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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Previews for 17-18 May 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 

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

TLFG: 6-11 May 2025

Greetings and welcome to TLFG as we begin to reach the end of the season.

With most leagues now concluded, the amount of football on offer has fallen sharply.

What we do have should be good though, with play-offs and cup finals and semi-finals topping the bill.

Non-League Finals Day takes place on Sunday

I'm dashing this out before work so I haven't quite finished the previews for the weekend but I could well finish them later today.

First up is an U21 game at QPR on Tuesday lunchtime which I might get out of work for - maybe see you there.

THE WEEK AHEAD 

This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, Conference League, EFL, FA Trophy, FA Vase and Women's Super 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
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 6 May

Professional Development League
QPR v Peterborough United @1pm - both sides finish their fixtures in this U21 competition at Loftus Road on Tuesday lunchtime. Whatever happens here, the R's will finish second bottom in 'Group South' but there's no relegation. Posh are in 'Group North' and haven't pulled up any trees either. These matches are free entry although a donation to the club's trust on arrival is appreciated - cash and card accepted

CCL Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Cobham v Horley Town @745pm - ineligible players have held up the CCL Premier South play-offs and now the CCL Challenge Cup too. Cobham are still awaiting their play-off opponents but now they've found themselves reinstated into the cup as well. They came back in with Epsom & Ewell but the Salts were then also found to have played an ineligible player so went out again! As a result, the Hammers now find themselves in the last four. The winners will play North Greenford United or Windsor & Eton in the final. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Invitational Charity Cup Final
SC Thamesmead v FC Elmstead @730pm - I'm not sure who does the inviting or who organises this cup but it's for clubs in south-east London and Kent. These two play in the tenth tier SCEFL Division 1. They finished two points apart in lower midtable so it should be a well-matched contest. The game is being played at Thamesmead's ground and tickets are £5 on the gate

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Wednesday 7 May

Middlesex Charity Cup Final
Broadfields United v Southall @745pm - running since 1901, interest in this cup has fluctuated over the years. Several of Middlesex's biggest clubs have taken part and I remember some big crowds for Harrow Borough's ties against Chelsea and Spurs back in the late '80s and early '90s. The 1988 final was even played at Wembley Stadium thanks to sponsorship from TV astrologer Russel Grant. In more recent times, it's become more of a thing for clubs in the eight and ninth tiers from which Wednesday's finalists come. Broadfields play a level below the 'All so they'll cause something of an upset if they win. This is being played at Bedfont Sports and tickets are available in advance for £12

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Thursday 8 April

UEFA Conference League Semi-Final Second Leg
Chelsea v Djurgarden @8pm - the Blues won last week's first leg in Sweden 4-1 to all-but secure their place in the final. The London club have pretty much had one hand on the cup since they entered it and they've lived up to their favourites tag as they've breezed through the competition. Given their big lead, progress should be a formality but the level of opponent will increase significantly in the final where they'll face either Fiorentina or Real Betis in the Polish city of Wroclaw. Tickets

SPCFL Premier Division
Wimbledon Casuals v Dial Square @730pm - two of the top three in this 11th-tier division meet in their final games of the season. It could have been a blockbuster conclusion to the campaign but Casuals wrapped up the league title over the Bank Holiday to seal their third title success on the bounce. Sadly the club haven't applied for promotion so they'll be back to defend their crown next year. Dial Square will finish second if they win and that could see them go up as they did put in an application. This is being played at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground by Chiswick Bridge and should be free to watch

EAL Premier Division Cup Final
Inter Newbury v Sporting Bengal United Reserves @730pm - this cup final is for 12th-tier teams I don't normally cover but it's being played at Dagenham & Redbridge which I know some of you might want to visit. SBU Reserves won the Premier Division West so they'll start as favourites as they look to do a league and cup double. I haven't seen any ticket prices advertised but it won't be much
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Friday 9 May

CCL Division 1 Cup Final
Holmer Green v Langley @745pm - there's just one game on Friday but it's this cup final for tenth-tier clubs. Being played at Abbey Rangers in the Addlestone/Chertsey area, Holmer Green should start as favourites as they finished seventh, seven places and 23 points above Langley in the league. Again, I haven't seen any ticket details but it shouldn't exceed £10
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Saturday 10 May

Premier League
Fulham v Everton @3pm - with three defeats from their last four, the Cottagers' season is in danger of petering out after showing so much promise. If they win their remaining three, then an eighth-place finish is still possible but there's also a danger that they could finish in the bottom half which would be disappointing. The Toffees were in real trouble before David Moyes took over but he steadied the ship and secured their place in the top flight for another year. They don't play particularly thrilling stuff and have become the division's draw specialists but they're still above Man Utd and Spurs. Tickets

League One Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg
Leyton Orient v Stockport County @1230pm - the O's and fellow Londoners Charlton Athletic have both made it to the League One play-offs after fine campaigns. Orient secured their place on the final day with a resounding 4-1 win at Huddersfield Town as they pipped Reading to the final spot. That result put them top of the division's form table as it was their sixth win in a row. Stockport are a formidable side though and with eight wins from their last 10 and home advantage in the second leg, they're going to be really tough to beat. I think I'm also right in saying that if Leyton Orient do make it through and win promotion, it will be their first time in the second tier since 1982. General sale of tickets will begin on Wednesday 7 May but don't expect them to hang around for long

SCEFL Division 1 Cup Final
Clapton CFC v Forest Hill Park @2pm - over in east London we've got this tenth-tier cup final at Barking's ground. CCFC finished seventh to miss out on a play-off place by six points. For FHP, the closing months of the season have been disappointing if not worrying. They were seemingly cruising to the title but won only one of their last 10 to finish third. At the weekend, they lost to SOUL Tower Hamlets in the play-off final. They also made the League Cup Final but lost to Premier Division strugglers Snodland Town. With all that disappointment behind them, they're going to have to raise their game again against the best supported side in the league who drew with them on the final day of the season. Tickets are £8 and must be bought online in advance - there will be no sales on the day

