TLFG: 31 March - 6 April 2025

Greetings everyone - I'm back!

After the hectic schedule of the last two weeks, I'm pleased to say I'm back in business.

Non-League Day (NLD) produced even more of a whirlwind than normal.

The run-up to the event saw South Western Railway, my employers and NLD partners, provide me with my own PR team which was a surreal experience.

Starting days with a briefing on the interviews they'd booked, I was advised what questions would come up and what I could and couldn't say.

They would then sit in on all of them and debrief me afterwards.

Thursday to Saturday (20-22 March) was particularly busy, squeezing everything around work and family. 

Yours truly with Stuart Pearce and the PL Trophy 

I made numerous appearances on Talksport, BBC Radio 5 live, LBC and lots of regional radio stations. 

Interview requests were so numerous that other members of my team also had to pick up slots on the likes of Capital and Smooth.

There was some great newspaper and online coverage too from the Mirror and Sunday Times and my name even appeared in a great article by Forbes.

The Premier League are hugely important in promoting the day and their support was better than ever.

On the day itself, I met Matt from their team at Liverpool Street and we headed out to Benfleet in Essex for the first stop on the Essex Senior League groundhop.

Arriving at the ground around 1030, we'd arranged for the Premier League trophy to make an appearance so fans could have their photos taken with it.

With the trophy on its plinth next to the pitch, I turned around to see a queue of hundreds had suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

With the gates open, an orderly procession of locals had their pictures taken with one of the most prestigious pieces of football silverware in the world.

A few minutes later, England legend Stuart Pearce arrived.

Despite recently suffering health issues on a transatlantic flight, the former Nottingham Forest full-back insisted on coming and did us proud.

He joined the trophy and spent ages happily posing for photos and signing autographs for seemingly everyone in Benfleet!

The game itself, against bottom club Clacton, kicked off at midday and shortly after, Stuart and myself did a live video interview with Talksport through Matt's iPhone - it's amazing what you can do with hand-held technology these days!

With half-time approaching, the crowd was announced as 702 which was 279.5% above average - clearly demonstrating the power of NLD and the Premier League trophy! I think it was also the highest crowd anywhere in the Essex Senior League all season.

I had to leave at half-time to get back to east London for my second game whilst Stuart, Matt and the trophy headed off to their second game at Buckhurst Hill.

Clapton CFC took on Croydon in my second game

Thankfully I had a good journey, with my Spanish taxi driver back to the station saying he'd never seen Benfleet's car park so busy - he knew about the event after his child's school had received an email. He was also impressed to hear about Athletic Bilbao's involvement too.

Getting to Plaistow about 145pm, I met a friend and walked up to the Old Spotted Dog to watch the Clapton CFC game against Croydon.

CCFC are one of the best supported clubs in the 10th tier and they'd understandably kept their advertising of NLD to a minimum so they could safely accommodate what was expected to be a big crowd.

With building works going on, capacity had been reduced and they officially announced that numbers would be limited to 850 on a first come, first served basis.

We therefore got there early. Luckily we had no issues and with our £5 paid and a donation made to the hygiene bank, we were in.

I was supposed to do another interview for Talksport but they kept me on hold for 20 minutes and my battery ran out.

Before kick-off, a few more friends, including TLFG readers Liam and Nils, turned up and we were all in safely.

The match between two sides fighting for a play-off place was understandably tight and it ultimately ended 1-1.

Although it wasn't the most thrilling of games, the atmosphere was great.

With plenty of room available, the club let a few more people in and the eventual attendance of 952 was the highest anywhere in the country at that level.

One friend who hadn't been before, found it to be quite a moving experience - CCFC have a very left-wing and inclusive fanbase and he felt he'd found a home of sorts.

Others spent decent money on scarves and shirts, not to mention drinks and a fun afternoon was had by all as some early spring sunshine graced proceedings.

There was even time for a cheeky kickabout on the pitch at the end before we were advised this was primarily intended for kids - oops.

With a warm feeling inside, I headed home whilst Mr Pearce and the Premier League trophy continued on to a 745pm game at Takeley where he turned on the club's new floodlights in front of another bumper crowd of nearly 600 fans.

I concluded the day by calling into 606 on BBC Radio 5 Live who were asking for people's NLD experiences.

Expressed to the front of the queue, I was warmly welcomed to the show and followed Robbie Savage who'd just called in after leading Macclesfield to the NPL title.

It was also a great day for Prostate Cancer UK

All in all it was quite a day - definitely the biggest and best NLD so far.

We saw a total attendance across Steps 1-6 of just under 200,000 with 139 of 163 games at the top level posting above average crowds - 10 clubs saw increases of over 100%.

All six clubs who partnered with Athletic Bilbao saw their crowds go up significantly with Sheppey United in Kent seeing theirs go up by 80%.

Prostate Cancer UK also did really well for publicity and fundraising - a final figure isn't in yet but clubs in the Essex Senior League were pushing £10,000 on their own which is huge.

Now for a well-earned break.

However, I've started dreaming about what we can achieve next year and some of the new partners we could target.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's National League and lots of other games featuring our local non-league and women's clubs.

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. 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 31 March

Professional Development League

The week begins with a couple of U21 games. Brentford continue their quest for top spot in Group South with a game against Fleetwood Town at their facility in Staines (1pm - tickets) whilst Watford host Coventry City at Vicarage Road (2pm - tickets)

Surrey Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Carshalton Athletic v Kingstonian @745pm - this competition began in 1882-83 and since then, these sides have been to 25 finals between them. The K's are currently fourth in the all-time rankings but they now play a level below the Robins and haven't won it since 2006. On paper, the hosts should win. The winners face a tough trip to Dorking Wanderers in the semi-finals. Tickets are £11 online and £12 on the gate

ECL Division 1 South

Barkingside v Southend Manor @745pm - in the 10th tier there's a huge relegation six-pointer. The 'Side begin the game in the bottom three but they're on level points with Southend who are just above them on goal difference. The hosts also have a game in hand. To try and boost attendance for this big game, you'll get in for free if you turn up with a copy of local newspaper the Ilford Recorder

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Tuesday 1 April

Premier League

Arsenal v Fulham @745pm - with only two wins from five, the Premier League title has seemingly slipped out of the Gunners' reach again and a third consecutive second-place finish looks likely. Nottingham Forest are still hot their heels though so they can't relax just yet. The Cottagers are in the top eight themselves and in marginally better league form than Arsenal but arrive in north London on the back of a comprehensive and very disappointing home loss to Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Although Fulham are unbeaten in three against Arsenal, they have never won an away game against the Islington club - ever!!! Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £465

