Sunday 30 March 2014

TLFG: 31 March - 6 April 2014

Summer is finally here, well at least when it comes to the time. Yes the clocks changed overnight meaning we have sunset at 730pm this evening.

But it's better than that, the weather is actually pretty good too. On Saturday I went to QPR v Blackpool and didn't need to wear a jacket for the first time in a while. The forecast for the next few days in London is pretty decent too so, fingers crossed, we shouldn't have to worry about postponements.

Going back to Saturday, it was interesting how many foreign visitors were sat around me at Loftus Road and I often wonder if any are there as a direct result of reading this blog. I know some definitely have gone after getting in touch and have, so they've told me, even enjoyed themselves!

Over the last few weeks it's been interesting to see a number of non-league clubs experimenting with 'Pay What You Want' deals. Sutton United got a whopping crowd of over 2,000 and other Conference South clubs Bath City and Gosport Borough both exceeded 1,000 which were well over double or nearly triple their normal attendance.

On Saturday it was the turn of Isthmian League club Wingate & Finchley. They are a much smaller club than three mentioned above so the crowd of 203 for the visit of AFC Hornchurch doesn't look that special but it was still about 30% up on their normal gate so should very much be seen as a success. Please let me know if your club are running a similar promotion and I will gladly help promote it.

Talking of big crowds, it was also noticeable how the Isthmian League top-two duel between Wealdstone and Dulwich Hamlet drew a bumper attendance of 1,151 without any special ticket incentive (although the Stones do allow all Premier League and Football League season-ticket holders in for half price at every game). The teams played out a 2-2 draw in what reports say was the Ruislip-based club's biggest league attendance since 1988. Hats off to all involved.

Lastly this week, you may have noticed another new tab has appeared at the top of the page. 'A bit further afield' gives some basic information on Premier League and Football League clubs which are within easy reach of London in case you want an excursion or can't find any games in the capital to fit your schedule. Here's a map of where such teams are located.


View A bit further afield in a larger map

Don't forget, you can get all the latest ticket information for our local clubs on the 'Match Ticket Info' page and there's also news about some availability for one of the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. 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.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, in case of bad weather, 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
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 31 March - 6 April 2014 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. Chelsea v Stoke City - the Blues suffered a shock defeat at Crystal Palace on Saturday which re-opened the title race again. Midtable Stoke are enjoying a good run at the moment and beat Jose Mourinho's side in the reverse fixture back in December. It could be another tricky afternoon for the Special One.  (Premier League, Saturday 5 April, 530pm. Ticket info)

2. West Ham United v Liverpool - we've got another very similar looking match-up over at Upton Park the day after. The Hammers start as underdogs and will probably lose given Liverpool's fine form and great football. To stand any chance, West Ham's fans will have to get right behind their team and stop the booing that has marred even recent victories. (Premier League, Sunday 6 April, 4pm Ticket info)

3. Charlton Athletic v Reading - a game of great importance at either end of the table. Only goal difference is currently keeping the Addicks out of the relegation zone while Reading are clinging on to the final play-off place. Given the Royals' close proximity to London, there will also be a bit of a derby feel to this game.  (Championship, Saturday 5 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Brentford v Notts County - it's been a disappointing week for the Bees. Although they've maintained second place in League One, they only managed to collect one point from their trips to Rotherham and Oldham. Consequently Wolves have moved six points clear at the top but Leyton Orient have fallen four points behind after their four-game winless wobble. Notts County are next to visit and need the points just as badly but to avoid the drop. They arrive on the back of three straight wins so could be dangerous. (League One, Saturday 5 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers - the Dons had a slim chance of making the play-offs but with only one win in seven, avoiding relegation is now more of a priority. Although eight points above the bottom two and under no immediate threat, they could get drawn in if they lose games like this one. Rovers are down in 20th but are only two points behind so it's important that they're beaten. (League Two, Saturday 5 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Dartford v Luton Town - the Darts looked like certs for relegation earlier in the season but turned things round. They then lost two crucial games to fellow strugglers and things looked gloomy again. However, another three-game unbeaten run has seen them catch up again and if they win this game in hand they'll climb out of the bottom four. Sadly it's against top club Luton who have all but won the title already. A big crowd is expected and the match, unusually for a non-league game, has been made all-ticket so tickets must be purchased in advance. (Tuesday 1 April, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Sutton United v Havant & Waterlooville - if Sutton had won and not drawn their last three then they'd be top of the Conference South right now. As it is they are still third, six points off top spot. With the clubs above them far from invincible though, they shouldn't give up hope of automatic promotion just yet. This match pits them against a team who will also almost certainly join them in the play-offs so it should be close. (Conference South, Thursday 3 April, 745pm. Ticket info)

