Sunday 25 November 2012

TLFG: 26 November - 2 December 2012

I'm going to keep it brief again this week as footballwise I've had another quiet one.

Work has seen me keep some funny hours and my heavily pregnant wife doesn't like me heading off to obscure football grounds on the far side of London on midweek nights and you can't really blame her!

On the QPR front, I'm disappointed for Mark Hughes but he can't really have too many complaints given the support he's received from the board.

I'm also pleased with the appointment of Harry Redknapp who has done some great things at clubs in recent years. Portsmouth are the most comparable and whilst the highs were very high for a team of their size, the lows since have been desperate.

I'm very conscious that QPR must currently be spending well beyond their means and am pretty sure relegation will see us descend into a third spell in administration before too long (depending entirely on the board's commitment).

In other words Harry - no pressure!


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Each week at TLFG we attempt to compile a list of what's on general sale to non-members at London's Premier League clubs and for other notable matches (click on the team name for details).

Nothing currently available

CHELSEA
Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Fulham, Premier League
Sunday 23 December, 4pm - Aston Villa, Premier League (on sale 26 Nov)

Monday 10 December, 8pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Wednesday 26 December, 3pm - Southampton, Premier League
Saturday 29 December, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League
Saturday 12 January, 3pm - Wigan Athletic, Premier League
Wednesday 30 January, 8pm - West Ham United, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 1 December, 3pm - Aston Villa, Premier League
Saturday 15 December, 3pm - Fulham, Premier League

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Thursday 6 December, 805pm - Panathinaikos, Europa League
Sunday 16 December, 130pm - Swansea City, Premier League
Saturday 22 December, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League

WEST HAM UNITED
Saturday 1 December, 1245pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Sunday 9 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 22 December, 3pm - Everton, Premier League
Tuesday 1 January, 3pm - Norwich City, Premier League

Special deals this week include entry for between £10-15 at The Valley for Charlton Athletic's Championship clash against Peterborough United on Tuesday.

Lower down the pyramid, the offer of the week is to be had at Coles Park where Haringey Borough are letting everyone in FOR FREE as they take on Aylesbury United in the Spartan South Midlands League. The north London club play on White Hart Lane just down the road from Spurs so give them your support if you're around on Saturday afternoon.

Over the next seven days there are over 80 matches happening in the London area. We've got big derbies, some FA Trophy and FA Vase replays, lots of county cup matches and some interesting U21 Premier League and FA Youth Cup fixtures to look forward to.

With all that in mind, here's this week's match map. If you've never used it 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 left side of the page to make sure you get all the information.

MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures


View London match map 26 November - 2 December 2012 in a larger map

As always, please check with the host club whether a match is still taking place before you travel. Please also let me know if any of the details are wrong or missing.

Next up is this blog's top 10 recommendations of games we think could be particularly worth watching this week, feel free to mention your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v Fulham - we kick-off this week with a west London derby. I think I'm right in saying that these clubs are geographically the closest to each other among the capital's professional sides (a little over a mile apart) and yet the rivalry isn't as fierce as some others in town. The Cottagers are traditionally a much smaller club and until Mr Al-Fayed's investment in 1997 were playing in what is now known as League Two. Consequently they aren't deemed as much of a threat by the Blues and their supporters. Although they might not be a major challenge when it comes to trophies, the Stamford Bridge side often find it hard to beat them with the last three league meetings all ending in draws. Another one looks likely. (Wednesday 28 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - it looks like being a busy Wednesday night in old London town as two of the Premier League's grand old clubs do battle in the north. Spurs have blown hot and cold this season with some great results and some rather poor ones but they come into this on the back of a morale boosting 3-1 win over West Ham. The Reds on the other hand have just been dull by their standards - very tough to beat (only one defeat in 10 league outings) but also very short on wins. Another very tough one to call. (Wednesday 28 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

3. Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa - another huge game for the hosts as they continue their quest for a win. Fellow strugglers Villa are the next to visit - will they be the ones to succumb? If you missed it, the big news from Shepherd's Bush this weekend was the appointment of Harry Redknapp as a replacement for the departed Mark Hughes. This will be his first home game in charge so expectation will be higher than normal. (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion - the Seagulls come to London on Saturday for one of the weekend's biggest matches in the Championship. Their Amex stadium is less than 40 miles to the south of Selhurst Park so their fans will probably see this as a derby. They are also two of the best sides in the division with Palace in second and Brighton in eighth. The match has been made all ticket (meaning you must buy one before the day of the game) to further emphasise its status as a game of note. (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Ticket info