National League

Wealdstone v Boston United @745pm - as we approach the end of the season, the big games keep coming. We've got another relegation six-pointer at Grosvenor Vale in Ruislip where two sides battle for their place in the fifth tier. With seven games to go, the Stones are fourth from bottom and just one point from safety. The Pilgrims are the team they have to catch but the Lincolnshire club have spectacularly turned their form around in recent weeks, taking 20 points from their last nine games to pull themselves out of the relegation zone - only leaders Barnet are in better form. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Beckenham Town v Phoenix Sports @745pm - the hosts' play-off hopes received a knock on Saturday as they lost to leaders Ramsgate. Now eight points adrift of the top five but with two games in hand, they can't afford to lose many more. Here they welcome another south-east London club who are in desperate need of points to avoid the drop. Five points adrift of safety with a game in hand, they really need to get something too. Tickets are £10 on the gate

CCL Division 1

Hillingdon Borough v Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) @745pm - with seven games to go, the hosts begin their final assault on the play-off places. Currently sixth and three points adrift of the all-important top five, they have a game in hand and a win here could put them firmly in business. The visitors are towards the wrong end of the table but they have a six-point cushion over the bottom three. Tickets are £6 on the gate

Professional Development League

There are also a good selection of U21 games too. Charlton Athletic host Group North leaders Sheffield United at The Valley (2pm - tickets). Over at The Den, Group South title contenders Millwall take on Barnsley (2pm - tickets) and lastly, QPR host Birmingham City at Hayes & Yeading United at 7pm

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Wednesday 2 April

SCEFL Premier Division

Sutton Athletic v Punjab United @745pm - down in 13th, at first glance the season looks over for Sutton. However, they have five games in hand which if won would put them back in play-off contention. To have any chance, they really have to beat Punjab who are fifth and occupy the last of those coveted places. Tickets are £8 on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

SOUL Tower Hamlets v Forest Hill Park @745pm - there's a whopper of a game at Mile End Stadium where fifth hosts first. With seven games to go, Tower Hamlets are only a point ahead of Sheppey Sports so simply have to keep winning to stay in the play-off places. The pressure is also on FHP. Five points clear at the top, second place Faversham Strike Force have a game in hand so a defeat here could make things a lot tighter. Not sure of ticket prices but it shouldn't exceed £8

ECL Division 1 South

AS London v Coggeshall Town @745pm - playing across the road from Haringey Borough at the New River Sports Centre, the hosts' main priority now is securing a play-off spot. With games in hand on all around them, it's looking promising. Coggeshall are eighth but have the games in hand to put them in the top five as well so there's plenty to play for here. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Middlesex Premier Cup Final

Brook House v Civil Service @745pm - a decent piece of silverware is up for grabs at Hanwell Town's ground on Wednesday. Brook House are the defending champions. They play in the 10th tier Combined Counties League Division 1 but it's hard to know if they'll start as favourites as they're up against a side from the amateur leagues who exist in a parallel system outside the pyramid. What we do know is that Civil Service, who are based in Chiswick, are one of the oldest clubs in the world having been formed in 1863. Tickets are £8

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Thursday 3 April

Premier League

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @8pm - the Blues are firmly in the race for a top-four finish but it's tight with Manchester City, Newcastle and Brighton all breathing down their necks. By the time this kicks-off, they could be down in seventh. Spurs are way down in 14th with little to play for other than derby bragging rights. They've also won only one of their last 16 games in all competitions against the Stamford Bridge club so it's not looking very promising for the north Londoners. Tickets

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Friday 4 April

Premier League 2

The pick of the action on Friday is in this U21 competition with Chelsea hosting Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge (7pm - tickets). If you're on the east side of town, West Ham United take on Crystal Palace at the club's Rush Green facility (7pm - entry is £5 on the gate)

SCFL Premier Division

Lingfield v Shoreham @8pm - with the Lingers now groundsharing at AFC Whyteleafe, we've got a bonus game in this ninth-tier division. It's an important one too as these sides fight to beat the drop. Lingfield are five points above the relegation zone with six games to go whilst Shoreham are in the bottom two but only on goal difference. Tickets are usually £5 on the gate

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Previews for 5-6 April 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: 24-30 March 2025

Greetings one and all - just in case you were wondering where I'd gone and didn't see the post on X, Non-League Day proved to be all-consuming last week and I simply didn't have time to write a piece this week.

I'm now working on next week's piece - apologies for the gap in service and see you again properly in a few days time.

James

TLFG: 17-23 March 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG's Non-League Day Special.

I can't quite believe it's that time of year again, the weeks fly by so fast but here we are with just a few days to go.

Every year I wonder how much further myself and the team can take the event but something new keeps cropping up to move things to another level.

Our major new partnerships this year are with NHS Blood and Transplant, as we try and recruit new donors to match the critical need for more blood, and sports retailer Decathlon.

La Liga giants Athletic Bilbao are involved for a third year in a row, partnering with six clubs around the country who play in a similar strip to them.

My employer South Western Railway have got involved again to help raise awareness and I made a film with the PR firm the company use at Walton & Hersham on Tuesday - the result will be out at some point this week plus the results of an interesting survey they commissioned into British attitudes to non-league football.

This year's Non-League Day is on Saturday

Then there's all the work that's being done with Prostate Cancer UK - we're into our 11th year with the charity and clubs across the country will be raising funds for them.

The sale of our merchandise will also be generating funds for the charity too.

The t-shirt below is just one of a range of many designs that are available so have a look, there are hoodies and badges too.

Get NLD merchandise in your club's colours now!

So back to this week's NLD Special - the format is different.

All the matches are on the maps as normal but rather than have a weekend map, there's now one for Saturday (NLD) and one for Sunday.

The other significant difference is that there is no 'Daily Digest', it's all about what you can see on NLD and this will probably get added to as clubs announce their plans once their midweek games are out of the way.

It's also quite possible I could miss a deal or event here or there so please let me know.

Anyway, I'm all set to begin my NLD with a trip to Benfleet for the beginning of the Essex Senior League groundhop at 12pm.

Woodside Stadium will play host to the Premier League trophy so fans can have their photos with it and I've been asked to be there.

From there it will go to Buckhurst Hill for their 3pm kick-off before ending the day at Takeley for their 745pm match and the official switch on of their new floodlights.

All three clubs have received Premier League funding, hence the reason they're getting the trophy.

After Benfleet, my plan is to head back to east London to watch Clapton CFC take on Croydon in the Southern Counties East League at 3pm  - it's where my friends want to go and a visit to London's oldest football ground is always a good experience.

I really hope you can make it to a game - I look forward to catching up again next week.

 THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got an England game, a match in League Two and some Women's Super League action but for me the focus is Non-League Day on Saturday. 

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. 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

NON-LEAGUE DAY MATCH MAP

SUNDAY MATCH MAP

    

NON-LEAGUE DAY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the day and give some brief reasons for my choice. Updates will follow as the week progresses. Check the maps above for club info and directions.

