Sunday 24 November 2013

TLFG: 25 November - 1 December 2013

Greetings one and all and welcome to the 100th edition of TLFG, thanks for reading.

I'd liked to have had something special in place to mark the occasion but I hadn't expected to be in the country.

Sadly another family member is struggling badly with illness and my trip to Ireland to visit them was called off. I'd therefore like to dedicate this piece to them - so thanks a lot Rory for all the good times, encouragement, advice and especially for the words of support following my Mum's death earlier this year.

Being a big sports fan, I'm sure he'd be impressed that I finally managed to take in a whopping two whole games this week!

On Tuesday I went to Wembley to see England's uninspiring 1-0 loss to Germany and on Saturday I went to watch QPR for the first time in a couple of months as they entertained fellow Londoners Charlton Athletic.

As always Wembley looked stunning under lights and it was interesting to see all the new shops and leisure facilities that have recently opened outside it.

Football under the arch at Wembley
The game itself meant nothing and consequently the crowd, although large at 85,000, didn't seem that bothered.

The fact Germany had rested virtually all their big names and sold only around 1,000 tickets to their own supporters made it even more of a non-event.

A fine shot against the post by Andros Townsend was probably as good as it got for England who didn't create much. It was good though to see Joe Hart pull off a number of fine saves in his return to action.

Tickets for England's next match at Wembley against Denmark in March are on sale now but I doubt you'll need to rush to secure one. Although I'm being a bit unenthusiastic, I strongly recommend you go if you've never been to Wembley as it is an awesome stadium and getting tickets for cup finals and play-off finals is often very difficult without membership of the participating clubs so do it!

As for my trip to QPR, Rangers have a much better squad than Charlton and did dominate for long periods but made hard work of ensuring victory. Ultimately a stunning 30-yard shot from Charlie Austin shortly before half-time decided the game and you can see it here on QPR's official YouTube channel:


In other news Chris Charles, a friend and former BBC Sport colleague, has just published his first book "Cilla Wants Her Teeth Back: Football's Barmiest Banners, Funniest Chants and Stupidest Stadium Announcements". It is of course a humorous publication and I'm told it makes 'the perfect stocking-filler' so check it out.

Also on the book theme, a Dutch writer is coming over to London shortly and will be spending a few weeks here ahead of writing a book about his football experiences in the capital. As one part of this project, he is trying to gain some experience playing for a London team.

I know getting some game time in a full competitive fixture is probably highly unlikely but if you could perhaps include him in a training session even if it's only with the reserves then please let me know and I'll put you in touch. It could be great publicity for your club.


GET INVOLVED
As always, please 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. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or even by good old email.


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 5 March, 8pm - Denmark, international friendly, Wembley

Nothing currently available

Nothing currently available

Tickets are only available to season-ticket holders, members and their guests

Wednesday 4 December, 8pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
Sunday 8 December, 130pm - Aston Villa, Premier League
Saturday 21 December, 3pm - Manchester City, Premier League
Wednesday 1 January, 3pm - West Ham United, Premier League
Saturday 11 January, 3pm - Sunderland, Premier League

Thursday 12 December, 805pm - Anzhi Makhachkala, Europa League 
Wednesday 18 December, 745pm - West Ham United, League Cup
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - West Bromwich Albion, Premier League
Sunday 29 December, 4pm - Stoke City, Premier League 
Saturday 11 January, 3pm - Crystal Palace, Premier League
Wednesday 29 January, 745pm - Manchester City, Premier League (on sale 28 Nov)
Saturday 14 December, 3pm - Sunderland, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - Arsenal, Premier League
Saturday 28 December, 1245pm - West Brom, Premier League (on sale 26 Nov)
Saturday 22 March, 3pm - Manchester United, Premier League
Saturday 5 April, 3pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 3 May, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League


TICKET DEALS
The best deal this week is to be had on Tuesday at AFC Wimbledon where it's 'We Are Wimbledon Night'. To raise funds for the League Two club's transfer budget, it's only £10 for adults to get into the derby against east London rivals Dagenham & Redbridge.