Women's Super League
Arsenal v Manchester United @1230pm - it's the final day of the WSL season and this is the biggest match that's taking place. With Chelsea having already won the league, this match will decide who finishes second. Both sides have already qualified for the Champions League but the runners-up in the WSL get to enter at a later stage. Arsenal are currently second but since sensationally making it to this season's Champions League Final, they've been blown away in the two league games that have followed, conceding nine goals to midtable opposition. This is being played at the Emirates Stadium so if you haven't been, now's your chance as tickets are available and it's way cheaper than watching a men's game
Chelsea v Liverpool @1230pm - as mentioned above, the Blues have won the league already - their sixth title in a row. The main reason to go to this match will presumably be to see them parade the trophy in front of their fans. For them it's now all about winning next weekend's FA Cup Final to complete a domestic treble. The Reds are sixth, and given their inferior goal difference, that's as high as they're likely to finish even if they pull off a shock win. This is being played at Stamford Bridge and tickets are available

CCL Women's Cup Final
Watford U23 v Chatham Town @230pm - if you're on the far north side of town then this cup final at the Hornets' training ground could be the game for you. The hosts' U23 side have been in superb form this season, winning their division of the WNL Reserve League with a 100% record. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the first team of a strong FAWNL team. Chatham finished third in the FAWNL Division 1 South East (fourth tier) and have already won the Isthmian League Women's Cup and Kent Women's Cup. To put things in some context, Actonians played Chatham three times this season beating them twice and drawing the other. However, when they played this Watford side in an earlier round, they lost 4-0 so who knows how this will go? I haven't seen any ticket prices mentioned but it wouldn't surprise me if it's free
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Sunday 11 May

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace @215pm - despite having one of the worst seasons in the last 30 years, Spurs made it through to the Europa League Final on Thursday night with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt. Next up they face another set of cup finalists in Palace who play Manchester City in next weekend's FA Cup Final. Neither side is in great form in the league and a draw is probably the most likely outcome. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £149

Non-League Finals Day
The big showpiece of the non-league calendar takes place at Wembley on Sunday. It sees the finals of the FA Vase and FA Trophy played back-to-back and one £30 ticket gets you into both. This year we have four sides who've never been to their respective finals before so it'll be a huge occasion for all of them. It's a great day out but beware, once you're in you're there for the day - you can't pop out for a cigarette and expect to get back in. 

AFC Whyteleafe v Whitstable Town @1215pm - first up we have the Vase final which is a competition for sides in the ninth and tenth tiers. The Leafe made the play-offs in the CCL Premier South and are still waiting to play in the them. The Oystermen play in the parallel SCEFL Premier and also made the play-offs but lost out to Fisher. In essence, we have two very similar teams from the ninth tier who hail from the south-east - it's an incredibly tough one to call
Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town @415pm - given we could have extra-time and penalties in the first game, this one doesn't start until four hours later. The FA Trophy is for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers. The Shots are the biggest team in action on Sunday and are said to be bringing nearly 20,000 fans. Playing in the fifth tier, a level above their opponents, they should start as favourites. I say should because Spennymoor have beaten not one, not two but three National League clubs on their way to the final - a quite spectacular effort

Friendly
Surrey International v Wanderers @115pm - this Surrey representative team made up of players from around the county play their third game of the spring/summer. After wins over London Japanese and London Thai, they'll be looking to extend their winning run against one of the oldest clubs in the world. With five FA Cup wins to their name between 1872-1878, Wanderers have a glittering past. This match is being played at Farleigh Rovers just up the road from Whyteleafe. Tickets are £5 on the gate

L&SE Women's League D1 North
Bromley v Brentford @1pm - the top two in this sixth-tier division meet at Hayes Lane. Sadly, there's nothing riding on it. Brentford have already won the title and claimed the only promotion spot whilst the hosts will finish second whatever happens here. Tickets are £5

GLWFL Finals Day
Like NLFD at Wembley, this women's league for clubs in the seventh to ninth tiers has its two cup finals on Sunday. Played back-to-back at Bedfont Sports near Heathrow, the action gets underway at 1115am with ninth-tier clubs Civil Service and Tooting Bec Reserves meeting in the GLWFL Trophy Final. Following this at 230pm, the top two in the Premier Division will contest the GLWFL Cup Final. Camden Town have already won the league so they'll be wanting to complete the double against Hammersmith. Tickets will be available on the gate for just £3


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 

Sunday, 27 April 2025

TLFG: 28 April - 5 May 2025

Welcome to this week's TLFG.

It's late on Sunday night and I need to be up early for work so I'll keep this brief.

With many leagues having now wrapped up, there aren't a lot of games on but the ones we do have are hugely important.

It's largely about play-off games and cup semi-finals and finals this week so it should be really exciting.

Youngster Prudie Todd-Warmoth has impressed for Actonians this season 

I managed to see one game this week - Actonians' final match of the season at Ashford Town.

They won 4-0 to finish in the top six of the women's fourth tier again - a fine achievement when you consider the big budgets of some of the clubs they're up against.

With some more big names likely to join their division next year, it's going to require another big effort to compete but I'm confident they'll be able to give it a good go.

Anyway, I've got to go to bed. I'll update the guide as the week progresses.

Enjoy!

 THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super 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.
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 28 April

Premier League 2
The week begins with a couple of U21 matches. With the 20 regular season games complete, these are both first round play-off games. Crystal Palace host old rivals Brighton & Hove Albion at Sutton United, whilst Fulham take on Nottingham Forest at their Motspur Park training ground. Both matches kick-off at 7pm and tickets will be available on arrival

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Tuesday 29 April

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final First Leg
Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain @8pm - arguably the biggest game of the week takes place at the Emirates. After sensationally beating Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, the Gunners next take on PSG. Both sides have been to the final only once before but neither of them have ever won it. For me, Arsenal will win this tie but come unstuck in the final. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £1,395 per person

National League Cup Final
Sutton United v Leeds United U21 @7pm - this competition is for fifth tier clubs and Premier League/EFL U21 teams. It  has received a lot of criticism as it was essentially set up as a form of compensation to the biggest non-league clubs for getting rid of FA Cup replays. Fans weren't amused and have voted with their feet, creating very low crowds for many of these games. This is the first final and it's being played at Sutton's ground rather than a neutral venue. Tickets are £12

National League South Play-Off Eliminator
Boreham Wood v Dorking Wanderers @745pm - the real fun this week will be found in the numerous play-off matches which are taking place. Six teams headed into the final day of the NLS season with a chance of winning the title. Neither of these made it but they've got another crack at promotion through the play-offs. In this division, the teams in second to seventh qualify with the teams in second and third getting a bye through this round. These sides got relegated from the fifth tier together last year but only one of them can progress. The Surrey club are unbeaten in four against The Wood and could well win. Tickets

SCEFL Premier
VCD Athletic v Punjab United @745pm - the hosts pushed Faversham Town hard for the title but ultimately fell short. They finished 14 points ahead of Punjab who sealed their spot in the post-season on the final day. Although the Vickers have had a better season, the visitors arrive in better form which is often crucial at this stage. Tickets will be available on the gate and shouldn't exceed £10

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Wednesday 30 April

Isthmian League Premier Play-Off Semi-Final
Dartford v Cray Valley PM @745pm - the title was theirs to win with two games to go but with only one point from those final matches, the Darts finished third. They've picked up a devilishly tough semi-final against local rivals CVPM. New to this level this season, the visitors are in better form and will no doubt make life challenging for the hosts. You are strongly advised to buy your tickets in advance

Southern League Premier South Play-Off Semi-Final
Walton & Hersham v Gloucester City @745pm - among the leading group for sometime now, the Swans always looked like making the play-offs. With Welsh club Merthyr Town having won the title, the Surrey club will be hoping to join them. The winners will play AFC Totton or Dorchester Town in the final. Another big crowd is expected so buy your tickets in advance

Isthmian League South Central Play-Off Semi-Finals
Hanworth Villa v Ascot United @745pm - the Villains won their final game against Horndean 5-2 to demonstrate that they should be a force to be reckoned with at this stage. They drew 0-0 with Ascot a couple of weeks ago and it will no doubt be tight again here. Tickets are £11 on the gate
Uxbridge v Kingstonian @745pm - the Reds would seem to be the team to beat in the play-offs. They finished second and are in better form than any of the other contenders. The K's were second for a long time but fell away badly and if it wasn't for an upturn in results right at the end, they would've probably missed out on a top-five finish - they'll do very well to win. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Essex Senior League Play-Off Semi-Final
Woodford Town v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm - the hosts were in title contention for most of the season but Stanway Rovers eventually prevailed as Woodford finished third. GWR, who hail from the Southend area, finished fifth but are in very similar form coming into this so it could go all the way to penalties. Tickets are £7 on the gate

SSML Premier Play-Off Semi-Final
Cockfosters v London Lions @745pm - we've got a north London derby in this other ninth-tier division. Finishing just three points apart, this is another one which looks too close to call. With Milton Keynes Irish having won the title, one of these two will play Tring Athletic or Wormley Rovers in the final. Tickets are £10 on the gate

ECL Division 1 South Play-Off Semi-Final
AS London v Rayleigh Town @745pm - dropping into the 10th tier, this game was held up because of a delayed decision about reports of racism in an earlier game featuring AS London. The match against Cannons Wood was ordered to be replayed but they opted not to and forfeited the points. Rayleigh, from Essex, finished a point behind them and now have to make this trip to Haringey. The two played in their final league game a week ago and AS London won 5-1 away. Tickets will be available on the gate. Update - this match has been postponed 

SCEFL Division 1 Play-Off Semi-Final
Forest Hill Park v Croydon @745pm - in a four-horse race for the title going into the final game, both these sides could only manage a draw so have ended up playing each other in the battle for the second and final promotion spot instead. FHP were top but lost a load of momentum in the closing weeks of the season and finished 14th in the form table. The Trams finished below them in the regular table but come into this on a lengthy unbeaten run. Tickets will be available on the gate
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Sheppey Sports @745pm - STH missed out on the title on goal difference whilst Sheppey squeaked into the play-offs on the final day. The hosts have won four of their last five so should start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate. Update - this now being played outside London at Corinthian FC in Kent

Premier League Cup Semi-Final
QPR v Burnley @7pm - these two Championship clubs have made it to the last four of this U21 competition. Their respective first teams met at Loftus Road for an EFL game on Saturday with the Clarets winning 5-0. The young R's will hope to do a lot better than that. The winners will face Southampton or Brentford in the final. This is also being played at Loftus Road and apparently it's free entry although a donation to the club's trust would be appreciated 
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Friday 2 May

CCL Division 1 Play-Off Final
Westside v Eversley & California @730pm - the hosts, who play at Colliers Wood United's ground, have had a fantastic season. Having only been in senior football since 2019 and never having finished above 11th, it's been remarkable to see them come second. Often described as the least supported club in London too, it's even more of an achievement. E&C hail from Hampshire rather than America's west coast and came fourth. They got past Penn & Tylers Green on penalties in the semi-finals and will start as marginal underdogs. Tickets will be available on the gate - prices haven't been published but it shouldn't exceed £10

Professional Development League
Millwall v Hull City @2pm - earlier in the day, the teams in third in the parallel Group North and Group South meet at The Den. The Lions need to win this final game of the regular season to keep their play-off hopes alive. Tickets

