotion to this level last season and will move above Broadfields if they win. Tickets are £8 on the gate

SSML Division 1

Everett Rovers v Huntingdon Town @3pm - we've got some local teams doing really well in the 10th tier so far this season, with three of the five divisions being topped by a club from within the M25. Bedfont in the CCL and AFC Greenwich Borough in the SCEFL are doing superbly. However, I've highlighted Everett Rovers as not only are they new to this level but their unbeaten record after seven games has also seen them score 20 goals. Based in Watford, they're likely to score a load more as Huntingdon are bottom and conceding over four goals a game. I'm not sure of ticket prices but it should be in the £5-8 bracket

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Sunday 7 September

TRAVEL ADVISORY - INDUSTRIAL ACTION IS SCHEDULED ON THE UNDERGROUND

FA Trophy First Round Qualifying

Southall v AFC Whyteleafe @3pm - with the 'All now groundsharing with Hayes & Yeading United, this match has been moved to Sunday. Sadly, with three defeats from three, they're bottom of the Isthmian South Central. The Leafe are new to this level following promotion and also made it to Wembley for the FA Vase Final last season - for me, they start as favourites. Tickets are £12 on the gate

Women's Super League

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @12pm - earlier in the day, these two big London rivals meet for their opening fixture of the WSL season. Strangely, Spurs women play at Leyton Orient which is in a part of London which is more traditionally associated with West Ham fans but we won't go into all that again here. Last season, Tottenham had a stinker and finished just above the relegation zone which cost boss Robert Vilahamn his job. With Martin Ho now in place, they'll hope to be much more competitive. The Hammers, often used to fighting relegation, had an improved season under Rehanne Skinner and finished ninth. It'll be really interesting to see how this one goes. Apparently tickets are sold out

Women's Super League 2

Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @2pm - if you can't get into the match above, this derby in the renamed women's second tier looks like a great alternative. Being played at The Valley, the Addicks are usually in the running for promotion whilst the Eagles have just been relegated from the WSL. Tickets

FAWNL Cup

Actonians v Chelsea U21 @2pm - there are matches all over London in what can best be described as the women's version of the EFL Trophy - it features teams in the third and fourth tier plus academy teams from the top two divisions. We're still at the group stage at the moment and my very own A's have landed this incredibly challenging tie against the Blues' youngsters. Having seen the squad list, no big names are set to play for Chelsea. However, three of the youngsters were in the squad which beat AC Milan in a friendly last weekend so you should see some stars of the future. The hosts have two or three key players missing and in many ways this will be seen as a free hit so it could be quite fun. It is being played at North Greenford United and a printed programme will be available. Tickets

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here 

TLFG: 26-31 August 2025

Hello there and welcome to this week's TLFG.

Apologies again for the much reduced bank holiday edition, I was drowning in all kind of tasks and had to keep it brief.

Did you get to partake in the feast of football which took place?

I made it to Actonians' big game against Fulham which was also the first of a new groundshare with North Greenford United.

The CCL club's Berkeley Fields ground had hosted the A's for a few seasons in the past but not during the five years I've followed their fortunes.

Without three key members of the first team, it was somewhat of a surprise to see them take the lead against the big-spending title favourites when our new secret weapon scored a cracker.

Actonians take on Fulham at Berkeley Fields

Vivien Ruettgers, a German striker with a background in the American college system, cut in from the left before bending a cracking effort into the top corner.

Fulham responded well though with a cracking free-kick drawing them level, a 30-yard worldie putting them ahead and a close-range effort giving them a 3-1 lead at the break.

It looked as if we could be on for a real hiding but a formation change after the interval made a huge difference and with Ruettgers getting a second from a corner, things got a lot closer.

Claudia Cholakian had one big chance to equalise but it wasn't to be as the visitors held on for the win.

After playing arguably the two toughest teams in the first two games, it's no great surprise to find ourselves on zero points but we've also been nowhere near full strength yet either.

That looks set to change when we travel to Luton Town on Sunday, so hopefully we'll pick up something there.

Joined on the pitch after the game by fellow fan Neil and junior club secretary Rosie, we recorded our thoughts for the new club podcast which I set up last week - so if you want to hear what I sound like, then tune in.

As a result of child illness, my plans for the week ahead are a bit up in the air but I should think a trip to Bedfordshire on Sunday will be the sum total of my football watching.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Games in the Premier League and EFL top the bill over the next few days but we've also got games in the EFL Cup too.

At non-league level there's a full selection of games in the National League, but it's the next round of the FA Cup that should get most neutrals excited.