There's also some FREE youth football up at Boreham Wood again where Arsenal entertain Marseille in the Uefa Youth League on Monday.

Looking ahead to next month, Tottenham Hotspur are pricing all adult tickets at £20 for the visit of Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League. Family tickets are also available.

If you know of any other deals I may have missed or your club is running a promotion let me know.

There are well over 80 matches in the London area this week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

With bad weather becoming more frequent, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

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


View London match map 25 November - 1 December 2013 in a larger map

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. There are often many more games that are worthy of a mention but I simply don't have the time or space to squeeze them all in so add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10
1. Arsenal v Marseille - it's a big week for London's top clubs including Arsenal who could clinch a place in the last 16 of the Champions League if they win this one. If the Gunners don't see off their opponents it will be quite a surprise as they have a great record against them and the French side have lost all four previous Group F games. (Champions League, Tuesday 26 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Chelsea v Southampton - back in the Premier League we've got a clash between two of the top five. The Blues enjoyed a 3-0 win at struggling West Ham on Saturday to climb up to third above the Saints who slid to a 2-0 loss at Arsenal. The visitors have the best defence in the Premier League and could frustrate Chelsea but I doubt they'll get more than a draw. (Premier League, Sunday 1 December, 410pm. Ticket info)

3. Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - after a fine start Spurs have started to waver. Three league games without a win culminating in the 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City on Sunday has seen them slip to ninth. However, the table is tight and a win over the Red Devils could launch them back towards the top four. David Moyes' side were looking shaky but a six game unbeaten run has seen them move to within three points of second-placed Liverpool. They'd only be a point behind if they hadn't let in a late equaliser on Sunday at Cardiff meaning some vulnerabilities are still there for Tottenham to exploit. (Premier League, Sunday 1 December, 12pm. Ticket info

4. West Ham United v Fulham - after another weekend of poor results for both sides this game has become even more crucial than it already was. If you haven't kept across it, both teams are at the wrong end of the table with only goal difference keeping the Hammers ahead of Fulham and out of the bottom three. The form guide suggests a home win is more likely as Sam Allardyce's team have drawn two of their last five while the Cottagers have lost four in the same period. The west Londoners have also gone eight league games without a win at Upton Park so the omens don't look good for them. (Premier League, Saturday 30 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town - this game could interest the football history fans among you as it's taking place on the day the Addicks mark the 21st anniversary of their return to The Valley. I'm not sure if they've got anything special planned but I'd be surprised if they didn't. On the pitch neither club are doing hugely well with the hosts currently just above the relegation zone. If you've got kids you can get into the family stand for a reduced price of £15 or if you're lucky enough to know a 'Valley Gold' member you can get in for a tenner. (Championship, Saturday 30 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Brentford v Peterborough United - a few lousy results in September and October had started to instill doubt among the Bees faithful but five straight wins and a draw at second-placed Wolves has put them right back in contention. The Posh pay a visit to Griffin Park on Tuesday night for what should be another testing fixture. I say that given their early season form - until recently they were neck-and-neck with leaders Leyton Orient but suddenly it's all come crashing down and they've lost four in a row. If Brentford win they'll go above them. (League One, Tuesday 26 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge - about six miles to the south on the same night we have a derby game in League Two. As mentioned above, it's 'We Are Wimbledon Night' so the Dons have cut all adult tickets to £10. Not only are they both London clubs but they're also really close together in the table with only a point separating them in tenth and ninth respectively. A win for either could lift them into the play-off places so there's plenty at stake. (League Two, Tuesday 26 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

