Sunday 26 October 2014

TLFG: 27 October - 2 November 2014

Hello there one and all and welcome to TLFG.

I've been out of town again this weekend hence the late night publication of this and no weekend football stories of my own to report.

We've got a big week to look forward to with matches in all three FA competitions - the Cup, Trophy and Vase. We've got some big derbies and some county cup matches too. There's even a friendly between Hampton & Richmond Borough and Ipswich Town.

It's a huge seven days for the two clubs closest to my heart. QPR begin the week with a home match against Aston Villa who are in worse form than they are so absolutely must be beaten - anything less should really usher in the end of Harry Redknapp's reign. Then on Saturday they have to go to arch rivals Chelsea who couldn't be in much better condition right now. Tough, tough, tough.

Harrow Borough have also been pretty hopeless in the Isthmian League this season but have made it to the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round. On Tuesday night they host a replay against Conference South leaders Basingstoke with the winners facing the likes of former Premier League clubs like Coventry City or Sheffield United. Huge!

Normally I'd go to both but I'm on early shifts again this week (up at 345am) so there's a good chance I might wimp out and miss both.

Anyway, that's it from me. Don't forget, you can get all the latest ticket information for our local clubs and other big games taking place in the capital on the 'Match Ticket Info' page .

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 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, 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 27 October - 2 November 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. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below. 

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers - after a one-season hiatus, this west London derby makes its return. Chelsea are QPR's most hated rivals but the feeling isn't really mutual for most Blues fans as the R's are no real threat to their dominance of this part of town. This is best demonstrated by the current league table which sees Chelsea well clear at the top and QPR bottom. However, the underdogs have taken an impressive seven points from their last four Premier League meetings against the Stamford Bridge outfit so unusual things do happen in this fixture. (Premier League, Saturday 1 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

2. Watford v Millwall - a draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday saw the Hornets continue to hold a share of top spot but Wolves have now caught up. This weekend, south-east Londoners Millwall pay a visit for this match which the Hertfordshire club will use to mark the centenary of World War I. Consequently all tickets have been reduced to £19 and £14 respectively. There will be other charitable activities to raise money for veterans too. (Championship, Saturday 1 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Leyton Orient v Preston North End - after losing out in the League One play-off final last season, the O's have struggled to recover. Manager Russell Slade went to Cardiff and they've taken only 15 points from 15 games. Today the club appointed former QPR player Mauro Milanese as their new manager. His first game in charge will be a tough one against title challengers PNE who have won their last six league games. Be there for the start of a new era. (League One, Tuesday 28 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

4. Dagenham & Redbridge v Shrewsbury Town - elsewhere in east London, the Daggers welcome the Shrews. Despite their nicknames, it is the visitors who have been far more dangerous to their opponents this season as they've moved up to fourth. Dagenham, on the other hand, are fourth from bottom and look set to spend another season fighting the drop. (League Two, Saturday 1 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Barnet v Chelmsford City - Saturday was FA Cup fourth qualifying round day - a massive time for non-league clubs. Those teams to make it that far into the competition know they are just 90 minutes away from playing a League One or Two side in the First Round proper which follows. Such a fixture is always prestigious but also brings with it thousands of pounds worth of prize money and gate receipts. Conference South club Chelmsford did superbly well to hold Conference Premier leaders Barnet to a 0-0 draw and earn this replay but with home advantage now lost they'll do really well to progress here. (FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay, Tuesday 28 October, 8pm. Ticket info)

6. Harrow Borough v Basingstoke Town - given how bad Boro have been in the league this season, I'm still pinching myself that they were one of only seven TLFG clubs to make it to the fourth qualifying round. That they then went to Conference South leaders Basingstoke and forced a 1-1 draw is even more remarkable. As I've said previously, it's usually a case of all or nothing for Harrow in this competition, either going out at the first attempt or going all the way to first round proper. They last made it in 2010 when they hosted Chesterfield. Will they do it again? The odds a still firmly against them but they do have home advantage and anything really is possible at this stage. By the way, the first round draw is on Monday night at 7pm on BBC2. (FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay, Tuesday 28 October, 745pm. Club info)