In women's football, there are some eye-catching friendlies in the build-up to the new WSL season whilst Fulham host a big WNL game at Craven Cottage.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs and development matches. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Tuesday 26 August

EFL Cup Second Round

Millwall v Coventry City @745pm - with three wins from four in all competitions, the Lions have made a really good start to the season. Frank Lampard's Sky Blues are in even better form though and head to The Den on the back of thrashing QPR 7-1 on Saturday. Neither of these sides have been to the final of this cup let alone won it and neither have been beyond the Third Round in recent years. If the managers choose strong line-ups, it could serve as a good indicator of the sides' promotion chances. Tickets

Bromley v Wycombe Wanderers @745pm - after causing arguably the biggest upset of the First Round by beating Ipswich, the Ravens have this seemingly easier draw against the Chairboys. The Buckinghamshire club still play a level above them but they're winless in five in the league and could be there for the taking. Tickets

FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay

Egham Town v Corinthian @745pm - the original tie between these two ended 2-2 but with the Sarnies closing in on a win in the replay, the assistant referee got caught in a collision between two players and suffered a badly broken leg causing the game to be abandoned. The winners will travel to Isthmian League South East club Beckenham Town on Saturday. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Professional Development League

If you fancy seeing two games today then the matches in this U21 league will give you that opportunity. Charlton Athletic host Barnsley at The Valley at 1pm (tickets) whilst QPR welcome Fleetwood Town to their training ground near Heathrow at 3pm - pre-registration is required, see the 'Visit' section at the bottom of this page. QPR are also hosting a first team open training session at Loftus Road - gates open at 1030 with a donation to the club's trust on arrival encouraged

Essex Senior Cup First Round

Clapton CFC v Romford @745pm - my pick of the non-league action is this east London derby. CCFC play a level below the visitors who won the FA Vase at Wembley in 2024. A relatively new club, this is only the third time the hosts have qualified for this competition and they've yet to win or score in it. Romford have been to the final 13 times, winning it on five occasions but the last time was way back in 1947. If you're new to the London football scene, I'd always recommend a visit here - CCFC play at the Old Spotted Dog which is the oldest ground in the capital and their fans always generate a good atmosphere. Tickets are £5 on the gate

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Wednesday 27 August

EFL Cup Second Round

Fulham v Bristol City @745pm - the majority of Premier League clubs enter the draw at this stage and the only one in London playing at home are the Cottagers. They face a Robins side who have made a strong start to their season in the Championship and if they field a strong team, they should have a chance of causing an upset. I say this as most top-flight sides field significantly weakened teams in the early rounds of this competition. Consequently demand for tickets if often way lower than normal and so are the prices so if you're just looking to tick off the stadium as a groundhopper, this is the easiest and most cost-effective way of doing it

Premier League International Cup

Fulham v Valencia @7pm - in a rather unfortunate bit of scheduling, Fulham's U21s are also in action the same night. In my opinion, this competition receives a spectacular lack of publicity. Featuring development sides from many of Europe's top clubs, all fixtures are played in England. Having looked at this year's entry list, I'd say it's the strongest ever with Real Madrid entering for the first time alongside the likes of Benfica, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Juventus and many more. Nottingham Forest are the reigning champions after beating Lyon in last year's final. The Cottagers made the semis whilst Valencia won their group before bowing out in the quarter-finals. This is being played at the club's training ground in Motspur Park. Ticket details are sketchy but you can usually pay on the gate for no more than £5

Women's friendly

Arsenal v West Ham United @7pm - the European champions continue their pre-season build up with this warm-up against the Hammers. Being played at Boreham Wood, the Gunners will hope for an improved performance from the one they delivered on Saturday when they rather surprisingly lost 4-3 at home to north London rivals Spurs. If you're just getting into the women's game following England's triumph at the Euros, then Lionesses Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Beth Mead could well play in this game. On paper, they should beat West Ham but they finished above Tottenham last season so you never know. Tickets

CCL Division 1

Colliers Wood United v Westside @730pm - if you're after a non-league option then head to Wibbandune in south-west London for this groundshare derby. For the vast majority of the time I've been writing this blog, CWU have been a ninth-tier side but in 2024 they slipped into the division below. Their first season at this level for just over 20 years wasn't particularly inspiring as they finished 15th. Westside, the tenants, are much newer to senior football and surprised many with their second-place finish last term. With one of the smallest fanbases in London, the achievement was significant but sadly they came unstuck in the play-offs. The two sides are much of a muchness on the pitch so far this season so it will be interesting to see how this one goes. Tickets are £7 on the gate

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Friday 29 August

Premier League 2

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @7pm - after a quiet Thursday, the action returns with this U21 game at Boreham Wood. With a loss to Fulham and a draw at Nottingham Forest, the young Gunners are still looking for their first win in PL2 this season. The Seagulls, on the other hand, have won both their games 4-0. Check admission details with the club on the day, although it is often free entry at this venue