8. Dartford v Barnet - it's derby time too over at Princes Park in the Conference. In London terms these two aren't near neighbours but for a national division they certainly are. Dartford got promoted to this division last year and did really well to finish eighth with many believing they'd punched above their weight. Sadly it seems to be a case of 'second-season syndrome' this time round with only five wins from 21 leaving them in the relegation zone. Although Barnet were a League Two side last season and have a fully professional squad, they haven't found their return to non league that easy going and have been desperately inconsistent. They should have too much for Dartford but are equally just the sort of side that the strugglers could kick start their season against. (Conference Premier, Tuesday 26 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Wealdstone v Harrow Borough - one non-league derby which does generate a bit of rivalry is this one over in Ruislip. The Stones were originally based right in the centre of Harrow but they sold their ground, suffered a nomadic existence for a few years and then settled over in Ruislip. They were also the best non-league team in the country back in the '80s and although they are only a shadow of that great side they still play competitive football and have a strong fan base. Boro have always lived in their shadow and will start this game as underdogs again. However, Harrow are doing quite well by their standards and are unbeaten in six away from home so it could be a bit closer than usual. (Isthmian League Cup, Tuesday 26 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

10. Walton Casuals v Leatherhead - we finish this week with another big Tuesday night game as second play third in the Isthmian League Division 1 South. Walton were top but a very rough patch in recent weeks has seen Hastings move ahead on goal difference with two games in hand. They did, however, get back to winning ways on Saturday and will need to be at their best against the Tanners who are in great shape having not lost in five. (Isthmian League Division 1 South, Tuesday 26 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 17 November 2013

TLFG: 18-24 November 2013

Howdy one and all and welcome to TLFG, it's great to have you here.

How was your week? Did you go to any games? Were you let down by England or did you check out a non-league team during the international break?

I've been doing late shifts all week so the answer is no to most of the above - poor me.

Thankfully I now have a week off so I hope to remedy this with a trip to England v Germany on Tuesday at the very least. I'm not expecting much, in fact I'm probably more interested to see what the visitors have to offer given some of the fine players in their squad at the moment. That's not to say I don't want England to win, of course I do, but I doubt I'd be going if it was against someone else.

I touch on it below, but there is a chance of a doubleheader in east London on Saturday thanks to West Ham's game against Chelsea kicking off at 530pm. If you've got tickets for that, you should also have time to see a game at either London Bari or London APSA who both play nearby at 3pm.

GET INVOLVED

As always, please 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. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or even by good old email.


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 5 March, 8pm - Denmark, international friendly, Wembley (on sale 19 Nov)

Monday 18 November, 745pm - International friendly, Craven Cottage

Nothing currently available

Nothing currently available

Tickets are only available to season-ticket holders, members and their guests

Saturday 23 November, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League
Wednesday 4 December, 8pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
Sunday 8 December, 130pm - Aston Villa, Premier League
Saturday 21 December, 3pm - Manchester City, Premier League

Thursday 12 December, 805pm - Anzhi Makhachkala, Europa League 
Sunday 15 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - West Bromwich Albion, Premier League
Sunday 29 December, 4pm - Stoke City, Premier League 
Saturday 11 January, 3pm - Crystal Palace, Premier League (on sale 21 Nov)
Saturday 23 November, 530pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Saturday 30 November, 3pm - Fulham, Premier League
Saturday 14 December, 3pm - Sunderland, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - Arsenal, Premier League
Saturday 22 March, 3pm - Manchester United, Premier League
Saturday 5 April, 3pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 3 May, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League


TICKET DEALS
There's not much of note on the ticket deal front this week I'm afraid. However, if you're in town for England v Germany and are looking for things to do in the afternoon then you could watch the respective reserve sides of QPR and Crystal Palace go head-to-head at Rangers' training ground in Harlington. If you're flying in to Heathrow this could actually be quite a good option as the ground is near the airport. It kicks off at 1pm and it's FREE TO GET IN.

In the Premier League, at the end of the month, West Ham United have a 'Kids for a Quid' promotion running for their London derby against Fulham.

Finally, Tottenham Hotspur are pricing all adult tickets at £20 for the December visit of Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League. Family tickets are also available.

If you know of any other deals I may have missed or your club is running a promotion let me know.