EAL Senior Division
Philip United v Waltham Forest Borough @745pm - the hosts, who have no website or social media presence which I'm aware of, go into this final game as the newly crowned league champions. For a club founded in 2023, they've got off to an exceptional start. They have applied for promotion to the 10th tier so let's see if they get accepted. The match is being played at Redbridge

SPCFL Premier
Dial Square v Worcester Park @745pm - third plays fourth in this 11th-tier game. This will be the visitors' final game and they are out of the title race whatever happens here. Dial Square, who were formed by a group of disillusioned Arsenal fans five years ago, have two games to go and can still finish first. They will need to win here though to have any chance. This is being played at Ashford Town
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Premier League
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth @530pm - only drawing with Crystal Palace to end their slim title hopes and losing the first leg of their Champions League tie against PSG, it's been a disappointing week or so for the Gunners. Still not assured of second, they need to keep on winning. The Cherries were threatening a top-six finish but now it's more about making certain they stay in the top 10. Since returning to the Premier League in 2022, they've lost four of their five games against Mikel Arteta's team but crucially they won the last one in October. Tickets are only available to members and their family and friends. Hospitality packages are available from £595

Championship
Watford v Sheffield Wednesday @1230pm - the EFL season concludes on Saturday with all games in this division starting at lunchtime. A point apart in midtable, these clubs have nothing to play for other than who finishes 12th. With the pressure off, these games can either be a non-event or highly entertaining as the sides can go for it without any real consequences. The Hornets have lost five of their last six so are in way worse form. Tickets

League One
Charlton Athletic v Burton Albion @3pm - the Addicks have already secured their play-off place but a win here could see them finish as high as third and get home advantage in the second leg. The Brewers sit just above the relegation zone but have done enough to stay up so have little to play for. Tickets

League Two
Bromley v Cheltenham Town @3pm - a win in their final game could see the Ravens finish tenth which would be a fine performance from a club playing in the EFL for the first time. Cheltenham are three points behind in midtable so this is another game with little riding on it. Tickets

CCL Premier North Play-Off Final
Bedfont Sports v Harefield United @3pm - when this blog started in 2011, Bedfont were in the 10th tier. Since then they've won two promotions, making the heady heights of the Isthmian League. However, they came back down to this division two years ago. Third last year, they lost in the play-offs. Second this time, they'll hope to go one better. Harefield finished fourth and caused an upset by beating Amersham in the semi-finals so if they win here it will be a huge bonus - they haven't played in the Isthmian League since the '90s. Tickets are £8 on the gate

SPCFL Premier
Wimbledon Casuals v Bagshot @215pm - if Dial Square lose on Friday, then Wimbledon will already be champions coming into this. If Dial Square pick up three points, then a win here will see Casuals over the line. Bagshot are one point and one place above the relegation zone so they're going to do well to get anything here. This is being played at the Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Complex in Walton-on-Thames
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Sunday 4 May

Premier League
Brentford v Manchester United @2pm - these sides both had great Thursday nights. The Bees went to high flying Nottingham Forest and won 2-0, meaning a top-eight finish is now a possibility. United, on the other hand, went to the Basque Country and beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the first leg if their Europa League Semi-Final. Brentford have become expert at giving the bigger clubs an uncomfortable time but they've struggled against the Red Devils winning only one of the seven games against them since 2021. Tickets are only available to members
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur @2pm - I can't really believe I'm writing this but these two are a point apart just above the relegation zone. Thankfully for them, the bottom three have been so bad that they've both been safe for a while. The Hammers have been playing some pretty stodgy stuff of late, eking out the odd draw here and there whilst Spurs have lost five of their last six. Tickets
Chelsea v Liverpool @430pm - the biggest game of the day takes place at Stamford Bridge where the Blues welcome the newly crowned league champions. Out of all the cups, the Reds can simply enjoy their final four games of the season. Chelsea, however, are still in the dogfight for a Champions League place so they'll be under far more pressure to succeed. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central Play-Off Final
Uxbridge v Hanworth Villa @3pm - finishing second and third in the regular season, the 'right' teams have made it to the final. The hosts squeaked past Kingstonian on penalties in the semi-finals whilst Hanworth beat Ascot 2-1. Despite their success, both sides have only averaged crowds a little over 200  this season so to see them both pull in around 700 on Wednesday shows how big these games are. Matches between the two were tight this season and when they last met a couple of weeks ago, it took a 98th-minute penalty from Sam Merson to salvage a 2-2 draw for Hanworth. As such a big crowd is expected, you must buy your ticket in advance

Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea @215pm - after getting trounced by Barcelona in the Champions League on Sunday, the Blues went to Manchester United on Wednesday and beat them 1-0 to win the title with two games to spare. With the League Cup already won, it's now all about beating Manchester United again in the FA Cup on 18 May and winning a domestic treble. As for Spurs, this season has been hugely disappointing. After breaking into the top six and reaching the FA Cup final, they've failed to push on and this season has been a real slog. Their last win was in January when they just about beat bottom club Crystal Palace 3-2. If Robert Vilahamn keeps his job into next season, he'll have been lucky. This is being played at the THS so it's a great opportunity to visit arguably London's best stadium for a fraction of the normal price. Tickets
Crystal Palace v Leicester City @2pm - as mentioned above, the Eagles have struggled this season and their relegation has now been confirmed. After all the joy surrounding their promotion a year ago, they spent pretty much all of their first season in the WSL at the bottom. There were a lot of spirited performances and they didn't disgrace themselves but it's now all about rebuilding and going again in the Championship. The Foxes are just above them in the table but in no danger of going down so neither side really has anything at stake here. This is being played at Sutton United. Tickets
West Ham United v Aston Villa @3pm - boss Rehanne Skinner should be in contention for manager of the year such has been the transformation of the Hammers' fortunes this season. Second from bottom last year, a win here could see them go fifth. Unbeaten in five and with German wunderkind Shekiera Martinez banging in nine goals in ten games since joining the side in January, things are looking really bright. After a very challenging campaign, Villa are in the best form they've been in and arrive in east London on the back of thrashing Champions League finalists Arsenal 5-2. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge. Tickets

