Sunday 27 January 2013

TLFG: 28 January - 3 February 2013

Hi there and welcome to TLFG as we move, already, into the second month of 2013.

Snow saw the postponement of many games in London this week and my ongoing work and family commitments meant I missed out again.

Thankfully that meant I avoided QPR's horror show against MK Dons in the FA Cup and I've managed to shift my ticket for the game against Manchester City on Tuesday too.

With the birth of my first child set for Wednesday my lean spell looks set to continue but it could be delayed and I might get to squeeze in the Norwich game on Saturday.

If you've made it to a game this week or have a postponement horror story, I'd like to hear about it below or via Facebook or Twitter.


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).

ARSENAL
Saturday 2 February, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League

CHELSEA
Thursday 21 February, 805pm - Sparta Prague, Europa League 

Wednesday 30 January, 8pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Saturday 23 February, 1245pm - Stoke City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Tuesday 29 January, 745pm - Manchester City, Premier League
Saturday 2 February, 1245pm - Norwich City, Premier League 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Saturday 9 February, 1245pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Thursday 14 February, 805pm - Lyon, Europa League

WEST HAM UNITED
Monday 25 February, 8pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League

Aside from the above, I'm led to believe that the south London derby between Championship clubs Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on Saturday 2 February is still on general sale.

The following week, Palace travel to Watford for another derby and with both sides currently in the top five it looks like being a cracker.

Leyton Orient have made it to the southern area final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and on the 5 February they will play relatively near neighbours Southend United in the first leg knowing a place at Wembley is up for grabs. It's a big game for both clubs but tickets are only £15. They go on general sale on Monday 28 January.

Also that night, England C are in action against Turkey at Dartford's Princes Park ground. Apparently tickets are FREE, just call or email the club to get one.

There is also availability for an nternational friendly between South Korea and Croatia at Craven Cottage on Wednesday 6 February. Sadly it kicks-off at 2pm, presumably for Korean TV purposes. If you're lucky enough to have tickets for England v Brazil at Wembley in the evening, you could take the day off and do an international 'double'.

If the Europa League is your thing, Chelsea v Sparta Prague on 21 February could be a fine way to spend your evening. It looks like tickets are being sold at a flat rate of £30 which is much less than you'd normally pay for a trip to Stamford Bridge. The week before in the same competition, Tottenham Hotspur host Lyon and have applied 'Category C' prices which means adult tickets will vary from £32-£47.

We've also received word that Fulham season-ticket holders can take up to two friends to their Premier League game against Stoke City on 23 February for only £5 each, so if you've got any mates who are regulars at Craven Cottage you might want to get in touch.

Lastly this week, there are two youth matches that look worth watching. Arsenal play Fulham at Barnet's Underhill ground on Tuesday 29 January in the FA Youth Cup while Chelsea take on Sunderland in the U21 Premier League on Sunday 3 February at Brentford's Griffin Park (31 Jan update - this has now been moved to Cobham, behind closed doors). At both it will be £3 for adults and £1 for kids and concessions.

Also, if you're aware of any other deals or promotions at clubs in the capital that I've missed please post them below.

Over the next week there are more than 80 matches taking place in the London area so there's plenty to choose from. There are big London derbies, top of the table clashes and some important cup fixtures too.

Details on all of them can be found in the following 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
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 28 January - 3 February 2013 in a larger map


Bad weather may cause a few postponements as the week progresses so, as always, check with clubs 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 which I think could be worth a bit of your time this week - feel free to mention your own or let us know where you're going in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Liverpool - two of the biggest names in the Premier League do battle on Wednesday. Neither are as good as the regular trophy-winning sides they once were but they should be able to put on a decent show nonetheless. Both sides will start the match outside the top five which would've been unheard of until fairly recently. Only one place apart in the table, there's little to separate them with their current form fairly similar too. The Gunners have won their last two against the Reds, both at Anfield, but came unstuck when they last met at the Emirates in August 2011. My gut tells me Arsenal might just shade this. (Premier League, 30 Jan, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Fulham v Manchester United - it's a big week for the Cottagers as they host West Ham United in a derby match on Wednesday before the current league leaders pay them a visit at the weekend. In case you missed it, Fulham travelled to Old Trafford on Saturday for an FA Cup tie and lost 4-1. This, combined with some iffy league form, doesn't bode well for their chances in this one. The west London club's winless streak against Sir Alex Ferguson's side currently stands at seven games which is better than many - their last win was just over three years ago when recorded a solid 3-0 triumph at Craven Cottage. (Premier League, 2 Feb, 530pm. Ticket info)

3. Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City - elsewhere in west London we have the chance to enjoy a visit from the reigning Premier League champions. QPR are currently bottom and scrapping for every point they can get, while City are second and have won six on the trot in all competitions. The hosts hit their latest low on Saturday when they lost 4-2 at home to League One side MK Dons but it was a side packed largely with second-string players. On paper an away win, and possibly a large one, looks certain but QPR have recently beaten Chelsea and drawn with Spurs so there is hope for the strugglers. You should also bear in mind that both matches between the sides last season were classics. Packed full of drama and goals, City edged both 3-2 including THAT match which sealed the title on the final day. (Premier League, 29 Jan, 745pm. Ticket info)

4. Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic - outside the top flight this is one of the biggest London derbies. Although the Addicks' rivalry with Millwall is bigger there are a few grudges carried over from the 1980s when they ended up groundsharing with Palace at Selhurst Park. Homeless Charlton fans would often be goaded about their misfortune creating a bit of an edge. Before this season there was a three-year break in games between the two as the club from the Valley languished in League One but promotion has ensured the return of the fixture. The Eagles have had a much better season than Charlton so far and edged to victory by a goal to nil back in September. However, the wins have started to dry up for Ian Holloway's side and they could be vulnerable if a spirited Charlton turn up. (Championship, 2 Feb, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Boreham Wood v Hayes & Yeading United - for the last two weeks I've urged you to go and watch The Wood and their games have all been postponed. Well here's another opportunity. From what I remember this is a re-arranged game after another earlier postponement. By Conference South standards I think it's fair to describe this as a derby. Hayes would normally be a TLFG side but their ground is being developed at the moment and they're having to play home games at Woking. Both sides have had decent seasons and are in with a shout of a play-off place. The hosts will start the game in fourth, four places ahead of their opponents but they haven't played a match since 9 January so could be lacking some sharpness. Hayes drew with Bath City on Saturday and are unbeaten in five. (Conference South, 28 Jan, 745pm. Club info)

6. Wealdstone v Lowestoft Town - based on attendances alone, these are two of the Isthmian League's biggest clubs. Last season they met in the play-off semi-finals which Lowestoft won in slightly acrimonious circumstances - consequently a bit of a rivalry has begun to develop. This season the Stones are well on course for at least a play-off spot while their Suffolk opponents have wavered a bit to currently lie ninth, five points off the pace. Wealdstone looked imperious earlier in the season as they went through September, October and November without losing a league match but that run ended in December when they lost 3-0 at Lowestoft. The Trawler Boys also dumped them out of the FA Cup at Grosvenor Vale too so it appears they might be their bogey team. (Isthmian League Premier Division, 2 Feb, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Thamesmead Town v Maldon & Tiptree - of the 266 clubs playing in the top four levels of non-league football, Thamesmead are currently ranked 263rd in this season's attendance league. This seems particularly harsh given that they are playing really well. The coming week is massive for the south-east London club as they entertain third-placed Heybridge Swifts in midweek before Isthmian League Division One North leaders Maldon pay a visit. The Mead, who play very much in the shadow of near neighbours Charlton, are fifth having won four league games on the trot. Eleven points clear at the top, Maldon already look like winning the title but they did let a two-goal lead slip on Saturday as they drew 2-2 at home to struggling Redbridge who had lost five in a row. When the two sides last met in December, Maldon took the honours by a goal to nil. (Isthmian League Division One North, 2 Feb, 3pm. Club info)

8. Epsom & Ewell v Guernsey - two of the best sides in the Combined Counties League go head-to-head on Tuesday night in this league cup match. The Channel Islands club are the big guns in this division with home matches regularly drawing crowds in excess of a thousand. They are also one of the best teams on the pitch with their current sixth place only due to the fact that they've suffered a whopping 14 postponements so far this season. The hosts have been luckier in that regard and have won 16 of their 24 games to climb to second just a point behind leaders Egham Town. If this match does beat the weather, it should provide a barometer of both teams' championship credentials. (Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup, 29 Jan, 745pm. Club info)

9. London APSA v Barking - after a season and a bit away, APSA recently made their return to the East End's Terrence McMillan Stadium. This derby match against local rivals Barking on Thursday will be tough for a side who were founded by and are largely, although not exclusively, made up of players from the local Pakistani community. The hosts haven't had a great season while their opponents are very much in the hunt for a top-three finish. They did, however, beat the Blues earlier this month in the reverse league fixture. (Essex Senior League, 31 Jan, 745pm. Club info)

10. Phoenix Sports v Hollands & Blair - last up this week, if you're in the Bexleyheath/Dartford area you could do a lot worse than go to this. The Kent Invicta League's top two clubs meet in the semi-final of the league's Challenge Trophy. The hosts are unbeaten in the title race and won a thriller at H&B's Darland Avenue ground 3-2 earlier in the season. Phoenix also average 3.5 goals a game so it should be a pretty decent match. (Kent Invicta League Challenge Trophy, 2 Feb, 130pm. 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 20 January 2013

TLFG: 21-27 January 2013

Hello there and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

If you didn't already know it's been a snowy few days in London so outside of the capital's top clubs, there hasn't been much football going on.