FA Cup First Round Qualifying

Aveley v Hashtag United @745pm - the next round of the FA Cup gets underway on Friday night. At this stage, all the seventh-tier teams enter the draw alongside the remaining sides from tiers eight and nine. Here, we've got a mouthwatering match-up as the clubs both play in the seventh tier and they groundshare. The Millers made it to the First Round proper in 1970 and almost did it again in 2024 but lost to Barnet in a fourth round qualifying replay. The Tags have never been beyond the next round. Aveley are in better form so, for me, they start as marginal favourites. Tickets are £14 on the gate

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Saturday 30 August

Premier League

Chelsea v Fulham @1230pm - with seven clubs in the Premier League, London is the place to be if you want to see a derby. The two which play closest together, just over a mile apart, meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. If you're completely new to football in the capital, the Blues are the bigger club and historically far more successful - they recently won the inaugural World Club Cup. Since 1910, the Cottagers have only beaten their old rivals 11 times but that 11th win came the last time they met at Stamford Bridge in December. In fact , Fulham have lost only one of their last three at Stamford Bridge as Marco Silva has built one of the best sides to ever represent the club. Chelsea will be favourites but they shouldn't have it all their own way. Hospitality packages are available

Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - Thomas Frank's reign as Spurs manager has got off to a great start with back-to-back wins over Burnley and Manchester City. With five goals scored, they've yet to concede any. Next up, another eminently winnable game as the Cherries travel up from Dorset. Arguably the smallest club in the division, they punch well above their weight and gave Liverpool a scare at Anfield in the opening match of the season. They've only lost one of their last three at the THS but this is the best Spurs have looked for a while and they'll do well to get something here. Hospitality packages are available 

Championship

QPR v Charlton Athletic @1230pm - with tickets for the two games above hard to get and expensive, why not try a Championship game instead? There are some great matches at this level on Saturday starting with this derby at Loftus Road. Just a couple of miles north of Stamford Bridge, this part of London is going to be busy on Saturday lunchtime and I'm kind of surprised the police have allowed it. The R's have made a worrying start under new boss Julien Stephan, not winning any of their first four. Last weekend they got thrashed 7-1 by Coventry City. Newly promoted Charlton have begun more positively and should head to W12 with some confidence. However, they haven't won here since 1998. Tickets

Millwall v Wrexham @3pm - with four wins from five games in all competitions, the Lions have started the season very well indeed. An EFL Cup win over Coventry in midweek saw them through to a mouthwatering Third Round tie against Crystal Palace. Next up they face newly promoted Wrexham who haven't played at this level since 1982. Buoyed by investment from their high profile Hollywood owners, they've enjoyed three successive promotions. Surprisingly, it hasn't gone that well so far with their current record little better than that of ailing QPR. Millwall and especially their fans should be well up for giving them another uncomfortable afternoon. Demand for tickets is so high that only hospitality packages remain at this stage 

Watford v Southampton @3pm - in the other game game in the second tier, two former Premier League clubs meet at Vicarage Road. The Hornets looked like becoming an established top-flight club but they're now beginning their fourth consecutive season in the Championship. Last year, they won their first five matches and looked like they might challenge but a run of only one win from their last nine games ended any hopes. With one win from three, they've made an okay start. The Saints have just come down and were expected to do well but they haven't got going yet either. Level on points with Watford, this should be close. Tickets

League One

Leyton Orient v Northampton Town @3pm - the O's are still finding their feet after the disappointment of losing last season's play-off final. With two wins from five, they're in midtable and holding their own. The Cobblers, on the other hand, have lost four of their five games but they are a bogey team for Orient. With only three defeats in 20 league matches going back to 2006, they'll be looking to improve that run on their visit to east London. Tickets

League Two

Barnet v Colchester United  @3pm - the Bees began life back in this division with three straight defeats and a loss in the EFL Cup. Things looked concerning for Dean Brennan and his team but two wins later and they're up in midtable. Colchester sit just a point below them in the table and have yet to lose a game against Barnet at The Hive. Tickets

Bromley v Harrogate Town @3pm - with nine points from five matches, the Ravens find themselves in the play-off places. After ending their debut season in the EFL in a very creditable 11th, the south London club will look to push on and a top-seven finish could be theirs. Harrogate are now in their sixth season in the fourth tier following their promotion from the National League but it's always been a bit of a struggle, with 13th the best they've ever managed. However, with only one defeat in five, they head to Hayes Lane in pretty good shape. Tickets 

Women's friendly

Chelsea v AC Milan @1pm - before we take a closer a look at your best non-league options, it's worth pointing out there's also a high profile women's game at Kingsmeadow in Kingston and it should get a good crowd. The Blues are the reigning WSL champions and should field a Lioness or two for this final warm-up match before the new season begins on Friday. Milan finished fifth in the Italian league last season and should be beaten. Tickets

National League

Sutton United v Carlisle United @3pm - winless in five, the U's are already in the relegation zone as they've made a very disappointing start to their campaign. It's not likely to get any easier here as Carlisle, fresh from their relegation from League Two, have made a fine start. With legendary Manchester United striker Mark Hughes in charge, the Cumbrian club have yet to lose and are in the top three. Tickets

