Sunday 28 January 2018

TLFG: 29 January - 4 February 2018

As we come to the end of the another month, it's good to see the days getting longer and whole Saturday afternoon matches being played in daylight.

The approach of summer brings promise of the quadrennial* football feast that is the World Cup and to get us in the mood we now effectively have a mini version of the tournament taking place on one day at the end of March!

I'm not talking about the eagerly anticipated Conifa World Football Cup at the end of May but the group of friendlies that have so far been announced for 27 March.

Top billing, unsurprisingly, goes to England v Italy at Wembley, last week we brought news of Australia v Colombia at Craven Cottage and now we've also learned of Nigeria v Serbia at The Hive (thanks to Niels VM for the tip-off).

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Ironically of the teams above, it is Italy - the third most successful team in World Cup history - who are the only ones not going to Russia for this year's tournament.

It's a shame the games are taking place on the same day at the same time as it would be nice to have seen at least a couple of them. So which one will you pick?

In other news, many congratulations are due to Arsenal for edging past Chelsea into the EFL Cup Final at Wembley next month.

Last week I predicted they'd probably have the edge and I backed this up by taking part in a free-to-enter Facebook competition run by my local Turkish takeaway to predict the exact score. I went with 2-1 and won a £25 online voucher. Yum!

I also travelled down to the West Country on Saturday to watch QPR take on Championship side-of-the-moment Bristol City.

After their impressive EFL Cup exploits which saw them beat Manchester United and then narrowly lose to Manchester City over two legs in the semi-final, I wasn't expecting all that much.

Ashton Gate has been hugely developed since I last went there seven or eight years ago and would more than hold its own in the Premier League.

Charlton Athletic's very popular 'Football For A Fiver' promotion is back
The stewards and staff are reputed to be among the friendliest and most helpful in the country and I definitely found that to be the case - more on that later.

Probably the only drawback is its distance from the station and town centre but there are shuttle buses and taxis and at about 2.5 miles it is possible to walk if you arrive in good time.

The first half an hour went well enough with our defence soaking up most of what came its way fairly comfortably.

Then shortly after the half hour City had a man sent off for a rash tackle and the Rangers faithful started to get excited.

Sadly, and not for the first time, it didn't work out like that with the hosts scoring from a corner right on half-time and then nicking another on the counter midway through the second half after surviving a concerted spell of pressure.

QPR did keep pushing but shots on target were few and far between and the match ended 2-0 amid heavy swirling drizzle.

Tickets for this year's Non-League Finals Day at Wembley are on sale now
As a few of us loitered around outside waiting for friends and chewing over the debacle, one of the catering staff appeared carrying a tray heaped high with warm unsold pasties and encouraged us to fill our boots, improving the mood markedly - so thanks very much to the lady in question.

Looking ahead to 24 February, Charlton Athletic are running their very popular 'Football For A Fiver' promotion where all adult tickets are just £5. Interestingly they've picked the home game against title contenders Shrewsbury Town who recently took West Ham United to a replay in the FA Cup so it should be a good game.

Lastly, this weekend sees the next rounds of the FA Trophy and FA Vase. Don't forget that tickets for Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on 20 May where the finals of both these competitions are played back-to-back are also on sale now.

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include the return of 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 29 January

Professional Development League
There are a couple of U23 games on Monday afternoon with Charlton Athletic and Watford both playing at 'home'. The Addicks' match against Bristol City is being played at Greenwich Borough's ground so I'd recommend that as facilities for spectators will be a lot better than those at the Hornets' training ground

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v Tilbury @745pm - the best of the day's non-league action should be found at Coles Park where the hosts will look to win and keep up with their fellow play-off contenders

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Tuesday 30 January

Premier League
West Ham United v Crystal Palace @745pm - there's a full midweek programme of Premier League games this week with this fine looking London derby dominating proceedings on Tuesday night. Both sides have climbed to what appear to be fairly healthy midtable positions but with only six points separating the teams in 10th and 20th, they're both very much still in the battle to avoid relegation so a win will be valuable for both. If you want to go, there are still quite a few tickets available via the club's resale scheme