There are well over 70 matches in the London area this week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

With bad weather becoming more frequent, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

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


Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. There are often many more games that are worthy of a mention but I simply don't have the time or space to squeeze them all in so add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. England v Germany - as part of the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations, Roy Hodgson's Three Lions welcome arguably their biggest rivals to Wembley on Tuesday. There seems to be a perception that the Germans always get one over on us but the head-to-head record between the countries (with Germany as a unified country) is actually identical. However, it should be noted that England are much more successful away from home and in neutral venues with their last home win coming way back in 1935 at White Hart Lane! Tickets have finally sold out but there's bound to still be some knocking around somewhere if you want to go. (International friendly, Tuesday 19 November, 8pm. Ticket info)

2. Italy v Nigeria - on Monday night at Craven Cottage we have another random international the type of which Fulham's ground has become expert in hosting over the last few years. Euro 2012 finalists against the reigning African champions looks like a pretty good match-up to me. With remaining tickets starting at £25 it could be quite a fun night. (International friendly, Monday 18 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

3. Arsenal v Southampton - with all the internationals out of the way, the Premier League returns on Saturday. These two are possibly the biggest surprise packages of the season so far with both overachieving in most people's eyes. Although the Gunners lost their big match at Manchester United last time out, they're still two points clear at the top. The Saints, who spent a lot of time in the bottom three last season, are currently third with just one league defeat all season. If the Hampshire club win by two goals or more here and Liverpool slip up in their tricky derby game at Everton then they'll almost unthinkably go top! (Premier League, Saturday 23 November, 3pm. Ticket info

4. West Ham United v Chelsea - later on that afternoon we've got a London derby at Upton Park. Both sides badly need the points but for different reasons. The Hammers are only above the relegation zone on goal difference while fourth-placed Chelsea are winless in two and won't want to let Arsenal get any further ahead of them. Given the late kick-off you could do a 'groundhop double' and see a match at either London Bari or London APSA who both have Essex Senior League games in the local area which kick-off at 3pm. (Premier League, Saturday 23 November, 530pm. Ticket info)

5. Queens Park Rangers v Charlton Athletic - there's more London derby action to be enjoyed in Shepherd's Bush. Although it's a Championship game, the scenario is quite similar to the game above - QPR need the points to stay in the title race while the Addicks are trying to avoid falling through the trapdoor into League One. It's hard to believe that five years have elapsed since they last played with the 2-2 draw at The Valley extending Rangers' unbeaten run against Charlton to four games. (Championship, Saturday 23 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Bromley v Havant & Waterlooville - most of London's other Football League clubs are away this week so we next drop down to the Conference South where the capital has produced another team that are doing surprisingly well. Bromley flirted with relegation for most of last season and finished only four points above the drop zone. This time round they are firmly in the hunt for the title and are currently second, two points behind Eastleigh with a game in hand. Havant are a midtable side who haven't won a league game in three attempts but they raised a few eyebrows by beating a highly rated Sutton United team in the FA Trophy on Saturday so the Lillywhites will have to be careful. (Conference South, Saturday 23 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Kingstonian v Lewes - with leaders Maidstone in FA Trophy action on Saturday, the K's 0-0 draw at fellow promotion hopefuls AFC Hornchurch proved to be enough to send them into pole position. Given their Kent rivals have two games in hand, they'll really need to win against the Rooks to make sure they keep up with the pace. Lewes, one of the bigger sides in the Isthmian League, had their shock season last year as they nearly went down. This time they're showing much better form but are still five points off the play-off places so will hope to get something here. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 23 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Molesey v Epsom & Ewell - it's third versus second in the Combined Counties League on Saturday and it's a bit of a derby too. The Moles are currently third but a midweek win over Windsor could see them leapfrog their opponents. Of the two, the hosts are in better form with 20 goals in an unbeaten six-game run. E&E were previously the team to beat, topping the league in the early weeks but a couple of dodgy results saw them slip down. They've bounced back since then but have been mostly involved in cup competitions. They've also not played for two weeks so will they be fresh or a bit rusty? (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Saturday 23 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Cray Valley PM v South Park - the team keeping both of the previous two off top spot in the Combined Counties League are South Park who currently have a very healthy seven-point lead. However, on Saturday they didn't have it all their own way as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Southern Counties East League side Cray Valley in the FA Vase. On Wednesday night they replay for a place in the third round as they pursue a spring time trip to Wembley for the final. (FA Vase, Wednesday 20 November, 745pm. Club info)

