Monday 25 December 2017

TLFG: 25 December 2017 - 7 January 2018

It's finally here - TLFG's Christmas and New Year Special.

I had hoped to get this out on Saturday evening but loads of other stuff has cropped up this week and it's arriving now so apologies if you've been clicking fruitlessly for 36 hours or so.

Despite beginning work on this around three weeks ago, I'd still like to include more - particularly a review of the year but I simply haven't found the time.

I'd like to know what your football highlights have been.

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My personal highlights have been executing another successful Non-League Day, keeping this blog ticking over and getting involved in Non-League Finals Day again.

I've visited a handful of new grounds to take my tally to 136 and most importantly I've had lots of positive feedback from you lot which I really really appreciate. Some of you have even donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund which was very humbling.

The low points included Harrow Borough's relegation but the subsequent unexpected reprieve was almost as sweet as a promotion! 

A few non-league clubs have gone by the wayside and more are under threat. One of the most troubling stories appeared earlier this week and involved a trademark dispute between Wembley FC and the FA. I don't want to try and explain it in case I get some of the legal details wrong but suffice to say it's been yet another PR disaster for the FA and a petition has been set up to try and get them to back down.

'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' pay a visit to Bromley

The next couple of weeks are action packed as always with loads of derbies and I've actually got quite a bit of time off so will hope to get to at least two or three games.

Some matches have unusual kick-off times so make sure you check with clubs in case I've missed one or put in the wrong time. The good thing about this is that it will be easy to see a couple of games on at least one day if that's what you're looking to do.

TLFG's Premier League ticket page has also been updated. The biggest news is that tickets for Tottenham's forthcoming games against Manchester United and Arsenal at Wembley are both on general sale so get in quick before they sell out.


If you fancy a trip to watch National League side Bromley at some point then take a look at the latest from our good friends at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' whose latest piece is all about their visit to Hayes Lane.

Right, I think that's about it from me. Have a truly cracking few days, enjoy the food and the football and keep me informed of what you've been up to.

Thanks again for all your support in 2017 and here's to a great 2018!

TRAVEL ADVISORY

Please be aware that at this time of year large sections of London's public transport system shut down, particularly on Boxing Day - here are some the most high profile games that will be affected:

Chelsea v Brighton - a large section of the District Line and all of London Overground will be shut on Boxing Day meaning the Piccadilly Line to Earls Court and then a walk or replacement bus
Watford v Leicester - no London Overground, West Midlands Trains or Virgin Trains services will be operating so the Metropolitan Line is your best option
Brentford v Aston Villa - no South Western Railway service so you'll need to get the Piccadilly Line to South Ealing
Millwall v Wolverhampton Wanderers - no Southeastern or London Overground services so the Jubilee Line to Canada Water is probably your best option or a bus from central London

With no national rail services running on Boxing Day, many non-league games out in the suburbs will also be affected so check all details before you travel.

Charing Cross, Cannon Street and Paddington are all closed until 1 January so this could also affect you significantly. Most trains that would normally run from Charing Cross and Cannon Street will now leave from Victoria and the closure of Paddington means trains to Heathrow are not running and you'll have to get the Tube instead which is much slower.

THE WEEKS AHEAD
There are over 160 matches in the London area over the next two weeks. The highlights include some big matches in the Premier League and EFL, the third round of the FA Cup and loads of derbies at all levels.

As always, 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 on the following match maps. If you've never used them 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 drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
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.

MATCH MAP 25-29 DECEMBER
Tuesday (Boxing Day) fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



MATCH MAP 30-31 DECEMBER
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday (New Year's Eve) fixtures - orange pin




MATCH MAP 1-5 JANUARY
Monday (New Year's Day) fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin



MATCH MAP 6-7 JANUARY
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin



TLFG DAILY DIGEST
In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Tuesday 26 December

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton @1230pm - football on Boxing Day at Wembley seems a very strange idea but that's what's happening for perhaps the first time ever. Southampton isn't a million miles from London so there's a derby flavour to this one. However, despite this, tickets are still readily available
Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm - of the three Premier League games taking place in London on Boxing Day this is the one that most resembles a derby, given Brighton's close proximity to the capital. The Blues, as reigning champions, will see being third and 16 points off the pace as a disappointing season while for the Albion, 12th at Christmas must be seen as a fine achievement
Watford v Leicester City @3pm - the Hornets are doing well to be in the top 10 at Christmas but their form has dipped badly and they need a win. The Foxes lost to Manchester City in the EFL Cup in midweek but only on penalties so it's likely to be tough

Championship
Millwall v Wolverhampton Wanderers @1pm - there's a really good chance of doing a 'double' on Boxing Day thanks to the staggered kick-offs. If the Tottenham game isn't for you, then you could begin proceedings with this game at the Den where the Lions welcome the leaders
Brentford v Aston Villa @730pm - you can then finish off your day with this decent looking game at Griffin Park where the Bees welcome promotion chasing Villa. The one drawback to this is that you must have a previous purchasing history with Brentford or a membership to have any chance of being able to buy a ticket

National League
Leyton Orient v Dagenham & Redbridge @1pm - with no local games in League One or League Two the focus switches to the fifth tier where this east London derby is the standout fixture. Both of these clubs were EFL sides not that long ago so are well used to playing each other. Many thought they would both challenge for honours this season but the O's have had a terrible start. However, back-to-back wins in their last two games has got fans believing again
Boreham Wood v Sutton United @3pm - the other match in the division is a north versus south London derby. Both are in the top seven and only three points apart so it should be a well contested game

National League South
Welling United v Dartford @1pm - the big two in south-east London, in non-league terms, meet for what should be another very interesting derby. Normally these games are important, but with Dartford top in a very tight title race and Welling firmly in promotion contention themselves, this could be a corker
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Wealdstone @3pm - the Darts might be top but it's only thanks to goal difference. They're actually level on points with FOUR, yes four, other teams in what must be the most exciting title battle in the country. Hampton are one of the others and they welcome fellow west Londoners Wealdstone who, like Welling, still have plenty to play for themselves