L&SE Women's League Premier
Fulham v SL Benfica @230pm - with no Championship sides playing in London and the WNL finishing last week, our next featured match is way down in the fifth tier but it's a big one. The Cottagers are playing this one at Craven Cottage as victory will see them clinch the title and secure promotion, something that has looked inevitable for weeks if not months. It's also huge for Benfica who pipped Brentford to promotion last season and but are on the verge of being relegated. Currently just above the bottom two, only goal difference is keeping them above Ashford United. This will be Benfica's final game but Ashford still have a game in hand. Tickets
Millwall Lionesses v Ashford United @130pm - talking of Ashford, they're being given the opportunity, in what could be one of their last games at this level, to play on the hallowed turf of The Den. The Lionesses have coasted along in midtable and if they win this final game, then they could achieve a top-half finish. As we've already mentioned, Ashford are in trouble. If Benfica somehow do the unthinkable and win at Fulham, then Ashford will have to win here as their goal difference is significantly inferior to Benfica's. Millwall have also made this a 'Family Fun Day' with bouncy castles and all other kinds of kid-friendly entertainment to encourage attendance. Tickets

L&SE Women's League D1 North
Clapton CFC v Brentford @2pm - in the sixth tier there could be quite a substantial crowd at the Old Spotted Dog. London's oldest ground plays host to the game which will almost certainly see the Bees crowned as champions. After the embarrassment of failing to win a division where their resources must have outstripped all the other clubs put together, Brentford have taken no chances this time round. Having assembled a side probably good enough to compete a couple of divisions above this, they've won every single game. For CCFC, this will be all about the official opening of the alleyway behind the ground which used to be a dark and quite scary thoroughfare for local residents. They've cleaned it, opened it right up and made it far safer and will name it after club legend Walter Tull. He was only the third person of mixed heritage to play top-level football in this country. One his descendants and biographer will be present at the ceremony. Entry is by a suggested donation of £5 - more details on this and everything that's going on can be found here
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Monday 5 May

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest @8pm - this could've been a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup Final but with the Eagles making it to Wembley, Forest lost to Manchester City in the semis. With four defeats in five, the East Midlands club are having a wobble at the worst possible time but Champions League qualification is still a possibility if they win here. Palace look like finishing 12th so it's all about being at their best for the FA Cup in two weeks time. Tickets are only available to members

National League
Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town @3pm - it's the final day in the fifth tier with the most important game in the capital being this one at Grosvenor Vale. The Stones have struggled this season and go into their last game knowing that a win is essential but might still not be enough to keep them up. The visitors have already secured a play-off place but a win could see them get home advantage for the opening round of the post-season. Tickets
Sutton United v Woking @3pm - in the other fixture we've got a game between two midtable sides. Although there's not a huge amount at stake, they both fall under the jurisdiction of the Surrey FA so there's a bit of a derby feel to this one. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Play-Off Final
Dartford v Dover Athletic @3pm - the stakes will be far higher at Princes Park where these two Kent clubs will do battle for a place in the National League South. Both sides suffered relegation from that division last season so are looking for an instant return. When they last played each other here a couple of weeks ago, the Darts won 3-1. However, Dover caused an upset by winning at Billericay in their play-off semi on Wednesday so they arrive in good form. Unsurprisingly, tickets have sold out

SCEFL Premier Play-Off Final
VCD Athletic v Fisher @3pm - two TLFG teams from south-east London go head-to-head for promotion to the Isthmian League South East. VCD were in title contention for most of the season, finished second and will start as favourites in an attempt to get back to the level they last played at two years ago. The Fish, descended from Fisher Athletic, reformed in 2009 as a tenth-tier club. In the intervening years, they've spent most of that time in the ninth tier where they find themselves today. If they win here, they'll rise to the highest level in their history. In the semis they caused upset by winning at FA Vase finalists Whitstable Town. Tickets are £10 on the gate

SSML Premier Play-Off Final
London Lions v Wormley Rovers @3pm - in the far north of London, the capital's top club for Jewish players are also on the cusp of reaching the highest level in their history. After edging past Cockfosters on penalties, they now prepare to welcome Wormley who beat Tring Atheltic a side who finished 13 points ahead of them. The visitors are located around a 30-minute drive from Rowley Lane so they should bring a sizeable following. I haven't seen any ticket prices but it shouldn't be more than £10

ECL Challenge Cup Final
Hackney Wick v Harlow Town @3pm - these two finished level on points at the top of the ECL Division 1 South. Showing how strong they are, they've both made it to the final of competition which is open to ninth-tier clubs too. With the Wickers still involved in the play-offs, Harlow will be looking to complete a league and cup double. This match is being played at Aveley and tickets are £8 on arrival

Professional Development League
If all the matches above weren't thrilling enough, there are also a couple of U21 games at lunchtime. Brentford are playing Barnsley at the GTech at 1pm (tickets) whilst Watford host Sheffield Wednesday at Vicarage Road at 2pm (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.

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Tuesday, 22 April 2025

TLFG: 22-27 April 2025

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

How was your Easter weekend? Did you manage a game every day? How many of you squeezed in a double or two?

Sadly I had to work the whole thing, but my railway job got me down to Kew Bridge a couple of times to drop off and pick up fans either side of the Brentford v Brighton game.

As football fans go, they behaved in an exemplary fashion and gave me no problems at all - Brentford crowds very rarely do to be fair.

Aside from that, I'm excited to report that Non-League Day (NLD) discussions with a potential first Bundesliga partner began this week.

They were very impressed with what they heard and seem keen to get involved so let's see what happens - it's very early days though.

Talking of international NLD partners - Athletic Bilbao made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League and will play Manchester United.