Wealdstone v Rochdale @3pm - after flying out of the blocks with three straight wins, the Stones then ran into Carlisle who beat them 1-0 at Grosvenor Vale. With the momentum stopped, they then lost at Boston United too. It's set to get even tougher here as Rochdale, a League One side as recently as 2021, are second. However, this is not a lucky ground for the visitors and they've lost on their previous two visits since dropping to this level. Given the small capacity of this stadium, you're always encouraged to buy tickets in advance and it is cheaper

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Ebbsfleet United @3pm - the game of the day in the sixth tier sees fourth play fifth at The Beveree. One of London's most beloved non-league grounds is always worth a visit but for a game like this, even more so. Both sides are locked on 10 points after five games. Tickets

Hornchurch v Chippenham Town @3pm - elsewhere in the division, I couldn't not give this a mention as the Urchins are top of the division. They began life back at this level, following promotion from the Isthmian League, last season and came ninth. With four wins and a draw from their first five, they're already three points clear. The visitors are only a point above the relegation zone so the chances of another win for the east London club look good. Tickets

FA Cup First Round Qualifying

Most neutral non-league watchers will probably be found at an FA Cup match on Saturday. With the preliminary rounds of the competition complete, the qualifying rounds get underway. To recap, seventh-tier clubs enter the draw at this stage alongside all the eighth and ninth-tier clubs who made it through the preliminaries. The winner of each tie receives £2,250 and the loser £750. There are numerous ties all over the city, here are my pick:

Dulwich Hamlet v Whitstable Town @3pm - after three seasons of disappointment, the Hamlet have brought in Mark Dacey as manager and things have begun well. Second in the Isthmian Premier after five games, they should start a match against ninth-tier opposition as strong favourites. However, Whitstable made it all the way to Wembley last season and won the FA Vase. Last season, Dulwich lost at this stage to lower-division opposition so they must avoid complacency at all costs. Games at Champion Hill frequently reach capacity on the day so buy your tickets in advance if you want to go

Erith Town v Farnham Town @3pm - the Dockers played their first season in the eighth tier Isthmian South East last season and stayed up comfortably. The opening weeks of this campaign have not started so well. Winless and in the bottom three, it's been tough. However, they've enjoyed two wins in this competition to keep spirits up. The visitors are a side to keep an eye on. With a young owner splashing the cash in recent years, they've enjoyed back-to-back promotions to the seventh tier and are up there with the leaders again after five games. Coming from one of the most affluent towns in the country, it will be interesting to see how they and their fans fare on their visit to Thamesmead which is one of its grittiest. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Hayes & Yeading United v Whitehawk @3pm - the hosts have a fine record in the FA Cup, making the first round four times since their formation in 2007. The last time they did it in 2021, they beat Whitehawk on the way there. The Sussex club have only been to the 'proper' rounds twice but they've been further, taking Dagenham & Redbridge to a second round replay in 2015. These days, they play a level above Hayes & Yeading so should start as favourites but this is the FA Cup and anything could happen. Tickets are £12 on the gate

Uxbridge v Welling United @3pm - two divisions separated these clubs last season but an unexpected promotion for Uxbridge and a relegation for the Wings means they're now both in the seventh tier. The hosts are one of the smallest clubs at this level but they've begun well and are in the top 10 in the Southern League Premier South. The same can't be said of Welling, who are struggling in the Isthmian Premier - a home win looks most likely. Tickets

SOUL Tower Hamlets v Ascot United @3pm - one of the lowest-ranked London sides left in the competition, STH look like one of the most likely to cause an upset. In the top six in the Essex Senior League following their promotion, they caused a significant shock by beating eighth tier Hanworth Villa in the last round. Ascot play in the same division as Hanworth so there's no reason why we couldn't see a bit more cup magic in Mile End. Tickets

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Sunday 31 August

Isthmian League South Central

Kingstonian v Hanworth Villa @130pm - with their landlords Raynes Park Vale at home in the FA Cup on Saturday, the K's league game against Hanworth has been moved to give you a bonus bit of Sunday non-league action. Both these sides made the play-offs in this division last season but they've had stuttering starts this time round. Currently locked together on four points in 13th and 14th, it should be close. Tickets are £10 on the gate

FAWNL Southern Premier

AFC Wimbledon v Watford @2pm - two women's games are being played at the main stadiums of the men's clubs they're associated with on Sunday. First up in the third tier, the Dons head to Plough Lane to play the Hornets. The visitors are second and should start as favourites. To drum up a good crowd, tickets are free

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Fulham v Norwich City @2pm - as a neutral I'd opt for this game in the fourth tier as it could play a huge part in deciding who ultimately wins the title. Being played at Craven Cottage, this match features two of the favourites. The Cottagers are new to this level after winning promotion while the visitors were runners-up last year. Both have big budgets and both are targeting top spot. Both have also won their opening two games but for me, Norwich have had marginally tougher fixtures and have beaten one of the other big contenders. If they prevail here, then the title will be theirs to lose. Tickets

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here 

TLFG: 18-25 August 2025

Greetings everyone and welcome to TLFG.