Bostik League Premier Division
Tooting & Mitcham United v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - the game of the day at this level is undoubtedly this south London derby at Imperial Fields. These old rivals haven't been in the same division for a few seasons so excitement and build up around this fixture has been building for months. With one down near the bottom and the other right up near the top, there's a lot riding on it too
Harrow Borough v Hendon @1pm - it's derbies all the way at non-league level as these two old rivals who were groundsharing until a couple of seasons ago meet for what will hopefully be another goalfest. The last two Boxing Day games between tended 5-4 to Harrow in 2016 and 5-5 in 2015. At the beginning of this season in the reverse fixture, Hendon won 6-0

Bostik League South Division
Carshalton Athletic v Corinthian Casuals @3pm - a south London derby and third versus fourth, in other words a big game. With the two sides above them both having games in hand, both sides need to win

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Wednesday 27 December

Bostik League Premier Division
Metropolitan Police v Leatherhead @745pm - although the Met are in the top seven and the Tanners could get to that level if they win their games in hand, it's not the most enticing fixture but on paper it's the best there is on Wednesday

Bostik League North Division
Romford v AFC Hornchurch @745pm - if you live on the east side of town you might actually argue that this is far more of a draw and you might well be right even though it's from the level below. Very much a derby, Romford have sadly been exiled from their home town for several years but still play relatively close by at Thurrock. The Urchins are currently top of the league and must start as favourites as the hosts are bottom

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Thursday 28 December

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Arsenal @8pm - at last we have our first genuine Premier League London derby of the festive period. Given Palace's recent resurgence, which has seen them go eight games without defeat, this is quite a hard one to call. Although the Gunners are well above in them table, their defence is dodgy and I can very easily see the Eagles getting at least a draw
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Friday 29 December

Championship
Millwall v Queens Park Rangers @745pm - the weekend gets underway with another derby in the second tier. Games between these two have a had a bit of an edge to them in recent seasons with the worst crowd disturbances I have seen at Loftus Road in many years coming when the Lions pay a visit. Suffice to say that although I'm free, I'm not in a hurry to go to this one. Apart from that, QPR's record against Millwall is pretty poor with only two wins from the last 10, both coming at home. The last time Rangers won at Millwall was in 1990 at their old ground 

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Saturday 30 December

Premier League
Chelsea v Stoke City @3pm - although there's a fair bit of Premier League football going on in London over Christmas and New Year, with all due respect, not much of it is big box office stuff. Sadly, this clash against an ailing Potters side doesn't really get my pulse racing but saying that, it has still sold out
Watford v Swansea City @3pm - again another fairly nondescript match between two of the division's smaller teams one of whom is really struggling. You shouldn't struggle getting a ticket for this one

Championship
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - with Millwall and QPR playing the night before, this is all there is in the EFL on Saturday. Given Griffin Park's relatively small size, it should be close to capacity for the visit of one of the division's biggest clubs 

National League
Leyton Orient v Bromley @3pm - the O's continue their festive programme with another tough derby against a side pushing for promotion

Bostik League North Division
Barking v AFC Hornchurch @3pm - there are a few games in the Bostik Premier on Saturday but none are particularly significant instead I've dropped a division for this one. As mentioned above, the Urchins are top at the time of writing and after playing near neighbours Romford on Wednesday they next have to play Barking who are also from just down the road. However, the hosts are a much better side than Romford so it could be close

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Croydon v AFC Croydon Athletic @3pm - the Croydon derby, 'nuff said

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Harefield United v Hillingdon Borough @3pm - with both sides having seen very much better days, bragging rights is pretty much all that's up for grabs in this derby

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Sunday 31 December

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Manchester City @12pm - the Eagles' tough Christmas period continues with the visit of the runaway league leaders. Beating most people at will at the moment, City are currently 13 points clear at the top and it could be even more by the time this kicks off. When they met earlier in the season, Palace got crushed 5-0

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Monday 1 January

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City @3pm - these two have had some big games over the last 15 or so years as they have gone head-to-head in promotion battles in the second and third tiers. The last time this rivalry really came to the fore was when QPR won the Championship in 2010/11 with Neil Warnock as boss. He's now in charge of Cardiff and seemingly working his magic again as they are second at the time of writing. The much-travelled Yorkshireman is held in high esteem by many Rangers fans thanks to that title success and many believe he was dispensed with far too soon by the current regime. His status was further boosted a couple of years ago when he came back in a caretaker capacity for a few games and turned a struggling side into relative worldbeaters overnight before leaving again - the side has never been the same since

League One
Charlton Athletic v Gillingham @3pm - the game of the day in the third tier is this one at the Valley. The Gills are located just outside London on Charlton's side of town so this is effectively a derby. The Addicks, despite being in the top six, haven't won for a while and Gillingham are showing signs of improvement so they'll need to avoid complacency at all costs
AFC Wimbledon v Southend United @3pm - the Dons recorded a hugely impressive and very important victory over Bradford on Saturday but stayed in the bottom four. Escape from it is within touching distance though and victory over a midtable Southend side could lift them up a couple of places

League Two
Barnet v Swindon Town @3pm - it's been a season of struggle for the Bees who got to Christmas with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom two. Former Premier League club Swindon are the next to visit the Hive and Barnet know they can beat them - the reverse fixture in September saw them pull off a stunning 4-1 win

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Leyton Orient @3pm - at this time of year, the National League get local sides to play their home and away fixtures a week apart so we've got a mirror image of the Boxing Day games taking place here. Therefore if you missed the initial derby between these two or fancy a bit more then you've got your chance here
Sutton United v Boreham Wood @3pm - likewise you've got the second instalment of this south versus north London clash
Bromley v Ebbsfleet United @745pm - and you can combine any of the above with this Kent derby which kicks-off in the evening

