Monday, 14 July 2025

TLFG: 14-20 July 2025

Welcome one and all to TLFG's guide to the third week of pre-season.

Lots of clubs are in action this week at all levels so there's no reason to get bored.

After watching a couple of games last week, the last few days have been much quieter as work has taken over.

The main football event for me was the announcement of the date for this season's Non-League Day which seemed to be well received.


We're going for Saturday 28 March 2026 and hopefully we'll make it bigger and better than ever.

This weekend I'm hoping to go to Actonians' first pre-season game at Dartford.

I've always wanted to visit Princes Park as it's one of the best non-league grounds around but sadly, the game is being staged on the 3G pitch outside the stadium so my 'proper' visit will have to wait until another time.

Anyway, enough from me, enjoy your week.

 THE WEEK AHEAD 

This week's highlights include friendlies featuring several EFL teams and even our first one from the Premier League.

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.
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 14 July

Friendly
Harrow Borough v Northwood @8pm - the neutral venue of Rectory Park plays host to this Middlesex derby between clubs in parallel divisions of the eighth tier. Boro are still looking for their first win under new boss Wayne Carter whilst Northwood come into this on the back of a 4-1 loss to National League side Wealdstone

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Tuesday 15 July

Friendlies
Sutton United v Wycombe Wanderers @730pm - after a midtable finish in the National League, the U's will hope to challenge for the play-offs this time. The Chairboys made the League One play-offs last season so should provide tough opposition. Tickets
Dagenham & Redbridge v Crawley Town @730pm - the Daggers start this season in the sixth tier after a miserable 2024/25. Pre-season has begun in underwhelming fashion too and League Two Crawley will be the highest-ranked team they've faced so far. Tickets

A bit further afield
Woking v Portsmouth @7pm - the pick of the action just beyond the M25 sees the fifth-tier Cards welcome Championship Pompey. Both sides flirted with relegation from their respective divisions last year before digging themselves out of trouble. Tickets
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Wednesday 16 July

Friendlies
Welling United v Leyton Orient @745pm - like Dagenham, the Wings also suffered relegation last year and now find themselves in the seventh tier Isthmian League Premier. On Saturday they edged to a 4-3 victory at ninth-tier Fisher. The O's, who made the League One play-off final last season, won 5-0 at fellow Isthmian Premier club Brentwood Town last weekend so they'll expect to do well here too. Tickets are £10 on the gate
Dulwich Hamlet v London City Lionesses @745pm - in the build up to their second season in the women's fourth tier, the Hamlet welcome WSL newcomers LCL. With the Women's Euros in full swing, the visitors will be without their main stars so that should level things up a bit. Tickets

A bit further afield
Farnborough v Portsmouth @7pm - after playing Woking on Tuesday, Pompey make the short journey west to play NLS side Farnborough the following night. How strong a side they put out remains to be seen. Tickets

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Thursday 17 July

Friendly
Carshalton Athletic v Sutton Common Rovers @745pm - postponed from last week, the Colston Avenue groundshare derby takes place on Thursday. Following SCR's relegation, there's now two divisions between them

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Friday 18 July

Friendly
Cray Wanderers v Bromley XI @745pm - get your weekend underway with this match at Flamingo Park which is about to begin its second season after its grand opening last year. Prior to that, Cray used to groundshare with Bromley at Hayes Lane for many years

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Saturday 19 July

Friendlies
Barnet v Leyton Orient @1pm - the Hive plays host to this London derby at lunchtime. The Bees will be playing in League Two for the first time in several years and the O's are the first EFL side they've played this summer. At the time of writing, tickets don't appear to be on sale
Bromley v Chelsea XI @3pm - the Ravens continue their preparations for another year in League Two with a match against the Blues. Given the Stamford Bridge side have only just won the Club World Cup, this will be no more than a development side. Tickets
Boreham Wood v Tottenham Hotspur U21 @3pm - after drawing 2-2 with an Arsenal side on Saturday, the Wood next welcome a Spurs XI to Meadow Park. Tickets
Sutton United v AFC Wimbledon @3pm - Gander Green Lane plays host to a very decent looking south London derby. Known as the "Thameslink derby", two divisions now separate these teams following the Dons' promotion to League One. Tickets
Wealdstone v MK Dons @3pm - the Stones play their first home game of pre-season against League Two opponents from Buckinghamshire. The Ruislip-based club dramatically avoided relegation from the National League on the final day of the season and will hope to stay up with more ease this time. Tickets

A bit further afield
Reading v Tottenham Hotspur @3pm - the biggest game of pre-season so far takes place just beyond London's western border at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The League One Royals welcome Premier League Spurs who have this listed as their opening first-team friendly of the summer. This will, therefore, also be Thomas Frank's first game in charge following his move from Brentford. Tickets

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Sunday 20 July

Friendly
London Bees v AFC Wimbledon @2pm - women's games take centre stage on Sunday with this match between the fourth-tier hosts and the third-tier Dons topping the bill. London Bees, who are Barnet's women's team, are one of a handful of teams to be hopeful of promotion this season. This is being played at The Hive complex near Canons Park station on the Jubilee Line


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 

Monday, 7 July 2025

TLFG: 7-13 July 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to week two of pre-season in London.

Did you make it to any games last week? Were you at Walton & Hersham for the CONIFA Asia Cup? Congratulations to Tamil Eelam who seemed to canter to the title against East Turkistan and Tibet.

I actually had quite an active week which saw me do one stadium tour and go to two games.

Beginning on Wednesday morning, I flew to the Swiss city of Basel to watch the Women's Euros opening ceremony and the game between Switzerland and Norway.

