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.

2 comments:

  1. Hi! I was wondering if there is any good and cheap games around 25 February-2 March?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Jake, thanks for getting in touch.

    What sort of budget do you have in mind? £20 or less?

    ReplyDelete