National League South
Dartford v Welling United @3pm - the same formula is in place in the NLS so we have a reprise of the Darts against the Wings
Wealdstone v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm - the Stones host the Beavers as well

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Kingstonian @3pm - after massive games at Tooting and Billericay earlier in the festive period, the Hamlet get the chance to play a home match against the K's who have been among their challengers in recent seasons. Without a ground of their own for the first time in many years, the K's have had to so far settle for a place in midtable. There should still be a crowd in excess of 1,000
Hendon v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - there's a north London derby at Silver Jubilee Park where two of the division's top 10 sides will try and entertain you but the attendance will probably in the 200-250 range

Bostik League South Division
Corinthian Casuals v Walton Casuals @3pm - a lot could change by the time this gets underway but at the moment it's a case of third against fifth
Greenwich Borough v Cray Wanderers @3pm - two more of the current top six meet in Eltham for a game that could send Cray top if they're not there already
VCD Athletic v Phoenix Sports @3pm - the visitors will be targeting a place in the top six over the next couple of weeks and they could get there by winning this derby. These two play about 200m apart and you can hear what's going on in one game while you're at the other

Evo-Stik League East Division
Hanwell Town v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm - there's a west London derby to be enjoyed at Reynolds Field. Hanwell have had a poor season whilst Hayes are the best team from TLFG's catchment area in this division. Currently sixth, they have an excellent chance of doing well this season
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Tuesday 2 January

Premier League
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion @745pm - two of the division's strugglers meet for a crucial game at the London Stadium. Both have recently installed new managers with the Hammers' David Moyes so far having the most success. Former West Ham boss Alan Pardew is yet to record a win since taking over at the Hawthorns

Championship
Fulham v Ipswich Town @745pm - sitting within striking distance of the play-off places, this is kind of a best of the rest match as far as the Championship is concerned. Not consistent enough to be up with the main contenders, these two former Premier League teams are tough to separate in terms of quality so it could well be a draw

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v Waltham Abbey @745pm - after great runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, Haringey have several games in hand on those above them which could easily put them in the top three if they won them. Waltham are one of those sides so a win is a must
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Wednesday 3 January

Premier League
Arsenal v Chelsea @745pm - the biggest match of the entire festive period must be this one at the Emirates. Currently both in the top six, the two fought out a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge in September and current form could well see another draw here

UPDATE (03/01/18): a friendly featuring Bermondsey Town and AFC Kumazi Strikers is being played at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre at 8pm. Although these teams play at a very low level, this is more about getting to see a game at a famous old venue that is most notable for hosting athletics. With the creation of the London Stadium over in Stratford, this place has lost out in a big way and has seen very much better days. Entrance is free and it seems to have generated a huge amount of interest amongst the groundhopper community so don't miss the opportunity if that's your kind of thing. Please note that because of the bad weather the game could get called off so follow the Bermondsey Town twitter feed for the latest
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Thursday 4 January

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @8pm - the big derbies continue on Thursday with this match at Wembley. Although not quite as big as the game above, these two sets of fans really don't like each other and even though the Hammers are struggling they beat Spurs here in the EFL Cup two months ago
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Saturday 6 January

FA Cup Third Round - the nation's premier knockout cup competition is down to its last 64 teams. Premier League and Championship sides have joined the draw at this stage and there are usually a lot of discounted tickets available to watch some of London's top clubs as a result. The winners of each tie receive £67,500 in prize money

Watford v Bristol City @3pm - the Hornets are the only local Premier League side in action in the cup on Saturday and they face very dangerous opponents. The Robins made headlines just before Christmas by sensationally beating Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals and are among the frontrunners  in the Championship. Given how poorly Watford have been doing recently, they could be very vulnerable indeed. Tickets are readily available to non-members and are only £10
Fulham v Southampton @3pm - you can also catch a top-flight side in action at Craven Cottage where the Saints travel up to from Hampshire. Tickets for this are £25 in advance, £30 on matchday

There are also ties at Brentford, Millwall and QPR but none of them are particularly exciting so stick with one of the two above unless you have a particular reason you want to visit one of these three

National League
Leyton Orient v Boreham Wood @3pm - the O's end the festive period with yet another derby against another tough opponent

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - two of the top six at the time of writing but either could be top or well out of it by the time this kicks-off

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Folkestone Invicta @3pm - two of the top six at the time of writing, both sides have a decent following so this should draw the biggest crowd of the day at this level

Essex Senior League
Waltham Forest v Clapton @3pm - after having had a two-week break, the ESL returns with this for me being the pick of the games. Regular readers will know that Forest are struggling financially and are trying to woo new fans and groundhoppers to Wadham Lodge in an attempt to fill up their coffers. The Clapton Ultras have openly supported this campaign and have gone to games in recent weeks while the boycott of their own home games has continued. Now that it's the turn of their team to play there, we should get to see them in full force with the hosts probably getting their biggest crowd of the season

Combined Counties League Division 1
Worcester Park v Sheerwater @2pm - at the time of writing these two are first and second in the table so it doesn't get much bigger than this

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
London Lions v Wodson Park @3pm - the hosts have made a very impressive return to life at this level and are currently up in third just one place behind their visitors
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Sunday 7 January

FA Cup Third Round
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Wimbledon @3pm - a huge occasion for Dons fans as they travel back to Wembley, the site of their most famous victory - the FA Cup final of 1988. Their entire allocation of 7,700 tickets sold out in no time but there are still plenty more available in home areas of the ground if you want to go - prices start at just £10

Bostik League South Division
Cray Wanderers v Walton Casuals @3pm - two of the division's top clubs meet for what could be a very important game come the end of the season

FA Women's Super League 1
Chelsea v Arsenal @2pm - women's football makes its return from a short Christmas break with this big London derby at Kingsmeadow

UPDATE (03/01/18): an FA Youth Cup Third Round match is now also taking place on Sunday 7th with Watford U18's hosting their counterparts from Sunderland. The match takes place at Vicarage Road and kicks off at 2pm - tickets are available in advance


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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?
Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Sunday 17 December 2017

TLFG: 18-24 December 2017

So the final regular edition of TLFG before the Christmas/New Year Special gets published is here. Wow - how time flies.