The SCEFL Division 1 title race is one of the tightest in the country 

Discussions have already begun about possibly weaving a non-league element into their trip to Old Trafford next month but again, it's way too early to see if anything will come of that.

Over the weekend, some promotion and relegation issues were decided as leagues began to wrap up for the season.

In the National League South, Boreham Wood have confirmed a place in the play-offs but are still one of six teams who could win the title on the final day. At the bottom Aveley and Welling United have both been relegated.

In the Isthmian Premier, Dartford lost their place at the top but they now share the lead with Billericay Town and Horsham ensuring an incredibly nervy final day - remember, only one of them can get promoted automatically. Cray Valley PM have also guaranteed a play-off spot. At the other end, Hendon went down.

In the parallel seventh tier Southern League Premier South, Walton & Hersham will finish third whatever happens in their final game, meaning they'll host Gloucester City in the play-offs on Wednesday 30 April.

Moving into the eight tier, only Uxbridge have so far confirmed a play-off spot with one game to go in the Isthmian League South Central but Ashford Town (Middlesex) and Sutton Common Rovers found the going too tough and will be in the ninth tier next season.

There were also relegations for Sporting Bengal United in the Isthmian North and Phoenix Sports in the Isthmian South East.

It's a more successful story in the ninth tier where Egham Town won the CCL Premier North and Bedfont Sports and Harefield United have so far claimed play-off places. In the CCL South, AFC Whyteleafe and Cobham will contest the play-offs but Spelthorne Sports went down.

With a game to go, Woodford Town and Barking have secured play-off places in the Essex Senior League as have VCD Athletic in the SCEFL Premier. There's also set to be a mouthwatering north London derby between Cockfosters and London Lions in the SSML Premier play-offs after the sides finished third and fourth respectively.

In the 10th tier, Westside and Belstone have secured play-off places in the CCL Division 1 whilst FC Deportivo Galicia suffered relegation.

Over in the SCEFL Division 1, Forest Hill Park and SOUL Tower Hamlets have confirmed play-off places but more importantly are in a three-way battle with Faversham Strike Force for the title with only goal difference separating the three going into the final game. Just below them, Croydon have also confirmed a play-off place too. At the wrong end, Meridian VP and Welling Town have both been relegated - although the latter might get a reprieve.

Finally, in the ECL Division 1 South there was also bad news from north-east London where Newbury Forest also went down after a disappointing campaign.

Most non-league competitions will conclude this weekend, so we'll have a far more complete picture of what's going on come Saturday evening.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Cup, National League, Women's Champions League, Women's Super 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.
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.

Tuesday 22 April

Premier League International Cup Semi-Final
Fulham v Lyon @7pm - the biggest crowd of the night should be at Craven Cottage for this important U21 game. With Crystal Palace and PSV making the last two finals, this year's final four are a completely fresh crop who've never made it. The Cottagers have made the semis a couple of times so they'll be hoping that it's third time lucky. Lyon beat Valencia and West Ham in previous rounds so will be dangerous opponents. The winners will play Nottingham Forest in the final after they beat Athletic Bilbao. Tickets

CCL Premier North
North Greenford United v Wembley @745pm - everyone else in this division completed their seasons over the weekend but not these two who have this one game left and it's a huge one. Put simply, NGU need only to draw to steal the last play-off place away from Burnham whilst Wembley have to win or they'll be relegated. Tickets are £8 on the gate

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Wednesday 23 April

Premier League
Arsenal v Crystal Palace @8pm - for some reason we've got this random derby taking place all on it's own on Wednesday - the teams haven't got any games in hand so I'm not too sure why. Anyway, there's a not an immense amount immediately riding on it either. With five games to go, the Gunners look pretty certain to finish second whilst Palace are playing for position in midtable, with a top-ten finish still on the cards. To be fair, the difference between finishing 10th and 12th is over £5m in prize money so there's plenty of incentive for the owners at least. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £495

Women's Super League
Chelsea v Crystal Palace @715pm - after their Champions League humbling at the hands of Barcelona on Sunday, the Blues will want to put in a very strong showing here to rebuild confidence. They won't get a much better opponent as Palace are bottom and seemingly heading down. Drop any points here and the wheels might start coming off. This is being played at Kingsmeadow. Tickets

Middlesex Intermediate Cup Final
Hayes & Hillingdon v Shepherds Bush @745pm - two 11th tier MCFL Premier clubs meet at Northwood for this juicy bit of silverware. Both sides' league seasons are still ongoing and with H&H well ahead of their opponents in third, they will start as favourites. Tickets

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Thursday 24 April

Suburban League Shield
Molesey v Metropolitan Police @745pm - the only match I'm aware of on Thursday is this U23 game in south-west London. Entry to games at Molesey at this level is usually £3
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Friday 25 April

Professional Development League
There are a couple of games in this U21 competition on Friday. Watford will host Cardiff City at Vicarage Road at 2pm and you can buy tickets now. The other one is the derby between QPR and Brentford which is being played at the R's training ground. It's also a 2pm start but check with the club what the admission requirements are as it does change. It's usually always free entry but sometimes they insist on spectators pre-registering

CCL Division 1
PFC Victoria London v Colliers Wood United @745pm - if you fancy a bit of groundhopping on Friday night then get yourself along to the recently reopened Robert Parker Stadium. Following the installation of a new 3G pitch, matches are being played again after around a six-month hiatus. There's not a huge amount riding on this 10th-tier game, with both sides in no danger of being promoted or relegated. Tickets are £6 on the gate 

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Saturday 26 April

FA Cup Semi-Final
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa @515pm - Wembley plays host to semi-final weekend with game one taking place at tea-time on Saturday. The Eagles have never won this competition but have been to the final twice in my lifetime. They also made it to this stage three years ago before losing to Chelsea. Of the remaining clubs, they are the lowest ranked and aren't expected to progress. Although Villa are the next lowest-ranked team, they're in great form in the league and won the second leg of their Champions League tie against PSG in midweek too. It's going to be tough but not impossible. Tickets have sold out