10. Erith Town v Whyteleafe - although this match is currently between the second and sixth-placed teams, the Leafe could actually be top by now. Given their various cup runs they haven't played a league match since the 24 September and have got four games in hand as a result. Although their league form was impressive up to that point (six wins, one draw and one defeat) they've lost five of the six cup matches they've played since so their form is a bit ropey. Erith are unbeaten in three, scoring 12 in the process so the smart money would appear to be on them. (Southern Counties East League, Saturday 23 November, 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 10 November 2013

TLFG: 11-17 November 2013

Good day, bonjour, guten tag and welcome to TLFG, it's great to have you here.

For the third time in as many months we have an international break which means if you're in London and had hoped to be entertained by one of the biggest clubs in town then you'll be disappointed.

Yes, this week there are no Premier League or Championship games as all our top players are either off on international duty, putting their feet up at home or getting some winter sun in Dubai.

However, don't be too downhearted because if it's top level players you want then you can still head to Wembley for one of the aforementioned internationals as England host Chile on Friday night. Tickets are still available and although it's only a friendly, you'll get to see a few big names and visit one of the best football stadiums on the planet.

With that game out of the way, you'll have the rest of the week to take in some of London's lower league clubs and it is them I've focused on in the 'TLFG Top 10' further down the page.

Clubs at this level often offer special discounts to get people in on such weekends but I'm not aware of many deals at the moment - please get in touch if your club are doing anything.

GET INVOLVED

As always, please 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. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or even by good old email.


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).

Friday 15 November, 8pm - Chile, international friendly, Wembley 
Tuesday 19 November, 8pm - Germany, international friendly, Wembley 

Monday 18 November, 745pm - International friendly, Craven Cottage

Nothing currently available

Nothing currently available

Tickets are only available to season-ticket holders, members and their guests

Saturday 23 November, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League
Wednesday 4 December, 8pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
Sunday 8 December, 130pm - Aston Villa, Premier League
Saturday 21 December, 3pm - Manchester City, Premier League

Sunday 1 December, 12pm - Manchester United, Premier League
Thursday 12 December, 805pm - Anzhi Makhachkala, Europa League (on sale 13 Nov)
Sunday 15 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - West Bromwich Albion, Premier League
Sunday 29 December, 4pm - Stoke City, Premier League (on sale 14 Nov)
Saturday 23 November, 530pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Saturday 30 November, 3pm - Fulham, Premier League
Saturday 14 December, 3pm - Sunderland, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - Arsenal, Premier League
Saturday 22 March, 3pm - Manchester United, Premier League
Saturday 5 April, 3pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 3 May, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League


TICKET DEALS
This week Conference Premier side Barnet are at home twice and to get you to come to both, if you buy a ticket for one of them you get a FREE ticket for the other. It's an even better deal when you consider the first is a derby against Welling United and the second sees them take on league leaders Cambridge United.

On Tuesday night at 7pm there's also FREE ENTRY at Boreham Wood to see Arsenal's youngsters play Aston Villa in the U21 Premier League.

Over the next week or so there's a mini feast of international football to be enjoyed in London. Chile and Germany are both coming to play England in friendlies at Wembley while sandwiched in between there's a very interesting looking game between Euro 2012 finalists Italy and reigning African champions Nigeria at Fulham's Craven Cottage. Tickets for the latter start at just £20 which seems like good value to me.

In the Premier League, at the end of the month, West Ham United have a 'Kids for a Quid' promotion running for their London derby against Fulham.

Finally, Tottenham Hotspur are pricing all adult tickets at £20 for the December visit of Anzhi Makhachkala in the Europa League. Family tickets are also available.