I had thought about merging this week into the special to make it cover the next three weeks but I've run out of time.

Thankfully the Christmas one is well underway and it will hopefully get published at some point on the evening of Saturday 23 December but failing that, Christmas Eve.

But before all that, there's still plenty going on from now until next Saturday with some big derbies, important cup matches and top of the table clashes so don't wind down for the festivities just yet.

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I'm back on early shifts this week so seeing any midweek football is highly unlikely. The main entertainment for me should be my daughter's debut in her first nativity play at school - in order to attend I've had to agree to a super early shift at work which will see me need to get up at 215am so if you'd like to donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund this week it will be very much appreciated.

So what have you been to see over the last week? Regular reader Simon S went to Carshalton's big game with Lewes in the Bostik League while another regular Chris H went to watch Brentford B and Wealdstone - thanks for the pictures and updates gents.

A big welcome too to all new readers, subscribers and followers - thanks for joining us.

I think that's about it from me but finally don't forget next week's special - it will cover the period from 25 December - 7 January so it will include all the Boxing Day and New Year games and take you through to the FA Cup Third Round at the end.

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are 70 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some matches in the Premier League and the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.

As always, 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 on the following match maps. If you've never used them 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 drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin




TLFG DAILY DIGEST
In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 18 December

Professional Development League
There are U23 games taking place at Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Millwall and QPR. All games kick-off at 1pm and are being played at the clubs' training grounds. As a result, some of them may not be open to the public so double check all venues, kick-off times and whether you'll be allowed in before you leave. Of the four, QPR's game against Watford is probably the best as it's a derby and most games played at Harlington are open to visitors

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Brimsdown v Enfield Borough @745pm - the most eye-catching non-league fixture for me is this north London derby. Although they now play at Haringey Borough's ground, Brimsdown originally hail from the Enfield area. Borough have had a fine debut season at this level and are among the frontrunners so will start as favourites

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Tuesday 19 December

EFL Cup Quarter-Final
Arsenal v West Ham United @745pm - this derby is the tie of the round and is quite hard to call. The Gunners should win but Arsene Wenger rarely fields full strength sides in this competition and they could be vulnerable to a resurgent Hammers side who held them to a 0-0 draw in the league last week. For me, it will all depend on how badly West Ham want it - if they are organised and well motivated then they'll have a good chance

Friendly
Brentford B v Manchester City U23 @1pm - the Bees' have arranged another attractive friendly for their second string at their training ground on Tuesday. Again, double check all the details before you travel

FA Trophy First Round Replay
Boreham Wood v Dartford @745pm - seventh in the National League and having made the second round of the FA Cup, it's been a great season for Boreham Wood. Not too shabby for a club with the smallest crowds in the fifth tier (average 740). On Saturday they managed to come away from a tricky trip to Princes Park with a 1-1 draw and should win here

Bostik League Premier Division
Staines Town v Harlow Town @745pm - there are several other non-league games on Tuesday but this just about represents the best of the rest. Staines are third and still have an outside shot at the title whilst Harlow are battling the drop so this important for both clubs as we head into Christmas

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Wednesday 20 December

EFL Cup Quarter-Final
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth @745pm - the Blues often field weaker than normal sides in this competition but with the Premier League title now seemingly out of their reach, the EFL Cup could become more of a priority than before. The Cherries' overwhelming focus will be on preserving their top-flight status so Eddie Howe will have some tough squad decisions of his own

Kent Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Cray Wanderers v Charlton Athletic @745pm - the match at Stamford Bridge is sold out so this is your next best alternative in the capital. Cray from the Bostik South play at Bromley's ground and will hopefully put on an entertaining display against an Addicks' side which will probably be largely made up of U23 players
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Friday 22 December

Premier League
Arsenal v Liverpool @745pm - one of the biggest games of the Premier League season, this was always going to be moved for TV purposes. There was talk of very controversially moving it to Christmas Eve but that didn't happen and we've got it on a Friday night instead which isn't much better for the away fans. Much of a muchness in the league, this is another one that's quite hard to call. Many teams struggle at the Emirates but not so Liverpool who Arsenal have only beaten five times in the last 10 attempts in all competitions - the Reds won a thriller here last year 4-3. In fact, Liverpool are unbeaten in five matches home and away against the Gunners over the last couple of years, scoring an impressive 14 goals in the process

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Saturday 23 December

Premier League
West Ham United v Newcastle United @3pm - a hugely important game in the battle to avoid relegation. A few weeks ago, you'd have favoured Newcastle to win this but now their form has collapsed and it's the Hammers who are on the rise. Given that current form and home advantage, you'd have to back David Moyes's side in this one

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City @3pm - when QPR were fighting to get out of what is now League One back in the early years of this century, there used to be some all mighty ding dongs against the Robins and I was a fairly frequent visitor to Ashton Gate as a result. One thing that increased the rivalry then and is still a factor today is that Ian Holloway, a big Bristol Rovers man, was the manager. Now both Championship sides, the relationship is a bit different with QPR floundering towards the wrong end of the table and City going all out for promotion. Given how well they're doing and how relatively easy it is to get from Bristol to Shepherd's Bush, the away end is pretty much sold out (19 tickets remaining out of 1,800 when I looked earlier) so there should be a lively atmosphere
Fulham v Barnsley @3pm - this match doesn't have quite as much riding on it for both teams and there isn't any strong rivalry. It is a better value option in terms of price though, with plenty of adult tickets available for £20-£25 although these prices only apply if you buy before Saturday