8. VCD Athletic v Witham Town - there are no standout games in the Isthmian Premier this week but in the division below we've got a top-two clash to look forward to. VCD have been the surprise package of the season having come up from the Kent League. They've pretty much topped the table from day one and are still there. Witham, however, have kept up with the pace and will go top if they win here. In fact the roles could well be reversed by the time this game kicks off as both have midweek games beforehand. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Saturday 5 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Tower Hamlets v Great Wakering Rovers - we've got another top-two battle in the Essex Senior League. It's been a busy week for Hamlets who played three times and picked up seven points. Such results have left them five points behind the top club. Rovers have been in devastating form of late, winning their last five and scoring 23 goals in the process. The hosts really must win to keep their title hopes alive. (Essex Senior League, Saturday 5 April, 3pm. Club info)

10. Epsom & Ewell v Camberley Town - over in the Combined Counties League it's third versus second. The top four in this division seem to have remained largely unchanged for months. With games running out it appears top club South Park will not be caught leaving these two to fight it out for the runners-up spot. Epsom are in better form but lost the reverse fixture 2-0 back in August. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Saturday 5 April, 3pm. Club info)

UPDATE (05/04/14): Metropolitan Police v Wealdstone - midweek results mean this game could see Wealdstone clinch the Isthmian League title. The crown has seemingly been theirs to win for months and as they've played and won their games in hand, their lead has become almost insurmountable. A win today will only guarantee the title and promotion to the Conference South if AFC Hornchurch and Bognor Regis Town both lose. Even if this doesn't happen, it will surely only be delaying the inevitable. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 5 April, 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 23 March 2014

TLFG: 24-30 March 2014

Another week has flown by at TLFG Towers and once again I have seen no live football.

I think the most exciting thing I did was buy a new coat! I hope your week was a little more exciting than that.

My own teams had a pretty positive week - QPR began badly with a sound 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday but then recovered to win 3-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday with Bobby Zamora's goal among the luckiest/funniest I've ever seen us score. Harrow Borough, on the other hand, only played once beating a decent Canvey Island side 2-0. They're now 10 points clear of the Isthmian Premier's relegation zone but still have work to do with a couple of teams having games in hand on them.

Last weekend we saw how Conference South club Sutton United ran a free entry promotion for their game against Basingstoke Town and got a crowd of over 2,100 (more than triple their normal attendance). On Saturday in the same division, Bath City ran a pay what you want scheme and more than doubled their crowd with a very healthy 1,374 through the turnstiles.



The next London club to give the Pay What You Want scheme a go are Wingate & Finchley for their Isthmian League Premier Division match against promotion hopefuls AFC Hornchurch on Saturday. They're also running a community day with lots of other events so if you're at a loose end in north London that afternoon (I partly mean you Spurs fans, who don't have a game), then head over to Summers Lane.

Finally, over the next few months I really would like to give this blog a bit of a spruce up and at the very least get a logo designed. If you'd like to help me with this then please get in touch - I will pay although my design fund isn't huge.

GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. 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.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, in case of bad weather, 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


View London match map 24-30 March 2014 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 Manchester City - a top-four clash. Last time out the Gunners conceded six against Chelsea, the same amount City put past them in their previous meeting. A defeat for Arsenal must surely end their title hopes once and for all. One thing's guaranteed - goals! (Premier League, Saturday 29 March, 530pm. Ticket info)

2. Crystal Palace v Chelsea - a London derby and a match that's of great importance to teams at opposite ends of the table. Tony Pulis will hope his players can make things uncomfortable for the Blues but a draw is probably the best they can hope for. (Premier League, Saturday 29 March, 3pm Ticket info)

3. Queens Park Rangers v Wigan Athletic - both sides were relegated from the Premier League last season but should both seal play-off spots to try and get straight back up. Although a place below Rangers in fifth and playing away, the Latics are in much better form and will start as favourites in my book. (Championship, Tuesday 25 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

4. Johnstone's Paint Trophy final - League One club Peterbrough United take on Chesterfield from the division below in this Wembley showpiece. Tickets are still available from the clubs so it's a great chance to see a game at the national stadium.  (Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, Sunday 30 March, 2pm. Ticket info)