5. Millwall v Charlton Athletic - not sure if the above is a proper derby? Then be in no doubt that this one most definitely is. Not much more than three miles separate these south-east London rivals and the atmosphere is likely to be tense. Personally I'm quite surprised it's been scheduled for the same time as the Palace match - the trains in this area are likely to be 'busy' to say the least. Geographical background aside, the Lions are actually on a great run (five wins in the last six) and have climbed into the top six. The Addicks are also doing well after an iffy patch with three wins in four so this has the makings of a pretty decent game. (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Wealdstone v Bury Town - there are some big games in the Isthmian League Premier Division this week and the first happens on Monday night when the third-placed Stones host Bury Town who are just a point and a place behind them. Gordon Bartlett's side haven't lost in the league since August and yet they're still not top, showing you just how exciting the title race looks like being this season. Head down to Grosvenor Vale to see if there's another twist. (Monday 26 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Margate - the other match of note takes place on Saturday when second-placed Margate pay a visit to the Beveree. Hampton were the early pacesetters but two consecutive defeats have seen them slip to fifth. The visitors have won their last three and they might have the edge again here. (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Haringey Borough v Aylesbury United - I mentioned it above and I'm going to give it another plug here because it's such a good deal - FREE ENTRY FOR EVERYONE! All credit to the committee at Coles Park for setting this deal up. With Tottenham Hotspur playing their games within walking distance, it's always been hard for the Borough to compete for support so with Spurs playing away, hopefully a few people will take them up on their invite. There's actually quite a bit to play for in this too with Aylesbury currently second in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division and Haringey among the chasing the pack. (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Club info)

9. Southall v Harpenden Town - in the division below, leaders Harpenden pay a visit to Reynolds Field to test the promotion credentials of Southall who have crept up to fifth after a fine set of results. Jump on the Tube to Perivale and find out if they can go even higher. (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Club info)

10. Erith & Belvedere v Phoenix Sports - one of the top teams in the Kent League host the best team in the Kent Invicta League (a level below) in a county cup match on Saturday. Will Phoenix rise to the challenge? (Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Club info)


If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or email.

Sunday 18 November 2012

TLFG: 19-25 November 2012

Hi there and welcome to this week's TLFG.

I haven't got much to report this week on the football-watching front. I've been on early shifts all week (including a 525 am start today) so getting out and about has been tricky.

My shift yesterday meant I missed my first QPR home match of the season and it sounds like a lucky escape!

I recently said I'd like to see Mark Hughes stay in charge but things seem to be going backwards and it's getting hard to defend him.

Enough about me, enjoy this week's guide.


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Each week at TLFG we attempt to compile a list of what's on general sale to non-members at London's Premier League clubs and for other notable matches (click on the team name for details).

Wednesday 21 November, 745pm - Montpellier, Champions League

Wednesday 5 December, 745pm - FC Nordsjaelland, Champions League

Monday 10 December, 8pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Wednesday 26 December, 3pm - Southampton, Premier League
Saturday 29 December, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League
Saturday 12 January, 3pm - Wigan Athletic, Premier League (on sale 22 Nov)
Wednesday 30 January, 8pm - West Ham United, Premier League (on sale 22 Nov)

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 1 December, 3pm - Aston Villa, Premier League
Saturday 15 December, 3pm - Fulham, Premier League

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Sunday 25 November, 4pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Thursday 6 December, 805pm - Panathinaikos, Europa League
Sunday 16 December, 130pm - Swansea City, Premier League

WEST HAM UNITED
Monday 19 November, 8pm - Stoke City, Premier League
Saturday 1 December, 1245pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Sunday 9 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 22 December, 3pm - Everton, Premier League

Of the games above, West Ham are offering reduced admission for their Premier League game against Stoke with all adult tickets costing between £20-25 which is roughly 50% off the normal price so well worth having a look at.

Over the next seven days there are over 80 matches happening in the London area. We've got big London derbies, some stonking looking FA Trophy ties, an FA Vase replay and lots of county cup matches to look forward to.

With all that in mind, here's this week's match map. If you've never used it 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 left side of the page to make sure you get all the information.

MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 19-25 November 2012 in a larger map

As always, please check with the host club whether a match is still taking place before you travel. Please also let me know if any of the details are wrong or missing.

Next up is this blog's top 10 recommendations of games we think could be particularly worth watching this week, feel free to mention your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Montpellier - It's England v France (sort of) in the Champions League on Wednesday. Group B is poised for a close finish with just two points currently separating the top three. The French club are bottom and winless so the Gunners should and must win to stay on course for qualification for the knockout stages. Unusually for a game at the Emirates, tickets are still on general sale.  (Wednesday 21 November, 1245pm, Ticket info)

2. Chelsea v Manchester City - the big game of the week domestically takes place at Stamford Bridge in Sunday's televised match. The Blues started the season in blistering form but have dropped off the Premier League pace recently and have slipped to third after failing to win in four. They have been replaced at the top by City who are yet to lose a league match this season. Should be a cracker! (Sunday 25 November, 4pm, Ticket info)

3. Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United - at the same time across town we have this north versus east London derby. A significant rivalry exists between these clubs, one which has been heightened over the last year or two by the battle to win control of the Olympic Stadium. On the pitch the sides have had pretty similar seasons with both currently in the top eight, just a point apart. However, a win for the Hammers against Stoke on Monday will propel them into the top five and make them the favourites come the weekend. (Sunday 25 November, 4pm, Ticket info)

4. Brentford v Sheffield United - the Bees are London's top League One club and currently sit just two points adrift of the play-off places. Saturday's visitors from Yorkshire are the biggest club in the division and are in second at the time of writing having thrashed fellow promotion contenders Stevenage 4-1 on Saturday.  Likely to be one of Brentford's biggest crowds of the season and should be a decent match to boot.  (Saturday 24 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

5. Bromley v Boreham Wood - the FA Trophy reaches the First Round proper stage this weekend meaning that all the biggest clubs in non-league football join the party. The draw has been kind to London football fans with some great ties coming out of the hat including this Conference South derby between two clubs from opposite sides of town. The hosts aren't having a great season but The Wood are very much in the race for the title so should be worth a watch. (Saturday 24 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

6. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chelmsford City - last season these two were both in the Conference South - Boro suffered relegation while City just missed out on the play-offs. This season, the hosts are faring much better in the Isthmian Premier and have topped the division for most of the campaign, slipping to fourth in recent weeks. Like Boreham Wood, the Clarets are the title chasers in non league's second tier so will make for tough opponents. (Saturday 24 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

7. Kingstonian v Dartford - the K's are another Isthmian Premier side looking to cause an upset in the FA Trophy when they welcome Conference National side Dartford to Kingsmeadow. The Kent club were among the pre-season relegation favourites and have confounded everyone with a string of results that have moved them to just a win away from top spot. The hosts, although playing two divisions below their opponents, have made a reasonable start to the season but they'll need to be at their best to have any chance here.  (Saturday 24 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

8. Welling United v Newport County - of the weekend's FA Trophy fixtures I've probably left the best till last. The home team are one of the best teams in the Conference South and narrowly missed out on promotion after losing to local rivals Dartford in the last season's play-off final. They're well on course to get at least a play-off place this time round too. Their opposition in this match are currently joint top of the Conference National and were last season's beaten finalists in this competition. One of the ties of the round. (Saturday 24 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

9. Egham Town v Horley Town - away from the cup competitions we have this contest between two of the pacesetters in the Combined Counties League. The Sarnies are the current league leaders and have done superbly well not to have been usurped by the 'Green Machine' that is Guernsey. You feel it is only a matter of time though as they and Badshot Lea both have games in hand on the top dogs. Horley are just behind these three in fourth and will need to do well to stay among the chasing pack. (Saturday 24 November, 3pm, Club info)

10. Enfield 1893 v Burnham Ramblers - last up this week I recommend this Essex Senior League Cup tie between two of that competition's best outfits. At the time of writing, the north London club are second while Burnham will go top if they win their games in hand. Expect a close match. (Tuesday 20 November, 745pm, Club info)

If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or email.

Sunday 11 November 2012

TLFG: 12-18 November 2012

Hi there. After several weeks of publishing a bit later than I'd like, this week's edition is out a bit earlier than normal.

This is because my brother became a father last week and I'm off to Bristol to visit my new nephew.