If you know of any other deals I may have missed or your club is running a promotion let me know.

Despite there being no Premier League or Championship games going on, there are still over 70 matches in the London area this week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

With bad weather becoming more frequent, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

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


Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. There are often many more games that are worthy of a mention but I simply don't have the time or space to squeeze them all in so add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Leyton Orient v Preston North End - with no Premier League or Championship action this week, the capital's League One teams take centre stage. The pick of the games sees the near invincible O's host fellow promotion contenders Preston. The east London club have only lost one of their 15 league games this season to sit two points clear of Wolves at the top. PNE are 11 points behind but are still in fourth and unbeaten in five in all competitions. (League One, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

2. AFC Wimbledon v Portsmouth - over at Kingsmeadow we have this League Two clash between two former Premier League teams. The sides are just a point and a place apart in lower midtable so it should be a fairly even contest. Both also bowed out of the FA Cup, which they have both previously won, over the weekend so will be looking to bounce back as soon as possible. The last time I checked, this was approaching a sell out so act fast if you want to go. (League Two, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Barnet v Cambridge United - the Bees lost 6-0 at Preston in the FA Cup on Saturday at the beginning of what is likely to be a tough week. On Tuesday they welcome fellow London club Welling United to The Hive for a derby before league leaders Cambridge pay a visit on Saturday. Despite their humbling in Lancashire, Barnet are still one of the better sides in the Conference Premier and two wins here should fire them firmly into the top five. Given the late kick-off you might also want to consider a 'groundhop double' with the likes of Harrow Borough, Oxhey Jets, Rayners Lane and Wembley all just about within range. (Conference Premier, Saturday 16 November, 530pm. Ticket info

4. Staines Town v Farnborough - the Swans FA Cup exploits earned them a mention in last week's top 10 and it's another cup fixture which sees them included this week. Although Brentford convincingly ended their chances of getting to Wembley via the FA Cup, they can still get there through the FA Trophy. If you don't know what that is, it's a knockout competition for clubs in the top four levels of the non-league game with the final at the national stadium in the spring. Both these sides play in the Conference South and with grounds only around 13 miles apart this will have a bit of derby feel to it. The last time they met back in September, Staines edged a five-goal thriller by 3-2. (FA Trophy, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Sutton United v Havant & Waterlooville - there's another all-Conference South tie over at Gander Green Lane. Both sides are probably most famous for their FA Cup adventures from years gone by but they'll hopefully serve up an FA Trophy classic here too. The U's are the undisputed favourites to win here having not lost in nine league games, a run which included a 5-0 away win at Havant back in September.  (FA Trophy, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Dulwich Hamlet v Concord Rangers - there's more FA Trophy action at Champion Hill where a cupset could be on the cards. Dulwich are currently among the frontrunners in the Isthmian League which Concord got promoted from, against the odds, via the play-offs last season. Although the Essex club are just about keeping their heads above water at the higher level, they are struggling and could come unstuck. This prediction looks even more likely when you consider Dulwich have won 13 of their last 14 home games (10 in a row) in all competitions. (FA Trophy, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. AFC Hornchurch v Kingstonian - the last team to beat Dulwich at Champion Hill were Hornchurch in August. Unsurprisingly they are now one of only three teams above the south London club in the table with another being Kingstonian. That's why I've gone for this big game at the top of the Isthmian League. The K's are currently a point ahead of the Urchins in second but have played a game more so they really are closely matched. Given leaders Maidstone will be in FA Trophy action on Saturday, the winners will go top. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. VCD Athletic v Heybridge Swifts - there's an even more important game in the division below where the top two meet in what is already looking like being a highly significant game. VCD have been the surprise package of the season following their promotion from the Kent League as they have rampaged through their fixture card defeating everyone bar Needham Market who had the temerity to hold them to a 0-0 draw. Consequently they are unbeaten and 14 points clear at the top after only 15 games! Heybridge are their nearest contenders and by normal mortals' standards are having a pretty decent season, doing well in the league and getting to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. When you also consider the two sides have banged home 22 goals between them in their last two games it really could be a battle royale! (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Club info)