Myself and Christoph at SC Freiburg

On arrival at the airport, which is actually in France, you're given the choice of leaving via the French or Swiss exit.

TLFG reader Christoph B was there to meet me and advised using the French one.

Out of the terminal it was scorching hot but he'd prepared an amazing welcome pack for me which included a Switzerland scarf, Kicker magazine's guide to the Women's Euros and tourist info booklets about Basel itself.

Although coming to pick me up, Christoph is neither French nor Swiss but actually German and we were soon crossing another border into south-west Deutschland. Although police were doing random passport checks on the bridge over the Rhine, we were waved through unlike the airport shuttle bus which was halted, delaying all on board.

Driving through some beautiful sun-baked villages, surrounded by farms and overlooked by the impressive mountains of the Black Forest, we headed to Freiburg.

We didn't quite make into the town centre but stopped instead at the Europa Park Stadion, home of SC Freiburg where Christoph is an official guide and he treated me to my own personal tour.

Opened in 2021, the stadium has played host to a side which has gone from strength-to-strength in the Bundesliga - they missed a top-four finish by only two points last season to qualify for the Europa League again.

I enjoyed a good look round the stands, went pitch side, popped into the away dressing room (the home one if off limits) and visited the media facilities, before adding to my mug collection in the gift shop - sorry Mrs TLFG!

After this top experience, we drove back to France and checked into our hotel before taking the train the two or three kilometres into Switzerland for the match in Basel - for this leg there were no border checks.

After a bit of food in the impressive Basel station, we headed out to have a nose around town as there was still two or three hours until the game.

Alisha Lehmann heads for the team bus

Only a few hundred metres into our expedition, we came across the Swiss team's hotel which was easily identifiable by their bus which was parked outside.

Seconds later, completely by chance, the players began to emerge with Alisha Lehmann causing the most excitement for the small group of waiting fans - she duly ran straight over to give some of them a hug which was a nice touch.

The whole thing was wonderfully low key - there were no security barriers, only one police officer that I could see and they just got into their bus and rolled off into a rush-hour traffic jam with everyone else.

During the London Olympics, whole expressways were created for athletes and security was massive.

After a wander around some of the old town, going to a fan zone and watching locals take part in the tradition of floating down the Rhine, which looks great, we got on a packed and absolutely boiling tram to St Jakob Park for the game.

I'm afraid to say that the stadium and events centre, which recently hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, which stand either side of the tram stop, are really uninspiring concrete buildings which are nothing to look at - at least not from any angle I managed to view from. 

The stadium is wrapped in a shopping centre and it all looks a bit like a 1960's Brutalist-style housing estate. 

Getting in was easy enough but our seats up in the gods in the north-east corner of the ground were reached by an incredibly steep climb but they were comfortable enough when we got there.

With the short opening ceremony out of the way, the game began but focusing on it was hard because it was so hot!

Most people were provided with fans and it was obvious how many were melting in their seats.

Switzerland deservedly took the lead midway through the first half and held it until the interval when Christoph and I headed to the concourse to top up our water bottles and get some air.

With a decent breeze down here and a clear view of the pitch, we and several others never returned to our seats and stood down here instead.

The view from the concourse was decent

The second half was more entertaining with an own goal, penalty miss and some big VAR moments which saw Norway come from behind to win 2-1.

After getting separated trying to board the train back into central Basel, Christoph and I finally became reunited in the central station.

He drove me back to the airport the next day and at around 0945 on Thursday morning I was back at Luton Airport and back in Shepherds Bush less than two hours later.

It was a whirlwind 24 hours of football fun but Christoph was a superb host and looked after everything - if you're ever in Freiburg, give one of his stadium tours a go.

My second match of the week took place on Sunday when I went to the far more mundane surroundings of Gunnersbury Park to watch an Actonians trialists' match.

With lots of big teams in their division this year, many of them with enhanced budgets, getting recruitment right is going to be absolutely essential and there were some good players on show.

This week looks like being a much quieter one for me as I'm working but it needn't be for you as lots of teams from Championship level down are in action.

THE WEEK AHEAD 

This week's highlights include friendlies featuring several EFL teams and a number of Premier League clubs' U21 teams.

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.
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 7 July

Friendlies
Aveley v Fisher @745pm - after suffering relegation from the NLS last season, the Millers will hope for a much more positive campaign back in the seventh tier. They enjoyed a solid 3-0 win over local rivals Dagenham & Redbridge on Friday night but only managed a draw and a loss to Walthamstow and hosts Barking in a three-team mini tournament 24 hours later. Fisher play two divisions below them but made the SCEFL Premier play-offs last season. Entry to Parkside is free
Redbridge v Newbury Forest @8pm - also on the east side of town, we've got this groundshare derby. The Motormen beat Buckhurst Hill 2-1 in another derby on Friday and should be confident of another victory against 10th-tier opposition. Entry on Friday was £5 so I presume it will be the same here

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Tuesday 8 July

Friendlies
Barnet v Crystal Palace U21 @745pm - after a win at Hitchin Town and draw at Hemel Hempstead, League Two returnees Barnet play their first home game of pre-season. In it they welcome a development side from FA Cup winners Crystal Palace who should give them a good workout. Tickets
Bromley v Tottenham Hotspur U21 @745pm - in south-east London, the Ravens are preparing for their second year in the fourth tier and, like Barnet, welcome a development team from one of the capital's biggest clubs. Tickets
Boreham Wood v Watford @730pm - arguably the biggest game of the day takes place at Meadow Park where The Wood, newly promoted to the National League, welcome Championship opposition. The Hornets have this listed as a first-team game on their website so they should bring a strong team. Tickets