With the icy weather set to continue for most of the week it made me think whether putting this week's post together would be worth it but I've ploughed on nonetheless.

If you made it to a game at Griffin Park, Selhurst Park, Stamford Bridge, The Den, Upton Park, Vicarage Road, White Hart Lane or anywhere else in London this week I'd like to hear about it either here or via Facebook or Twitter (pictures gratefully received).

Wintery conditions in London have brought a halt to most football

My main football activity took place earlier this afternoon when I joined the first planning meeting of 2013 for this year's Non-League Day.

We haven't got a date for it yet, it all depends on when the FA schedule their various cup competitions, but we've narrowed it down to either 7 September or 12 October.

If you've got any suggestions or feedback about what we could do this time round, please get in touch.

All the best with your football watching this week, I don't think there'll be much of it!


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).

ARSENAL
Saturday 2 February, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League

CHELSEA
Thursday 21 February, 805pm - Sparta Prague, Europa League 

Wednesday 30 January, 8pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Saturday 23 February, 1245pm - Stoke City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 26 January, 3pm - MK Dons, FA Cup
Tuesday 29 January, 745pm - Manchester City, Premier League
Saturday 2 February, 1245pm - Norwich City, Premier League 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Saturday 9 February, 1245pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Thursday 14 February, 805pm - Lyon, Europa League

WEST HAM UNITED
Monday 25 February, 8pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League

Once again there is value to be had in the FA Cup. Premier League strugglers QPR have slashed their prices for the visit of MK Dons on Saturday with the majority of adult tickets priced at £15. 

Promotion-chasing Millwall entertain Premier League side Aston Villa on Friday night with tickets ranging from £20-25.

The deal of the week in my opinion is to be found in League Two where, for some strange reason, AFC Wimbledon are playing high-flying Port Vale on Thursday night. The south-west London club are charging just £10 to stand on what will probably be quite a chilly terrace.

There are also two FA Youth Cup ties this week with Arsenal playing Fulham at Barnet's Underhill ground while West Ham United host Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park. I don't have any further details about the Gunners' game but the latter is only £3 to get in to and therefore represents a great chance to visit one of the capital's best grounds and see a match on the cheap.

Looking further ahead, there's another deal to be had in the East End where it's 'Kids for a Quid' when West Ham United take on Swansea City in a Premier League game on 2 February.

In the Championship, the south-east London derby between Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on 2 February is on general sale.

Tickets are also available for a bonus international friendly between South Korea and Croatia at Craven Cottage on Wednesday 6 February. Sadly it kicks-off at 2pm, presumably for Korean TV purposes. If you're lucky enough to have tickets for England v Brazil at Wembley in the evening, you could take the day off and do an international 'double'.

Leyton Orient have made it to the southern area final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and on the 5 February they will play relatively near neighbours Southend United in the first leg, knowing a place at Wembley is up for grabs. It's a big game for both clubs but tickets are only £15.

Also that night, England C are in action against Turkey at Dartford's Princes Park ground. Apparently tickets are FREE just call or email the club to get one.

If the Europa League is your thing, Chelsea v Sparta Prague on 21 February could be a fine way to spend your evening. It looks like tickets are being sold at a flat rate of £30 which is much less than you'd normally pay for a trip to Stamford Bridge. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday.

Last up in this section, we've received word that Fulham season-ticket holders can take up to two friends to their Premier League game against Stoke City on 23 February for only £5 each, so if you've got any mates who are regulars at Craven Cottage you might want to get in touch.

Over the next week there are more than 80 matches taking place in the London area so there's plenty to choose from. There are big London derbies, top of the table clashes, FA Cup ties and some FA Youth Cup fixtures too.

