The main task at the moment is populating the interactive match map. With several more leagues releasing their fixtures there are hundreds that need to be added.
Putting TLFG's match map together has also been more challenging than usual with more teams entering the pre-season fray. Frustratingly, several non-league teams provide very few details about their friendlies so have required some chasing. Others have published no information at all and don't respond to my messages meaning their fixtures, if there are any, won't appear here and for that I apologise. I only mention this because I believe such clubs are shooting themselves in the foot - people are looking and do want to know so get it sorted!
Anyway, that's enough about my week. Remember to let me know what you've been up to and if you're interested in reviewing a ground within the London area for this blog then get in touch. Also keep the general correspondence coming, I enjoy answering your questions and offering advice if I can.
You can contact TLFG through the comments section 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).
Wednesday 14 August, 8pm - Scotland, international friendly, Wembley
Friday 6 September, 8pm - Moldova, World Cup qualifier, Wembley
EMIRATES CUP at ARSENAL
Friday 6 September, 8pm - Moldova, World Cup qualifier, Wembley
EMIRATES CUP at ARSENAL
Saturday 3 August:
Galatasaray v FC Porto, 2pm
Arsenal v Napoli, 420pm
Sunday 4 August:
Napoli v FC Porto, 2pm
Arsenal v Galatasaray, 420pm
Galatasaray v FC Porto, 2pm
Arsenal v Napoli, 420pm
Sunday 4 August:
Napoli v FC Porto, 2pm
Arsenal v Galatasaray, 420pm
FULHAM
Monday 5 August, 8pm - Real Betis, friendly
Monday 5 August, 8pm - Real Betis, friendly
Saturday 10 August, 3pm - Parma, friendly
Saturday 14 September, 3pm - West Bromwich Albion, Premier League (on sale 24 July)
Saturday 5 October, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League (on sale 25 July)
Saturday 23 November, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League (on sale 26 July)
Saturday 14 September, 3pm - West Bromwich Albion, Premier League (on sale 24 July)
Saturday 5 October, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League (on sale 25 July)
Saturday 23 November, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League (on sale 26 July)
Saturday 10 August, 530pm - RCD Espanyol, friendly
Sunday 25 August, 4pm - Swansea City, Premier League (on sale 25 July)
Sunday 25 August, 4pm - Swansea City, Premier League (on sale 25 July)
Saturday 10 August, 3pm - Paços de Ferreira, friendly
Saturday 17 August, 3pm - Cardiff City, Premier League (on sale 23 July)
Saturday 31 August, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League (on sale 23 July)
There are 90 matches in the London area this week. However, this number could change as friendlies, particularly involving non-league teams, are often arranged, cancelled or have their venue changed at quite short notice. Therefore, always check with clubs before you travel. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.
Details on all of this week's games 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 map page to make sure you get all the information.
Saturday 17 August, 3pm - Cardiff City, Premier League (on sale 23 July)
Saturday 31 August, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League (on sale 23 July)
There are 90 matches in the London area this week. However, this number could change as friendlies, particularly involving non-league teams, are often arranged, cancelled or have their venue changed at quite short notice. Therefore, always check with clubs before you travel. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.
Details on all of this week's games 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 map page to make sure you get all the information.
MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures
Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. Add your own in the comments section below.