A bit further afield
Three Bridges v Crawley Town @745pm - to south of London, close to Gatwick Airport, we've got this local derby between an Isthmian League club and one from League Two. Tickets
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Wednesday 9 July

Friendlies
Enfield Town v AFC Wimbledon @7pm - the Towners found their first season in the sixth tier really tough but a superb run of results towards the end of the campaign kept them in the NLS. On Wednesday they take on a Dons side who won promotion back to League One after beating Walsall in the play-off final at Wembley. This is listed as a first-team game on Wimbledon's website. Tickets

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Friday 11 July

Friendlies
Cobham v Hanworth Villa @745pm - both these sides had great seasons in the Combined Counties League and Isthmian League but ultimately fell short in the play-offs. With big sides leaving both of their divisions, their chances of going up this time seem improved. Villa have also managed to retain the services of prolific striker Sam Merson, son of Paul, who will spearhead their attack again. Entry for pre-season games here has been £5 so far, so I'm expecting the same

A bit further afield
Potters Bar Town v Watford U21 @730pm - Isthmian Premier side PBT are back in their ground after laying a new 3G pitch and will look forward to hosting a development side from a fellow Hertfordshire club. Tickets are £10 on the gate 
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Saturday 12 July

Friendlies
Watford v AFC Wimbledon @3pm - it's Championship versus League One in what must be the biggest match of the pre-season period in London so far, certainly in front of a crowd. To make things interesting, this is being played at Wealdstone's ground in Ruislip. Tickets
Boreham Wood v Arsenal U21 @3pm - the hosts have provided a home for the Gunners' youth and women's teams for several years now so a match against an Arsenal XI has become a pre-season tradition. Tickets
Cray Wanderers v Crystal Palace U21 @3pm - London's oldest club are into the second season at their new stadium. The seventh-tier side will hope for a good turnout as they welcome the Eagles' youngsters. Tickets
Dartford v Charlton Athletic @3pm - these sides experienced contrasting fortunes in the play-offs last season with the Darts losing to stay in the Isthmian Premier whilst the Addicks triumphed to return to the Championship. This is listed as a first-team game on Charlton's website. Tickets

A bit further afield
Gillingham v Reading @3pm - to the east of London, two EFL clubs meet at the Priestfield. Despite a decent final run of games, the Gills finished an uninspiring 17th in League Two last season. The Royals, on the other hand, only just missed a play-off place in League One which was quite an achievement given their off-field problems. Tickets
Eastleigh v Southampton @3pm - there's a local derby in Hampshire where the Spitfires welcome the Saints who are now back in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League. This is being listed as a first-team game on Southampton's website. Tickets
Bishop's Stortford v Stevenage @3pm - to the north of town we've got a Hertfordshire derby as the Southern League Blues welcome League One opposition. Tickets
East Grinstead Town v Crawley Town @3pm - Scott Lindsey's side continue their tour of local non-league clubs as they prepare for another year in League Two. Tickets for EGT games are usually £10 on the gate
Hitchin Town v MK Dons @3pm - after entertaining sides from Barnet and Luton Town, the Canaries next welcome further League Two opposition from MK Dons. Tickets
Maldon & Tiptree v Colchester United @3pm - fancy an Essex derby? Then check out the Isthmian League Jammers who take on their local League Two club. Tickets

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Sunday 13 July

Friendlies
London Bees v Ascot United @2pm - it's all about women's football today with the pick of the action involving Women's National League teams who play in the fourth tier. After finishing fourth in the Division 1 South East last season, the hosts are one of several teams to be spending significant sums to try and get up this season. Ascot won their fifth-tier division last season to move up to the parallel Division 1 South West so it will be interesting to see how they do. Tickets for London Bees' game last week were free but check on the day, it shouldn't be more than £5. London Bees are Barnet's women's team and they play at The Hive complex
QPR v Northampton Town @2pm - another one of the division's most ambitious clubs, the R's will be looking for a strong showing against the Cobblers who were runners-up in the Midlands Division last season. This is being played at QPR's training ground - the R's manager has confirmed to me that anyone wanting to go will have to pre-register for free

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 

Monday, 30 June 2025

TLFG: 30 June - 6 July 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of 2025/26.

After just over a month off, we're back!

How was your time off? I have to admit to actually missing writing this at times so I was quite glad to start putting the match maps together again over the last few days.

I haven't seen any football, I haven't even watched any on telly, despite there being quite a lot on.

I did, however, get invited to Aldershot last week to meet the FA Trophy.

In my day job, I work for South Western Railway (SWR) who have become partners of Non-League Day (NLD).

Yours truly with the FA Trophy at Aldershot

As a result of this, they've built good links with Aldershot Town whose ground is close to the station.

When they made the FA Trophy Final in May, SWR laid on extra trains and went big on making sure they did their bit to make things as special as possible for Shots fans.

The Hampshire club went on to win 3-0 and claim the silverware on their first ever visit to Wembley.

Last Friday, the club agreed to bring the trophy down to the station and do a small presentation in honour of one of the station staff who has also volunteered at the club for years.

The chairman of Aldershot and the new MD of SWR were both present and, in my NLD capacity, I was too - it was a great occasion.

With this season's NLD date set to be announced in the next few days, I also enjoyed a meeting this week with the new commercial director of Penistone Church FC who travelled all the way down from Yorkshire to meet myself and some of the team, to gain some ideas of how he can try and drive his ninth-tier club forward. 