9. Oxhey Jets v Hadleigh United - if it's cup football you want then you'll be pleased to know that it's also an FA Vase weekend. This competition is primarily for teams in the fifth and sixth levels of the non-league game which also has its final at Wembley. Oxhey pushed Dunstable Town for most of last season in the race for the Spartan South Midlands League title. Over the summer they lost star striker Lewis Putman to Wealdstone and they've failed to find a replacement meaning midtable football has ensued. This weekend they welcome current Eastern Counties League leaders Hadleigh for what should be a tough game. The Suffolk side are unbeaten in 14 so will provide formidable opposition. (FA Vase, Saturday 16 November, 3pm. Club info)

10. Enfield 1893 v Norwich United - fifteen miles to the east we have this tie. Enfield 1893 are second in the Essex Senior League at the time of writing while Norwich are seventh in the Eastern Counties. Both sides are proving fairly tough to beat of late but both are also struggling to win with plenty of draws between them. Another close encounter looks likely. (FA Vase, Saturday 16 November, 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 3 November 2013

TLFG: 4-10 November 2013

Hi there and welcome to TLFG, thanks for reading.

I haven't been to any games this week but I have been arranging to see some in the near future.

On Tuesday, tickets for the forthcoming friendly between England and Germany went on sale.

As far as international rivalries are concerned, this is one of the biggest and in most years it would sell out pretty quickly.

I think it's quite telling that I managed to easily acquire a pair of tickets several hours after they went on general sale in the area of the ground I wanted.

Tickets are still available now almost a week later. It seems that England, as many people probably already knew, aren't quite the draw they used to be. 

I know it's only a friendly but it is Germany and a pretty good Germany too. As far as I'm aware, the crucial recent World Cup qualifier against Poland had tickets available until pretty late in the day as well so it seems to be a problem whatever the occasion.

If you're tempted, details on how you can get tickets can be found further down the page.

At the end of the week I also landed some tickets to see QPR's games against Bournemouth and Blackburn in early December. The club had decided to sell a block of tickets behind one of the goals to members and their friends for just £10 each. 

This means I'll end up having seen three games in a row for £10 which is the same price I'd pay to go and watch teams in the Isthmian League Premier Division some five divisions below. So who's usually charging too much???

GET INVOLVED

As always, please 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. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or even by good old email.


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).

Friday 15 November, 8pm - Chile, international friendly, Wembley 
Tuesday 19 November, 8pm - Germany, international friendly, Wembley 

Monday 18 November, 745pm - International friendly, Craven Cottage

Nothing currently available

Nothing currently available

Tickets are only available to season-ticket holders, members and their guests

Saturday 23 November, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League
Wednesday 4 December, 8pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
Sunday 8 December, 130pm - Aston Villa, Premier League
Saturday 21 December, 3pm - Manchester City, Premier League

Thursday 7 November, 805pm - Sheriff Tiraspol, Europa League
Sunday 1 December, 12pm - Manchester United, Premier League 
Sunday 15 December, 4pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - West Bromwich Albion, Premier League (on sale 7 Nov)

Saturday 23 November, 530pm - Chelsea, Premier League

Saturday 30 November, 3pm - Fulham, Premier League (on sale 29 October)
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - Arsenal, Premier League
Saturday 22 March, 3pm - Manchester United, Premier League
Saturday 5 April, 3pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 3 May, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League


TICKET DEALS
This week Tottenham Hotspur are pricing all adult tickets at £20 for the visit of FC Sheriff in the Europa League. Family tickets are also available.

It's also FA Cup first round weekend and Brentford have cut their prices for the visit of local non-league side Staines Town - all adult tickets are being sold at a flat rate of £12.

Leyton Orient are also cutting prices for the visit of non-league opposition in the form of Southport - most of their adult tickets are £15.