Saturday 22 March

National League

Sutton United v Dagenham & Redbridge @1230pm - the first match of the day in the capital is this derby at Gander Green Lane. The U's defeat to Halifax on Saturday left them bang in the midtable doldrums with very little to realistically play for. The Daggers' 3-1 loss to Tamworth saw them end the weekend on level points with two sides in the bottom four as their lengthy winless run continued. An NLD ticket offer is available. Also, if you want to do two games in a day, Sutton Common Rovers play a little to the east at Carshalton Athletic's ground and their game against Moneyfields starts at 3pm

Wealdstone v Woking @3pm - the Stones came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with promotion-chasing Eastleigh on Saturday to earn a morale-boosting point. Although still in the bottom four, they have games in hand on all around them so they've got a reasonable chance of staying up. The Cards are just three places above them so it's a hugely important game for both in their battles for survival. NLD ticket deal

National League South

Boreham Wood v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - one of the most important matches of the day is this one at Meadow Park. Only six points separate the top six in this division and only one team can go up automatically. These two sides are in that leading group and both have been top at some point during the season. With Worthing mounting a mini breakaway at the top, they both need to win to keep up. The club are hosting a karaoke and meet the players event after the game. Tickets

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Maidstone United @3pm - the Beveree is often cited as one of the best non-league grounds in London so is always good to visit. Usually a club to embrace Non-League Day, they should get a good crowd here as they welcome last season's FA Cup giantkillers Maidstone who made it all the way to the Fifth Round, beating Ipswich Town along the way. The Kent club are in the play-off places but only just. NLD ticket offer

Welling United v Worthing @3pm - there's another really important game at Park View Road which is well worth your consideration. With eight games to go, the hosts are in trouble. Eight points adrift of safety, they really have to win the majority of their remaining fixtures to stand a chance of staying up. Worthing, as mentioned above, are top and looking to make sure of that one automatic promotion place. Reduced prices will be available for any Premier League or EFL fan who shows their season-ticket or membership card on arrival. If you don't have one, then you can buy tickets online or on the gate as normal

Isthmian League Premier Division

Cray Wanderers v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - fans of football history might like to go and watch the Wands. Founded in 1860, London's oldest club have recently begun life at their new Flamingo Park stadium. They lost to Carshalton Athletic at the weekend but the play-offs are still on and they should feel confident of getting another three points against the bottom club. The stakes are high for Bowers - if they lose, they'll be relegated and a draw might also not be enough. Discounted tickets are available to Crystal Palace and Millwall season-ticket holders

Hashtag United v Chatham Town @3pm - the Tags and Chats come into this just one place apart in the table. At eighth and ninth, a push for the play-offs is still on. Hashtag play their games at Aveley in Essex and they have some NLD special deals too

Southern League Premier South

Hanwell Town v AFC Totton @3pm - the Geordies (they play in black and white stripes) spent most of Sunday hosting joyous Newcastle fans who used the Powerday Stadium as their base for the day's EFL Cup Final. With everything cleaned up, they'll be hoping for another bumper crowd for the visit of title-chasing Totton who hail from Hampshire. Hanwell are geographically the closest semi-pro club to QPR's Loftus Road and they'll be hoping the expected presence of R's legend Charlie Austin in the Totton squad will draw in a few fans. Various NLD special discounts apply - ticket sales as of  Friday afternoon are quadruple their normal level so it might be a good idea to buy in advance

Isthmian League North

Walthamstow v Grays Athletic @3pm - if you're in north-east London, a visit to Wadham Lodge is usually a good experience. The 'Stow have been growing their fanbase steadily in recent years and have the fourth best crowds in the division. They managed a whopping 805 against Sporting Bengal United in December, way above the division's average of 250. Although suffering a couple of disappointing results of late, their play-off dreams aren't quite over yet and a win here against midtable Grays will just about keep them in contention. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Isthmian League South Central

Kingstonian v Hanworth Villa @3pm - with Farnham Town all-but champions in this eighth-tier division, it's now all about who can secure a play-off spot. The K's have been second for a while but their form is deserting them at the wrong time and there's now only six points between the clubs in second and sixth. Hanworth are fifth and in even better form than Farnham, with Paul Merson's son Sam banging in the goals for fun at the moment. Special NLD discounts are on offer here too

Sutton Common Rovers v Moneyfields @3pm - as mentioned above, this game can very easily be combined with the Sutton United match at 1230pm so that you can see at least two games on NLD. Apart from that, SCR badly need to win to avoid the drop. Portsmouth club Moneyfields have an outside chance of the play-offs. The hosts have lots of special NLD activities planned for adults and kids so it looks like being a fun afternoon

Uxbridge v Rayners Lane @3pm - probably most recognisable to Londoners for being stations on the same branch of the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines of the Underground, these two meet for a Middlesex derby at Honeycroft. The Reds have had a fine season and are up to the heady heights of third and will look to try and further secure their play-off place here. The Lane are in midtable but come into this on the back of beating Hanwell Town in Wednesday night's Middlesex Senior Cup Final. NLD special deal

Isthmian League South 

Phoenix Sports v Ashford United @3pm - the hosts are involved in a relegation dogfight and sit just a point above the bottom four. With only one defeat in five, their form is picking up nicely too. Ashford are in midtable and the play-offs will probably just elude them. Phoenix will be bringing in a local pizza company and are raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Tickets

Southern League Division 1 Central

Northwood v Flackwell Heath @3pm - the hosts are fighting hard to avoid the drop and have got themselves outside the relegation zone after a shocking start. The opposite is true for Flackwell Heath who are third and going for promotion. Tickets are just £2 for anyone living in an HA or WD postcode

CCL Premier North

Bedfont Sports v North Greenford United @3pm - with the title and the one automatic promotion spot seemingly beyond them, another two Middlesex clubs will do battle for a play-off place. The hosts have made the play-offs in two of the last three seasons and look set to do it again as they're on course to match their third-place finish of last year. NGU sit just outside the top five but have the games in hand to force their way into contention. The Recreation Ground is a fine modern venue, with a high quality artificial pitch and is notable for its location next to Heathrow's runway. Bedfont FC play literally next door on regular grass and also have a match at 3pm against Yateley in the division below - don't get confused! Tickets are £8 on the gate

Egham Town v Virginia Water @3pm - when it comes to winning the title, the Sarnies are in pole position. Although level on points with Amersham Town, they have two games in hand. On Saturday they take on local rivals who are in the top eight themselves so they'll no doubt want to put a dent in those promotion ambitions

Essex Senior League groundhop

One of the highlights of this year's Non-League Day will be this event. The league have spent lots of time and effort co-ordinating staggered kick-off times and creating a passport that will get you into up to four games for £30 and you'll get a different free gift at each one you attend. The action actually starts on Friday night with the games at West Essex and Woodford Town and then gets going again at midday on Saturday at Benfleet where I'll be, at least for a bit. This is where the Premier League trophy will be present for fans to have photos. However, if you can't make it all the way out there, don't worry as it's coming back into the London area for the 3pm game at Buckhurst Hill which is easily reachable by Tube. If you're already committed to watching another game at 3pm and you've got a car, then the trophy will be making one final stop at Takeley near Stansted airport at 745pm. Another game to be included in the passport in the London area is Athletic Newham v Frenford at 3pm but the trophy won't be making an appearance. Contact the league for a passport - there's still time