Apologies for the late publication and its reduced form - the last few days has seen me swamped with work, job applications, Non-League Day prep and my voluntary commitments with Actonians including a trip to Norwich City on media duty and the launch of the new podcast. 

The week ahead is also bursting at the seams - I need to finish the match programme for the A's game against Fulham on Sunday, try and record another podcast and somehow celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary!

As a result, it's just match maps at this stage - they go through until the Bank Holiday next Monday as there are loads of extra games to keep you entertained on what will hopefully be a day off for you.

Going back to the trip to Norfolk on Sunday, it was the first time I'd travelled on the team bus with the players and coaching staff.

Meeting at 845am at the club's Gunnersbury HQ, we set off shortly after.

With the coaches at the front, physios and media team behind and the players at the back - the 100-odd mile journey took just over three hours.

There was some very interesting football chat (one player had turned down £800 a month a £10 goal bonus to drop two levels - A's players aren't paid) and a couple of players organised an impromptu quiz including music rounds and some get to know you questions.

I think Actonians must have the most multicultural squad in the league - the coaching, physio and media team alone is made up of people of Japanese, Kurdish, Lebanese, Indian, Iranian, Israeli, Peruvian and Slovakian heritage. I was the only English person (my Ancestry DNA test came back 95% positive - how dull).

Aside from the English ones, the players have links to Armenia, Australia, Barbados, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Turkey, Ukraine, USA and those are just the ones I know about - oh and the club founder is Swedish.

The match itself was always going to be tough and you can read my report here.

Our journey back somehow took around four hours and saw a lot of result digesting from around the leagues. 

If you read the report, you'll see mention of a highly controversial opening goal - with a Norwich shot slamming against the underside of the bar midway through the first half.

The assistant referee had absolutely no hesitation in awarding the goal and yet during our journey back, a Norwich fan published their own footage from behind the goal showing it wasn't even close to crossing the line - I showed the team and uproar ensued!

Whatever happens now, the result won't change and we move on.

Next up for me will hopefully be the derby against Fulham on Sunday at North Greenford United's ground - the A's used to play here a few years ago but this will be the first since signing a new groundshare deal.

That's it from me for now - enjoy your week and maybe see you at Berkeley Fields.

THE WEEK AHEAD 

Games in the Premier League and EFL top the bill this week whilst at non-league level there's a selection of games in the National League, plus several FA Cup replays and the first round of the FA Trophy and FA Vase too.

In women's football, there are a good range of games in the FAWNL and FAWNL Cup.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs and development matches. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

BANK HOLIDAY MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

    

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here  

TLFG: 11-17 August 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.

After all the rehearsals, pre-season for all men's teams in the top 10 tiers is now over.

The EFL, National League and all our other local non-league competitions are in full swing and this weekend, the Premier League starts too.

There are only two games in the capital at this level with Tottenham beginning the Thomas Frank era with a home game against Burnley on Saturday whilst there's a derby between Chelsea and Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Thanks to work, I've had a quiet week. I did my job interview on Thursday - it went well enough but there's only one spot and I'm up against numerous candidates including someone who's doing the job well already. My chances look negligible!

I've found my recent career to be rather unfulfilling and have used things like this blog, Non-League Day (NLD) and my voluntary roles at Actonians to keep me going.

The next round of the FA Cup takes place this weekend 

The week ahead looks quite a bit more interesting.

At short notice, my wife received an invitation to take the kids to see a friend in Belgium for a few days so I'm home alone until Sunday.

Aside from work, my main goal this week is to launch a new Actonians podcast.

I've got all the kit and will head to their in-house training match on Tuesday to interview a few club personalities and hopefully some players and coaching staff ahead of their season opener at Norwich City on Sunday.

As regular readers may remember, I attempted a TLFG podcast a couple of years ago and it was easy to produce but sadly the app I used got bought by Spotify and made far less useful.

The next couple of days will be spent experimenting with free editing software and we'll see where it goes.

Talking of Actonians' match at Norwich, I'll be travelling to it on the team bus for the first time following an invitation from the coaching team.

The last time I did this sort of thing was as a teenager in the 1990s when I used to go to Harrow Borough away games with the team.

One of the benefits of supporting a smaller club is access and that's definitely the case at Actonians where every supporter also contributes in a volunteering capacity of some kind too.

In my short time with the club, I've done meet and greet, programme production, photos and videos and now hopefully a podcast too.

Norwich women's team were pretty mediocre until about two years ago when they started to receive a lot more investment.