TLFG TOP 10
1. Millwall v Rayo Vallecano - as we get into the latter stages of pre-season, the city's bigger clubs come back from their travels to host the odd game. One such club are Championship side Millwall who have managed to arrange a match against Spanish top-flight club Rayo for defender Paul Robinson's testimonial. Hailing from Madrid, they managed to finish eighth last season so should have a few decent players in their squad. At just £13 for adults and £6 for kids this looks like a pretty good value way to spend an afternoon. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
2. Watford v Granada CF - until Friday the Hornets were all set to play New York Cosmos on this date but have decided to switch at relatively short notice to face Granada. As above it's Championship versus La Liga, although the visitors finished in a more modest 15th in their last campaign. Of particular note is the fact that both clubs are owned by the Italian Pozzo family, something which probably helped when it came to arranging things. Again this is a fine value option with adult tickets going for £10. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
3. Leyton Orient v New York Cosmos - having seen their match at Vicarage Road disappear, the Cosmos have managed to hold on to their game at Orient. The famous American side had their heyday in the '70s with players like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer among their ranks. Football in the USA fell on hard times and the club stopped competing in 1985 but reformed again in 2010 and now play in the American second tier. A look through their squad would suggest that former Villarreal and Spain midfielder Marcos Senna is probably the biggest name. The League One O's are averaging four goals a game in pre-season so will hope for one or two more here. Tickets start at £10. (Friendly, 24 July, 730pm. Ticket info)
4. Dagenham & Redbridge v Charlton Athletic - over at Victoria Road we have a derby. The League Two Daggers have had a very busy pre-season having played seven times since the 29 June, winning four. On Saturday they narrowly lost 2-1 to Premier League side Crystal Palace. The Addicks, from the Championship, haven't been wasting their time either with five games under their belts too. Having won four and drawn one they will start as favourites. Tickets start at £10. (Friendly, 23 July, 745pm. Ticket info)
5. Barnet v MK Dons - Having lost 1-0 to Ipswich in the inaugural game at their new ground on Saturday, Edgar Davids' Conference Premier side next welcome the Dons. Karl Robinson's team seem to have become perennial League One play-off contenders but never quite make it. Their pre-season stats have been impressive so far with five wins and a draw and an average of 3.5 goals a game. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
6. Boreham Wood v Brentford - the latest pro club to head to Meadow Park are League One Brentford. Over the last 10 days the Wood have entertained the full West Ham first-team squad (L 0-3), Luton Town (W 1-0) and an Arsenal XI (W 3-0). The Bees, on the other hand, have beaten Millwall 3-0 and lost 2-1 to Celtic over the last few days so should be decent opponents. The two clubs last met in November in the FA Cup with Brentford notching a 2-0 win. (Friendly, 23 July, 730pm. Ticket info)
7. Sutton United v Chelsea XI - the U's blockbuster pre-season campaign reaches its climax on Tuesday when the Blues send a representative side to Gander Green Lane. The Conference South side have so far welcomed sides from Arsenal, Fulham and AFC Wimbledon but have sadly lost them all. The big crowds, however, will have made those defeats easier to take and large numbers will almost certainly turn out for this one too especially with it being only £10 to get in. Don't expect a host of Chelsea stars to be on show though - the first team will be in south-east Asia at the time. (Friendly, 23 July, 730pm. Ticket info)
8. Harrow Borough v Crystal Palace XI - the highlight of pre-season for Dave Anderson's side is this match against the Eagles. Boro started their friendlies on Thursday and have squeezed in back-to-back 3-1 away wins over North Greenford United and Thatcham Town. Although Ian Holloway and his main squad of players will be at Crawley Town, the Palace U21 side should provide formidable opponents having crushed East Grinstead 6-0 on Monday. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
9. Hendon v Barnet - earlier in the week, Harrow's new tenants Hendon play their first game at Earlsmead and it comes in the form of this derby. With the Greens and Bees having both moved to new homes this summer all three now play in the London Borough of Harrow. With Harrow and Hendon both suffering dwindling crowds in recent years it will be very interesting to see what effect Barnet's presence has on them. I expect a healthy crowd and competitive match - £5 for adults. (Friendly, 23 July, 715pm. Ticket info)
10. Enfield Town v YB SK Beveren - every year there seems to be at least one non-league club that lines up a friendly against an unusual foreign opponent. This year Enfield Town have delivered with a match against this Belgian side. Like Enfield Town, Beveren are a club formed and run by their supporters and that's the main reason this match has been arranged. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket 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 Facebook, Twitter or email.