7. Enfield Town v Margate - the same night up in north London, improving Enfield face a very tough evening against Isthmian League leaders Margate. A change in ownership has seen the Kent club start to spend big money as they look to get into the Conference South. It seems to be paying off as they've won 14 or their 17 league games. After a slow start, Enfield have now gone on a six-game unbeaten run which has raised spirits around the club. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Tuesday 85 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

8. Whyteleafe v Dunstable Town - this week is unusual in that it sees matches taking place in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Vase. This tie is in the Trophy. For those who don't know, this is a knockout cup competition for sides who play in the top four levels of the non-league game with the final in the spring at Wembley Stadium. We are still at a very early stage at the moment and I've picked this as it could provide an upset. The Leafe enjoyed promotion from the Southern Counties East League and are doing really well on their return to the Isthmian League and could go up again. Dunstable are a bit like a Bedfordshire version of Surrey club Whyteleafe but one season ahead having completed back-to-back promotions to climb from Step 5 to Step 3. This match will provide a really good yardstick for John Fowler's side. (FA Trophy First Qualifying Round, Saturday 1 November, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Sun Sports v Harefield United - in the FA Vase we've got a tie between two teams from the Spartan South Midlands League's top five who are also TLFG clubs. Like the Trophy, the final of this competition for clubs primarily in levels five and six of the non-league game is also at Wembley. We're a long way from that stage yet but with Sun Sports currently top of one of the Step 5 leagues, they must be among the favourites. (FA Vase First Round, Saturday 1 November, 3pm. Club info)

10. Wembley v Bowers & Pitsea - another SSML side to be doing better than in recent years are Wembley who are third, three points behind Sun Sports but with a game in hand. They welcome B&P from the Essex Senior League who aren't doing too badly themselves this season. Wembley, despite their name, don't play at the world famous stadium up the road. I think I'm right in saying that they last played there in 1988 losing 3-0 to Hendon in the Middlesex Charity Cup final. Will this be the season they make their return? (FA Vase First Round, Saturday 1 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 19 October 2014

TLFG: 20-26 October 2014

Well what an afternoon that was!

Nearly eight hours after the game finished, I think I'm starting to get over the trauma of watching QPR play their socks off and lose in dramatic fashion to Liverpool at Loftus Road.

As I predicted last week, the game would be a good one and it didn't disappoint - well for the neutral anyway.

If you haven't seen what happened, read the report here but in a nutshell it went from 1-0 to Liverpool in the 87th minute to 3-2 to the Anfield side at full-time!

QPR prepare for a free-kick during a thrilling match against Liverpool
Rangers had dominated for long periods so to come from behind twice and draw would've have still seemed like two points dropped but then to lose it right at the death was really galling. Some people were in tears and others were left kicking their seats. The Reds' players were all very magnanimous after the game with some saying they were lucky not to lose let alone win.

It's back to the drawing board for Harry Redknapp and his team but they've got a decent chance of getting only their second win of the campaign when Aston Villa visit on Monday week. They were top but are now in worse form than Rangers so there is some hope.

A GOOD WEEKEND FOR A GROUNDHOP

I hope your football-watching week has been more satisfying. If you're prone to a bit of groundhopping then this Saturday there are a few decent 'doubles' available.

On the east side of town you could experience football at completely opposite ends of the scale with a trip to West Ham United v Manchester City in the Premier League at 1245pm and then do your bit for the non-league game by visiting the Old Spotted Dog, the oldest ground in London, for the Essex Senior League game between London Bari and Takeley at 3pm.

How about a fiery lunchtime clash in the Championship between Millwall and Cardiff City at 1215pm followed up with an Isthmian League top-four clash as Dulwich Hamlet host Hendon at 3pm?

If that's not to your liking, how about a trip down south? Here you can see Carshalton Athletic v Guernsey in the Isthmian League at 1245pm before heading over to Gander Green Lane for Sutton United v Bishop's Stortford in the Conference South at 3pm.

All of those have quite a bit to offer so I hope you get to try out one - let me know if you do.

Anyway, that's it from me. Don't forget, you can get all the latest ticket information for our local clubs and other big games taking place in the capital on the 'Match Ticket Info' page .

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 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, 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. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below. 