5. Dagenham & Redbridge v Oxford United - unbeaten in six, the Daggers lie five points adrift of the play-off places. If they beat Oxford, who currently fill one of those spots, it will give them hope that a top-seven finish could be theirs. (League Two, Saturday 29 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Bath City - we've got a game between two of the top six here. Both sides ran free entry/pay what you want schemes for games in recent weeks and both were rewarded with four-figure crowds. Hopefully this decent looking match will draw a sizeable attendance too. (Saturday 29 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Wealdstone v Dulwich Hamlet - despite being in the division below the Sutton match, this could arguably be the non-league match of the weekend in London and could well get a higher attendance. At the time of writing, these two are first and second in the Isthmian League. The visitors have to win to keep their title hopes alive. Massive game. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 29 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Northwood v Rugby Town - the Woods are the capital's highest ranked side in the Southern League and the only ones with a realistic chance of promotion. Currently ninth, but only three points short of the play-off places, they welcome leaders Rugby on Saturday. A win would be a real sign of intent. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Saturday 29 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Tower Hamlets v Sporting Bengal United - get your week of football watching off to a great start with the Mile End Stadium derby. As you've probably gathered, both teams share the same ground but they also both have their roots in the local Bengali community. These games are often pretty lively and well attended for the level. Tower Hamlets, formerly Bethnal Green United, are title contenders and should win.  (Essex Senior League, Monday 24 March, 745pm. Club info)

10. Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - didn't this happen last week I hear you ask? Yes it did, at least for the first teams. This Friday it's the turn of the youngsters and reserves and the match is being given the full White Hart Lane treatment. Almost as important to some fans as the real thing, there should be a decent attendance and lively atmosphere. A great way to start a weekend's football watching on the cheap at one of its best grounds. Please note - tickets must be bought by 5pm on Thursday 27 March. (U21 Premier League, Friday 28 March, 7pm. 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 FacebookTwitter or email.

Sunday 16 March 2014

TLFG: 17-23 March 2014

It's just after 2pm on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon as I begin to write this - aah, everything seems almost right with the world.

It didn't feel quite that way on Tuesday night, stuck in a 30-minute queue for a train at Falmer station surrounded by jolly Brighton fans celebrating a slightly fortunate win over QPR.

At the beginning of the week I decided I'd take my wife and daughter down to the Sussex coast for a bit of seaside fun and take in my first away match of the season in the process.

For overseas readers, Brighton is around 50 miles to the south of London and makes for an excellent day trip or overnighter as getting there takes less than an hour by train from Victoria station. It has a traditional pier, long sea front promenade with beach to match (although it's pebble, no sand), has lots of independent shops and restaurants in The Lanes and the historic Pavilion which is the symbol of the city's council.

The football team no longer play in town but have an impressive purpose-built stadium about four miles to the north east on the way to Lewes. However, getting to it is easy as it's right next to the aforementioned Falmer station and train travel to it from Brighton and the surrounding area is included in the price of your match ticket.

QPR have an effort blocked during a fruitless trip to Sussex
QPR have plans for a new ground and could do a lot worse than build something similar to the American Express Community Stadium. With a capacity of just over 30,000 (28,019 attended this one) and padded seats with plenty of legroom for everyone, this must be the way to go. There is also a real 'one-team town' community feel about this place which I really don't get in Shepherd's Bush. The fans are local and I guess I'm a bit envious of that. Up here in W12 you're probably more likely to see someone in a Chelsea, Arsenal or Man Utd shirt than a QPR one although that has been redressed a little since our brief spell in the Premier League.

The game itself wasn't a classic with plenty of huff, puff and possession for QPR but being bereft of their main strikers, young on-loan Manchester United prospect Will Keane was thrown in but found former Arsenal and England defender Matthew Upson too good for him. A couple of late goals from the hosts ensured the points stayed with the Seagulls who are now well in with a chance of the play-offs so the two sides could meet again.

Overall, as you've probably gathered, I'd heartily recommend a trip to Brighton. If you're visiting London and the football on offer doesn't appeal or nothing fits into your schedule and there is a game on here then do go. On that issue, several clubs play just outside London or within a 90-minute train ride meaning they can be reached easily even for a midweek game. Please ask if you'd like more information.

A few TLFG readers are in town from overseas this week so I hope they enjoy their stay and maybe they'll send a picture or two for me to include on here...

Don't forget the new tab at the top of the page for all the latest ticket info. There are a few deals this week which you might be unaware of.

Lastly in this section I'd like to reflect on the free entry/pay what you want scheme offered by Sutton United for their match against Basingstoke on Saturday.


It seems it was a huge success with a whopping crowd of 2,172 turning up to watch the U's beat their Hampshire rivals 4-0. When you consider they're playing well and going for promotion to the Conference Premier, their average gate is still only 687 so it was quite an increase. Imagine what the turnout would've been if there hadn't been a full programme of Premier and Football League fixtures? Despite what people might think, there is an appetite for non-league football but it's got to be priced and marketed correctly. Just throwing open the doors for free won't work - apparently volunteers had to deliver 20,000 flyers to the local community to make sure they knew it was happening. There were also other events and activities inside the ground before and after the game to really add value. At this level it's all about community identity and clubs really need to tap into that. For details of what Sutton did, read this article.