Details on all of them can be found in the following 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
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 21-27 January 2013 in a larger map


Bad weather will almost certainly cause many postponements as the week progresses so, as always, check with clubs 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 which I think could be worth a bit of your time this week - feel free to mention your own or let us know where you're going in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v West Ham United - we kick off this week with a big London derby. This match was originally scheduled for Boxing Day but because of the Tube strike the Gunners pre-emptively called it off. The Hammers got promoted from the Championship last season and have settled pretty well but they're on a bit of a dodgy run at the moment having won only one of their last seven league games. Their record against their north London rivals in recent years is also poor with their 3-1 loss earlier this season taking their winless streak against them to 11 matches. Arsenal, however, are far from infallible but overall form and history seem to favour them. (Premier League, 23 Jan, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Millwall v Aston Villa - I think it was a former BBC colleague of mine Caroline Cheese who coined the phrase 'cupset' a few years ago and this FA Cup match has all the makings of becoming one. The Lions are firmly in the hunt for a place in the Championship play-offs while Villa are having a hard time at the wrong end of the Premier League. A packed and vocal Den will be an intimidating place for Paul Lambert's young team who are probably quite low on confidence. From a historical point of view, Millwall haven't played Villa since 1990 and have beaten them on the last four occasions when playing at home. (FA Cup, 25 Jan, 745pm. Ticket info)

3. Brentford v Chelsea - from a west London perspective this looks like being one of the matches of the season. If you don't know the geography, this is a derby. It's also a real David v Goliath contest with an enormous gulf between the two clubs. We know all about the champions of Europe and the billions of their owner but what about their hosts? The Bees, managed by former Manchester City player Uwe Rosler, are currently one of the best sides in League One. Currently they are fourth of four in the west London football pecking order while the Blues are top. This is the tie many Brentford fans have been dreaming about for years and I mean YEARS. Despite the clubs' close proximity I was staggered to find that they haven't played each other competitively since 1950 so this really is a once in a lifetime game for some associated with the team. There has been some grumbling among the faithful that the club are trying to cash in and with the cheapest standing tickets going for £28 for non-members you can see why. It should still sell out though with the club reporting earlier today that the queue at the ground would take about four hours to get through. (FA Cup, 27 Jan, 12pm. Ticket info)

4. Queens Park Rangers v MK Dons - I wasn't going to include this game but then I changed my mind. There are only three London FA Cup ties, it's cheap to get in (£15), there's a bit of a derby nature to the match and there's a very real chance that we could have another 'cupset'. QPR are unbeaten in 2013 and did well to get past West Bromwich Albion in the previous round but they are still vulnerable. The pressure will be very much on them in this game as they have it all to lose. MK Dons, like Brentford, are well placed for a tilt at promotion from League One and in Karl Robinson have one of the brightest young managers around. It's also a short trip down to Shepherd's Bush for the away fans who will probably travel in considerable numbers. Last season, these two met in the third round and Rangers just scraped home by a goal to nil but only after a replay. (FA Cup, 26 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Port Vale - away from the FA Cup we have this League Two encounter. As previously mentioned, this is being played on Thursday night. The Dons have had a tough season and will start the game in the bottom two. There are signs of recovery though with seven points gleaned from their last three games but their opponents on this occasion are much stronger than anyone they've faced of late. Vale are currently top and beat nearest rivals Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium last time out. Don't forget the special deal in place for this match - standing tickets are only £10. (League Two, 24 Jan, 745pm. Ticket info)

6. Boreham Wood v Salisbury City - last week I extolled the virtues and achievements of Boreham Wood before seeing their games get called off. Well here I have another chance. To recap, the Wood are firmly in the race for promotion from the Conference South but get the smallest crowds in the division. As far as I'm aware they don't have a big benefactor as some similar clubs do so it must largely be down to good management by former Arsenal player Ian Allinson. This weekend they face league leaders Salisbury City who have won seven of their last eight matches (the other was a draw). Back in October on Non-League Day, when the sides last met, it ended 2-2 so I'm hoping for another decent game here. (Conference South, 26 Jan, 3pm. Club info)

7. Metropolitan Police v Whitehawk - one club that do seem to fall into the rich benefactor/few fans category are Whitehawk. The Sussex club are on course for back-to-back promotions from the Isthmian League Division One South right through to the Conference South. At the time of writing they are top of the Isthmian Premier by a considerable 10-point margin. A solid midtable team, the hosts will hope to push them hard as they did League One side Crawley Town in this season's FA Cup first round. (Isthmian League Premier Division, 26 Jan, 3pm. Club info)

8. Dulwich Hamlet v Kingstonian - after the disappointment of seeing their big game against Maidstone postponed on Saturday, Dulwich welcome south-London rivals Kingstonian to Champion Hill for this Isthmian League Cup quarter-final. The hosts currently play a division below the K's but are one of the best sides at that level so will want to prove themselves. They have every right to feel confident too having not lost a match since October, a run which recently included victory over Wealdstone (one of the best sides in Kingstonian's division) in the last round. The visitors have had a very mixed start to 2013 and most recently lost 1-0 at Hendon who have had a poor season. This match could go either way. (Isthmian League Cup, 22 Jan, 745pm. Club info)