We chatted in the inspiring surrounds of the British Library (not the reading room I hasten to add) before he headed back up north.

This week I'm making a brief trip to Switzerland for the Women's Euros.

Heading to Basel, I'm going to the hosts' opening game against Norway which should be a lot of fun.

Earlier in the day, I'm also going on a stadium visit at Bundesliga club Freiburg just across the border in Germany where TLFG reader Christoph B is a guide and will be taking me round.

Back on Thursday morning, I hope to get to see at least one friendly over the weekend too.

Have a top week - it's great to be back.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include the CONIFA Asia Cup and a whole load of friendlies all over London, including a couple featuring EFL teams.

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.
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
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.

Tuesday 1 July

CONIFA Asia Cup group stage
Tamil Eelam v Tibet @530pm - quite a few TLFG readers will have enjoyed watching games in CONIFA's World Football Cup which  London hosted in 2018. I went to several games myself, including the final between Northern Cyprus and eventual winners Karpatalja at a packed QEII Stadium in Enfield. For those of you that don't know, CONIFA is an independent football organisation for 'national teams not under the auspices of FIFA'. Between the 1-4 July, Walton & Hersham's ground in Surrey will play host to the organisation's Asia Cup with East Turkistan (home of the Uyghurs) joining these two in a three-team tournament. These competitions are often politically controversial and I'm sure the Chinese embassy won't be best pleased that it's happening. During the World Football Cup, host venues received official letters from other unhappy ambassadors asking them not play games on their grounds. The current rankings on CONIFA's website appear to be several years out of date so I've no idea who's likely to win but it should be quite an occasion whatever. Tickets are £3 on the gate (season tickets covering all games are £10) and there's an opening ceremony at 4pm

A bit further afield
Hitchin Town v Barnet @745pm - the first of our local pro teams to take to the field this summer are the Bees. Now back in League Two after winning the National League, the north London club head to Hertfordshire to play the eighth-tier Canaries at their historic Top Field. Tickets

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Wednesday 2 July

CONIFA Asia Cup
East Turkistan v Tamil Eelam @230pm - game two of this competition takes place at lunchtime, with the Uyghurs playing their opening fixture at the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub. Tickets are £3 on the gate

Friendlies
There are a handful of friendlies featuring non-league sides on Tuesday but there are two, featuring AS London and Cannons Wood, on adjacent pitches at the Bobby Moore centre in Parsloes Park in Dagenham
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Thursday 3 July

CONIFA Asia Cup
Tibet v East Turkistan @230pm - the final match of the group stage will determine who plays in Friday's final so there's plenty riding on this one. Tickets are £3 on the gate

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Friday 4 July

CONIFA Asia Cup Final
East Turkistan v Tamil Eelam @530pm - the final takes place a bit later than most of the group games and there's a closing ceremony straight after the game. Tickets are £3 on the gate
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Saturday 5 July

Friendlies
The pick of the action sees Boreham Wood host Luton Town at 1pm. Back in the National League following their play-off victory, the Wood always pull together a decent pre-season programme and they start with this game against the Hatters. Now in League One following two consecutive relegations, the Bedfordshire club will be hoping for a much better campaign - tickets are £15 for adults.

For a cracking bit of value, head to Honeycroft in west London where Uxbridge host Egham Town at 12pm and Harrow Borough at 4pm. One ticket for £5 will get you in to both. It's a big season for the Reds. They've been around since 1871 and thanks to last season's play-off victory, they'll be playing in the seventh tier for the first time in their history

A bit further afield
Just to the north west of London, sixth tier Hemel Hempstead Town host League Two new boys Barnet at 3pm - tickets are £10. Whilst over to the north-east side, seventh-tier club Brentwood Town welcome League One side Leyton Orient. It's a 1pm start and tickets are also £10

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Sunday 6 July

Friendlies
In men's football, the groundshare derby between Edgware & Kingsbury and Hendon takes place at Silver Jubilee Park at 2pm. Officially competing for the Jeffrey Over Memorial Cup, it's pay what you want on the gate.

Just up the road at The Hive, it's the Barnet Community Day. With loads going on to keep all members of the family entertained, there's also a women's friendly between London Bees and Wycombe Wanderers at 2pm. To top it all, it's free entry



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 

Monday, 26 May 2025

TLFG: 27 May - 1 June 2026

After suggesting last week's piece could be the last one of the season, I hereby confirm that this one definitely will be.

I had a quiet week on the live football front but it finished on a fairly raucous note at the Actonians end-of-season awards do.

It's been a couple of years since I last went and this one seemed to be a far more lively affair as all three senior squads came together to celebrate their achievements.

Held against a backdrop of an Arsenal win in the Women's Champions League, which was broadcast in the clubhouse before things got underway, there was a joyous mood from the off.

The Unity Cup takes place at Brentford this week

In fact, the actual ceremony was slightly delayed as several players and coaches had gone to the Emirates to watch the live screening. 

There was a bit of controversy when the Supporters' Player of the Year came up - all the first-team players stared my way only for me to reveal that I hadn't received a vote! 

Even among women's fourth-tier fanbases, politics comes into play - the person who probably decided the outcome wasn't even present at the ceremony and this didn't go down well in some quarters.

Nevertheless, the winner was someone who was highly worthy of recognition and I'm glad she won it.

I was invited up on stage and thanked for my efforts, picking up a giant Toblerone and a season-ticket for 2025/26 which was very gratefully received.

The after-party went on until midnight with Sweet Caroline and numerous other anthems getting belted out at some point.

It's now all about planning for next season when the level of competition is likely to increase significantly.