They were runners-up last season and have way more resources and supporters than the A's but we did beat them 2-1 at The Nest in what was my highlight of the campaign.

Our squad is noticeably different now and a trio of key players are unavailable this weekend so I'll be delighted with a draw.

THE WEEK AHEAD 

The opening round of games in the Premier League dominates proceedings this week but decent crowds should also be expected at fixtures throughout the EFL.

At non-league level there's a full selection of games in the National League, plus the next round of the FA Cup to enjoy too.

In women's football, it's also the opening day in tiers three to six.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs and development matches. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 11 August

Isthmian League Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic v Lewes @745pm - the Robins finished two places below the play-offs last season and will fancy their chances of challenging again. They got off to a fine start on Saturday, winning 2-0 at Cray Valley PM who managed a top-four finish in 2024/25. Next up they face the Rooks from Sussex. They spent seven years moving between the top two divisions of non-league in the early part of this century but have been in the seventh and eighth tiers since 2011. They are a well supported club for the level but had their worst season for sometime last year, finishing 13th. Their campaign began with a disappointing 2-0 reverse at home to Hashtag United. Tickets

Isthmian League North

Redbridge v Grays Athletic @745pm - the Motormen got stuffed 5-1 at Maldon & Tiptree on opening day, which must have been thoroughly disheartening for all involved. Grays ended last season in ninth and beat newly promoted Takeley 3-0 in their first match on Saturday. Tickets are £10 on the gate

ECL Division 1 South

Barkingside v Stansted @745pm - the 'Side have got off to a very promising start. Unbeaten in three, they're fifth coming into this one. With four points from four games, the Airportmen haven't made quite such an impressive start. Tickets for their last game were £5 on the gate but check the club's social media on the day as they often run admission promotions

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Tuesday 12 August

EFL Cup First Round

Charlton Athletic v Stevenage @745pm - with its highly unusual Preliminary Round out of the way, the EFL Cup gets fully underway this week. The Addicks began life back in the Championship with a last gasp 1-0 win over Watford on Saturday. In the division below, Stevenage also won 1-0 against Rotherham to get their season off to a positive start. According to Wikipedia, the Hertfordshire club's all time record defeat came against Charlton as recently as 2018 when they lost 8-0 so they'll be hoping for a lot better performance than that. Tickets

Watford v Norwich City @745pm - no Premier League sides enter the draw this early so the best you can see are Championship clubs and two of them meet here. With the Hornets losing to Charlton, the Canaries came unstuck at home to Millwall as they both endured miserable afternoons. This competition has generated a lot of happy memories for Norwich fans as they've won it twice but the last time was back in 1985 so there won't be many under 50 who'll remember it. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Wycombe Wanderers @745pm - both these sides made the League One play-offs last season but both fell short. Two games into their league campaigns, neither are pulling up any trees yet. The O's did get their first win on Saturday though so, with home advantage, you'd expect them to progress here. Tickets

Bromley v Ipswich Town @745pm - arguably the tie of the night is this David v Goliath contest at Hayes Lane. The Ravens only made it into League Two for the first time last season to play in this cup for the first time too. They lost in the First Round to AFC Wimbledon and they'll do incredibly well to win against the Tractor Boys who've just come down from the Premier League. Tickets

National League Cup

Sutton United v Fulham U21 @7pm - this much maligned cup competition returns for a second season. Featuring fifth-tier clubs and development sides from Premier League and Championship clubs, interest from fans has been minimal. There are three group stage matches in London on Tuesday, with this derby being the pick of the games in my opinion. Tickets

Professional Development League

QPR v Coventry City @2pm - if you want to see two games in a day then we've got an U21 match at lunchtime. The R's were supposed to be playing this at Loftus Road but it's been shifted to the club's training ground in Heston, near Heathrow. Fans can attend but you have to pre-register online in advance

Isthmian League Premier

Dartford v Billericay Town @745pm - there are lots of games in the seventh tier on Tuesday and I've gone for this one as it features the sides who finished third and second last season. Alongside eventual champions Horsham, three clubs went into the final day of the 2024/25 campaign with a chance of winning the league such was the competitiveness of the division. Sadly for the Darts and Billericay, it was Dover who prevailed in the play-offs. The hosts began with a shocking 4-0 loss at Dulwich Hamlet whilst the visitors beat Wingate & Finchley 2-1. Both sides are well supported so there should be a good turnout. Tickets 

Isthmian League South Central

Hendon v Bedfont Sports @745pm - with many games in the eighth tier too, it's been really hard to single out here. In the end I've gone for this one at Silver Jubilee Park. Last season two divisions separated these clubs but following the Greens' first relegation in decades and Bedfont's promotion, they're now in the same one. Hendon's bad form continued with a sorry 3-0 loss at Hartley Wintney on Saturday while the visitors enjoyed a thrilling 3-2 win over Kingstonian. Tickets are £12 on the gate

SSML Premier

Haringey Borough v Sawbridgeworth Town @745pm - in the ninth tier, two of the early pacesetters meet at Coles Park. Haringey are back at this level for the first time in 10 years following their relegation from the Isthmian League. However, their landing has been good. Unbeaten in three they come into this in third but the visitors have won all three and are top. Tickets are £10 on the gate

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Wednesday 13 August

Professional Development League

Brentford v Hull City @1pm - the Bees won the PDL last season and begin the defence of their title against the Tigers at Wheatsheaf Park in Staines at lunchtime, meaning you can see two games in a day.