9. Walton & Hersham v Walton Casuals - another match to fall foul of the weather over the Christmas period, the Walton derby is currently scheduled for Tuesday. Neither side have had much to shout about this season with both towards the bottom of the Isthmian League Division One South. The hosts are marginally the better side but Casuals are in better form having won their last two games against Eastbourne Town and Three Bridges meaning it should be pretty even. (Isthmian League Division One South, 22 Jan, 745pm. Club info)

10. North Greenford United v AFC Hayes - we finish this week with another derby on the west side of the capital. Like the game above, neither side are doing anything particularly noteworthy this season but AFC Hayes are North Greenford's nearest neighbours in this division so it should be worth a watch. One fact of interest - the hosts are managed by former Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Southampton player Neil Shipperley. (Southern League Division One Central, 22 Jan, 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 13 January 2013

TLFG: 14-20 January 2013

Hello there and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

It's been another busy week - I'm currently coming towards the end of seven days of late shifts at work, my first child's birth is imminent and a very close relative is battling a serious illness but somehow I've managed to squeeze this post in.

If the quality or quantity of my output over the next few weeks and months slips, you'll know why and I apologise in advance.

In a couple of snatched hours on Saturday I was also able to get along to Loftus Road to see QPR's latest London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Originally scheduled for this Monday night, Kieron Dyer's injury-time equaliser against West Brom in last week's FA Cup tie (his last touch before being a little surprisingly released) had caused the Spurs fixture to be moved to make way for the replay.

It was to my benefit as I would have missed it otherwise.

QPR's Anton Ferdinand looks on as a fan has a go at the half-time 'Round the Pole' competition
Despite the gulf in points and places between the two in the Premier League table, I went into this game with hope. The last two matches between the two had been close, entertaining affairs with one win apiece.

The added Harry Redknapp factor also made me think we could be competitive.

As in the recent win at Chelsea, QPR set up to defend with Adel Taarabt up front on his own.

Consequently Spurs had more and better chances bringing some superb saves out of Julio Cesar (I'm still not sure what he's doing at my club) but they could never relax and Rangers had their moments.

It ended 0-0 which was no disgrace, but QPR need wins and last year we took our one decent chance against the north Londoners and held on. 

Finding a cutting edge before the end of January is essential or the end seems certain.

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 6 February, 730pm - Brazil, international friendly, Wembley

Wednesday 23 January, 745pm - West Ham United, Premier League

CHELSEA
Saturday 9 February, 3pm - Wigan Athletic, Premier League

Wednesday 30 January, 8pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Saturday 23 February, 1245pm - Stoke City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Tuesday 29 January, 745pm - Manchester City, Premier League
Saturday 2 February, 1245pm - Norwich City, Premier League 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Nothing currently available

WEST HAM UNITED
Saturday 19 January, 3pm - QPR, Premier League
Saturday 2 February, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League

Aside from these, tickets are also on sale for a bonus international friendly between South Korea and Croatia at Craven Cottage on Wednesday 6 February. Sadly it kicks-off at 2pm, presumably for Korean TV purposes, but this means you could take a day off see this and then go to England v Brazil at Wembley in the evening.

In the Championship, the south-east London derby between Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on 2 February is now on general sale.

Last month Brentford operated a 'Pay What You Want' scheme for their League One fixture against Stevenage - sadly the game was postponed. However, it's been re-arranged for 12 February and the same scheme is in operation. Last week the club reported there were around 1,000 tickets left so it must be approaching a sell out.

The Bees have also cut prices for their FA Cup replay against Southend on 15 January - adult prices are £12 to stand and £15 to sit. Likewise Leyton Orient are charging £15 for their replay against Hull City the same night.

Over the next week there are more than 70 matches taking place in the London area so there's plenty to choose from. There are big London derbies, top of the table clashes, FA Cup replays and some FA Youth Cup ties too.