The next London club to be offering a similar scheme are Wingate & Finchley for their Isthmian League Premier Division match against AFC Hornchurch on Saturday 29 March at 3pm. If you're at a loose end in north London that afternoon (I partly mean you Spurs fans, who don't have a game), then head over to Summers Lane.

Finally, over the next few months I really would like to give this blog a bit of a spruce up and at the very least get a logo designed. If you'd like to help me with this then please get in touch - I will pay although my design fund isn't huge.

GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. 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.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, in case of bad weather, 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


View London match map 17-23 March 2014 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. Chelsea v Arsenal - the big games are coming thick and fast for these two at the moment. At the time of writing, the Gunners are about to go into battle with Spurs while Chelsea will come into this off the back of a midweek Champions League tie against Galatasaray. Despite having less rest, I make the Blues favourites for this - they are in better form and are just a more steely side than the Gunners much as it pains me to say it. The Stamford Bridge club are also unbeaten in five against Arsene Wenger's charges. Being seven points adrift of top club Chelsea, this could well be a make or break match for Arsenal in terms of the title so hopefully they'll approach it like a cup match. (Premier League, Saturday 22 March, 1245pm. Ticket info)

2. West Ham United v Manchester United - the Hammers are winless in 13 against the Red Devils and normally you'd expect the reigning league champions to extend that run here but they are unbelievably average at the moment. Having been humbled by Liverpool on Sunday, they could find a well motivated Sam Allardyce side too much to handle and cave in again. Which West Ham turn up on Saturday is hard to predict. After a shocking winter, the results suddenly improved dramatically in February but their two games in March have ended in defeat. For the first time in many years, both sides will probably be happy to just avoid defeat here. (Premier League, Saturday 22 March, 530pm Ticket info)

3. Charlton Athletic v Burnley - it's been a busy time at Charlton of late with a new owner in, a manager out and a replacement swiftly brought in. Many will see Chris Powell's dismissal as unfortunate given the meagre resources he has had to work with. Although they were bottom at the time, the Addicks did have four games in hand on most of their rivals so could have climbed the table. One win in 10 though suggests otherwise. New boss Jose Riga has already presided over two games and both have ended in 0-0 draws including the derby against Millwall. They have another busy schedule this week with Bournemouth coming on Tuesday and then Burnley at the weekend. The former are a solid midtable side who will test them while the Clarets are looking almost certain of promotion to the Premier League. The smart money will definitely be on the visitors who beat Charlton 3-0 in September. (Championship, Saturday 22 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Brentford v Coventry City - the Bees came out on top in the big game at Leyton Orient on Saturday but still only three points separate the top three after Wolves' draw with lowly Shrewsbury. To keep up with this relentless title pace, Mark Warburton's team need to win another tricky game on Saturday. Coventry are one of the biggest clubs in the division but, as is so often the case at the moment, financial problems and off-field activities have seen the club fall into League One. The former Premier League club and 1987 FA Cup winners don't even have a ground of their own and play in Northampton some 28 miles away. However, they are making a decent fist of things on the pitch and would be play-off contenders if they hadn't been deducted 10 points over their finances prior to the season beginning. A big crowd is expected and consequently the match has been made 'all ticket' which means you must buy yours by 4pm on Friday.   (League One, Saturday 22 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town - the Dons' chances of claiming a play-off spot have faded a little but they'll be happy to have got to the end of a tough looking week with two draws against top-four sides including the leaders Chesterfield. Despite only winning one of their last five, a place in the top seven is still within their reach but they are going to have to squeeze everything out of their remaining nine games to have any chance. Cheltenham are one of the sides they'll have to leapfrog to get there but they have looked solid of late so could prove to be challenging. Lose this and the Kingsmeadow club could find themselves 11 points adrift of the promised land which would surely be too much of a gap to bridge.  (League Two, Tuesday 11 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

6. FA Trophy final: Cambridge United v Gosport Borough - in London and fancy a trip to Wembley Stadium? Then this is your chance. This is the final of a national knock-out competition for clubs who play in the top four levels of the non-league game. Cambridge are currently third in the Conference Premier so will start as overwhelming favourites against Gosport who are struggling in the division below. Adult tickets are priced at a flat rate of £30. (Sunday 23 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Staines Town v Eastleigh - Bromley's spectacular collapse continued on Saturday with a 2-1 reverse at Farnborough. As a result their 11-point lead at the top has now completely vanished and they're a point behind Eastleigh who also have two games in hand. Rather than focus on Bromley again, I recommend you pay a visit to Staines-upon-Thames to watch the Swans who need to upset the Spitfires to keep their faint hopes of a play-off place alive. Plenty to play for for both. (Conference South, Saturday 22 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Hendon v Wealdstone - what better way to start the week than a north-west London derby. Earlsmead, the home of Harrow Borough, plays host to two teams who have lost their traditional home grounds over the last couple of decades. Despite this, both have become regular promotion contenders partly helped by management stability which has seen the same men reign for many years at both. Wealdstone are top of the Isthmian League at present and, with games in hand on all their rivals, should win the title. The Greens, nine points adrift of the play-off spots, may have left it too late this season but they're on a half-decent run and could give the Stones a game. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Monday 17 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. AFC Hornchurch v Maidstone United - elsewhere in the Isthmian League, two former leaders go head-to-head on Saturday. Although Maidstone are four points and three places above in second, the Urchins have two games in hand so there really is very little between them. It ended 1-1 when they played in November and we could well get a repeat here.  (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 22 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