SCEFL Premier

Stansfeld v Fisher - this season, the hosts have begun a new groundshare at Cray Valley PM's ground in south-east London. On the pitch it hasn't been a great campaign but they should stay up, two or three more wins should do it. The Fish have been far more competitive and are up in fourth but the competition for play-off places is desperately tight and they arguably need the win even more. NLD Special offer

VCD Athletic v Punjab United @3pm - the Vickers are in a desperately tight title race with Faversham Town. One point ahead with seven games to go, they can't afford any slip ups. On NLD they welcome fifth place Punjab United who come from Gravesend and need a win to bolster their hopes of keeping hold of the last play-off place

SCEFL Division 1

Clapton CFC v Croydon @3pm - in the 10th tier, the biggest games and best offers all appear to be in this division at the moment. With an average of 448, CCFC have the biggest crowds in this division by some margin. For a big game like this, against one of their play-off rivals, they could double that (UPDATE - admissions have been capped at 850 for this game so don't leave it too late). The Old Spotted Dog is also the oldest football ground in London so every fan should visit at some point - it's located between Forest Gate and Plaistow stations. The club always have really good prices, discounts and other bits and pieces going on and I heartily recommend a visit. This is where I plan to head for my 3pm game with a number of my friends and TLFG readers

Forest Hill Park v Lewisham Borough @3pm - another highlight of NLD will be the Catford Classico or Blue Classico between the two sides who share the Ladywell Arena. Lewisham had had the upper hand in these derbies in recent years but then FHP merged with SE Dons over the summer and they've become the dominant force. Currently three points clear at the top with a game in hand, they're looking good for the title. NLD Special offer

SOUL Tower Hamlets v Bridon Ropes @3pm - with only four points between the sides in fourth and eighth, the battle for the play-offs is becoming very exciting. Two of those sides meet at the Mile End Stadium in this game. The hosts have been really keen to engage with NLD this year and wanted to move their kick-off to the evening for groundhoppers but the stadium owners (who I think are the council) wouldn't allow it. Instead, they're offering fans half-price kits for one day only and FREE SAMOSAS!

ECL Division 1 South

AS London v Hackney Wick @3pm - although I'm not aware of any deals yet, this is a top-four clash and should be well worth a watch. The hosts have the games in hand to lift them up to third whilst the Wickers are one point behind leaders Harlow with a game in hand of their own. Tickets are £8

CCL Division 1

Molesey v Penn & Tylers Green @3pm - with eight games to go, the Moles are just four points adrift of the play-off places. If they beat second place P&TG then they'll have real reason to believe they've got a chance. Special NLD discounts are available

MORE INFO ON SPECIAL DEALS WILL BE ADDED AS I RECEIVE IT

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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: 10-16 March 2025

Greetings all - here's a quick piece I've dashed out before work. I'm really rushing and will hopefully have more up in a few days!

There's now less than two weeks to go until Non-League Day

There's loads coming up this week so fill your boots! Apologies for any errors.

THE WEEK AHEAD

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. 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 10 March

Premier League

West Ham United v Newcastle United @8pm - the Hammers may be in the bottom five but two wins in a row have effectively guaranteed their place in the top flight for another season. Now 16 points clear of the relegation zone, the bottom three are miles behind. With four defeats from six, the Magpies' hopes of a top-four finish have taken a knock but they're not out of it by any means. A win here would leave them just two points away from the Champions League places. They also have the EFL Cup Final to look forward to at the end of the week so it will be interesting to see if there is any dip in performance levels in this one. Tickets

National League South

Aveley v Worthing @745pm - a 1-0 defeat at title chasing Boreham Wood saw the Millers end the weekend bottom and 11 points adrift of safety with nine games to go. Increasingly, it's looking like the best they can hope for is to beat fellow strugglers Weymouth in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon. It's not going to get any easier here as visitors Worthing went top on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Chesham United. When the two last played in November, it was the Sussex club who won 2-1 but the winner came right at the death. Tickets

Essex Alliance League Senior Division

Lymore Gardens v Frenford Development @8pm - there's an important game way down in the 11th tier too. The hosts, who play at Redbridge, are currently second but have three games in hand which will put them joint top. Frenford are a top five side themselves who could finish as high as second if they have a good run in. Tickets are £5 on the gate

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Tuesday 11 March

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town @745pm - the Dons got back into automatic promotion contention with a hugely important win over Notts County on Saturday. Now fourth and two points behind Doncaster, this game in hand will put them into the top three if they win it. The visitors are midtable, four without a win and haven't won at Wimbledon since 2012 so another home win looks likely here. Tickets

U21 Development games

If you're looking for an afternoon game or want to see two matches on Tuesday then head to The Den where Millwall host Watford in a Professional Development League game at 2pm (tickets). Also, in the evening, there's a Premier League Cup match between Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers at Dartford's ground at 7pm where it's £5 on the gate

National League South

Enfield Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm - the Towners kept their Great Escape bid on track with a valuable 2-1 win at Salisbury on Saturday. The three points moved them above Welling and St Albans and out of the relegation zone. St Albans still have a game in hand so there's no margin for error at all. Here they play a midtable Hampton side whose season is effectively over and with five defeats from their last six, it looks like they've kind of given up too. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Chertsey Town v AFC Totton @745pm - since beating Poole in mid-January, the Curfews' form has dropped off a cliff. Two wins from the following nine games, has left them three points above the relegation zone. Saturday's 3-1 win at Basingstoke was huge for the club and they'll want to build on that here. Hampshire club Totton are second but their title hopes to a big hit with a 3-1 loss at Wimborne over the weekend. As a result, they badly need to win this. With former QPR and Southampton striker Charlie Austin in their squad, they should be tough to beat. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Hayes & Yeading United v Uxbridge @745pm - in the eighth tier we've got a local derby between two sides who are battling to go up. Fifth and fourth respectively, these two still need wins to keep themselves in the play-off places as other local rivals Hanworth Villa keep the pressure on below them. The hosts are in marginally better form and the pair fought out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture. Tickets are £12 on the gate

CCL Premier South

AFC Whyteleafe v Tadley Calleva @8pm - the Leafe followed up their momentous FA Vase win over Bourne Town by losing a thriller 4-3 at Sandhurst Town. The result left the six points behind leaders Redhill and could prove terminal to their title challenge given Jersey Bulls are ahead of them too. Here they welcome a side who sit just outside the play-off places in sixth. Although 11 points behind fifth-placed Fleet, all is not lost as they have five games in hand on fourth placed Cobham. Even if they win all those, it's still going to be tough to finish fifth so they can't afford to lose here. Tickets are £8 on the gate

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Wednesday 12 March

UEFA Champions League

Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven @8pm - with the Gunners winning the first leg 7-1 in the Netherlands, it's quite hard to make this last-16 tie sound exciting. Last year was the first time the north London club had made it to the quarter-finals since 2010 so to get there again will be quite an achievement. Both sides are second in their respective countries - oh I'm really running out of things to say here. If you're going - enjoy! Tickets are only available to members and their friends and family