Details on all of them can be found in the following 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


Bad weather may see a few postponements as the week progresses so, as always, check with clubs 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 which I think could be worth a bit of your time this week - feel free to mention your own or let us know where you're going in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10


1. Chelsea v Arsenal - the match of the week takes place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as two of the Premier League's top six go head-to-head. Not only this but it is of course a big London derby. Each club's fans probably hate Tottenham more but the rivalry is pretty intense between these two as well. Both are in  good form at the moment (this is being written before the Gunners' game against Manchester City) and both have managed to score seven or more goals in a game over the last few weeks. The Blues took the honours at the Emirates by 2-1 in September so maybe it's Arsenal's turn to come out on top. (Premier League, 20 Jan, 130pm. Ticket info)

2. Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - from a non-London perspective this is a bigger game than the one above as it pits fourth against first (at the time of writing). These games often promise much but fail to deliver as Man Utd win fairly convincingly. However, this season it could well be different. Spurs are again in good form with just one defeat in 10 and they also won a thriller at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Tottenham haven't beaten Sir Alex Ferguson's side at White Hart Lane since 2001 but this looks like being their best chance for a while. (Premier League, 20 Jan, 4pm. Ticket info)

3. West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers - the big fixtures are coming thick fast for QPR at the moment with this derby against east London's top club. This game is again significant for Rangers boss Harry Redknapp - the Hammers are the club he has the strongest affinity with having been born in the area, played for and managed them. It has, however, been 12 years since he was last on the payroll at Upton Park where Sam Allardyce is now in charge. The former Bolton and Blackburn boss brought West Ham up from the Championship last season and has taken them into midtable. However, they've lost three of their last four and could be susceptible if the visitors show some of their recent resolve. (Premier League, 19 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Burnley - two outside contenders for promotion from the Championship meet at the Den on Saturday. After spending quite a bit of time at the wrong end of the table last season, Kenny Jackett has done a fine job at the Bermondsey club this season. Their great run which began earlier in the season has faltered a bit recently but they're still seventh just two places off a play-off spot. Burnley on the other had are just two points behind them and come into this on the back of a fine 1-0 win over third placed Crystal Palace on Saturday. (Championship, 19 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Brentford v Tranmere Rovers - this is undoubtedly the match of the week in League One as third host first. Only four points separate the two at the moment and it would be a lot more if Rovers hadn't had a sticky spell in November/December where they went winless in six. With that behind them they've won their last four to be coming to Griffin Park in good shape. Despite this the Bees will strongly fancy their chances because they are the division's form team who are unbeaten in 13 league matches. It should be a cracker! (League One, 19 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Welling United v Boreham Wood - after narrowly losing to Conference high-flyers Grimsby Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday, the Wings entertain fellow promotion chasers Boreham Wood at Park View Road on Saturday. If you're not up on the latest, Welling have won their last nine league games to sit second in the Conference South three points behind Salisbury with a game in hand. Their opponents have had a fine season and have kept up with the pace despite being one of the smallest clubs in the division. With an average crowd of just 229 they have sustained their push for the play-offs and are fourth at the time of writing. Unbeaten in three themselves, I expect the north London club to give it a good go! (Conference South, 19 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Dulwich Hamlet v Maidstone United - although this is a Step 4/Level 8 fixture, it's arguably the non-league match of the weekend in the capital. Dulwich and Maidstone currently occupy the top two spots in the Isthmian League Division One South table. The hosts are currently three points ahead but the Kent club have a game in hand. With only one team going up automatically the stakes are high. They are, unsurprisingly, the two best supported clubs in the division so a crowd in the high hundreds or even a 1,000 isn't out of the question. Champion Hill is also a fine stadium for the level and easily accessible by public transport. I can't enthuse enough about this match! (Isthmian League Division One South, 19 Jan, 3pm. Club info)

8. Grays Athletic v Tilbury - this is a slightly strange one to recommend as both clubs actually come from outside TLFG's catchment area. However, Grays currently play their games in Romford so I do include them. With this cleared up, it needs to be pointed out that this is a derby and quite a bitter one at that. In recent seasons there have been all kinds of trouble between these two which for the level of football is quite shocking and certainly very disappointing. If you still fancy going, both sides are doing rather well on the pitch and could both make the play-offs. The hosts are third at present while Tilbury are eighth just two points adrift of that all-important fifth spot. (Isthmian League Division One North, 19 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Epsom & Ewell v Windsor - for me and many other casual observers of the Combined Counties League, the title race seemed to be between Egham Town and Guernsey. After the big disappointment of seeing the match between the two on Saturday get postponed, we get the chance to have a look at two of the other contenders this weekend. A six-game winning run culminating in a 3-2 win at fellow challengers Badshot Lea has lifted Epsom to second, seven points behind pacesetters Egham. Windsor were also expected to do well this year until the chairman decided to remove the club's playing budget, with the goal of getting players to play for the love of the game rather than money. The management team and most of a very useful squad left and a plummet down the league was predicted. However, this hasn't happened and Windsor are now fourth having thrashed Ash United 7-0 on Saturday. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, 19 Jan, 3pm. Club info)

10. Erith Town v Whyteleafe - the race for the Kent League title looks like being a thriller as the two Erith clubs go neck-and-neck for glory. At the moment Erith & Belvedere are ahead of Town but only on goal difference. Whyteleafe, relegated from the Isthmian League last season, represent the best of the rest seven points behind in third. If they are to have any chance of claiming the crown this year then a win in this one is almost essential.  (Kent League Premier Division, 19 Jan, 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 6 January 2013

TLFG: 7-13 January 2013

Hi there and Happy New Year!