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City @3pm - the Dons are finding it really tough at the moment. Aside from an FA Cup win over Charlton, they're winless in three in the league with their latest performance ending in a 4-0 home loss to leaders Wigan leaving them second from bottom. The good news is that it's tight towards the foot of the table with the four teams above them all catchable with a win. The bad news is that Bradford are another one of the good sides who will be incredibly tough to beat. A former Premier League side, they are too big to be in this division and will bring sizeable support
Charlton Athletic v Blackpool @3pm - after being a big part of the leading group for most of the season, the Addicks are in real danger of falling by the wayside. Out of the FA Cup and winless in four in the league, only goals scored is keeping them in the play-off places. However, they have a real chance of getting back to winning ways against Blackpool who are currently down in midtable and in worse form than they are

League Two
Barnet v Cheltenham Town @3pm - the Bees picked up their second win in four games to move off the bottom and out of the relegation zone completely on Saturday. A win against Cheltenham could see them move up another three places if results go their way, such is the tightness of the relegation race in this division. The visitors are no better than the Morecambe team who Barnet saw off on Saturday so they should be confident of being able to do well again here

National League
Sutton United v Tranmere Rovers @3pm - I would easily expect a crowd of 2,500-3,000 to pack into Gander Green Lane for the biggest non-league game of the day. Despite being just outside the play-off places, Tranmere are the giants of the division and it was a real surprise when the former second tier side and former EFL Cup finalists got relegated to this level a couple of years ago. Sutton are currently second in the table and could go top if they win
Bromley v Macclesfield Town @3pm - whether they do depends how well current leaders Macclesfield get on at Hayes Lane. The hosts have lost a bit of form of late and with it their position in the play-off places - it's going to be another close one

National League South
Dartford v Braintree Town @3pm - there's a real humdinger on the cards at Princes Park where the teams in first and second do battle to see who will be top at Christmas. These two and Hampton & Richmond Borough are all locked together on 38 points in one of the closest title races around
Wealdstone v St Albans City @3pm - both these sides sit just outside the play-off places and there's a hint of a derby feel to this one as they're not a million miles away from one another

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Leiston @3pm - with only one defeat in 17 league games, it's no surprise that Dulwich find themselves top as we approach Christmas. However, they've found in quite tough going when they've had to play their main contenders with Metropolitan Police the only side in the top 10 that they've so far been able to beat (even Harrow Borough managed that!). So is their position a bit of a false one? Have they had easier fixtures than the rest? This match could prove to be illuminating as it features Leiston who are fourth. The reverse fixture in Suffolk near the start of the campaign ended in a 2-2 draw and with four wins from their last five games (the only defeat coming against big spending Billericay) they're looking pretty formidable

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - after welcoming over 1,000 supporters to Coles Park for their narrow FA Trophy loss to Leyton Orient on Saturday, Haringey can get back to concentrating on the league. With four or five games in hand on most of the clubs above them, seventh placed Boro have a great chance of getting promoted. Bowers are currently second and must be beaten if they are to be taken seriously

Bostik League South Division
Molesey v Cray Wanderers @3pm - the visitors have played a patient game this season, keeping slightly below the headlines while the likes of Corinthian Casuals, Carshalton and Greenwich have caught the eye. However, they've put together a 15-game unbeaten run themselves and have now crept up to second. A win at lowly Molesey could see them go top

Evo-Stik League East Division
Hanwell Town v AFC Rushden & Diamonds @3pm - it's been a season to forget so far for the hosts. Second from bottom after only three wins all season, it's looking pretty bleak for Hanwell. On Saturday, they should get one of their biggest crowds of the season as the leaders pay a visit. This phoenix club were formed from the ashes of a former third-tier team that went bust a few years ago and they still attract strong support

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Hanworth Villa v Bedfont Sports @3pm - the match of the day in the CCL is this local derby between two of the division's top five. With leaders Westfield still catchable, Bedfont really need to win

Essex Senior League
Ilford v Redbridge @1pm - the Foxes welcome leaders Redbridge to Cricklefield for a derby that could play an important part in this year's title race
West Essex v Clapton @3pm - the attendance of the day will come at another east London derby. Although a title attempt is pretty much over, they are both in the top eight. The match will be played at Barking's ground and the Clapton Ultras should swell the crowd considerably

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
London Lions v Enfield Borough @3pm - the best game on Saturday in the 10th tier would appear to be this north London derby at Rowley Lane. Both new to the division this year, the sides are up in the top five

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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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?
Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Monday 11 December 2017

TLFG: 11-17 December 2017

In last week's blog I made mention of the Conifa World Football Cup which is coming to London at the end of May.

It seemed to spark real interest among you dear readers so I'll keep bringing it up as we get nearer to the event.

The organisers revealed the seedings this week with Barawa, Abkhazia, Panjab and Padania in the top pot. Local favourites must be Ellan Vannin (more commonly known as the Isle of Man) but they are only in Pot 3 so presumably face an uphill task if they are to win.

Next month we'll get to see which venues are being used and when the tickets are going on sale so watch this space for more news.

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Having been on late shifts all week I haven't had the chance to see any games but I've got a couple of days off coming up so that could change.

I know a few of you did make it to matches and one of those was Anders H from Norway who enjoyed watching QPR's demise from the away end as Leeds picked up a pretty comfortably three points at Loftus Road. He also very generously donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund this week. As ever, I really appreciate this so many thanks again.

It's late and I haven't got anything I really want to add so enjoy your week and let's hope the weather doesn't see too many matches postponed.

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big  derbies in the Premier League and the next round of the FA Trophy.