Championship

Watford v Swansea City @745pm - the Hornets would've been three points off the play-off places if they'd beaten Millwall on Saturday but they let a lead slip and lost 2-1. Now six points adrift, it's going to be tough to break into the leading group. The Swans were looking very shaky for a bit but 10 points from six games has steadied the ship in midtable. When they last played in November, it was the Welsh club who won 1-0. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Kingstonian v Southall @745pm - the K's are second and were the closest challengers to leaders Farnham. Sadly, they lost their top-of-the-table clash 4-0 and they've only won one of the following four games. With Farnham now 12 points clear, it appears Kingstonian's main priority now is holding onto their play-off place as we go into the last part of the season. Southall finished fourth last season following promotion but they're way off that form now. Down in 14th, a midtable finish looks almost certain. Tickets are £10 on the gate

SCEFL Premier

Stansfeld v Erith & Belvedere @745pm - with one win in 10, things are looking a bit worrying for the hosts. In the bottom four and five points above the relegation zone, they need to start winning soon. Now out of the FA Vase, the Deres can concentrate on the league again. With nine games to go, the promised land of the play-offs is still eight points away so they're going to have to do something special to make it. I'm not sure of prices but it should be in the £8-10 region

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Thursday 13 March

UEFA Europa League

Tottenham Hotspur v AZ Alkmaar @8pm - out of all the domestic cups, this European competition presents Spurs with a final chance of salvaging their season. After losing the away leg 1-0, it's not going as smoothly as it could be but it's not a lost cause either. Spurs came from behind to draw 2-2 with AFC Bournemouth on Sunday whilst the visitors haven't played since these sides met in the Netherlands last week. Tickets are available to members and those with a previous purchasing history

UEFA Conference League

Chelsea v FC Copenhagen @8pm - after winning the first leg 2-1 in Denmark, it looks like the competition favourites are a shoo-in for the quarter-finals. Having won all nine of their Conference League games up to this point, the Blues look pretty unstoppable. Tickets

League Two

Bromley v Walsall @8pm - randomly we've got a fourth-tier game too. The Ravens would have found themselves just two points off a play-off place if they'd beaten lowly Tranmere on Saturday but they lost and are now back in 10th. The Saddlers have been top for ages but their form is dipping at a really bad time. Winless in four, they're now only two points clear of Bradford City. They still have an eight-point cushion between themselves and the play-off places but they'll want to avoid having to rely on it. Tickets

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Friday 14 March

Premier League 2

West Ham United v Leicester City @7pm - the Hammers have the chance to go second in this U21 league if they beat the Foxes. The Midlands club are in the hunt for a top-four place themselves so it should be a decent contest. The match is being played at West Ham's training ground and tickets are usually £5 on the gate

Isthmian League South Central

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - we've got a derby to enjoy in the eighth tier. It's also an important game at either end of the table. At the time of writing (both sides have games on Tuesday), Ashford are five points adrift of safety whilst H&YU and trying to seal a play-off place. Although a derby, this is being played at Cobham whilst Ashford await their new pitch. Tickets are £10 on the gate 

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Little Oakley @745pm - as of Tuesday morning when I'm writing this, Woodford are top but second placed Stanway Rovers only need to draw their midweek game with struggling Stansted to replace them. Little Oakley are down in ninth and have little to play for. Tickets are £7 on the gate

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Saturday 15 March

Championship

QPR v Leeds United @1230pm - there's no top-flight football in London on Saturday but we've got two Championship games at lunchtime to keep you entertained. Topping the bill is the R's big game against top club Leeds. After thrashing the Yorkshire club 4-0 in the closing stages of last season, a result which played a big part in them missing out on promotion, the R's might expect something of a backlash. Still in a three-horse race for the title with Sheffield United and Burnley, Leeds still need every point they can get whilst QPR seem destined to finish in midtable at best. Tickets have sold out

Millwall v Stoke City @1230pm - the Lions' hopes of reaching the play-offs are slim so they simply have to win here to keep those dreams alive. The Potters are only four points above the relegation zone so arguably need the win even more. It's also Millwall's community day so they've got lots of fun stuff going on. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Wigan Athletic @3pm - the Addicks' 1-0 win over Crawley on Tuesday saw them climb to fourth and go top of the form table. Now five points off the automatic promotion places with 10 games to go, the chase is on. The Latics have struggled to impress since relegation two years ago, finishing twelfth last season and down in 15th now. Tickets

National League

Wealdstone v Eastleigh @3pm - my featured game in the fifth tier sees the Stones' fight for survival continue against the Spitfires. One point adrift of safety with 12 games to go, it's still very much on. Hampshire club Eastleigh were top at the start of the season but, even though they fallen away, they're still in contention for a play-off place. Tickets

National League South

Enfield Town v Truro City @3pm - when it comes to beating the drop, the Towners have put themselves in a great position with back-to-back wins putting them five points clear of the relegation zone. On Saturday they welcome second place Truro who make the incredibly long journey up from Cornwall. After winning promotion in 2023, the Tinners found the adjustment to the sixth tier tough, finishing sixteenth. A win here and they could go top. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dartford v Hastings United @3pm - the Darts suffered relegation last year and after an uninspiring start, they've got themselves firmly into the title race. A point behind leaders Billericay with eight games to go, it's all to play for. After just missing out on the play-offs for the last two seasons, the U's are really struggling and defeat here could see them end the day 10 points adrift of safety. Tickets

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Sunday 16 March

EFL Cup Final

Liverpool v Newcastle United @430pm - the first major silverware of the season is up for grabs at Wembley. The Reds are the current EFL Cup holders and the most successful club in the competition's history with 10 wins from 14 final appearances. They're also the Premier League leaders and big favourites to win here. The Magpies are sixth in the top flight and no slouches but they famously haven't won a trophy of any note since 1969 so a victory here would send their thousands and thousands of travelling fans into an almost unparalleled ecstasy. Tickets have sold out but you can watch the match live on ITV1

Premier League

Arsenal v Chelsea @130pm - earlier in the day, there are also two London derbies so the capital is going to be a lively place on Sunday. First up is this really big game between the city's two most successful clubs. Both come into the match in the top four, which hasn't really been the case over the last couple of seasons. With Liverpool so far out in front, it's now effectively all about who can finish second, third and fourth. The Gunners have a seven-point cushion over fifth placed Manchester City but the Blues' fourth place is the subject of a battle with four other clubs who are all within a game of overtaking them. Mikel Arteta's side are unbeaten in six against the Stamford Bridge club so should start as favourites. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £995

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur @130pm - the Cottagers head into this fixture with an eight-point lead over Spurs and will go eighth if they win. That's something which no Tottenham fan should ever hope to hear but it's the case and an indication of what a struggle this season has been. Although in no danger of relegation, they're unlikely to finish in the top half, something which hasn't happened since 2008. Tickets have sold out but hospitality packages are available from around £720