TLFG TOP 10

1. West Ham United v Manchester City - there are Champions League and Europa League games in town this week but this still ranks higher than any of them in my book. With boos ringing out and sections of the crowd wanting manager Sam Allardyce out, who would've thought that a few weeks later the Hammers would be in the Premier League's top four? To be fair, the division is very tight at the moment but they have enjoyed some decent wins so good luck to them. City, as you would expect, are also among the frontrunners but really must win here to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea. (Premier League, Saturday 25 October, 1245pm. Ticket info)

2. Watford v Nottingham Forest - despite being onto their FOURTH boss of the season already, the Hornets have still managed to fight their way to the top of a very competitive second tier. Slavisa Jokanovic's side chalked up a solid 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday to stay one point ahead of Derby. Forest have also topped the table this term but a five game winless run has seen them slip to fifth. A look at previous results between the two suggests no real pattern at all with both sides winning their fair share of games at Vicarage Road. (Championship, Tuesday 21 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

3. Fulham v Charlton Athletic - the Championship really has quite a bit to offer this week with this London derby on Friday night getting the weekend's football watching off to a decent start. The Cottagers pulled off one of the performances of the weekend as they beat leaders Norwich 1-0. Kit Symons has won three out of five since being put in temporary charge to put them within a point of getting out of the bottom three. The Addicks have made a much better start and were unbeaten until Saturday when they finally lost 1-0 to Bournemouth. Strangely, just like Norwich, Charlton haven't won at Craven Cottage since 1986 so they could well be happy with another draw. (Championship, Friday 24 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

4. Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday - both these sides lie just outside the play-off places but the reason I've gone for this is that it marks the 125th anniversary of Brentford and this match is being dedicated to celebrate this historic occasion. The Bees are in better form than the Owls and will hope to win it in front of what should be a bumper crowd. (Championship, Tuesday 21 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Plymouth Argyle - it doesn't sound too impressive when you say the Dons are currently 13th in League Two but this is probably well ahead of expectation and they are only three points adrift of the play-off places in a very tight division. They've also enjoyed some notable victories over some top sides this season so shouldn't be overawed by the visit of fifth-placed Plymouth. Argyle are, however, on a fairly hot streak so they should be wary. (League Two, Tuesday 21 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

6. Barnet v Braintree Town - with Chelsea and Watford topping the Premier League and Championship and Barnet at the summit of the Conference, things are going pretty well for some of our local clubs at the moment. The Bees extended their lead at the top to five points on Saturday after a crucial win at title rivals Gateshead. On Tuesday they host Essex club Braintree who are on the verge of going into freefall after a bad run of results has seen them slide down the table. In theory this should be a routine win for the hosts. (Conference Premier, Tuesday 21 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Dartford v Burgess Hill Town - this weekend sees the staging of the massively important FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, the final hurdle non-league clubs have to leap before being thrown into the hat with the League One and Two clubs. I would've hoped to dedicate a large section of the Top 10 to this but there's only one tie in the London area and it's a proper David versus Goliath contest. The Darts are the big Conference side with the plush ground whereas Burgess Hill play in the Isthmian League Division 1 South some three divisions below. It looks pretty clear cut until you consider Dartford are struggling and Burgess Hill are one of the most in-form teams in the country - unbeaten in 15 league games (winning 12) and they eliminated Conference South club Sutton United 3-1 on their own pitch in the last round! Now which one was David again? (FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Saturday 25 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Sutton United v Bishop's Stortford - talking of Sutton they've got a home game on Saturday that, if won, could get them back into touching distance of the top five. The Burgess Hill result will have been a huge blow for the U's but it may have acted as a wake-up call too as they bounced back with a decent 1-0 win at Farnborough on Saturday. Stortford have been very unpredictable this season and sit in lower midtable as a consequence. Predicting a winner here is tough but my heart says Sutton. (Conference South, Saturday 25 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Dulwich Hamlet v Hendon - last week I recommended you go and watch the Greens take on Margate in a top-three clash. It produced a five-goal thriller which Hendon edged thanks to Leon Smith's hat-trick. This week Gary McCann's side feature in the Isthmian League's top match again as they travel to fourth-placed Dulwich Hamlet for another big game. As regular readers know, I have a lot of time and respect for both clubs so I'd heartily encourage you to give this game a go. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 25 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

10. Beckenham Town v Ashford United - elsewhere in south-east London we've got this Southern Counties East League top-five clash. Beckenham are a team I've never been to see but I'm very tempted as they seem to have a good ground and their website is one of the best around - often a good sign of a well run/forward thinking club. They've begun this season pretty well and although Erith & Belvedere are already well clear at the top, second placed Ashford could quite easily be caught. Up the Becks! (Southern Counties East League, Saturday 25 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via FacebookTwitter or email.