As a result, it's possible that the match map might not be 100% accurate because Sunday's game between Cray and Welling might require a midweek replay (I will adjust in due course).

The lack of time will also mean a slightly abridged TLFG Top 10.

My football watching this week took me almost to the northern summit of London as I paid a visit to Spartan South Midlands League Division One club Cockfosters.

This part of the capital is probably most famous for being one end of London Underground's Piccadilly Line so I was quite intrigued to make the journey to this legendary and mysterious place.

One of the best things going for the football club is that it's located just across the road from the station so is one of the easiest to get to.

After a lifetime of not making the journey I thought a top of the table clash against local rivals London Lions would be a perfect time to go.

So it was with some dismay that I discovered on Friday that the powers that be had decided to shut the line for engineering works!

All prepared to call it off I was persuaded to go by fellow Non-League Day organiser Mike who said it was walkable from New Barnet station instead.

So after a good lunch in our favourite Turkish place in Finsbury Park we battled past the hordes heading to the Emirates for Arsenal v Fulham to head north for what we hoped would be another decent derby.

The stroll from New Barnet to the Chalk Lane ground was indeed straightforward but largely uphill which was a bit of a pain but we made it just in time for kick-off.

At the start of play the hosts were on an impressive 15-game unbeaten run to stand second in the table just ahead of the visitors who had played three games less and were in pretty good shape themselves.

A club official goes on a ball retrieval mission early in the first half
Unsurprisingly the pitch looked really heavy after a lot of rain earlier in the day but it was playable which was a credit to the Step 6/Level 10 club.

London Lions, a club made up solely of Jewish players, started well and took the lead from close range only to be pegged back soon after.

There wasn't much to separate the sides for the rest of the half and it duly finished 1-1.

The second 45 minutes were quite different with Cockfosters starting far more brightly and generally dominating the play.

Chances came and went before the visitors began to look more dangerous.

It was they who took a rather fortunate lead with just over 15 minutes to go when a young substitute playing on the left wing managed to squeeze the ball rather scrappily between the keeper and a defender.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser and with the game deep into added time got caught on the break, as so often happens, and conceded a third to lose 3-1.

The score definitely flattered the Lions but it could be pivotal in the title race with only four points now separating the top three (top club Harpenden Town had the day off and have played more games than the other two).

Apart going well in the league, Cockfosters and London Lions are still in the FA Vase so both look worth keeping an eye on for the remainder of the season.

Before I sign off this week, I'd like to point you in the direction of a fine short film by 'BeChampionsTV' shot at Wingate & Finchley on Non-League Day showing what the club and the game at that level is all about and how the day went for them:



LATEST TICKET NEWS
Each week at TLFG we attempt to compile a list of what's on general sale to non-members at London's Premier League clubs and for other notable matches (click on the team name for details).

Wednesday 21 November, 745pm - Montpellier, Champions League

Wednesday 5 December, 745pm - FC Nordsjaelland, Champions League

Sunday 18 November, 4pm - Sunderland, Premier League
Monday 10 December, 8pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Wednesday 26 December, 3pm - Southampton, Premier League
Saturday 29 December, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 1 December, 3pm - Aston Villa, Premier League

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Sunday 25 November, 4pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Sunday 16 December, 130pm - Swansea City, Premier League

WEST HAM UNITED
Monday 19 November, 8pm - Stoke City, Premier League
Saturday 1 December, 1245pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Sunday 9 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League (on sale 6 Nov)

Of the games above, West Ham are offering reduced admission for their Premier League game against Stoke with all adult tickets costing between £20-25 which is roughly 50% off the normal price so well worth having a look at.

Over the next seven days there are over 70 matches happening in the London area. Aside from all the normal league action, we've also got some FA Cup and FA Trophy replays, the next round of the FA Vase and lots of county cup matches to look forward to.

With all that in mind, here's this week's match map. If you've never used it 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 left side of the page to make sure you get all the information.

MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 12-18 November 2012 in a larger map

As always, please check with the host club whether a match is still taking place before you travel. Please also let me know if any of the details are wrong or missing.