I hope your festive period went well and you crammed in as much football as you could.

Personally I had fairly lofty ambitions of seeing at least four games - a balanced diet of Premier League and non-league football but I only managed half that as family commitments took precedence.

In fact my football diet wasn't very balanced at all as I overdid it on a double helping of that most attractive of 'match-ups' - Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion.

Possibly the longest fixture characterwise in 'the 92', neither was particularly entertaining from a QPR fan's point of view.

The Baggies came out on top over the two matches with the league match being won 2-1 and decided by an incident involving Rangers goalkeeper Rob Green (was he pushed/did he flap) and the FA Cup tie ending in a 1-1 draw as Kieron 'Lazarus' Dyer rose from the dead once again to score at the death and an earn the London club a replay.

This match epitomised the decline of the FA Cup for me as two Premier League teams could only draw a crowd of 8,984. Even with ticket prices reduced, around 10,000 people failed to show who were there for the Premier League game 10 days before. The West Brom fans, however, can't be blamed as they brought as many people as they did on Boxing Day and sang throughout. If they win the replay (an almost certainty), I quite fancy them to do well in the following rounds.

Sadly I didn't make it to Stamford Bridge for our match of the season meaning I've missed all three games that QPR have won this campaign (Walsall, Fulham and Chelsea). There's a good chance I won't be able to go to our game against Spurs this Saturday so watch out Tottenham fans!

So which games did you go to and where are you planning to visit this week?


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 6 February, 730pm - Brazil, international friendly, Wembley

Wednesday 16 January, 730pm - Swansea City, FA Cup

CHELSEA
Wednesday 16 January, 745pm - Southampton, Premier League 

Saturday 12 January, 3pm - Wigan Athletic, Premier League
Wednesday 30 January, 8pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Saturday 23 February, 1245pm - Stoke City, Premier League

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Saturday 12 January, 1245pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
Tuesday 29 January, 745pm - Manchester City, Premier League
Saturday 2 February, 1245pm - Norwich City, Premier League 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Nothing currently available

WEST HAM UNITED
Saturday 19 January, 3pm - QPR, Premier League
Saturday 2 February, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League

Of the games above, adult tickets for Chelsea's League Cup semi-final first leg against Swansea are only £25 so could well be worth having.

Elsewhere, entry to Fulham's Premier League game against Wigan Athletic on 12 January ranges from £20-35 with U16s getting in for £1.

In the Championship, the south-east London derby between Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic on 2 February is now on general sale.

Last month Brentford operated a 'Pay What You Want' scheme for their League One fixture against Stevenage - sadly the game was postponed. However, it's been re-arranged for 12 February and the same scheme is in operation. The club report there are around 1,000 tickets left.

Over in east London, close to the Olympic Park, Leyton Orient are charging just £10 for adults and £1 for U18s for their Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern semi-final against Yeovil Town on Tuesday 8 January. In order to try and get families in, this match will kick off at 7pm.

An adult ticket for Dagenham & Redbridge v Rochdale in League Two on Saturday 12 January can be had for as little as £2.50! The club are hosting an Anti-Racism Family Fun Day and have cut prices accordingly.

Over the next week there are more than 80 matches taking place in the London area so there's plenty to choose from. There are big London derbies, a League Cup semi-final and some very attractive FA Trophy ties as well.

Details on all of them can be found in the following 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 7-13 January 2013 in a larger map



Bad weather may see a few postponements as the week progresses so, as always, check with clubs 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 which I think could be worth a bit of your time this week - feel free to mention your own or let us know where you're going in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10


1. Arsenal v Manchester City - the match of the week takes place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as two of the Premier League's top six go head-to-head. Historically the Gunners have been far more successful as a club and when the two meet. In fact their recent record against league champions City isn't too bad either having drawn at the Etihad in September and beaten them on their last visit to north London last season. Arsene Wenger's side are currently in marginally better form too so an 'upset' could well be possible. (Premier League, 13 Jan, 4pm. Ticket info)