Premier League
Chelsea v Everton @1230pm - talking of Champions League, the Blues are still trying to make sure of their place in it. With the top five all qualifying for next season's competition, Chelsea are one point adrift with five games to go. Although Everton haven't become the most exciting team to watch in recent weeks, David Moyes has made them tough to beat and they could easily come away with at least a point. Tickets

Championship 
Millwall v Swansea City @3pm - the Lions' play-off hopes live on after they managed to beat Norwich on Monday. With the clubs immediately above them all losing, they're now three points back with two games to go. With five victories on the bounce, the midtable Swans are the division's form team and, mathematically, they still have the slimmest of play-off chances so they'll be wanting to win at all costs too. Tickets
QPR v Burnley @1230pm - in the early game, the R's welcome the title-chasing Clarets to Loftus Road. After the joy of beating Preston on Friday, QPR's four game unbeaten run ended on Monday when they became Swansea's latest victims. With absolutely nothing to play for, it will be interesting to see how they approach the Burnley game. Last year they thrashed Leeds at a similar stage. However, with their ridiculously miserly defence (15 conceded all season) and only two defeats, I think that's highly unlikely. Tickets

League One
Leyton Orient v Wycombe Wanderers @1230pm - the O's came from behind to win 2-1 at struggling Cambridge United on Monday to keep their place in the top six. Next up they face a side who have already booked their play-off place and are still fighting hard for automatic promotion. With Wycombe located just outside London, there's usually a derby feel to any game they have in the capital so this should be a cracker. Tickets have sold out

League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Port Vale @1230pm - overall it's a pretty massive afternoon of EFL action in the capital with this hugely important game at Plough Lane too. With only one win in six, the Dons are still hanging on in fifth and will make sure of a play-off place if they win this. Vale, on the other hand, could go top if they come away with three points but could also end up back in the play-off places if they lose. Tickets have sold out

National League
Barnet v Aldershot Town @3pm - after going three games without a win, it was starting to look like the Bees might choke and throw away the title but after some nervous moments on Monday they came through and won at Sutton. Now six points clear with two games to go, they simply need to draw this to win the title and return to the EFL. The Shots have made it to the FA Trophy Final but Monday's derby loss to Woking means they're still not mathematically safe from relegation. A draw will save them though. Hmmm, I wonder what odds you can get on a draw here??? Tickets haven't sold out yet but they probably will so buy in advance
Dagenham & Redbridge v Altrincham @3pm - at the other end, the Daggers need a win. Although three points won't guarantee survival, anything less could send them down. Sadly for the east London club, Alty are still very much in the hunt for a play-off place so have plenty to play for too - it's going to be tense. Tickets

National League South
Enfield Town v Worthing @3pm - the Towners drew the biggest crowd in their history for their big game against St Albans on Friday but the win they needed to guarantee safety eluded them and then they lost at Boreham Wood on Monday. Consequently, they can still be caught on the final day. For that to happen, they need to lose this and see both St Albans and Salisbury win their matches. So what are the chances? On paper, Enfield will do well to get anything out of Worthing who are one of six teams in a frantic fight to be crowned league champions. St Albans make the incredibly long journey down to Cornwall to play leaders Truro so their chances look really bleak but Salisbury have a very winnable game against already relegated Welling. For me, Enfield survive - just! Another huge crowd is expected so buy your tickets in advance

Isthmian League Premier
Dartford v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - the game of the day in the seventh tier sees the Darts going for the title. As mentioned above, they are one of three teams heading into the final day on level points at the top. However, their goal difference is the worst so they'll need both Billericay and Horsham to drop points. Although Carshalton have nothing to play for, they're a decent side and if they avoid defeat they'll finish seventh. Tickets 

Isthmian League South Central
Hanworth Villa v Horndean @3pm - the hosts kept their play-off hopes on track with a 2-0 win at Met Police on Monday. With the table still really tight, only a win will ensure Hanworth go to the post-season. Horndean are in the bottom six but are safe and should be beaten. Tickets are £11 on the gate
Kingstonian v Ascot United @3pm - the game of the day in this division sees two of the top five meet at Raynes Park Vale's ground. To recap, the teams in second to fifth make the play-offs. These sides are in that group. A draw will be enough for Ascot but the K's have to win to be sure. Tickets are £10 on the gate

CCL Premier North play-off semi-final
Bedfont Sports v North Greenford United @3pm - after winning their crucial final game against Wembley on Tuesday, NGU squeaked into the play-offs to set up this game. These matches are winner-takes-all one legged affairs. The hosts finished second, beat champions Egham Town in their last game and made the play-offs last year too, so they'll start as favourites. The winners will play Amersham Town or Harefield United in the final. Tickets are £8 on the gate

SCEFL Premier
Fisher v Hollands & Blair @3pm - the Fish have been there or thereabouts all season and need a draw to confirm a fourth-place finish and a place in the play-offs. Given they have a decent goal difference, even a loss will probably see them keep their spot. The visitors are in the bottom six, safe from relegation and should be beaten. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Barking @3pm - both sides have already confirmed their play-off spots and if Barking win here, there's a good chance they'll end up playing Woodford in the semi-finals so it will be interesting to see how they both approach this. Tickets are £7 on the gate

Middlesex Charity Cup Semi-Final
Broadfields United v Hillingdon Borough @3pm - this was supposed to have been played on Wednesday but with Hillingdon still having a final league game on Tuesday, it was pushed back to the weekend. The hosts had a decent season and finished 10th in the division above their opponents so will start as favourites. Borough also suffered the crushing disappointment of missing out on the play-offs after losing heavily and inexplicably at home to bottom club Woodley on Saturday. With spirits down, it'll take quite an effort for Hillingdon to win here. Tickets are £5 on the gate