Next up is this blog's top 10 recommendations of games we think could be particularly worth watching this week, feel free to mention your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur - two bitter north London rivals go head-to-head in what is arguably THE London derby. Spurs are currently one point and one place ahead of the Gunners in the Premier League. (Saturday 17 November, 1245pm, Ticket info)

2. Queens Park Rangers v Southampton - possibly a make or break game for both managers as the Premier League's bottom two clash in this crucial match at Loftus Road. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

3. Crystal Palace v Derby County - rather than crumble, the Eagles have soared since Dougie Freedman left for Bolton and Ian Holloway came in. Four consecutive wins and a lengthy unbeaten run has taken them to the top of the Championship. The Rams are also chasing a play-off spot. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

4. AFC Wimbledon v York City - this FA Cup replay will be the third meeting between the two clubs in 10 days.  After drawing the original tie, the Dons won Saturday's league match 3-0 so will come into this one full of confidence. The prize is a potential trip to MK Dons (if they beat Cambridge City) for a very eye-catching tie in the second round. (Monday 12 November, 745pm, Ticket info)

5. Welling United v Salisbury City - a huge game in the Conference South as the fifth-placed team host the current league leaders. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Ticket info)

6. Dulwich Hamlet v Herne Bay - third play fourth in a crucial game in the Isthmian League Division One South. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Club info)

7. Erith Town v Guernsey - Kent League high flyers take on one of the title favourites from the Combined Counties League in a mouthwatering FA Vase tie. (Saturday 17 November, 1pm, Club info)

8. Oxhey Jets v Cockfosters - another tasting looking FA Vase tie as one of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One's best sides try their luck against one of the pacesetters in the division above. (Saturday 17 November, 3pm, Club info)

9. Phoenix Sports v Bearsted - top two in the Kent Invicta League who are both averaging close to four goals a game. 'Nuff said! (Saturday 17 November, 2pm, Club info)

10. South Kilburn v Westfield - top two in the Combined Counties League Division One, hopefully another cracker. (Saturday 17 November, 2pm, Club info)


If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or email.

Sunday 4 November 2012

TLFG: 5-11 November 2012

Hi there, it's been a busy old day so apologies for the later than normal publication time again.

I began working on this first thing this morning, went to QPR v Reading, did a bit more and then went to a Non-League Day debrief and brainstorm ahead of next year's event.

My trip to Loftus Road was again underwhelming. Although I believe Rangers did enough to win (they drew 1-1), it would have been far from convincing and the cracks are still plainly there for all to see.

How long Mark Hughes remains in charge is unclear but it can't go on much longer if QPR stay winless - the home game against Southampton in two weeks will almost certainly be his last if three points are not forthcoming.

Personally I'm in no hurry to see him leave. His track record as a manager is generally good and at some sides, notably Fulham, he has been slow to get going but usually turns it round.

QPR have picked up a 'hire and fire' reputation over the last few years when it comes to managers, with things getting particularly farcical under the Flavio Briatore regime and I'd like to see that trend end.

Neil Warnock survived for nearly two years and was perhaps a little unfortunate to be dismissed when he was. Prior to that the only manager to have had any kind of sticking power was Ian Holloway who lasted five years, suffering one relegation (which was almost unavoidable), a play-off loss and a promotion.

Like Warnock he was a character and a motivator and he brought success. Hughes is far more guarded and reserved and as one journalist friend recently told me, those kind of managers don't usually do too well in W12.

Esteban Granero sends a free-kick over the bar as QPR push for victory
The one name regularly touted to replace him is that of Harry Redknapp who definitely falls into the 'character' category. Given the choice right now, I'm sure most QPR fans would take him like a shot.

That's enough about my football team, how about the Non-League Day team?

Well a few of us met up earlier this evening to discuss what went well and where to go next.

I say some of us because I'm very pleased to say that one of our volunteers has landed a media job at Exeter City so was in the process of moving down to Devon to start work tomorrow - very well done to him.

Without going into too many details of the meeting, it was generally decided that for NLD to continue to expand we need to get some kind of funding.

Over the last three years the whole campaign has been bankrolled by myself and Mike Bayly which has personally cost us quite a bit of money.

We were aided last year by some sponsorship from satellite channel Premier Sports for which we were very grateful but there was nothing at all this year.

Given what we have managed to achieve with a virtual pittance, it makes you think what we could do with a few quid behind us.

Fundraising events could be the way to go over the next few months with new members of the team coming up with some very innovative ideas.

We're also going to try and get much more multimedia content out there but that costs pretty serious money.