With local rivals Fulham now in the division and other clubs like Luton Town and MK Dons likely to be coming our way too, it's going to be tough.

It will also see the start of a groundshare agreement with CCL club North Greenford United were they played a few years ago.

Playing at a proper ground rather than Rectory Park will be great but whether the pitch, which is prone to waterlogging, can take it remains to be seen.

The most fun event of the week ahead would appear to be the Unity Cup at Brentford.

Ghana, Jamaica, Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago meet in this mini tournament on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

In a weird quirk of fate, my wife and daughters will be going for a ladies' night trip to the opening game between Jamaica and Trindad & Tobago with some friends who are supporters of the latter - whilst I stay home!

Well that's it from me for a month or so.

I'm hoping to take the opportunity to apply for a new job over the next few weeks - my current job on the railway has undergone a radical change in its roles and responsibilities and I simply know it's not for me.

If you know of anything interesting going, particularly in the world of football, please get in touch.


THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include the Unity Cup, an England women's game and the National League play-off final.

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.
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.

MATCH MAP
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin
Friday fixtures - black pin
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 27 May

Unity Cup Semi-Final
Jamaica v Trinidad & Tobago @745pm - this mini international tournament will be dominating proceedings in the capital this week. Being played at Brentford's GTech Stadium, the atmosphere should hopefully be really great. The Reggae Boyz are ranked 63 in the world and will start as marginal favourites under former England manager Steve McClaren. The Soca Warriors are down in 100th but games between these two are usually close. They played twice back in February with Jamaica winning the first game 1-0 before the second one ended 1-1. Dwight Yorke, who played at Manchester United whilst McClaren was a coach, is in charge of T&T and he'll be looking for his first win over their local rivals. Tickets - use code CARIBBEAN20 to get a discount

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Wednesday 28 May

Unity Cup Semi-Final
Ghana v Nigeria @745pm - in the second semi final, we get to see the two giants of West African football go head-to-head. These sides have won seven AFCON titles between them, with Ghana narrowly ahead on four wins but it's been a long time since either of them won. I was surprised to discover that the Black Stars are only 76th in the world. Led by Bundesliga winner Otto Addo, they'll start as marginal underdogs against the Super Eagles. At 43 in the rankings, Eric Chelle's side look like the favourites to win the whole thing. Tickets - use code SOCCER10 to get a discount

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Friday 30 May

UEFA Women's Nations League
England v Portugal @745pm - this competition seems very overcomplicated but I think I've got the gist of it. To win it you have to begin the campaign in League A which these teams have. There are four groups of four and the winner of each makes the semi-finals. The bottom team in each group gets relegated to League B and the third place team goes into a relegation play-off. With two games to go, England are second and Portugal third. When they met in Portimao in February it finished 1-1. A semi-final place is still there for the taking but a win would seem to be absolutely necessary unless Spain suffer a shock defeat to Belgium in the other group game. This is being played at Wembley and tickets are available

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Saturday 31 May

Unity Cup Finals Day
The concluding day of action at Brentford gets underway at 1230pm with a third-place play-off followed by the final. At the time of writing we don't know who will contest each game. There appear to be a number of musical acts booked to perform between matches so you shouldn't get bored. Tickets are available

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Sunday 1 June

National League Play-Off Final
Oldham Athletic v Southend United @3pm - finishing fifth and seventh in the fifth tier, neither of these sides were expected to get this far so they've done really well to make it to Wembley. Up for grabs is a place back in the EFL from which both of these clubs originally descended. It seems hard to believe but the Latics were founder members of the Premier League in 1992 and made the FA Cup semi-finals twice in 1990 and 1994. After a slow decline, they've been playing non-league football for three years  but have got better every season. The Shrimpers were in the second tier as recently as 2007 and have endured a very turbulent time off the field in recent years, which makes this run to the play-offs even more remarkable. Games between the two this season were really tight with a 1-1 draw at Boundary Park and a 1-0 win for Southend back in Essex in March. At the time of writing, ticketing for the game is a real sore point. Both sides were given much smaller allocations than normal in part because Wembley Park station is closed on the day of the game. Lobbying attempts were expected to yield some results from the relevant authorities but check with both clubs for the latest news

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 

Monday, 19 May 2025

TLFG: 19-26 May 2025

With the Premier League and EFL seasons concluding this weekend, that's more or less it for the 2024/25 season here in London.

I've been pushed for time again, so apologies for this late publication and its rather rushed look.

The maps are below for you to have a look through but that could be it until July when pre-season starts all over again.

Last week I was lucky enough to get an invite once again to the Non-League Paper's National Game Awards and enjoyed meeting a number of luminaries.

These included Justin Edinburgh's son who now runs a cardiac charity in memory of his father who passed away suddenly in his 40s after winning promotion with Leyton Orient back to the EFL.

Plough Lane played host to the National Game Awards

I was sat on a table with Andy Peaks who led Tamworth on a fantastic FA Cup run which culminated in them taking Spurs to extra-time back in January and also enjoyed the company of the three chairmen of the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues plus the man in charge of league allocations at the FA - there was some fine chat and gossip I can tell you.

This weekend I'm looking forward to going to the Actonians end of season awards which are usually good fun too.

At the beginning of July I'll be heading off to Switzerland to see a game in the Women's Euros and then the friendlies will be getting back into full swing here.

If I don't do any more pieces between now and then, have a great break and I look forward to catching up with you soon.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include the final round of games in the Premier League, the EFL play-offs and one or two other lower level matches.