Women's Super League

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa @2pm - if you can't get into any of the above, then there are some good women's options instead. First up is this big relegation six-pointer at Sutton United's ground. Palace are new to this division but have been bottom for most of the campaign. They're not pushovers though and you feel that one good performance could turn things round. To stay up, all they need to do is catch Villa who are four points above them. The Birmingham club have been a huge disappointment this season and should be doing a lot better. If they win, you feel safety will be assured, lose and they'll be in real trouble. Tickets

Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm - after a great breakthrough season where they finished sixth and made the FA Cup Final, Spurs have been a bit underwhelming this time round. Down to seventh after being overtaken by a resurgent Liverpool side, they don't have a whole lot to play for. The Seagulls made a very bright start to the season but now haven't won a league game since November. Still in the top six, they enjoyed a morale boosting 2-2 draw with leaders Chelsea last time out. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Tickets are available on the gate

Women's Championship

London City Lionesses v Blackburn Rovers @2pm - if leaders Birmingham City lose to Southampton, then LCL will have the chance to go top. A win over Blackburn looks highly likely as the Lancashire club are in no kind of form and in the bottom three. This is being played at Bromley's ground and tickets are available

FAWNL Southern Premier

AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town @2pm - this division has broken down into three groups - the top four, middle four and bottom four and there hasn't been much movement between them for a while. The Dons, following promotion, have done well to establish themselves in the middle four. Despite losing their last four, they're still six points clear of the bottom group of which Cheltenham are the top club. When they last played in September, Wimbledon won 3-0. This is being played at Raynes Park Vale and tickets are £7

Watford v Plymouth Argyle @2pm - the Hornets have seen this match moved to the main stadium at Vicarage Road and will want to impress against the struggling Pilgrims. After coming down from the Championship, it's fair to say a return to that level looks unlikely. Although they do have the games in hand to put them in contention, a top-three finish seems more realistic. As for Plymouth, they're in the relegation zone but only one point behind Billericay and Cheltenham so they've still got plenty to for. Tickets

 

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Real Bedford @3pm - after achieving a superb third-place finish last season, most of the Tangerines' star players left for different clubs and this year has been a disaster. Off-pitch problems affecting both the men's and women's teams haven't helped either. With six games to go, they can mathematically make up the 13-point gap between themselves and Chesham but with only one win from 16, you'd have to think relegation looks a certainty. It's a completely different story for the visitors. Backed by the Bitcoin fortune of their rich owners, they haven't lost a league game this season and are a point clear with games in hand on all their nearest challengers. If Ashford win, it will be one of the biggest upsets of the season at any level. This is being played at Hanworth Villa. 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: 3-9 March 2025

Welcome to this week's TLFG, it's great to have you here.

How has your football watching been over the last few days?

Since watching Harrow Borough lose to Hanworth Villa last Saturday, I managed to get to watch them again at Rayners Lane in the Middlesex Senior Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.

I've wanted to go to Tithe Farm for a game forever - despite having grown up in the area, I'd never actually been to see a game there which is quite bonkers when you think I've seen matches thousands of miles from home!

There's now less than three weeks to go until Non-League Day

The sides play less than a mile apart but for possibly the first time in history, are now in the same division and close together in midtable.

Rayners Lane were in better form coming into it and are the reigning cup holders so when they took an early lead, it looked ominous.

Thankfully, Harrow equalised swiftly and the  game was closely contested until the break.

Early in the second half, the hosts retook the lead but had a man sent off shortly after.

Boro made use of the extra man and equalised relatively quickly but couldn't find the breakthrough and the tie went straight to penalties after the 2-2 draw.

With Harrow having come through several shoot-outs already this season, confidence was reasonably high but their efforts were pretty atrocious and they lost 4-1.

Game two of my week came today (Sunday) and saw me trek eastwards to Forest Gate for a women's match.

With Actonians' first and reserve teams not playing and their Thirds starting too early for me to get to, I opted to watch Clapton CFC's derby against Hackney in a cup match.

CCFC play at the Old Spotted Dog which is London's oldest ground and therefore an absolute must visit for fans who have an interest in the history of the game.

Fan-owned, the supporters have been funding and co-ordinating gradual improvements to the ground but it's still rough round the edges and packed with quirks and charm - it's one of my very favourite.

Their women's side were expected to win this tie and they duly did, despite the bobbly surface and dazzlingly sunny conditions.

The fans were in full voice as always and there's a very good chance I'll be back here to watch their men's team on Non-League Day (22 March) when they entertain Croydon.

I spent Non-League Day here in 2015 when I went to watch the original Clapton side (it's complicated) fight out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Ilford in front of nearly 800 fans.

Hopefully we'll see a similarly massive crowd and lots of drama this time too.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League, Women's FA Cup, Women's National League and lots of other games featuring our local non-league and women's clubs. 

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. 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 3 March

National League South

Aveley v Salisbury @745pm - the most meaningful game of the day takes place at Parkside. The Millers are rooted to the bottom of the table in this sixth-tier division and time is running out. With 11 games to go, they're 10 points adrift of safety. On Saturday they lost 2-1 at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough to make it eight defeats from the last 10. Salisbury are in the bottom six and with only one win from 10 are in poor form too. Lose this and you fear it may all be over, if it isn't already. Tickets

Premier League 2

There are two games in this U21 competition on Monday with Crystal Palace hosting Arsenal at Sutton United (tickets) and Fulham playing Nottingham Forest at Motspur Park - check admission details with the club on the day. Both games start at 7pm

Professional Development League

Brentford v Swansea City @1pm - there's also a lunchtime kick-off in Staines in this other U21 competition. The Bees can go top of Group South if they win this match at Wheatsheaf Park. Tickets  

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Tuesday 4 March

Championship

Millwall v Bristol City @745pm - the Lions made the headlines for all the wrong reasons on Saturday as goalkeeper Liam Roberts got sent off for an horrific challenge in the early stages of their big FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace. Unsurprisingly, they went on to lose 3-1. Returning to league action, they need to win this to keep their play-off hopes alive. Seven points adrift of the top six with a game in hand, they can still do it. Their chances will be improved greatly if they can beat the Robins as they're one of the group of five teams between themselves and where they want to be. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Barnsley @745pm - the Addicks won their huge derby at Leyton Orient to move above them into the top six. Their cracking results has now put them second in the form table too. After a bit of a wobble, the Tykes are starting to build some momentum. Three wins in a row have lifted them to tenth, four points behind Charlton in what is a tight promotion race. When they last played in October, it finished 2-2. Tickets

League Two

Bromley v Doncaster Rovers @745pm - it was also a great derby day for the Ravens on Saturday as they won 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon. It saw the Dons slip out of the top four but moved the Hayes Lane club up to 10th. Seven points adrift of the play-off places, they still need a lot of results to go their way if they are to make the post-season. Doncaster should give them an even tougher test than Wimbledon as they're in the top three but Bromley beat them 1-0 in Yorkshire back in October. Tickets