There are also a number of grants we're looking to apply for which we think we could be good candidates for so there's plenty of work to do.

If you can think of any ideas or know anyone who might want to sponsor the event next year then please get in touch.

Lastly this week I want to give a special mention to Michael Cox the editor of 'Zonal Marking'. He was kind enough to give TLFG  a simple mention on Twitter the other day and sent more traffic its way than ever before. Thanks a lot Michael!


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Each week at TLFG we attempt to compile a list of what's on general sale to non-members at London's Premier League clubs and for other notable matches (click on the team name for details).

Nothing currently available

Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Fulham, Premier League
Wednesday 5 December, 745pm - FC Nordsjaelland, Champions League (on sale 9 Nov)

Sunday 18 November, 4pm - Sunderland, Premier League
Monday 10 December, 8pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Wednesday 26 December, 3pm - Southampton, Premier League
Saturday 29 December, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 17 November, 3pm - Southampton, Premier League 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Thursday 8 November, 805pm - NK Maribor, Europa League
Sunday 25 November, 4pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Wednesday 28 November, 745pm - Liverpool, Premier League 

WEST HAM UNITED
Monday 19 November, 8pm - Stoke City, Premier League
Saturday 1 December, 1245pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Sunday 9 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League (on sale 6 Nov)

Elsewhere, League One side Brentford have cut all their ticket prices for the visit of Carlisle United on Saturday 10 November. If you know a season-ticket holder at the Griffin Park club, they can even take you along for FREE. Get all the details here.

Over the next seven days there are over 80 matches happening in the London area. Aside from all the normal league action, we've also got a rematch of the 1872 FA Cup final at The Oval, FA Trophy ties and lots of county cup matches to look forward to.

With all that in mind, here's this week's match map. If you've never used it 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 left side of the page to make sure you get all the information.

MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 5-11 November 2012 in a larger map


As always, please check with the host club whether a match is still taking place before you travel. Please also let me know if any of the details are wrong or missing.

This week's top 10 has been particularly hard to compile as there are a lot of good games, I could easily have included 25. Here's the final cut, feel free to mention your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

CHELSEA v SHAKHTAR DONETSK (Wednesday 7 November, 745pm)
After a massive Manchester United 'double play' last week, the Blues have another big seven days to look forward to. First up are Ukrainian side Shakhtar in this Champions League group match before Liverpool come to town at the weekend in the Premier League. I've highlighted this one as it's supposedly part of a superior competition and I believe Shakhtar have a better chance of winning having beaten Chelsea in the reverse fixture a couple of weeks ago to top the group. Domestically they are in imperious form having won all 14 of their fixtures so far this season, scoring an average of three a game. Although the west London club also made a fine start to the campaign, they've started to wobble a little and lost their lead of the league on Saturday after only managing a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Shakhtar to get at least a point. TICKET INFO

ARSENAL v FULHAM (Saturday 10 November, 3pm)
Next up we've got this north versus west London derby. I think it's fair to say that the Gunners are underachieving so far this season while the Cottagers are overachieving. Currently the sides lie sixth and seventh in the Premier League tied on 15 points. How Fulham manage to do so well almost every season given their relatively meagre fan base is pretty impressive and makes QPR fans like me more than a little envious. Having seen Arsene Wenger's side play Rangers last weekend and scrape to a 1-0 win against 10 men, I think the west Londoners should feel confident of being able to draw if not take all three points. Although that would be an historic achievement as they've never won away against Arsenal ever. TICKET INFO

CRYSTAL PALACE v IPSWICH TOWN (Tuesday 6 November, 8pm)
After much deliberation I opted to highlight this game over Charlton v Cardiff as not only does it pit two new managers against each other but Palace are currently London's top club outside the Premier League and are playing really well. Having recently lost boss Dougie Freedman to Bolton, the Eagles installed Blackpool boss and all-round football character Ian Holloway as his replacement on Saturday meaning this will be his first game in charge. Ipswich on the other hand have made a terrible start and opted to bring former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy in over Paul Jewell on Thursday. His first match came against Birmingham on Saturday and saw them win 1-0. However, an unbeaten run of 11 games culminating in a 2-0 victory over Blackburn this weekend should mean Palace are too good for their opponents on this occasion. TICKET INFO