Tickets are usually available in advance through the club's website but I can't see anything on there yet, check with the club by calling 0333 005 8521 for the latest

Southern League Division 1 Central

London Lions v Rayners Lane @745pm - the hosts are London's highest ranked club for Jewish players. Last season saw them promoted to the eighth tier for the first time in the club's history. After losing in the FA Cup last week and their opening league game at Flackwell Heath, this will be their first home game at this level. Rayners Lane played in the parallel Isthmian League South Central last season and retained the Middlesex Senior Cup. A lot has changed off the field for the visitors and they have a new manager in post so it will be really interesting to see how they fare this year. It's hard to get information about games at Rowley Lane but expect to pay anywhere between £8-12 to get in

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Friday 15 August

Premier League 2

Arsenal v Fulham @7pm - after a quiet Thursday, there's a good selection of games on Friday. First up is this U21 fixture at Boreham Wood's ground. This is the first game of the season for both these sides who both made the quarter-finals of the PL2 in 2024/25. The format of this competition is a little unusual. It begins with a 26-team league phase where each team only plays 20 games. The top 16 then make the play-offs. Fulham finished second in the league phase last season and beat Arsenal 6-3 in the process. Entry to these games is usually free but check with the club on the day - it certainly shouldn't exceed £5

Isthmian League Premier

Aveley v Burgess Hill Town @745pm - the Millers have made a reasonable start to life in the seventh tier following relegation from the NLS, taking four points from their first two. The visitors, on the other hand, have won both games since promotion - one of only three teams to do so. Tickets are a rather steep £14 on the gate

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Epsom & Ewell v South Park (Reigate) @745pm - the next round of the nation's favourite cup competition begins on Friday night. The Salts play a level below South Park so should start as underdogs but they have won all of their games so far and could cause an upset. The club play at Cobham's ground and tickets are £10 on the gate

ECL Division 1 South

Lymore Gardens v NW London @745pm - there's a good selection of 10th tier games on Friday but I recommend taking a look at the hosts here. Fresh out of the 11th tier Essex Alliance League, they've won all four of their opening fixtures, scoring a whopping 15 goals in the process. NWL are down in midtable and will have to be at their best to get anything. This is being played at Redbridge FC and tickets are £6 on the gate

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Saturday 16 August

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley @3pm - the Premier League returns this weekend which means everyone in all the major men's leagues is now up and running - the season has truly begun. There's only one top-flight game in London and it's a first domestic game for new Spurs boss Thomas Frank. Following their disappointing penalty loss to PSG in the UEFA Super Cup, they'll want to raise spirits with a commanding performance here. The Clarets are back in the top flight following their promotion and despite spending over £100m on new players, I'm sure they'll be content with a point. Premium seats are available from £149

Championship

Millwall v Middlesbrough @3pm - with two wins from two, the Lions have made a very satisfactory start to the season, both were away too. The same can't be said for Boro who got thumped 4-0 at home by Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup in midweek. I'm not an expert but I presume they played their kids. The Bermondsey club have only lost one of their last five at The Den against this club and I think they'll extend that run. Tickets

Watford v QPR @3pm - the biggest game of the day for which there are still a few regular tickets available is this derby. These two play 15 miles apart on the western half of TLFG's catchment area. Two very similar sized clubs who've both finished as top division runners-up in the past, these fixtures always generate a lot of interest. The R's have historically had the better of things and have only lost two of the last 10 games against their rivals and actually sealed the Championship title on this ground in 2011. The away allocation has sold out but there is some space in the home stands. Tickets

League One

Leyton Orient v Stockport County @3pm - after losing in the play-off final and seeing their star striker depart, the O's will firstly need to regroup. After defeat on the opening day, the recovered to beat Wigan but then got knocked out of the EFL Cup by Wycombe. This match isn't going to be any easier. County also made the play-offs last season and have won all three of their games so far. Tickets

League Two

Barnet v Walsall @3pm - after being crowned National League champions last season, the Bees' transition to life in the fourth tier hasn't begun smoothly. With three defeats from three games in all competitions, they're already bottom. With only one win from three, the Saddlers haven't had a great start either but they did make the play-offs last season and are more than capable of winning here. Tickets