As always, 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 on the following match maps. If you've never used them 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 drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin




TLFG DAILY DIGEST
In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 11 December

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - there are a few U23 games on Monday but this is far and away the best one on offer. The Hammers' youngsters are second only to Arsenal in London at the present time so should have the edge here

Bostik League South Division
Carshalton Athletic v Lewes @745pm - one of the matches of the week at non-league level sees third placed Carshalton host the current leaders. The Robins have a 3G pitch so it should survive the bad weather

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Tuesday 12 December

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Watford @8pm - another full midweek programme of Premier League games gets underway with this derby at Selhurst Park. Despite returning to the bottom of the table on Saturday, Palace extended their unbeaten run to five games as they drew with Bournemouth. Watford are having a much better season but haven't won in three and can definitely be beaten

FA Youth Cup Third Round
Queens Park Rangers v Charlton Athletic @7pm - fancy seeing a game at Loftus Road for only £3? This is your chance as the U18s take centre stage. Tickets should be bought from the box office and will not be for sale on the gate

Bostik League North Division
AFC Hornchurch v Barking @745pm - two of the division's top five meet at Bridge Avenue for an east London derby

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm - things are looking good for the Motormen. With nine wins from their last 10, they currently top the ESL. However, despite the good run it's still tight at the top with only six points between the top five. Great Wakering are fifth and have a game in hand so this game is important for both

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Wednesday 13 December

Premier League
West Ham United v Arsenal @8pm - the match of the week in my opinion should be this derby at the London Stadium. Things were looking pretty bleak for David Moyes' men going into the weekend but they pulled off a shock win over Chelsea. Arsenal are no better than the Blues so won't be able to take anything for granted. Unbelievably, tickets still appear to be on general sale to non-members
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion @8pm - across town at the same time, Spurs welcome the Seagulls to Wembley for what is also a bit of derby given Brighton's close proximity to London. Tottenham thrashed Stoke on Saturday while Brighton came unstuck at Huddersfield so the hosts should start as strong favourites

FA Youth Cup Third Round
Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday @7pm - the Gunners' youngsters entertain the Owls at Boreham Wood's ground in a match they should win

Bostik League South Division
Cray Wanderers v Sittingbourne @745pm - if you'd rather see a non-league game, I believe this one is possibly the best on offer. Playing at Bromley's ground, Cray are well in the hunt for promotion and could move up to second if results go their way
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Thursday 14 December

Friendly
Brentford B v Wolverhampton Wanderers U23 @12pm - I'm not aware of any other games on Thursday and this one at the Bees' training ground might not even be open to the public so please check before you travel 

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Friday 15 December

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Derby County @7pm - U23 football tops the bill again on Friday as the title-chasing Gunners entertain the Rams. Currently second in the table, they're still a whopping eight points behind leaders Liverpool so must win this one

FA Youth Cup Third Round
West Ham United v Blackpool @7pm - there's also some U18 action to be enjoyed at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground where it's just £3 to get in

Bostik League North Division
Aveley v Hertford Town @745pm - there's also a non-league option at Aveley's fine Parkside ground but neither side are having a stunning campaign so there's not a huge amount riding on it
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Saturday 16 December

Premier League
Arsenal v Newcastle United @3pm - with attendances of well over 50,000 these are two of the biggest clubs in the Premier League but that's where the similarities end. The Gunners are, as always, in the hunt for honours in several competitions as we approach Christmas. Newcastle, however, are starting to lose form in worrying fashion. Winless in seven, they're just two points above the relegation zone
Chelsea v Southampton @3pm - after suffering a shock reverse at West Ham on Saturday, the Blues will want to put things right against Huddersfield in midweek. With that out of the way, Chelsea will then welcome Southampton. A glance at the records shows the hosts have only won one of the last three against the Saints at Stamford Bridge so it could be pretty tricky too
Watford v Huddersfield Town @3pm - not many would've predicted these two would be ninth and 12th in the table at this stage but that's exactly what they are. A midweek win for the Terriers could even propel them into the top 10

Championship
Brentford v Barnsley @3pm - with both sides in the lower half of the table there's not a huge amount to recommend about this and as a result the Bees have cut ticket prices. However, with adult tickets still costing at least £20 it's not exactly the deal of the century
Millwall v Middlesbrough @3pm - the other Championship option is probably a better one for the neutral as the Lions entertain promotion-chasing Boro for a 'Category A' match at the New Den

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Wigan Athletic @3pm - after enjoying a morale-boosting win over Charlton in the FA Cup last weekend, the Dons must now face leaders Wigan. Really struggling for points at the wrong end of the table, Wimbledon badly need to win a league game soon

League Two
Barnet v Morecambe @3pm - if things look bad for Wimbledon they're far worse for Barnet. Three points adrift at the bottom of the EFL after losing the crucial match against fellow strugglers Chestefield on Saturday, Mark McGhee's side have another important game against a side just a few points above them

FA Trophy First Round - my focus this week for the fifth to eighth tiers will be this national knockout cup competition for sides at those levels which has its final at Wembley. With the qualifying rounds out of the way, the National League sides enter the draw and things start to really hot up. The winner of each tie receives £6,000
Sutton United v Truro City @3pm - currently second in the National League, Sutton should be one of the favourites to win this competition. A lot will depend on whether they want to concentrate more on the league than this cup. Whatever they decide, this game probably won't be easy as their Cornish opponents are title contenders in the division below and gave Charlton a decent game in the First Round of the FA Cup
Dartford v Boreham Wood @3pm - in almost a reversal of the match above, the leaders of the National League South (NLS) welcome the team from seventh in the division above. Not only are the Wood doing well in the league, they also made it to the Second Round of the FA Cup and might well be up for another cup run here
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Heybridge Swifts @3pm - as joint leaders of the NLS, Hampton should start as overwhelming favourites against a side from two divisions below them. However, Heybridge have been excellent this season and because of their cup exploits they've only played 11 league games (others in the Bostik North have played 23!) and are still comfortably in midtable
Wealdstone v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - former rivals in the then Ryman League, Wingate used to pull off the odd shock result against the Stones. One of the smallest clubs in the seventh tier, W&F continue to punch above their weight and Wealdstone will need to be careful
Hendon v Bath City @3pm - I can't quite put my finger on why but this tie really appeals to me. The Greens play within sight of Wembley so it would be great if they could somehow get close to the final. However, Bath should provide a really stiff test. Hailing from the division above, they made the semi-finals in 2015 and a play-off spot in the NLS is also well within their grasp this year
Haringey Borough v Leyton Orient @3pm - saving the best for last we have arguably the tie of the round. This time last year, very few people would've thought these two would be meeting in a competitive game but that is how fate has conspired. A real David v Goliath tie, this has everything. Playing in the eighth tier, Haringey are one of the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition. Less than four years ago, the O's were a penalty shoot-out away from a place in the Championship but off-field drama has seen them plummet down the pyramid and they find themselves heading to White Hart Lane for what I believe is their first ever FA Trophy tie. You are advised to buy in advance if you can as a sell out is possible - contact the club for the latest situation