SCEFL Division 1
Clapton CFC v Forest Hill Park @3pm - one of the most exciting title battles of the day will be found in this 10th-tier division. Four sides will start the day in contention, with three of them on level points and three of them being TLFG teams. The biggest crowd is likely to come at the Old Spotted Dog for this one. CCFC have sadly missed out for another year, falling just short of the play-off places but a large attendance should still be expected to see one of the title challengers come to town. FHP aka SE Dons looked like they were strolling to the title but only three wins from 11 has seen their dominance disappear. They must win here to maximise their chances of glory but even that might not be enough as Faversham Strike Force have a superior goal difference. Tickets are £5 on the gate
Bridon Ropes v SOUL Tower Hamlets @3pm - just to the south of Charlton Athletic's ground, BR host another one of the contenders. The hosts have had a solid season and could leapfrog Clapton CFC into seventh if they win. STH have had a great campaign at the Mile End Stadium and will be hopeful of getting the promotion which should put them back in the same division as groundshare rivals Sporting Bengal United. I'm not sure of admission prices but it should be £5-6
Croydon v Canterbury City @3pm - the Trams have the most outside chance of winning the title but they've done really well to still be in touch. Two points behind the leading trio, they need to win and see Faversham lose and the other two draw as they have a better goal difference than FHP and STH. Canterbury, however, still have a great chance of claiming the last play-off place so they've got loads to play for too. Tickets should be in the £5-6 range again UPDATE - the good folks at Croydon have taken the time to let me know that Canterbury actually have nothing to play for. I was aware a groundshare had fallen through but didn't realise that it had forced them to resign from the league and take relegation - sad times
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Sunday 27 April

FA Cup Semi-Final
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City @430pm - the second semi-final looks like a really tough one to call, something I didn't think I'd say 12 months ago. Forest have been so hugely improved under Nuno Espirito Santo that they come into this ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League. They also haven't had an FA Cup run as good as this since they made the final in 1991, a match which they lost 2-1 to Tottenham. Possibly a portent of good fortune - they will head to Wembley on the back of a 2-1 league win over Spurs yesterday (Monday). City are way off the pace in the top flight this season but have been to the last two FA Cup Finals, winning in 2023. Even though far from their best, their aura and title-winning pedigree will still see them start this as favourites. Tickets are only available to members

UEFA Women's Champions League Semi-Final second leg
Chelsea v Barcelona @2pm - if you can't get a ticket for the above, then getting one to see this important women's match at Stamford Bridge should be far more straightforward. Sadly for Blues fans, they saw their side lose the opening leg 4-1 last weekend. As a result, it's going to be incredibly tough for them to make the final as they're playing the best team in Europe, if not the world. Even with the hugely impressive Sonia Bompastor in charge, Chelsea's Champions League hoodoo looks like it will continue for another year. Tickets

Women's Super League
Crystal Palace v West Ham United @1230pm - the Eagles are bottom and, at the time of writing, are about to play leaders Chelsea which they're unlikely to get much out of. If that does happen, they'll come into this seven points adrift with three games to go. West Ham have been hugely improved this season and took a point off Manchester United in their last game. A win here could move them into the top six. This is being played at Sutton United. Tickets

Women's Championship
London City Lionesses v Durham @2pm - with two games to go LCL are two points clear at the top. It seems all of Michele Kang's money has been well spent and they could win the title at the first attempt. Durham are the only other fully professional independent women's club in the country and they're in the top four too - their ownership structure changed a couple of months ago when a couple of EuroMillions winners from Northern Ireland bought their way onto the board so they could be ones to watch in the transfer market over the summer. If Birmingham drop points in their tricky fixture at Newcastle, a win here will clinch the title for LCL. This is being played at Bromley. Tickets

FAWNL Southern Premier
AFC Wimbledon v Billericay Town @2pm - the Dons' first season in the third tier reaches its end here. Survival would've been the priority and they've done it comfortably. A win in this final game, which takes place at Plough Lane, could see them finish in the top six which would be a great achievement. Billericay, however, are fighting for their lives. Level on points with Plymouth, only one of them can stay up so they have to try and get something here. Tickets

FAWNL Division 1 South East
Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Actonians @2pm - the season also concludes in the fourth tier. It's a sad end for the Tangerines who spent possibly every week in the bottom two and unsurprisingly went down. A lot of the club's problems, the men got relegated too, stem from a protracted 3G pitch installation which took six months and was beset by planning problems. This resulted in the teams playing away from Ashford and caused huge financial restraints. The A's, as regular readers will know, are a volunteer-run independent women's club who amazingly found themselves top back in November. Sadly, AFC Wimbledon came calling for star striker Dior Knorr, she was never replaced and they've dropped down to sixth which is still highly acceptable. Now they just need to win to keep hold of it. Despite Ashford's ground re-opening, this is being played at Hanworth Villa. Tickets are £5 on the gate
Dulwich Hamlet v Real Bedford @2pm - the biggest crowd of the day at this level should come at Champion Hill. The Hamlet's debut season at this level has probably been a bit tougher than most expected. I thought they'd make the top six, possibly higher but it hasn't happened and a win here will see them finish eighth. Real Bedford, backed by crypto millions, have already won the title and have yet to lose. Although they achieved their objective, most expected them to steamroller through the division and that hasn't happened - they've drawn a third of their games. It will be really interesting to see how they fare in the third tier where the standard shoots up considerably. Tickets
London Seaward v AFC Sudbury @2pm - the battle to avoid relegation never really got going this season with Seaward, alongside Ashford, struggling all the way through. They lost manager Dan McKimm to London Bees over the summer and a number of players went with him. The squad never recovered and since relegation was confirmed a few weeks ago, more players have moved on. With youngsters and players used to lower levels making up the numbers, their results have collapsed and a heavy defeat to a solid Sudbury side is likely. Tickets should be in the £5-6 region


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