2. Watford v Granada CF - until Friday the Hornets were all set to play New York Cosmos on this date but have decided to switch at relatively short notice to face Granada. As above it's Championship versus La Liga, although the visitors finished in a more modest 15th in their last campaign. Of particular note is the fact that both clubs are owned by the Italian Pozzo family, something which probably helped when it came to arranging things. Again this is a fine value option with adult tickets going for £10. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
3. Leyton Orient v New York Cosmos - having seen their match at Vicarage Road disappear, the Cosmos have managed to hold on to their game at Orient. The famous American side had their heyday in the '70s with players like Pele and Franz Beckenbauer among their ranks. Football in the USA fell on hard times and the club stopped competing in 1985 but reformed again in 2010 and now play in the American second tier. A look through their squad would suggest that former Villarreal and Spain midfielder Marcos Senna is probably the biggest name. The League One O's are averaging four goals a game in pre-season so will hope for one or two more here. Tickets start at £10. (Friendly, 24 July, 730pm. Ticket info)
4. Dagenham & Redbridge v Charlton Athletic - over at Victoria Road we have a derby. The League Two Daggers have had a very busy pre-season having played seven times since the 29 June, winning four. On Saturday they narrowly lost 2-1 to Premier League side Crystal Palace. The Addicks, from the Championship, haven't been wasting their time either with five games under their belts too. Having won four and drawn one they will start as favourites. Tickets start at £10. (Friendly, 23 July, 745pm. Ticket info)
5. Barnet v MK Dons - Having lost 1-0 to Ipswich in the inaugural game at their new ground on Saturday, Edgar Davids' Conference Premier side next welcome the Dons. Karl Robinson's team seem to have become perennial League One play-off contenders but never quite make it. Their pre-season stats have been impressive so far with five wins and a draw and an average of 3.5 goals a game. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
6. Boreham Wood v Brentford - the latest pro club to head to Meadow Park are League One Brentford. Over the last 10 days the Wood have entertained the full West Ham first-team squad (L 0-3), Luton Town (W 1-0) and an Arsenal XI (W 3-0). The Bees, on the other hand, have beaten Millwall 3-0 and lost 2-1 to Celtic over the last few days so should be decent opponents. The two clubs last met in November in the FA Cup with Brentford notching a 2-0 win. (Friendly, 23 July, 730pm. Ticket info)
7. Sutton United v Chelsea XI - the U's blockbuster pre-season campaign reaches its climax on Tuesday when the Blues send a representative side to Gander Green Lane. The Conference South side have so far welcomed sides from Arsenal, Fulham and AFC Wimbledon but have sadly lost them all. The big crowds, however, will have made those defeats easier to take and large numbers will almost certainly turn out for this one too especially with it being only £10 to get in. Don't expect a host of Chelsea stars to be on show though - the first team will be in south-east Asia at the time. (Friendly, 23 July, 730pm. Ticket info)
8. Harrow Borough v Crystal Palace XI - the highlight of pre-season for Dave Anderson's side is this match against the Eagles. Boro started their friendlies on Thursday and have squeezed in back-to-back 3-1 away wins over North Greenford United and Thatcham Town. Although Ian Holloway and his main squad of players will be at Crawley Town, the Palace U21 side should provide formidable opponents having crushed East Grinstead 6-0 on Monday. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket info)
9. Hendon v Barnet - earlier in the week, Harrow's new tenants Hendon play their first game at Earlsmead and it comes in the form of this derby. With the Greens and Bees having both moved to new homes this summer all three now play in the London Borough of Harrow. With Harrow and Hendon both suffering dwindling crowds in recent years it will be very interesting to see what effect Barnet's presence has on them. I expect a healthy crowd and competitive match - £5 for adults. (Friendly, 23 July, 715pm. Ticket info)
10. Enfield Town v YB SK Beveren - every year there seems to be at least one non-league club that lines up a friendly against an unusual foreign opponent. This year Enfield Town have delivered with a match against this Belgian side. Like Enfield Town, Beveren are a club formed and run by their supporters and that's the main reason this match has been arranged. (Friendly, 27 July, 3pm. Ticket 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 Facebook, Twitter or email.
Rayo vs Millwall was odd one... Rayo a proper lefty team against... well... Millwall. Will be there, Rayo end ofcourse.
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is a strange one. Do you know if Clapton have got many people coming down for clean-up day on Saturday? I would but I'm working.
ReplyDeleteIts an odd one... we are abit divided on this. We have issues with the MD and the lack of transparency at the club in regards to finances. So some are not going, while others will attend because they feel its important that the ground is a good state or because they want to demonstrate that fans do all the work at the club.its abit more long winded than that but you get the picture.
ReplyDeleteBut think people will be there regardless. Me personally will not be attending.