National League

Barnet v Yeovil Town @745pm - the Bees kept themselves in pole position in the fifth tier with a solid 3-0 win at Oldham Athletic, a side with promotion ambitions of their own. Six points clear with 11 games to go they could still blow it but their form would have to spectacularly collapse. Somerset club Yeovil were a Championship side as recently as 2014 but they fell all the way down to the sixth tier over the course of a miserable decade. Back up a division, this season has been about consolidation with Saturday's draw against Southend keeping them in eleventh. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Valley PM v Hendon @745pm - for me, the game of the day in the seventh tier is this match at the Artic Stadium. This weekend's results would seem to suggest that the title race is probably going to be between Billericay Town and Dartford with only one of them going up automatically. The play-offs are contested by the teams in second to fifth and CVPM are currently fourth. Personally, I think fourth is probably the highest they will finish although mathematically they could do a bit better than that. At the other end of the table, the Greens fought out a highly entertaining 3-3 draw with Hashtag United. Although they salvaged a point, they remained five points adrift of safety with 10 games to go. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Hanworth Villa v Farnham Town @745pm - in the eighth tier I recommend a trip to Rectory Meadow. The hosts have this knack of really going through the gears in the latter stages of a season to get into play-off contention and they seem to be doing it again. Their 1-0 win over Sutton Common Rovers on Saturday put them top of the division's form table just in time to play the leaders who are now 10 points clear. Hanworth are also one of only two teams to beat Farnham so far this season so the Surrey club could be in for a tougher night than usual. Tickets are £11 on the gate

SCEFL Premier

VCD Athletic v Whitstable Town @745pm - the Vickers kept themselves one point clear at the top of this ninth-tier division by winning 5-0 at Hollands & Blair on Saturday. Nearest challengers Faversham also won to keep the pressure on. To make sure they stay top, they have to beat Whitstable. The Kent club had a very dramatic Saturday afternoon, coming from 2-0 down to beat Whitchurch Alport 3-2 with a last-minute goal as they made the FA Vase semi-finals for the first time. As a result of that cup run, they've got games in hand which, if won, could put them firmly in the top five. I'm not certain of ticket prices but it shouldn't exceed £10

CCL Division 1

Hillingdon Borough v Westside @730pm - if you fancy a tenth-tier game then treat yourself to a trip to the Middlesex Stadium near Ruislip. The hosts have struggled over the last few years but this season they're making a real go of it and will start this match in sixth. With games in hand on all of the top five, a place in the play-offs looks like a very real possibility. Westside, another rather unheralded team, are having a great campaign and could end the evening a point adrift of second place Penn & Tylers Green. Tickets are £6 on the gate

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Wednesday 5 March

Women's Super League

West Ham United v Manchester City @7pm - the Hammers went into Sunday's game at Arsenal as huge underdogs. Having only beaten the Gunners once, not much was expected of them. That statistic didn't change but they gave it a great go. Leading 3-1 going into the 56th minute, a disastrous six-minute spell saw them concede three goals to end up losing 4-3. They slipped to ninth as a result. City were also in the capital on Sunday and came away from Brisbane Road with a 2-1 win over Spurs to remain fourth. West Ham have also only beaten City once in their history so the odds are stacked against them again. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge. Tickets

Chelsea v Leicester City @730pm - Sunday saw the Blues show a rare moment of weakness as they had to come from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw at Brighton. With Manchester United winning, their lead is now down to five points. On paper, a home game against the Foxes looks like a certain win but the Midlands club are the only other side to have held Chelsea this season, drawing 1-1 shortly before Christmas. This is being played at Kingsmeadow. Tickets

SCEFL Division 1 Cup

Lewisham Borough v Forest Hill Park @745pm - there are several games in the eighth and ninth tiers but few are likely to be as lively as this groundshare derby in south-east London. These two have been co-habiting at the Ladywell Arena for a few years now, with the derby between them coming to be known as the Catford Classico. The build-up seems to be a little muted this year, perhaps because FHP are now a much stronger side than previously and come into this as leaders of the division. Whatever happens, there should be a decent atmosphere for a tenth-tier game. I'm not sure of prices but it should be in the £6-8 region

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Friday 7 March

Premier League Cup

Chelsea v Ipswich Town @7pm - I couldn't find any senior football on Thursday - you can dig around for some junior games if you're interested but I sadly don't have time this week. So we move straight to Friday and this U21 match at Kingsmeadow. We're through to the knockout stages of this competition now with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs. Tickets 

Isthmian League South Central

Sutton Common Rovers v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @745pm - there's a relegation six-pointer at Carshalton Athletic's ground. Both sides have struggled all season and find themselves six and seven points adrift of safety respectively. With 10 games to go, it's looking pretty bleak for both of them. Tickets are £11 on the gate

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Benfleet @745pm - the hosts seem to have been second for months. However, if they win here, they will go top until at least Saturday afternoon. If it does happen, they'll be two points clear but will have played three games more than Stanway Rovers so it will be a little false. Benfleet are in the bottom five but in no real danger of relegation so it will be interesting to see how they approach the game. Tickets are £7 on the gate

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Saturday 8 March

Premier League

Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town @3pm - aside from a terrible foul on one of their players, the Eagles made smooth progress into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last weekend. One of the most in-form teams in the Premier League, it's going pretty well for the Selhurst Park club. On Saturday they play an Ipswich side who haven't won a league game since December and are thought by many to be destined for relegation. They also haven't won at this venue since 2010 so it doesn't look great for the Suffolk club. Tickets are only available to members

Brentford v Aston Villa @530pm - in the late game, the Bees have the chance to cut the gap on Villa to just a point with a game in hand. Quite an achievement when you consider the Birmingham club are firmly on course for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals after their 3-1 win over Club Brugge in midweek. However, since joining the Premier League, Brentford have only won one of their seven games against Villa so it appears they've become a bit of bogey team. Tickets are only available to members

Championship

Watford v Millwall @1230pm - neck-and-neck in the middle of the table and the form table, this match should be close. Despite having some iffy results, the Hornets are still just three points adrift of the play-off places but there are still five teams between them and the promised land of the top six. The Lions are still licking their wounds after a bruising week which saw them lose to Palace in the cup and then get beaten 2-0 at home by Bristol City on Tuesday. Although only a place below Watford, they're four points behind so seven points away from the play-offs. In other words, they can't afford many more losses if they want to stay in contention. Tickets

League One

Leyton Orient v Northampton Town @3pm - the O's were one of the form teams of the division until a couple of weeks ago when they celebrated a fantastic away win at Wrexham. However, it's suddenly all gone wrong and they've lost four in a row including last week's big derby against Charlton. The Cobblers are in the lower reaches of the division and should provide the hosts with a good opportunity to bounce back. This match has sold out

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Notts County @1230pm - there's another early kick-off at Plough Lane where the Dons will play one of their biggest games of the season. Even if they weren't a point apart in fifth and fourth, a visit from former top-flight club Notts County is always a big occasion. When the sides met in Nottingham in October, the Magpies edged to a 1-0 win and I expect it to be close again. This match has also sold out