Monday 13 October 2014

TLFG: 13-19 October 2014

Hi there. Sorry for the delay in putting up this week's piece, I've been in Germany taking part in Lokalrunde this weekend so haven't had a chance.

For those of you who don't know, it's the equivalent of our very own Non-League Day. After several successful years in England, our German and Swiss friends decided to give it a go this year.

With an old chum in Berlin, I decided to take in a game in the German capital so on Sunday afternoon we jumped on the S-Bahn at Ostkreuz and headed deeper into East Berlin to see Eintracht Mahlsdorf v Tennis Borussia Berlin.

These two play in the sixth tier of German football in the Berlin-Liga but this was actually a Berlin Cup match.

The area Eintracht play in is very suburban with quiet streets and pretty houses. The ground itself is part of a larger sports facility with a running track round the pitch and tennis courts to one side.

Compared to the sixth tier in England, the facilities were much more basic and probably more akin to Step 5 rather than Conference South clubs.

Tennis Borussia about to take the lead at Sportplatz Am Rosenhag
However, what was offered was very good with excellent catering and one of the best sound systems I've ever heard at a non-league ground - which considering it was just two speakers at ground level attached to a DJ's mixing desk was pretty impressive.

The weather was fine and the crowd of several hundred seemed like a good turnout. Tennis Borussia's left-wing fans provided colour with a number of eye-catching banners.

On the pitch, TeBe had the better of the first half and led 1-0 at the break. They should have pushed home their advantage but got sloppy and lost 2-1. It was obviously quite a big deal with players on both sides collapsing to the floor in joy or disappointment at the final whistle. Apparently winners of this cup go on to qualify for the German equivalent of the FA Cup which is an interesting way of doing things.

It's hard to gauge how successful this match was from a Lokalrunde perspective as I've nothing to compare it to but I've heard from the organisers that they are pleased with how everything went nationally so that's great.

Anyway, before we all forget, this is a blog about London football so read on to find out what's happening here this week.

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 70 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, 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
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London match map 13-19 October 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. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below. 

TLFG TOP 10

1. Crystal Palace v Chelsea - first up this week we've got this London derby. The Blues have already opened a five-point lead at the top, have the only unbeaten record and are scoring an average of three goals a game so it looks pretty hopeless for Palace. Well maybe not - the Eagles have only lost one of their last five league games and beat Chelsea at Selhurst Park last season. Also, boss Neil Warnock masterminded a 1-0 victory over the Stamford Bridge club when he last faced them with QPR so there is hope. (Premier League, Saturday 18 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

2. Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool - some of the most memorable matches I have seen as a QPR supporter have been against the Reds. Some have ended in glory, others in disaster but they're rarely dull affairs. QPR have had a stinker of a start and prop up the league despite more big summer spending. Liverpool have started poorly by their standards (ninth at present) with many of their supporters expecting little from this game. Nevertheless they are big favourites in my book but without Luis Suarez who ripped Rangers to pieces at Loftus Road last time the sides played there, it could be a bit closer. (Premier League, Sunday 19 October, 130pm. Ticket info)

3. Fulham v Norwich City - prior to the international break the Cottagers were starting to show signs of improvement under caretaker boss Kit Symons. On Saturday they welcome Championship leaders Norwich, one of the sides they got relegated with last season. The Canaries enjoyed a far better landing in this division and although top, can't afford any slip ups as eight sides are within a win of each other in a very tight league table. One thing to boost Fulham hopes - Norwich have a very poor record at Craven Cottage. Their last win came in 1986. (Championship, Saturday 18 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Wolverhampton Wanderers - another of the sides in contention for top spot are Wolves. Recently promoted as champions of League One, the West Midlands club could move above Norwich with a win at the New Den. They have a decent record here and should feel confident as a six game winless streak has seen the Lions start to slide down the table after becoming early leaders. (Championship, Saturday 18 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Bromley v Grays Athletic - it's FA Cup replay time on Tuesday night. The stakes are getting high now with only two wins separating one of these sides from a prestigious tie with a League One or Two side. On Saturday the sides fought out a 0-0 draw but with Bromley one of the better sides in the Conference South, they should start as favourites. The winners will travel to Evesham United who play at a lower level than both of them so the opportunity to make the First Round Proper is about as good as it can get. (FA Cup Third Qualifying Round replay, Tuesday 14 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