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.
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 19 May

Robert Rowan Invitational
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - the focus of today's action is this U21 game at the GTech. Robert Rowan was the club's technical director but he died suddenly of a heart condition at the age of just 28 back in 2018. This fixture is being used as fundraiser for the club's 'Heart of West London' initiative and tickets are £3 for adults

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Tuesday 20 May

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers @8pm - the Eagles dominated the headlines on Saturday when they won the FA Cup - their first ever major trophy. As a result of their trip to Wembley, they have this game in hand. Currently 12th, a top half-finish is the best they can hope for but with the cup in the bag and a Europa League place confirmed, they have very little to play for. Wolves are a couple of places back but can't catch them. Presumably the FA Cup will be paraded at some point and the atmosphere should be celebratory. Tickets are only available to members

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Wednesday 21 May

CCL U23 Division Cup Final
CB Hounslow & Abbots v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - these sides finished third and second respectively so we should get a well-matched contest. This match is being played at Ashford Town to the south of Heathrow Airport

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Thursday 22 May

CCL U18 Division Cup Final
Kingstonian v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - over at CB Hounlsow's ground, the top clubs in the east and west divisions of the CCL's U18's league meet for what should be a very interesting game

Suburban League Shield
Abbey Rangers v Metropolitan Police @745pm - this U23 game could also be a final but I haven't found any information to confirm that. Either way, it's being played at Abbey Rangers near Chertsey
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Friday 23 May

CCL U18 Division East
AFC Wisla Krakow v Horley Town @730pm - these sides will complete their league campaigns with this fixture at Colliers Wood United's ground. Krakow have already finished bottom, well adrift of everyone else. Horley will finish third if they win
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Saturday 24 May

Championship Play-Off Final
Sheffield United v Sunderland @3pm - with a place in the Premier League up for grabs, this is reportedly the richest game in football with at least £220m heading to the winners. The Blades have become a bit of a yo-yo club in recent seasons and will be looking to make an instant return after last season's relegation. The Mackems, however, have gone eight years since they last had a place at the top table of English football. The match is being played at Wembley as usual. Tickets are available from the clubs' websites

MCFL Finals Day
If you can't get into the game above or you prefer a non-league option, then the Middlesex County Football League is holding its two cup finals back-to-back at Uxbridge's ground. First up is the Division 1 Cup Final for 12th-tier teams between Harrow Bhoys and AFC Southall at 1pm. Next up is the Premier Division Cup Final at 530pm where Larkspur Rovers take on Indian Gymkhana Club. I'm not certain what the admission details are but it won't cost much

A bit further afield

CCL Premier South Play-Off Semi-Final
Redhill v Cobham @3pm - after what seems like an eternity, the play-offs in this ninth-tier division can finally go ahead. After Jersey Bulls and Redhill were both adjudged to have fielded ineligible players, AFC Whyteleafe were awarded the title and the other two have to go into the play-offs. Redhill is located just beyond the southern border of the M25 on the way to Gatwick so it's pretty easy to get to. The winners will play Fleet Town or Jersey in the final. Tickets are £9 on the gate and a sizeable crowd is expected so don't be late!

Friendly
Surrey International v Sutton HKR @3pm - just to the south of London, Surrey's representative team play this friendly at Dorking Wanderers' ground which is easy to reach by car or train from central London. It's £5 on the gate
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Sunday 25 May

Premier League
Fulham v Manchester City @4pm - we've reached the final day in the top flight and with the title going to Liverpool and the relegation battle already concluded, it's now all about the race for European places. Amazingly, half the teams in the Premier League could potentially be playing in a UEFA competition next season if results go the right way. However, despite their win at Brentford last weekend, the Cottagers are not one of that lucky 10 and could potentially end up just one place and one point adrift if they win here. For City though, they still need to make sure of their Champions League place and only a win will do that. Tickets
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion @4pm - it's a different story for Spurs and their fans who can really enjoy this one having won the Europa League in midweek. That victory booked their place in next season's Champions League despite their worst Premier League campaign for over 30 years. Brighton know a draw here will see them finish eighth which could be enough for a place in the Conference League, but they'll still need to rely on Chelsea beating Real Betis in this year's Conference League final next week. Tickets

League One Play-Off Final
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient @1pm - third tier play-off matches don't come much bigger than this with local London rivals meeting at Wembley. As I understand it, the Addicks have sold out their allocation and a tiny amount were still exclusively available to people on the O's database. Charlton finished fourth to the O's sixth but it was the latter who came into the play-offs in the best form and did really well to knock out Stockport County in the semi-finals. Nathan Jones' side will start as favourites but Richie Wellens' team boasts the division's top scorer in Charlie Kelman so this could go all the way to penalties

Craig Dundas Testimonial
Sutton United v FA Cup 2017 XI @3pm - the U's are honouring striker Craig Dundas with this testimonial at Gander Green Lane. He's played more 300 times for Sutton over three separate stints at the club and was part of the side that went on a famous FA Cup run in 2017, eventually losing to Arsenal in the Fifth Round. Tickets are £10
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Monday 26 May

League Two Play-Off Final
AFC Wimbledon v Walsall @3pm - there's more London interest in the last EFL play-off final of the year as the Dons look to get back to the third tier after three years away. Both themselves and the Saddlers stumbled into the play-offs so don't come into this in the best form. Walsall were well clear at the top at one point so if they don't go up it will be a particularly bitter for them if they lose. A few tickets are available from each club's website - AFC Wimbledon tickets or Walsall 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 

Monday, 12 May 2025

TLFG: 12-18 May 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to one of the last editions of TLFG for the 2024/25 season.

Games are getting really thin on the ground now that most of our local leagues have concluded.