10. Walton Casuals v Walton & Hersham - last up this week we've got the Walton derby over to the south-west of town. Casuals were top at the start of the season but a poor run looked set to see them finish in midtable obscurity. However, on Saturday they recorded a stunning 4-2 win over leaders Peacehaven & Telscombe who have been almost invincible in recent months. With their play-off hopes no doubt reignited by this result, they should have too much for their neighbours. (Isthmian League Division 1 South, Tuesday 18 March, 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 9 March 2014

TLFG: 10-16 March 2014

Hi there and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

At last it seems as if the terrible recent weather is behind us. With rivers receding, the sun coming out and pitches drying, the immediate future looks positive.

I enjoyed a bit of time off over the last week but any thoughts I had of going to a game or two fizzled out as other things came up which took priority. Hopefully you got to see something.

A few TLFG readers are in town from overseas this week so I hope they enjoy their stay and maybe they'll send a picture or two for me to include on here...

One change to the blog I've made this week is a new tab for all the latest ticket info. I felt each piece was getting a bit too long so although the resource will still be available, it will just be in a different place. I hope this works for you.

Although it's in the ticket section, I also really want to highlight the FREE ENTRY/PAY WHAT YOU WANT scheme being offered by Sutton United for their match against Basingstoke on Saturday. It's also a bit of a community day so should be a lot of fun.


Finally, as mentioned last week, over the next few months I really would like to give this blog a bit of a spruce up and at the very least get a logo designed. If you'd like to help me with this then please get in touch - I will pay although my design fund isn't huge.

GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. 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.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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


LATEST TICKET NEWS
Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, in case of bad weather, 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
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 10-16 March 2014 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. Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - undoubtedly the match of the week, this is arguably THE London derby. Although not the closest rivals geographically, they have possibly the most bitter rivalry (other fans may quibble). The Gunners are historically the stronger of the two and this season things are currently no different with Spurs trailing them by six points. Tim Sherwood's side suffered a humiliating 4-0 drubbing at other big rivals Chelsea on Saturday and have an important Europa League match against Benfica on Thursday so this match isn't arriving at a particularly welcome time. With two defeats already against their old foes this campaign, it will take something special for Spurs to claim all three points. (Premier League, Sunday 16 March, 4pm. Ticket info)

2. Fulham v Newcastle United - the only other top flight game in London this week takes place at Craven Cottage. After Saturday's morale-crushing defeat at fellow strugglers Cardiff, time is rapidly running out for Fulham. Already on to their third manager of the season, things are looking bleak with latest appointment Felix Magath having only gleaned one point from his first three games. The Magpies, on the other hand, appear to be through their mini slump and have won their last two so could be dangerous. One thing to give Fulham fans a bit of hope - Newcastle have lost on their last four visits. (Premier League, Saturday 15 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Millwall v Charlton Athletic - this weekend is laden with big derbies with this clash between two of south-east London's finest no exception. These two play closer together than Arsenal and Spurs but their rivalry isn't quite as intense. The Lions are usually seen as Charlton's main rivals but West Ham are the bigger enemy for the hosts. Despite this, there is still likely to be quite an atmosphere especially when you consider that both are scrapping for their lives to avoid relegation. Historically, Millwall have a much better head-to-head record and won 1-0 at The Valley back in September. Although the Addicks are currently bottom, four points behind Millwall, they do have four games in hand so it should be close. (Championship, Saturday 15 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Leyton Orient v Brentford - the match they've all been waiting for is almost here. Neck-and-neck for most of the season in the race for the title, these two London rivals meet for what could be a pivotal game. The rivalry between these two isn't particularly fierce because they come from opposite sides of town and rarely do either of them have much to play for. However, the stakes are high here. Orient were the early season leaders but allowed Wolves and Brentford to catch up. Since then all three have taken it in turns to have a go at being top. At the moment it's Wolves' turn, Orient are second and Brentford third, with only three points between them. A win for the hosts in this one is particularly important though as, at the time of writing, they've played two games more than the others. Lose and they could begin to get left behind.  (League One, Saturday 15 March, 1215pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Chesterfield - the Dons' chances of claiming a play-off spot received a blow on Saturday when they lost at home to York. The result leaves them eight points off the pace and eight points above the relegation zone - about as midtable as it gets. Things aren't going to get any easier on Tuesday when leaders Chesterfield visit. The Spireites have a slim one-point lead over Scunthorpe and Rochdale so you'd think they'll be going all out to win here. (League Two, Tuesday 11 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