National League

Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge @1230pm - the Bees are absolutely flying at the moment. After thrashing Yeovil 5-0 on Tuesday, they went nine points clear at the top. Now unbeaten in 11 and with only two goals conceded during that run, the title is getting ever closer for the north London club. It's a totally different story for the Daggers who have found themselves drawn right into the relegation dogfight. While Barnet have had wonderful 11 games, the east London club haven't won in 11 games. Their last win came on New Year's Day at bottom club Ebbsfleet. Lose this and they could end the day in the relegation zone. As well as being a derby, Barnet have cut ticket prices to £5 for this game to try and get more fans through the door

National League South

Boreham Wood v Aveley @3pm - my pick of the day in the sixth tier sees us head to Meadow Park. The Wood are leading the charge for TLFG clubs in this division. Fifth and four points behind leaders Dorking Wanderers, the table is really tight with only five points separating the top six. With 10 games to go, the Millers are bottom and nine points adrift of safety. It's really looking bleak for the Essex club but if they were to pull off a shock win here, the effect on team morale could be huge. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Division

Hashtag United v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - the Tags have spent most of this season pottering along in midtable and making few headlines. However, over the last few weeks, they've really got their act together and climbed all the way up to sixth. Now only three points behind Dover in the last play-off spot, things are getting exciting. Here they play a Dulwich side who are, in my opinion, massively underperforming again. Having suffered relegation from the sixth tier two seasons ago, they're now only five points above the relegation zone in this division. For a club which regularly draws crowds of 3,000+ in a division where the average is more like 500, it mystifies many how they can perform so badly. A home win looks the most likely outcome. Tickets are £12 

Isthmian League North

Walthamstow v Brightlingsea Regent @3pm - in the eighth tier I recommend a trip to Wadham Lodge. The Stow sit just outside the play-off places, five points behind Brightlingsea but with a game in hand. In other words, this match could well define their year and decide whether or not they make the post-season. The hosts also attract good crowds for this level and you could easily see 400 present for this although they are capable of double that on their day. Tickets are £10 on the gate

CCL Premier North

Bedfont Sports v Amersham Town @3pm - third play first in this big game in the ninth tier. The hosts start this game 13 points behind leaders Amersham but when you look a bit closer, things are potentially far tighter than they initially appear. If Bedfont win here, they then have three games in hand which if won would put them only a point behind the Buckinghamshire club. Whatever happens in those games, the visitors have had an impressive couple of years. Last season they won Division 1 of this league by a 17-point margin and have been competitive from the off at this higher level too. Second placed Egham do look like catching them but promotion via the play-offs is still very much on the cards. Tickets are £8 on the gate and don't forget, if you also like watching planes, this ground is right next to Heathrow Airport

SCEFL Premier Division

Fisher v VCD Athletic @3pm - I usually only pick one game in each tier but this one also sees third play first and it gives me a chance to mention the Fish who've had a great season. Currently third, they should manage to finish with a play-off place. They still need a few wins yet but it's looking good for them. As for the Vickers, they're still top despite suffering a loss at home to Whitstable in midweek. Losing that game in hand was a big blow as it would've given them a four-point advantage over second placed Faversham. Now the lead is only one and they have nine games to go in the two-horse race for the title. Tickets are £8 on the gate

CCL Division 1

Hillingdon Borough v Windsor & Eton @3pm - the hosts picked up an impressive 2-0 win over promotion rivals Westside to move into the play-off places on Tuesday night. Next up they face the leaders. Eleven points clear with eight games to go, it's been a brilliant season for the famous Berkshire club who only re-formed in 2023 and look set for their second promotion in the two seasons of their existence. Hillingdon have played fewer games than anyone immediately above or below them, so their chances of making the play-offs look great. Massively overshadowed by near neighbours Wealdstone, they don't get the attendances they deserve, so give them a boost if you're anywhere near the Ruislip area. Tickets are £6 on the gate

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Sunday 9 March

Premier League

Chelsea v Leicester City @2pm - the Blues enjoyed a successful Conference League sojourn to Denmark on Thursday as they won the first leg of their last 16 tie against FC Copenhagen 2-1. In this game they'll refocus their efforts on getting back into the Champions League places and a win here will put them back into the top four at Manchester City's expense. The Foxes' loss to West Ham on Saturday saw the Midlands club end the day six points adrift of safety with 11 games to go. Chelsea are unbeaten in seven against Leicester and haven't lost a league game at home to them since 2018. Tickets

Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth @2pm - a mini-revival which saw Spurs beat Manchester United and Ipswich has now been followed by consecutive defeats to Manchester City and AZ Alkmaar. Both were only 1-0 so it wasn't disastrous but a return to winning ways would lift a bit of pressure off Ange Postecoglou. With three defeats from six, the Cherries are having a little wobble of their own but they did beat Tottenham 1-0 in the reverse fixture and will climb to sixth if they win. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £149

Women's FA Cup Quarter-Finals

Arsenal v Liverpool @230pm - the Gunners are the most successful club in the history of the men's and women's FA Cup with both winning 14 times. However, it's been nine years since the women won this competition and four years since they made the final. Despite some WSL titles to their name, the Reds have never brought this cup home. On current form, Arsenal are strong favourites to win here but Liverpool will be looking to impress interim boss Amber Whiteley and build on the league win they achieved at Crystal Palace last weekend. This is being played at Boreham Wood. Tickets

Chelsea v Crystal Palace @230pm - the Blues have dominated women's football in this country for several years now but rather shockingly failed to get to last year's FA Cup Final having won the previous three. Palace ran them very close as a Championship side in the Fifth Round of last year's competition, valiantly losing 1-0 at Kingsmeadow. Now in the WSL, they've found things a real struggle and got tonked 7-0 by Chelsea at Selhurst Park in their first home game at this level. With new Norwegian boss Leif Smerud now in charge, they'll hope for a much-improved performance but a win would produce the cupset of the round. This is being played at Kingsmeadow. Tickets

Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @12pm - the Addicks were poised to go third last Sunday until a very late goal from London City Lionesses ensured the derby ended 1-1. For some reason, this is the only second-tier match taking place today so if Charlton win this time, they will go third. Blackburn are having a poor season and are only two points above the dreaded bottom spot. They do have games in hand on those below them, but they should still be beaten here. This is being played at The Valley. Tickets

FAWNL Southern Premier

AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town @2pm - being played at Plough Lane, the Dons are making this a big celebration of International Women's Day with lots of their former players in attendance. As for the game itself, it's a big one as they welcome one of the favourites for the title. Although Ipswich lost their huge game to title rivals Hashtag United last weekend, they have three games in hand which if won will put them ahead. Making games like these big showcase occasions can backfire for the host clubs as they can get hammered. That's exactly what happened in the reverse fixture in December when the Suffolk club crushed Wimbledon 5-0 so it will be a bit of a shame if that happens again. Tickets

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