6. Wealdstone v Basingstoke Town - after their dreadful start the Stones have started to turn things round with seven points from their last four games. They are now out of the relegation zone and looking to progress. However, they'll have to be at their best on Saturday when current leaders Basingstoke pay a visit. They've won three on the trot to go two points clear of their nearest rivals with a game in hand. It's going to be tough. (Conference South, Saturday 18 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Hendon v Margate - the game of the week in the Isthmian League takes place at Earlsmead where it's third versus second. Margate are the division's big spenders so it's no surprise that they've made such a good start. They're currently only two points behind leaders and Kent rivals Maidstone but they have a game in hand so top spot is theirs for the taking. Hendon, however, continue to defy the odds. Since losing their ground the Greens have struggled for support and money, with the Supporters' Trust often issuing pleas for cash. Despite this, manager Gary McCann has consistently produced competitive sides who challenge for a play-off spot. This year things have begun really well so it will be interesting to see how they do here. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 18 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Whyteleafe v Chipstead - elsewhere in the Isthmian League we've got a Surrey derby between two sides who have started well. The Leafe came up from the Southern Counties East League last season and will hope to emulate VCD Athletic by achieving back-to-back promotions. At the moment they're second and acquitting themselves well. The Chips surprised a few with their blistering start which saw them top the table. Results have waned a bit and they've slipped to sixth but we should still get a good game here. (Isthmian League Division 1 South, Tuesday 14 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Thurrock v Tilbury - what better way to start your weekend of football watching than an Essex derby in the FA Trophy on Friday night? That's we've got at Ship Lane where two of the Isthmian League Division 1 North's clubs go head-to-head. Thurrock, as one of the best sides in the division, will start as favourites. (FA Trophy, Friday 17 October 745pm. Ticket info)

10. North Greenford United v Hanwell Town - last up this week we've got another derby, this one over in west London. These two play only a Tube stop apart on either side of the A40 so geographically they are really close. Hanwell have played at a lower level for the last few seasons but won the Spartan South Midlands League last season to move into the Southern League alongside North Greenford where they've begun impressively. NGU have become perennial strugglers in this division and will have to raise their game to win this. (Southern League Cup, Tuesday 14 October, 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 5 October 2014

TLFG: 6-12 October 2014

Hi there and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

I'm going to keep this very brief, for now, as I've spent most of the day walking across London raising funds for the QPR Tiger Cubs - a sports club for children with Down's syndrome. I then watched QPR lose 2-0 to West Ham at Upton Park.

West Ham defend an early QPR corner at a sunny Boleyn Ground
I took lots of photos and would love to tell you more but I'm too tired right now and have to be up for work at 530am. If I'm feeling more like it tomorrow then I'll try and flesh things out a bit more but for now I've only included the basics.

UPDATE (07/10/14) - I've continued to be quite pushed for time but have managed to update the ticket info page.

Don't forget there's an international break this weekend meaning that AFC Wimbledon v Bury in League Two is the only match taking place on Saturday in the capital in the top four divisions.

There are loads of great non-league games taking place instead with some offering some great incentives to get extra people in. Dulwich Hamlet and Hampton & Richmond Borough have the most eye-catching deals that I'm aware of - details are on the ticket info page.

It's Non-League Day in Germany and Switzerland this weekend
Personally I'll be heading to Berlin this weekend for the first ever Non-League Day in Germany. Entitled Lokalrunde it will also be taking place in Switzerland. If you're reading this in Germany or Switzerland or planning a visit there this weekend then please pay a visit to one of the participating teams.

Anyway, that's it from me. Enjoy your week of football watching.

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 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, 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 6-12 October 2014 in a larger map


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.