2. Queens Park Rangers v Tottenham Hotspur - it's derby day once again in W12 as struggling QPR welcome Spurs to Loftus Road. There's a bit more to it than that though as Rangers are now managed by their opponents' former boss Harry Redknapp. The east Londoner enjoyed a very successful time at White Hart Lane with his departure amid rumours of getting the England job a sad way to go. Consequently he'll probably want to win this one quite badly. Doing that will be tricky though as Spurs have hit a purple patch and should win particularly if Gareth Bale is in the mood. (Premier League, 12 Jan, 1245pm. Ticket info)

3. Chelsea v Swansea City - following defeat to QPR, it seems to be all about the cups now for the Blues who could still finish the season with three bits of silverware. Saturday's demolition of Southampton in the FA Cup is followed by this League Cup semi-final first leg against Swansea. The Welsh side have had a very solid season and will provide tough opposition to Chelsea and could well 'want it more'. The fact the Stamford Bridge club have slashed ticket prices suggest their fans aren't that interested either so the underdogs could come out on top. (League Cup, 9 Jan, 745pm. Ticket info)

4. AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe Wanderers - by League Two standards this is pretty much a derby. Although Wycombe don't fall within TLFG's catchment area they are, like so many other clubs, just outside it. It's important too in the race to avoid relegation with neither side having excelled themselves this season. Gareth Ainsworth's Wanderers are the better placed at the moment but the Dons have made the perfect start to 2013 with two wins out of two so will go into this match with renewed confidence. (League Two, 12 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Dartford v Bromley - this weekend sees the playing of the third round of the FA Trophy, a knock-out competition for teams from the top four levels of the non-league game, which means we're down to the last 16. Our first featured game is the south-east London derby between these two old rivals. Both were in the Conference South last season but Dartford won promotion and have done well at the higher level, making themselves a top eight side. Bromley, on the other hand, have struggled but hauled themselves out of the relegation zone on Saturday with a win over Eastleigh. I'm hoping a decent crowd and the chance of getting to Wembley will even things up a bit. (FA Trophy, 12 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Wrexham - as recently as 2005 Wrexham were playing their football in League One. Now, sadly for them, they are a non-league club. However, they are currently second in the Conference Premier meaning a return to the Football League could be on the cards. Sutton play a division below them and are in pretty decent form. After a shaky start they've won three of their last four league games and were narrowly between 1-0 by table toppers Salisbury City on Saturday. The U's have upset bigger clubs in their time but they'll do well to win this one. (FA Trophy, 12 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Welling United v Grimsby Town - unattached football fans in south-east London will be really spoilt for choice on Saturday as Dartford's near neighbours Welling have a blockbuster FA Trophy tie to look forward to as well. Of the three games in the competition in London this is probably the best (I've listed them alphabetically) with the in-form wings of the Conference South entertaining the Conference Premier leaders Grimsby. Although the London club play a level below their opponents they have won their last 10 games so will be full of confidence as they face a club who were playing in the country's second tier until 2003. (FA Trophy, 12 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. AFC Hornchurch v Salisbury City - away from the FA Trophy we have this Conference South fixture. The Urchins won promotion to this division from the Isthmian League last year and after rocky beginnings managed to drag themselves up into midtable. However, two consecutive defeats have left them looking over their shoulders again in what is a very tight table (just nine points separate the play-off and relegation places). It won't get any easier on Saturday when league leaders Salisbury pay a visit. Despite winning their last five league games, Welling are still hot on their heels and a slip up here could ultimately let them get past. (Conference South, 12 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Wingate & Finchley v Whitehawk - the hosts ended 2012 with a dismal run of results which saw them go eight games without a win, leaving them firmly among the Isthmian League Premier Division relegation contenders. However, the New Year has brought them a change in fortunes with consecutive away victories over local rivals Wealdstone and Harrow Borough.  If they continue this run on Saturday it will be no mean feat as they entertain current leaders Whitehawk. The Sussex club have attracted a lot of negative publicity over the last year or so as rich owners have been perceived to have bought them promotion and look like doing so again. This situation is particularly exacerbated by the fact that despite this success, the club are quite poorly supported with their average crowd of 158 putting them in the bottom four of the division's attendance table. (Isthmian League Premier Division, 12 Jan, 3pm. Ticket info)

10. Egham Town v Guernsey - as regular readers will know, I've been tipping Guernsey to win the Combined Counties League title for a long time and have said frequently that they will catch current leaders Egham. Well this Saturday we'll find out if that's likely. As it stands, Egham have a 12-point lead over the fourth-placed Green Lions but the latter have a whopping six games in hand. The Sarnies slipped to a disappointing 4-2 defeat at Croydon on Saturday but the Channel Islands club failed to take full advantage, dropping two points as they drew 1-1 at Molesey. For a game at this level, it doesn't get much bigger! (Combined Counties League Premier Division, 12 Jan, 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.