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Bedfont Sports v Sutton Common Rovers @3pm - at the time of writing this is second against third. Midweek results could change things but it's still going to feature a couple of the division's heavy hitters whatever happens

Combined Counties League Division 1
Cobham v Worcester Park @3pm - the hosts in third badly need a win over the visiting divisional leaders if they are to have any chance of mounting a title challenge

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Harefield United v Southall @3pm - I've highlighted this as it gives you the chance to have a look at Southall. Usually one of our local clubs, Southall dropped off TLFG's radar earlier in the season when their groundshare with Hayes & Yeading fell through and they had to move outside London to share with Burnham instead. Despite playing 10th tier football 12 miles from their supporter base, the team have excelled and currently top the division after stringing together a 17-game unbeaten run. They're also averaging nearly four goals a game so Harefield face a very tough afternoon indeed
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Sunday 17 December

FA Women's Premier League Southern
West Ham United v Portsmouth @2pm - the only match I know of in the London area on Sunday is this midtable women's game at West Ham's Rush Green training facility

UPDATE (16/12/17): There are now also FA Women's Super League Cup games taking place at Arsenal and Chelsea on Sunday - see match map for full details

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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?
Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Monday 4 December 2017

TLFG: 4-10 December 2017

Greetings one and all. I hope this week's blog finds you in good form.

The biggest event of the football week saw the draw for next summer's World Cup in Russia.

England ended up in a group alongside Belgium, Tunisia and Panama. They should fancy themselves to claim at least second place and make it through to the knockout stages but as we all know, the Three Lions rarely make things easy for themselves.

If they do go out early, I will have other options as last week I got the results of a DNA ancestry test. It saw me having links to Scandinavia, the Iberian peninsula, Finland and Russia so I'd hope to have an interest until the quarter-finals at the very least.

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I've had a fascination with all things Soviet and Russian since I was teenager so I'd always eyed a trip to this World Cup but with six months to go it's looking increasingly unlikely for reasons of price if nothing else. I'm not ruling it out totally but my chances of going aren't great. Have you landed any tickets? Will you be making the journey?

If you're not, all is not lost as London is hosting the Conifa World Football Cup shortly before the more famous event gets underway.

Featuring sides from parts of the world not recognised by Fifa, we'll get to enjoy our own rather quirky international tournament in the capital next summer.

With teams like Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus, Tibet and Tamil Eelam taking part it could also prove to be quite controversial but I guess we'll have to wait and see...

In other news - regular readers will know I've featured the plight of Waltham Forest here in recent weeks. 

They've recently launched a 'Save Our Club' campaign as their finances have taken a turn for the worse.

With roots going all the way back to 1868 they are one of the oldest clubs in the world so it was with this in mind that earlier today (Sunday) I made the trip up to Walthamstow to support a fundraising match that had been set up to aid the cause.

Waltham Forest go on the attack during a well contested first half

In all my years of watching football I'd never had a reason to visit their Wadham Lodge ground and I'd always put it off as, for someone living in west London, it's a real effort to get to on public transport.

An inner London football ground, it's located a good 20-30 minute walk from the nearest Tube station and a bus is highly recommended to help you complete the journey. 

Following the detailed instructions on the club's website I opted to catch the bus and thankfully there are numerous routes heading that way which means you don't have to wait long for one to arrive.

Despite being a Sunday, the bus was packed to the rafters but the traffic was light and the journey took a little over 10 minutes from Walthamstow Central.

The match between old boys' sides from Waltham Forest and Leyton Pennant (the club's former name) was supposed to kick-off at 2pm so I was a little concerned to turn up late and find nothing happening.

After checking with the volunteers on the gate that all was going ahead as planned, receiving an assurance that it was and a warm welcome, I paid what I liked and headed to a well stocked tea bar.

The game eventually got underway at 215pm and, despite carrying quite a bit of timber between them, the two sets of veterans put on a pretty entertaining first half.

With goals ruled out for off-side (a great achievement given there were no assistant refs) and other efforts hitting the woodwork, it was quite a surprise that Forest only held a 1-0 lead at the interval.

The second half was even more action packed as five further goals found the net in a game which ultimately finished 3-3.

Waltham Forest have two proper home matches this week so if you want to do your bit to help them keep their heads above water then pay them a visit - every pound counts.

Lastly from me I'd like to say a massive thank you to Paul C, David C and another person who wanted to remain nameless who very generously donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund this week. As ever, I really appreciate this so many thanks again.

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big European games, some important derbies and the next rounds of several league and county cups.

As always, 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 on the following match maps. If you've never used them 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 drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin




TLFG DAILY DIGEST
In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 4 December

Premier League Cup
This competition is for U23 sides predominantly from the Premier League and Championship but with a few League One and Two clubs thrown in too. It takes a similar format to the Champions League and we're currently still in the group stage. On Monday, Charlton Athletic (2pm) and Watford (7pm) both have home matches which are being played at Greenwich Borough and Wealdstone respectively. As always, double check with the club that the match is still happening before you travel.

Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round
Aveley v Concord Rangers @745pm - the Millers aren't having a great time in the Bostik League and they face a tough opponent here. If Concord, who play two divisions above them, field a strong team then they could struggle

London Senior Cup Second Round
Tower Hamlets v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - the hosts are having a decent season in the Essex Senior League and might fancy their chances against the Terrors who are down near the foot of the Bostik Premier table

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Tuesday 5 December

Champions League
Chelsea v Atletico Madrid @745pm - arguably the biggest game of the week takes place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. The Blues have already booked their place in the knockout stages but Atletico still have it all to do. Antonio Conte's side are starting to hit some form - with five wins from six they should have the edge

Bostik League North Division
AFC Hornchurch v Maldon & Tiptree @745pm - the Urchins opened a four-point lead at the top on Saturday after beating AFC Sudbury. They now face the Jammers who have promotion ambitions of their own

London Senior Cup Second Round
Corinthian Casuals v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - the team in second in the Bostik South host the leaders of the Bostik Premier in what should be an entertaining game. Dulwich have won the cup five times but haven't made the final since 2004
Greenwich Borough v Cray Valley PM @745pm - in the other tie of the night, two sides who groundshare also meet for a derby. Although Greenwich are the higher ranked club, Cray Valley are the reigning cup holders

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Wednesday 6 December

Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v APOEL Nicosia @745pm - Spurs have really impressed in the group stage so far and will finish top, ahead of Real Madrid, if they draw against the side who are currently bottom and without a win

Uefa Youth League
Tottenham Hotspur v APOEL Nicosia @2pm - the two clubs' respective U19 sides meet earlier in the day at Spurs' training ground where a very limited amount of spectators will be admitted

Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round
Grays Athletic v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - this strong county cup competition is down to its last 16 clubs. On paper the visitors, who play three divisions above the hosts, should win but they're likely to field a weakened side

London Senior Cup Second Round
Metropolitan Police v Clapton @745pm - this should be quite an interesting one to attend as it pits The Met against the Tons or more specifically their Ultras who have a reputation for pushing boundaries (Update - the Met have since announced, in a highly controversial move, that all away fans will be banned from attending)

FA Women's Super League Cup
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - if you've not been to a women's game before then maybe this derby could be for you. As one of the best sides in the land, Chelsea will start as strong favourites
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Thursday 7 December

Europa League
Arsenal v BATE Borisov @805pm - despite failing to win their last two games they've already wrapped up the Group H title and can look forward to some knockout football in the New Year. BATE, from Belarus, still have it all to play for and need a win

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Friday 8 December

Premier League 2
Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion @7pm - the Cottagers' U23 side have won five on the bounce to become the form team of the division. Brighton are just behind them in the table. This match is scheduled to take place at Fulham's training ground so please remember to check all the details before you travel

Bostik League South Division
Molesey v Carshalton Athletic @745pm - I'm not sure why this has been moved to Friday night but I do approve as it gives you more options over the weekend as a whole. The Moles, near the bottom of the division face a tough night against a Robins side who are very much in title contention

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Woodford Town (2017) @745pm - if the far south-west of town isn't handy for you, then a trip to watch the ESL leaders on the east side might be more appealing

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Saturday 9 December

Premier League
West Ham United v Chelsea @1230pm - if the Atletico game is to be overshadowed this week then this should be the one to do it. Games between the Hammers and Blues are always quite testy, especially in the stands. With West Ham really struggling at the moment, the atmosphere could turn ugly if they put in a poor performance here
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - at Selhurst Park we've got a relegation six-pointer. Unbeaten in four, Palace are starting to turn things round and have moved up two places. A win against Bournemouth could leave them on the verge of finally leaving the bottom three
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City @3pm - things were looking pretty rosy for Spurs a few weeks ago but they're now winless in four, down to sixth in the league and below Arsenal. The Potters should be beaten so some serious questions will be asked if they're not

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United @3pm - QPR's poor run continued on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat at Preston. The result left them way down in 18th just six points above the relegation zone. Leeds are pushing for a play-off place but are annoyingly inconsistent and are therefore struggling to crack into the top six
Fulham v Birmingham City @3pm - a couple of miles south the Cottagers take on Birmingham who are struggling to get out of the bottom three

League One
Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth @3pm - the match of the day in the third tier pits these two former Premier League teams against each other. Both currently in the top eight, this should be decent

National League
Leyton Orient v Sutton United @3pm - the biggest London club in the division against the best. The O's are having a bad time and are on course for a second consecutive relegation. The appointment of new boss Justin Edinburgh in midweek made no difference, in fact they suffered possibly their worst result of the season - a 1-0 loss at bottom club Solihull. Sutton, on the other hand, beat Eastleigh to stay joint top with Wrexham
Boreham Wood v AFC Fylde @3pm - both sides flew the non-league flag in the FA Cup this weekend. The Wood unsurprisingly lost 3-0 at Coventry City whilst AFC Fylde did well to hold League One leaders Wigan to a 1-1 draw. Boreham Wood are in far better form in the league so should win here

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v East Thurrock United @3pm - the Beavers could go joint top with Dartford if they win here. ETU are a decent side in their own right, however, and will move into the play-off places with a victory of their own

Bostik League Premier Division
Staines Town v Billericay Town @3pm - two of the top three meet at Wheatsheaf Park in the BLPD game of the day. Having played four more games than big spending Billericay, Staines are unlikely to finish higher than third unless they win matches like this one

Essex Senior League
Tower Hamlets v Sporting Bengal United @3pm - it's Mile End derby time on Saturday afternoon. Both clubs originally have their roots in the local Bengali community and share the same ground so there's usually a reasonable turnout for this one

FA Women's Super League Cup
London Bees v Oxford United @2pm - the hosts are winless in the league and will be desperate to pick up a victory here against a team from the same division

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Sunday 10 December

FA Youth Cup Third Round
Watford v Sunderland @1pm - the U18s of these two sides get the chance to play at Vicarage Road in one of the biggest matches of their fledgling careers

FA Women's Super League 1
Arsenal v Liverpool @2pm - it's Super Sunday in the women's game where the teams in third and fourth open proceedings at 2pm before...
Chelsea v Manchester City @630pm - the top two go head-to-head in the evening game meaning you could easily go to both 

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