BROMLEY v STAINES TOWN (Saturday 10 November, 3pm)
Bromley made it to the FA Cup first round on Saturday and gave a good account of themselves as they bowed out at League Two promotion contenders Fleetwood Town. That was the first match in a series of three cup games over a week. The next is against Harrow Borough in the London Senior Cup on Tuesday for which admission has been reduced and the third is this big FA Trophy tie against Conference South rivals Staines. Marcus Gayle's side (he of former Wimbledon fame) have had a pretty decent start to the season and are just a point adrift of the play-off places so should provide challenging opposition for the hosts who have only won two of their last five. TICKET INFO

CRAY WANDERERS v WELLING UNITED (Sunday 11 November, 3pm)
Bromley's tenants Cray have also been drawn at home in the FA Trophy so their tie moves back a day to Sunday. And what a tie it is with fellow south-east Londoners Welling set to pay a visit. Although the hosts play at a lower level this could possibly draw a bigger crowd than the game above because of the derby nature of this game. Until their 3-0 defeat to Wealdstone on Saturday, Cray were on a five-game unbeaten run and climbing the Isthmian Premier table quite nicely. The Wings have been in fairly similar shape recently but play in the Conference South, a level above, and are once again well placed for a tilt at the play-offs. On paper Welling should win but Cray should give them plenty to think about. TICKET INFO

THURROCK v BRACKLEY TOWN (Saturday 10 November, 3pm)
Former Stevenage, Gillingham and Barnet boss Mark Stimson is currently in charge at Isthmian Premier Division club Thurrock. Sadly his reign hasn't begun well with only one league win mustered all season. However, until they lost by a solitary goal at Bognor on Saturday, it appeared a corner may have been turned with the team putting together a five-match unbeaten run. They'll need to be in good form when Brackley arrive for this FA Trophy tie as they are currently two points clear at the top of the Conference North having lost only once in the league since the campaign began. Again the visitors should triumph but a chilly afternoon in Essex on the north banks of the Thames could be a leveller. TICKET INFO

WEALDSTONE v CORBY TOWN (Saturday 10 November, 3pm)
Last up this week in the FA Trophy section we have Wealdstone. Last season they defied the odds to make it as far as the semi-finals where they eventually went out to Conference National side Newport County over two legs. The Isthmian Premier club will be looking to repeat the feat again this year and in many ways will start as favourites even though they play a level below their Conference North opponents. Once again the Stones are doing well, winning an incredible eight of their last nine games (the other was a draw with Thurrock), while Corby are winning a few, losing a few and generally hovering around midtable. The Northamptonshire club also came unstuck in the FA Cup against Isthmian Premier strugglers Hendon a couple of weeks ago so they look there for the taking. TICKET INFO

VCD ATHLETIC v ERITH & BELVEDERE (Saturday 10 November, 3pm)
A bit further down the pyramid at Step 5/Level 9 we have this game between two of the best sides in the Kent League. VCD made a good start but have lost their way a little bit since losing to Erith & Belvedere in the FA Vase three weeks ago. Only a draw with Deal and a two-legged defeat to Corinthian in the Premier Division Cup have resulted since. Nevertheless they are still fourth in the table and should provide a decent contest for the Deres who are second, two points behind local rivals Erith Town. This match is also a derby so there's plenty at stake. CLUB INFO

COCKFOSTERS v LONDON LIONS (Saturday 10 November, 3pm)
Fans of Step 6/Level 10 football could do a lot worse than head to Chalk Lane on Saturday to watch the current Spartan South Midlands Division One leaders play host to local rivals London Lions who are third with three games in hand. Cockfosters is probably most famous for being the northern terminus of the London Underground's Piccadilly Line and the ground lies just over the road making it one of the easiest to get to on public transport. Not only are both sides doing well in the league, they're both going well in the FA Vase too. Keep your eye on both as the season progresses. CLUB INFO

ROYAL ENGINEERS v WANDERERS (Wednesday 7 November, 7pm)
Finally this week I've gone for this wild card/novelty option. On Wednesday these two old clubs will go head-to-head in a repeat of the first ever FA Cup final which took place in 1872. The match will be played, as it was then, at The Oval in Kennington which is now one of the country's best cricket grounds. Wanderers won the original encounter 1-0. Although both sides currently compete at a level below that which TLFG normally covers, they are both genuine former FA Cup winners albeit a very long time ago. If you're a fan of football history this could be the game for you. TICKET INFO


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