6. Bromley v Dover Athletic - things have gone a bit pear shaped for Bromley over the last week. First they drew with Bath (not too bad) but then lost to Sutton and Chelmsford. Luckily for them, second-placed Eastleigh failed to fully capitalise but they did close the gap to five points. With two games in hand, the Hampshire club can still go top so the Lilywhites can ill afford to slip up again. In Dover they face stiff opposition. Currently seventh, they have games in hand on most teams above them so are very much promotion contenders too. Last time out, Bromley won 2-0. (Conference South, Tuesday 11 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Kingstonian v AFC Hornchurch - both sides have topped the Isthmian League at some point this season but both have gone off the boil in a fairly similar fashion of late. With one going up automatically and the next four playing off, these two in fifth and sixth need to begin stringing a run of wins together to avoid missing out. Both did win on Saturday so they've made a start. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 15 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Thurrock v Witham Town - although seventh and fifth at the time of writing, both have a few games in hand which if won could potentially put them second and first respectively so this is a pretty big match. Witham have been waiting in the wings to usurp VCD Athletic as leaders for some time but three drawn games has seen them fail to fully emerge from the chasing pack. They do still have four games in hand though, enough to put them top by a point if they win them all. One of those games is this one against Thurrock who held them to a 2-2 draw earlier in the season. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Tuesday 11 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Walton Casuals v Peacehaven & Telscombe - former leaders against current leaders, that's what we have to look forward to on Saturday. Casuals had a great start to the season but began 2014 badly, sliding down to eighth some eight points off the play-off places. Since then, newly promoted Peacehaven have gone from strength to strength with their 15-game unbeaten run putting them seven points clear. Worryingly for Walton, the Sussex club also score lots of goals and put five past them last time they locked horns. (Isthmian League Division 1 South, Saturday 15 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

10. Hanwell Town v Ampthill Town - last up this week we've got a clash of two of the top three in the Spartan South Midlands League. Although this is a cup match, it will hopefully give some indication as to who might come out on top in the league. At present Hanwell trail top club Ampthill by seven points but have six games in hand. Less than a month ago, the two were paired in the FA Vase and Ampthill won 3-1. Time for some revenge?  (Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Cup, Tuesday 11 March, 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 2 March 2014

TLFG: 3-9 March 2014

Hi there and welcome to TLFG.

How's your week been? Been to any games? 

I finally made it back to Loftus Road after about six weeks off. QPR had a February to forget, taking only one point from their four games to slip from second to fourth.

On Saturday they welcomed Leeds United who are, at least historically, one of the biggest clubs in the country. As recently as 2001/02 they finished fifth in the Premier League and the year before that they made it to the Champions League semi-finals where they lost to Valencia. They have of course also won the English league title three times, most recently in 1991/92.

Sadly financial mismanagement saw them plummet down to League One but they returned to the Championship in 2010 where they have remained ever since.

Leeds defend as QPR look to take a second-half lead
Saturday's game was pretty evenly matched with most of the significant action taking place in the first half. Referee Chris Foy awarded Leeds an early penalty which no-one in the ground seemed to appeal for so it came as quite a shock when he pointed to the spot. Thankfully justice was done when Rob Green saved Ross McCormack's penalty. 

The Scotsman made amends soon after though when his fine free-kick clipped the wall and flew into the net to put Leeds in front. 

Not much seemed to happen, certainly from a QPR point of view, until Jermaine Jenas equalised just before half-time. 

There were chances for both sides in the second half but this was far from a thriller and Harry Redknapp's side lost even more ground on the top two meaning the gap to second is now a whopping nine points. Is it time for the former Spurs boss to go? Many Rangers fans think so. 

In other news, Non-League Day will be taking place in Germany for the first time later this year.

Entitled 'Lokalrunde' (Local round), it will take place on Sunday 12 October. We haven't declared our date here yet but Saturday 11 October is a strong contender meaning we could have a bit of a non-league weekend going on.

Finally, over the next few months I really would like to give this blog a bit of a spruce up and at the very least get a unique logo designed. If you'd like to help me with this then please get in touch - I will pay although my design fund isn't huge.

GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. 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.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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

AUSTRALIA v ECUADOR
Wednesday 5 March, 8pm - international friendly, Millwall

Nothing currently available

CHELSEA
Nothing currently available

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

Saturday 15 March, 3pm - Newcastle United, Premier League
Sunday 30 March, 130pm - Everton, Premier League

Thursday 13 March, 805pm - Benfica, Europa League (on sale 7 Mar)
Sunday 23 March, 130pm - Southampton, Premier League
Monday 7 April, 8pm - Sunderland, Premier League (on sale 6 Mar)

Saturday 8 March, 3pm - Hull City, Premier League
Saturday 3 May, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
We've got a bit of a Football League Super Saturday to look forward to on 15 March as Millwall host Charlton Athletic in the Championship and Leyton Orient take on Brentford in League One. Both are derbies, will be close to sell outs and almost certainly have a big bearing on things at either end of their respective divisions. The kick-offs are staggered too so it's possible that you could even go to both. If there are no engineering works on the Tube that weekend the journey from Leyton to South Bermondsey can be done in 37 minutes if you leave on the 1407 Central Line train and make your way to south-east London via Stratford and London Bridge. Tickets for the Millwall game go on general sale on Monday 17 February while the Leyton Orient ones are on sale now.

Millwall v Charlton Athletic - Saturday 15 March, 3pm, Championship 
Leyton Orient v Brentford - Saturday 15 March, 1215pm, League One

On Sunday 23 March at Wembley we have the FA Trophy final between Cambridge United and Gosport Borough. If you don't know, this is a knockout cup competition for teams in the top four levels of the non-league game (levels 5-8 nationally). Cambridge are currently second in the Conference Premier while Gosport are marooned at the bottom of the Conference South (the division below) so will be very much the underdogs. 

TICKET DEALS
On Wednesday, at the same time England entertain Denmark, Australia take on Ecuador at Millwall's ground in another international friendly. There's a flat rate of £20 for adult tickets to watch these two World Cup bound nations go head-to-head.

Watching the big clubs' youth and reserve teams often provides pretty good value. On Friday night we've got an U21 Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool. The match takes place at Rush Green Stadium in Romford to the east of London. I'm not certain of admission prices for this yet but it won't be more than £5.

Saturday 29 March sees Isthmian League club Wingate & Finchley offering a 'Pay What You Want' scheme for their match against AFC Hornchurch. These initiatives often prove very popular and I'm keen to hear from any clubs, non-league or otherwise, if they want help promoting such events so please let me know.

Also way into the future, the annual football Varsity match between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge will be taking place at Craven Cottage on Sunday 6 April. It takes place on the same day as the more famous televised boat race which begins shortly after the match on the Thames which passes the ground. For £15 you'll get to see one of the oldest football fixtures in the world (this will be the 130th meeting) and then be able to watch the opening mile of the boat race from the vantage point of Craven Cottage's Riverside Terrace - your £15 also gets you some free food and drink!

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

SOLD OUT MATCHES/CHEAP TICKETS
I often receive emails from readers asking how to get tickets for matches which have sold out. The only official way to do this is to go through a ticket re-sale site like StubHub or viagogo which are fully endorsed by the clubs involved. 

These sites work by letting season-ticket holders re-sell their unwanted tickets on a match-by-match basis and it is the ticket holder who sets the price. For a sold out match they will often be able to command a large premium but conversely you'll often be able to pick up tickets for less popular matches at a significant discount. 

I know some football supporters find these sites totally abhorrent and I understand their reasons but I guess it's better to have an official way of performing transactions like this rather than risk buying a counterfeit or even non-existent ticket from a less trustworthy or even criminal source.

FOOTBALL ON A BUDGET
Apart from the ticket deals mentioned above, if you're on a tight budget and still want to see some football then check out some non-league football.

The vast majority of the clubs TLFG covers play at this level and provide good entertainment week-in-week-out at great prices. The overwhelming amount of sides charge £10 or less to get in, with many no more than a fiver. 

Several also offer half-price admission for season-ticket holders and members of Premier League and Football League clubs all year round.

Non-league football is also a great way to get kids into watching the sport live with many clubs letting them in for free. 

Check your local club's website to see what they have to offer.

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next week so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, with bad weather frequent at the moment, 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


View London match map 3-9 March 2014 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. England v Denmark - it's international friendly time again and although it's not a particularly glamorous looking game, it's a great way of getting a ticket to see a match at Wembley which should feature a few big name players. As we know, England pipped Ukraine to top spot in Group H to qualify for this summer's World Cup in Brazil. Sadly for Denmark, their record in finishing runners-up to Italy in Group B was the weakest of all second-placed teams so they didn't even make it to the play-offs. The last time these two met was three years ago in another friendly with England winning 2-1 in Copenhagen. (International friendly, Wednesday 5 March, 8pm. Ticket info)

2. Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - we've got a mouthwatering west versus north London derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. I think it's fair to say that very little love is lost between these two sides with both probably only disliking Arsenal more so there should be a decent atmosphere. At the current time both have plenty to play for in terms of the league. Chelsea are currently top and scrapping for every point in the hunt for their first title since 2009/10 while Spurs need every point they can get to try and keep their slim hopes of a top-four finish alive. Given that they haven't won here since 1990 (that's 26 visits in all competitions), the odds are firmly stacked against Tottenham in this one. (Premier League, Saturday 8 March, 530pm. Ticket info)

3. Arsenal v Everton - a little earlier the same day on the north side of town, there's a very interesting FA Cup quarter-final taking place. At the time of writing, both clubs are in the Premier League's top six but this competition is increasingly looking like the most realistic chance of silverware for either team this season so they should both really go for it. In recent years, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has tended to rest players a little too often in the FA Cup, sometimes with disastrous consequences so it would be almost negligent if he were to do it again. The Toffees have very little to lose and squad morale is probably higher as a result so I quite fancy them for a cupset. (FA Cup, Saturday 8 March, 1245pm. Ticket info)

4. Brentford v Bradford City - all our local Championship sides are on the road this week which means the focus next shifts to League One and title contenders Brentford. The Bees have now gone on a winless run of two games after losing to Wolves and drawing with Carlisle. Big deal you might say but when there's a fight between three very evenly matched teams for just two automatic promotion spots, it could make all the difference. Going into the weekend there was only one point between them, now Brentford find themselves three points adrift after Wolves and Leyton Orient both won. They will need to stop the rot quickly if they are to keep touch and in Bradford they face a midtable team who are much closer to the relegation places than play-off places in terms of points so should be beaten. Failure here could see panic start to set in. (League One, Saturday 8 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v York City - both these sides narrowly missed relegation last season so this year's campaign, which sees them well clear of the relegation places, must be classed as a success. Mathematically it could get even more successful as the play-off spots are less than three wins away. That is still quite a significant gap but with 12 games to go it could be bridged. The visitors are in better form but the Dons have won their last four against them. (League Two, Saturday 8 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Barnet v Gateshead - I have to admit to having taken my eye off the ball somewhat when it comes to Barnet. They always seem to be hovering around the top 10 in the Conference with a chance of making the play-off places so it came as a bit of shock today when I noticed that they had jumped up to third after a fine five game winning run. Sadly they lost at home to Woking on Saturday but the teams immediately below them all failed to win so they got away with it. This Saturday they host Gateshead who are among the chasing pack so there's plenty to play for. (Conference Premier, Saturday 8 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Dartford v Chester - at the other end of the table we've got this crucial match which will be shown live on BT Sport on Friday night. I've made much of Dartford's phoenix like rise from the ashes over the last few weeks but the last seven days has seen them waste two great chances to really pull away from the bottom four as they have taken only one point from fellow strugglers Aldershot and Southport. Next up are Chester who are just three points ahead of them in the all important 20th position. After a bad run the Blues are enjoying a bit of a resurgence too with eight points from their last four games. It's going to be tough and gritty but it should provide a great start to a weekend of football watching. (Conference Premier, Friday 7 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

8. Bromley v Sutton United - the game of the week in the Conference South pits first against third in a south London derby at Hayes Lane. Bromley have been top for months but are now back within reach of second-placed Eastleigh who are starting to win their games in hand. With Bromley only taking four points from their last three games, it's got to a stage where their one time 11-point lead will be completely wiped out if their Hampshire rivals win their two remaining games in hand. Ending this slump is therefore crucial but in Sutton they face very tough opposition who beat them 1-0 back in October and want to make sure of a play-off spot themselves. Massive game! (Conference South, Tuesday 4 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Carshalton Athletic v Wealdstone - the Stones had this weekend off and sat back and watched as everyone else in the top five lost. Although third and four points behind leaders Dulwich, the title is theirs for the taking as they have four games in hand on them and second placed Maidstone and have played less than everyone else in the top six. Buoyed by this and a recent derby win over Harrow, Gordon Bartlett's side face a tiring week with two important league matches against relegation threatend opposition and a Middlesex Senior Cup quarter-final against local rivals Harefield. I've gone for this game as it's an all-London affair and both teams need the points. Carshalton only avoided relegation last season after an administrative error saw Thurrock deducted points to go down in their place. It's fair to say that they haven't made the most of their second chance and being 12 points adrift of safety with 15 games to go, you could say they're as good as down already. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 8 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

10. Phoenix Sports v Whyteleafe - last up this week we've got this top four clash from the Southern Counties East League. After many weeks, Whyteleafe's consistency and fine eight-game winning run has finally seen them top the table. Their latest performance on Saturday was the pick of them all as they demolished Lordswood 7-0 away. Phoenix are a canny side and topped the league themselves earlier in the season. They also knocked the Leafe out of the League Cup but got drubbed 5-1 themselves when they last met in the league.  (Southern Counties East League, Saturday 8 March, 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.