This week I've trawled the lower leagues and youth competitions to give you a few more options and as a result we do have games every day.

Although few in number, those that we do have are crucial league matches, play-off games or cup finals so there should be plenty of drama.

Did you get to any matches this week?

As I mentioned in my last blog, I was hoping to get to the QPR U21 match against Peterborough United and I did get there.

The Women's FA Cup Final takes place on Sunday - tickets

They completed their league fixtures with a comfortable 2-0 win and although the campaign has been disappointing, they do have an unexpected Premier League Cup Final to look forward to against local rivals Brentford on Thursday.

I had also hoped to attend Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on Sunday but family commitments took precedence as Whitstable Town and Aldershot Town won the FA Vase and FA Trophy respectively.

Given I'm working next weekend, my match watching for the season is probably over.

My next game could well be in Basel where I've got tickets to watch hosts Switzerland play their first fixture of the Women's Euros against Norway - I've never been to St Jakob Park before and have barely spent any time in Switzerland either so I'm looking forward to it.

To make sure I got this blog up before 0900 on Monday, I've only written previews up until Friday - I'll add the weekend ones later.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, EFL and National League play-offs and the men's and women's FA Cup finals.

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.
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 12 May

Premier League 2 Play-Off Semi-Final
Crystal Palace v Southampton @7pm - the play-offs continue in this U21 competition with a game at Selhurst Park. In this division, the top 16 make the post-season with first playing 16th and second taking on 15th etc. Palace have already beaten Brighton and Chelsea, the latter 6-0. The Saints have got past Leicester and Fulham. Only a point separated them in the regular season so this should be close. Tickets are £5

EAL Division 3 Cup Final
IONA Wheels v Changing Lives @730pm - there are several U23 matches featuring non-league teams but if you want to see a cup final, head to Dagenham & Redbridge's ground where the top two in this 15th-tier division do battle. IONA won the division by one point so will be looking to complete a double. Also of interest, apparently Changing Lives are the only competitive men's team in the UK made up entirely of refugees. I haven't seen any admission prices but it shouldn't break the bank

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Tuesday 13 May

Capital Women's Senior Cup Final
Arsenal Academy v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - a women's cup final tops the bill on Tuesday and with the Gunners and Dulwich involved, there should be a decent crowd at Uxbridge's ground. The Hamlet made their debut in the fourth tier this season and found it possibly tougher than expected as they finished eighth out of 12. However, they beat Spurs in the last four of this competition to make their first final and will be looking to end the season on a big high. The Gunners' youngsters won this two years ago and have beaten AFC Wimbledon, Fulham and Haringey Borough on their way to the final and will start as favourites. Tickets are £5

CCL Division 2 Cup Final
Langley U23 v London Rangers @745pm - back in the men's game, we've got a cup final for teams in this 11th-tier division. Langley come into the game in second and still have a slim chance of winning the divisional title. However, their chances of winning the cup look considerably better as London Rangers finished sixth out of eight. Langley's first team won the Division 1 Cup last week so they'll be hoping to continue their successful season here. This match is being played at Bedfont Sports but I haven't seen any ticket details yet. It was £10 to get into the Division 1 Cup Final

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Wednesday 14 May

EAL Senior Division Cup Final
Woodford Town Reserves v Kulture @730pm - with Woodford's first team losing out in the Essex Senior League play-offs again, they'll be hoping their reserve team can bring them a bit of joy in this cup for 11th-tier teams. They will start as favourites as Kulture finished in the relegation zone. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge and tickets are £6
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Thursday 15 May

League One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg
Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers @8pm - these sides fought out a cagey 0-0 draw in the first leg on Sunday so it's all to play for at The Valley on Thursday. The last three seasons have seen the Addicks drifting around in the League One doldrums but this year Nathan Jones has transformed them into a far more competitive force and took them to a fourth-place finish. In the four years since their relegation from the Championship, the Chairboys have always been in the top 10 and were in contention for automatic promotion until very late in the day but they ultimately ended up fifth. The winners will play Leyton Orient or Stockport County in the final. Tickets were selling fast and may well be gone by the time you read this

Premier League Cup Final
QPR v Brentford @7pm - open to clubs in the Premier League and EFL, this U21 competition began with a 36-team group stage and we're now down to the final two. Neither of these sides are in the elite Premier League 2 which shows you perhaps how seriously the bigger clubs approach this - many don't even enter. What we do have to look forward to though, is a great West London derby. On paper, the Bees should start as strong favourites. They finished second, on goal difference, in Group South of the Professional Development League and are currently contesting that league's play-offs. They also beat the R's 4-1 and 5-1 in their league meetings this season and won this competition two years ago. The match is being played at Loftus Road and the initial allocation of around 2,000 tickets sold out in hours. Thankfully the club has said it will release more so check to see what becomes available
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Friday 16 May

Premier League
Chelsea v Manchester United @815pm - the weekend begins with what would normally be a top-flight blockbuster at Stamford Bridge. However, things aren't normal at all this year. The Blues haven't won the title since 2017 and have been well off the pace again this time. They are, though, much improved on last season and a win here will go a long way towards them sealing a Champions League spot to go with their trip to the Conference League final later this month. United, on the other hand, are well on course for having their worst season since 1990 when they finished 13th. How they and fellow strugglers Spurs made the Europa League final so comfortably is staggering. Have they saved their best for Europe or is the overall quality of the Premier League way better than everywhere else? Anyway, back to this game - Chelsea are unbeaten at home against the Red Devils since 2020 and that really doesn't look like changing here. Tickets 
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Saturday 17 May