In mid-November there's a mini feast of international football to be enjoyed in London. Chile and Germany are both coming to play England in friendlies at Wembley while sandwiched in between there's a very interesting looking game between Euro 2012 finalists Italy and reigning African champions Nigeria at Fulham's Craven Cottage. Tickets for the latter start at just £20 which seems like good value to me.

If you know of any other deals I may have missed or your club is running a promotion let me know.

There are over 70 matches in the London area this week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

With bad weather becoming more frequent, make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

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


Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. As I've run short on time, my reasons are much more brief than normal - apologies. Add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v Schalke 04 - it's England versus Germany in the Champions League on Wednesday. Despite their upset at Newcastle on Saturday, the Blues should still start as favourites not least because they beat Jens Keller's side 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen a couple of weeks ago. (Champions League, Wednesday 6 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United - Spurs have had a fine start to their Premier League campaign with only goal difference keeping them behind Chelsea and Liverpool in fourth. Usually you'd expect them to beat a midtable side like the Magpies but their aforementioned win over Jose Mourinho's team will fill them with hope. (Premier League, Sunday 10 November, 12pm. Ticket info)

3. Charlton Athletic v Leeds United - the Addicks have had a fairly underwhelming season so far and are duly only three points above the relegation zone. Although they aren't winning many games, they are proving quite tough to beat at the moment, having not lost in five. Leeds are doing somewhat better but are also highly inconsistent so this could go either way. (Championship, Saturday 9 November, 3pm. Ticket info

4. Brentford v Staines Town - as mentioned above it's FA Cup first round weekend. This is probably my favourite of the London ties as it sees two sides from the west side of town lock horns. It would've been better if the Swans, as the non-league team, were hosting but I'm sure they'll still give it a good go. Brentford have recently hit form with four straight wins to return to League One's top five meaning they should still have too much for Staines. (FA Cup, Saturday 9 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Leyton Orient v Southport - in relative terms this is a bit of a Goliath versus David contest. The O's are the best team in the first round draw being, as they are, top of League One. Having won 3-1 at nearest rivals Peterborough on Saturday, you can't really see past them winning again with lower-midtable Conference Premier outfit Southport having won only one of their last six league games. (FA Cup, Saturday 9 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. AFC Wimbledon v Coventry City - the most notable thing about this match is that it features two former winners (1988 and 1987) who have fallen on hard times. Coventry's finances have seen them slide down to League One in recent years while the Dons' story is more complicated but they are in League Two now. City's form is far superior at the moment so they should start as firm favourites. (FA Cup, Friday 8 November, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Welling United v Luton Town - there's an all-Conference clash at Park View Road where the Wings host former top-flight team Luton in the FA Cup. The Hatters are the biggest club in the Conference by a long way but they keep failing to make it back up to the Football League. They've started well again this year and are third at the time of writing. Welling have just come up and are only three points behind Luton so this could be a bit of a cracker in front of a big crowd. (FA Cup, Saturday 9 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Boreham Wood v Carlisle United - the last tie taking place in London this week is an intriguing one. Three divisions separate the teams and both are struggling. However, Boreham Wood hammered Chelmsford City 6-0 away on Saturday which will raise their spirits considerably. The Wood often attract quite a partisan crowd for big matches like this which could make things uncomfortable for the visitors but a cupset looks unlikely. (FA Cup, Saturday 9 November, 2pm. Ticket info)

9. Hanwell Town v Ampthill Town - on Tuesday the top two in the Spartan South Midlands League go head-to-head in the league's Premier Division Cup. Ampthill are currently six points clear at the top but Hanwell have three games in hand so there's not much between them. (Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Cup, Tuesday 5 November, 745pm. Club info)

10. Sun Postal Sports v Kings Langley - two of the best sides in the division below them meet in the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy on Saturday. Sun Postal have had an amazing few months which has seen them climb to the top of the division. However, Kings Langley are only a point behind and have a game in hand. To top it all, it's a local derby too. (Herts Senior Centenary Trophy, Saturday 9 November, 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.