Bromley v Fleetwood Town @3pm - the Ravens created one of the stories of the week by knocking Championship club Ipswich Town out of the EFL Cup on penalties. An unbeaten start to the league, mean they also come into this match in the play-off places. However, their Lancashire opponents are level on points with top club Crewe and won on their last trip to London two weeks ago. Tickets

National League

Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town @3pm - my game of the day in the fifth tier is this one at Grosvenor Vale. The Stones avoided relegation on the final day and appointed former player Sam Cox as manager over the summer. They started with a solid 2-0 win over Truro City and then beat Wolves in the National League Cup. Yorkshire club Halifax made the play-offs last season and have won the FA Trophy twice in recent years. However, they lost 3-0 at Braintree on the opening day. The ground is small and compact and there's usually always a decent atmosphere. Tickets

National League South

Enfield Town v Maidenhead United @3pm - in the sixth tier, the Towners were another side to leave it late to avoid the drop but they succeeded. Today they face a club who weren't so successful and lost their place in the fifth tier after eight seasons. The Magpies are a club based just to the west of London and for fans of TV show Family Guy, they have a chairman called Peter Griffin. I have met him and he's a lovely man. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Chertsey Town v Farnham Town @3pm - the big game of the day in tier seven is this Surrey derby at Alwyns Lane. The battle to avoid relegation from this division was incredibly tight last season and the Curfews stayed up by just one point. Farnham, on the other hand, absolutely steamrollered their way to the title a level below. Over the last few years, a successful young businessman has ploughed a lot of money into this club and they'll be going for their third consecutive promotion this season. A big crowd is expected. Tickets

FA Cup Preliminary Round

For many fans of non-league football, the ties in this competition will provide the main highlights of the day. The draw is still regionalised at this stage so clubs in our area will be broadly restricted to opponents in the south-east. The winners of each tie receive £1,444 and the losers £481. How these amounts are decided, I'm not quite sure! There are ties all over London but here are my pick:

Edgware & Kingsbury v Whitstable Town @3pm - the hosts are the closest club to Wembley Stadium who are hosting a tie in this round - you can see the arch from Silver Jubilee Park. They play in the ninth tier, struggled last season and are struggling again. Their task here is very tough. Whitstable know all about Wembley - they went there in May and won the FA Vase. Tickets are £8 on the gate

SOUL Tower Hamlets v Hanworth Villa @3pm - STH won promotion to the ninth tier last season, meaning this is the first time they've entered the FA Cup since adding the SOUL prefix to their name. Unbeaten in their three league fixtures, they come into this match in good form. Hanworth play a level above them and have made the play-offs in two of the last three seasons. On paper they are strong favourites but in the FA Cup you just never know. Tickets are £9 on the gate

Tooting & Mitcham United v AFC Croydon Athletic @3pm - lastly I'm going for this south London derby at Imperial Fields. The ninth tier Terrors have a rich FA Cup history with an appearance in the Fourth Round in 1976 and numerous other appearances in the competition 'proper'. These days they find themselves in the ninth tier and they're the definite underdogs against the Rams who play a level above them and are unbeaten coming into this. Tickets are £8 on the gate

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Sunday 17 August

Premier League

Chelsea v Crystal Palace @2pm - these two had cracking 'off-seasons' if you can call it that. The Blues won the inaugural Club World Cup in the USA and Crystal Palace beat Liverpool to win the FA Community Shield for the first time. Enzo Maresca's side seem to be on a steady upward trend and are now back in the Champions League after a couple of years away. With over £200m spent on new signings, they'll be expecting further progress and a trophy of some sort. The Eagles are enjoying the most successful time in their history, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield in the space of a few months. Despite all this, the summer has been unsettled. Losing their place in the Europa League on a technicality stung and transfer rumours are swirling around some of their biggest stars. Given they beat Liverpool last week, they've got a chance here but getting anything will still be very tough. Hospitality packages are available from £395

FAWNL Southern Premier

AFC Wimbledon v Real Bedford @2pm - the women's third and fourth tiers get underway today and this match in the former tops the bill. The Dons are a solid midtable side at this level so it will be really interesting to see how this game pans out. Backed by crypto millionaires, Real Bedford's men's and women's teams have both been making inexorable progress up the divisions over the last couple of seasons. The jump from the top of the fourth tier to competing for the title in this division is big so this fixture should give us some idea of what they're capable of. This match is being played at Tooting & Mitcham United and tickets are available

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Fulham v Cambridge United @2pm - in the division below, the Cottagers are said to be among the favourites for the title. Having just been promoted to this level, there are reports of a big budget increase and a huge amount of ambition to go straight to Tier 3 in one go. Cambridge are a funny side. Capable of competing with anyone on their day, they always seem to finish in the bottom half. The men's team got relegated last season which rarely augurs well for the women's set-up but with a new manager in place and several eye-catching signings, they could be quite a handful. This is being played at Fulham's Motspur Park training facility. Tickets

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