Men's FA Cup Final
Crystal Palace v Manchester City @430pm - the showpiece event of the English football calendar is here again and it's great to see that the weekend's Premier League games have all been moved to different days to make sure it gets all the attention. At first glance it looks like there can only be one winner but with City having their worst season for a while, Palace do have a chance. Saying that, Pep Guardiola's side are much improved and are currently showing the best form of anyone in the top five. The Eagles have made the final twice but never won it, they've never won the EFL Cup either so a victory here would be huge for the club. Manchester City have made the final 13 times, winning it on seven occasions - the last time in 2023. Tickets have sold out

League Two Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County @1230pm - earlier in the day in south London, there's another big game at Plough Lane. The Dons finished fifth and picked up a very useful 1-0 win in the first leg. They've also won all three of the home games they've played against the Magpies since they reformed as 'AFC'. Walsall will await the winners in the final. Tickets have sold out

HSCFL Premier
OIR FC v Hinton @2pm - if you can't get into either of the above, then all your other options are in the county leagues of the 11th tier and below. To be honest, I'm not a huge expert on this level and I usually only list games which are being played at proper non-league grounds but given there's so little on, I've included a few more. This match is the only remaining fixture in the whole division and will decide whether the hosts stay up or get relegated. A draw against midtable Hinton will be enough but will the pressure take its toll? This is being played on a 3G pitch at a college in Enfield so there's unlikely to be an admission fee

MCFL Division 1 North & West
Brook House v Wood Lane @tbc - in the 12th tier, one of my local clubs have just been crowned champions. Wood Lane hail from White City Estate and are made up of local players who live there. This season they've pipped Bloomsbury and Harrow Bhoys to the title and if they win this final game of the campaign, their final winning margin will be five points. Brook House first team play in the Combined Counties League so I'm presuming this is their reserve or development team. Annoyingly, this league rarely publishes kick-off times on it's website and they do vary quite a bit so I'm still chasing that info. Admission should be free but have a bit of change ready just in case

CCL Division Two
Langley U23 v FAB @3pm - in theory this league should be in the 11th tier but it exists in a weird ether outside the pyramid and offers no promotion or relegation to anywhere as far as I can tell. There are eight teams in it and these are the top two but they've both played well over 14 games so I don't really know how that works either as information is scant. It's being played at Brunel University near Uxbridge - give it a go if you live on that side of town and let me know what it's all about!
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Sunday 18 May

Premier League
West Ham United v Nottingham Forest @215pm - this match is really all about the visitors. They've had a great campaign, going from relegation prospects at the start to top-four contenders by the end. No-one saw this season coming and boss Nuno Espirito Santo has done an amazing job. However, his magic seems to be wearing off at the most critical time. With only one win in six, they've slipped down to seventh as their form has deserted them. A Champions League spot is still within their grasp but if they lose here, it could well be gone for good.  The Hammers have been pretty abject this season but still managed to win 2-0 at Old Trafford in their last game to go above Manchester United and heap further shame on the Red Devils. Forest could only draw with already relegated Leicester in their last game so any result seems possible here. Tickets
Brentford v Fulham @3pm - on the west side of town it's derby day and with four wins in a row, the Bees suddenly find themselves in the top eight and in the race for a European place. To get it, they'll need to finish eighth and hope Manchester City beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Saturday and finish in the top four. Their rivals for that final Euro spot are Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham who visit here. The stakes are therefore incredibly high for both, with defeat for the Cottagers knocking them out of the race. Tickets are only available to members
Arsenal v Newcastle United @430pm - the biggest game of the day sees second play third at the Emirates. The Gunners seem to have been second all season but with two games to go, they can mathematically still be caught by Forest down in seventh (unlikely as the goal difference is huge). Newcastle are two points behind Arsenal so are even more vulnerable to slipping out of the top five but with the EFL Cup already won, they have at least a Conference League place to look forward to. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £525

National League South Play-Off Final
Boreham Wood v Maidstone United @1230pm - having finished fifth and seventh, these two have done well to find themselves just 90 minutes away from a return to the fifth tier. The Wood looked dead and buried when they went 3-1 down in the 81st  minute of their opening play-off game against Dorking Wanderers but sensationally came back to win 4-3. They then made the long trip down to Devon to beat former EFL club Torquay United 1-0. By only claiming the last play-off place, the Stones have had to play all their games away from home so it's some achievement to have made it this far after wins over Worthing and Eastbourne Borough. Unsurprisingly it has sold out

Women's FA Cup Final
Chelsea v Manchester United @130pm - the showpiece of the women's football calendar takes place less than 24 hours after the men's event on the same hallowed Wembley turf. Despite their domestic dominance of recent years, the Blues are still several years away from surpassing Arsenal as the most successful team in the competition and it's been two years since they last won. If they do win, they'll complete an impressive domestic treble under new boss Sonia Bompastor having won the WSL and League Cup already. United are the reigning champions and made the final in 2023 too. Finishing third in the league, they'll do really well to retain their title but games between the two have been tight this season with both ending 1-0 to Chelsea. If you've never been to Wembley, now's your chance as tickets are very reasonably priced

L&SE Women's Regional League Premier
Dartford v Fulham @3pm - these two complete their seasons at Princes Park. It could've been a huge title decider but with the Cottagers having already wrapped up the title and the Darts confirming a second-place finish, there's not a lot riding on it. However, more important things are going on as the club are celebrating 25 years of DWFC and raising funds for breast cancer charity CoppaFeel as one of their former players, still in her 30s, is fighting the disease. With a DJ, bouncy castle, face painting and much more, there's loads going on. Tickets are £7


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