Championship
Millwall v Derby County @745pm - over the river in Bermondsey there's an intriguing clash between the Lions and promotion contenders Derby. The Rams are on a fantastic nine game unbeaten run and have climbed to second as a result. Part of this streak saw a 3-0 win over Millwall just before Christmas so they'll start as favourites against their midtable opponents

Friendly
Brentford B v Bristol Rovers U23 @1pm - it's possible to see two games in one day if you combine this match with one of the later evening kick-offs. This game will take place at Brentford's training ground - the public are usually admitted but double check all the details before you travel

Bostik League Premier Division
Hendon v Leatherhead @745pm - the top non-league game of the night sees two play-off hopefuls meet at Silver Jubilee Park. Although currently down in seventh and 10th respectively, both have games in hand on most of those above them so could climb the table considerably

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Stansted @745pm - the Motormen took full advantage of their nearest rivals not playing on Saturday with a 4-1 win at Waltham Forest to go six points clear at the top. If FC Romania lose at Barkingside on Monday then Redbridge will go nine points clear with a victory here
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Wednesday 31 January

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United @8pm - the match of the week is this clash of the Titans at Wembley. Worthy of any cup final line-up, this relatively humble league game is pretty much sold out as you would expect. Both sides are unbeaten in five with three wins and two draws but whilst United brushed past League Two strugglers Yeovil in the FA Cup on Friday, Spurs could only manage a draw against Newport from the same division. Although the Red Devils historically have a far better head-to-head record against their London rivals, Tottenham are unbeaten in five at home against the Old Trafford club
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth @745pm - in terms of form these two are both among the best in the division right now but in pretty much every other respect there are light years between them. The Cherries sensationally beat the Blues at Stamford Bridge when they joined the Premier League back in 2015 but have lost the five games since then including two matches (one in the EFL Cup) this season so it's going to be very tough for them

Bostik League North Division
Romford v AFC Hornchurch @745pm - if you're struggling to get a ticket for either of the above, and you probably will, then this Essex derby between teams at opposite ends of the table could be a reasonable alternative
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Thursday 1 February

FA Women's Super League 1
Chelsea v Manchester City @7pm - get the new month underway with this massive women's game at Kingsmeadow. The two biggest and best teams in the country go head-to-head in this rearranged fixture with top spot up for grabs

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Friday 2 February

Premier League 2
Fulham v Blackburn Rovers @7pm - the Cottagers welcome PL2 Division 2 leaders Blackburn to Mostpur Park for what could be a very interesting U23 game

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Saturday 3 February

Premier League
Arsenal v Everton @530pm - I think I'm right in saying that these are the two longest serving clubs in the top flight with neither having suffered a relegation for decades - in Arsenal's case since 1919. Sadly, neither have won the league title for a long time and neither are going to get anywhere near this year. For the Gunners, a place in the top four is still achievable while survival is still the priority for Sam Allardyce's team despite being in ninth - a home win should be the order of the day

Championship
Fulham v Nottingham Forest @3pm - the team from SW6 recorded their fourth win on the bounce on Saturday to finally move into the top six. The west London club are in great form at the moment and are desperately hoping to improve on their impressive performance last season which ended with a play-off defeat to Reading. Forest are in midtable and should be there for the taking but the beauty of this division is that everyone is beatable
Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley @3pm - after the dismal display at Bristol City on Saturday, there will be huge pressure on Rangers to win this game. Barnsley at home is usually a banker for QPR - they've won the last 10 and the current Tykes side aren't particularly special but all runs have to end at some point...

League One
Charlton Athletic v Oxford United @3pm - the Addicks finally surrendered their place in the top six to Rotherham during the week and failed to take it back as their game at Blackpool got postponed on Saturday. With three wins in a row, they're still in good form and an Oxford side with three defeats in five look vulnerable

FA Trophy Third Round
Wealdstone v Warrington Town @3pm - aside from the top division of the National League, all non-league teams play in regionalised leagues so when they enter national cup competitions like this one it often leads to some unusual match-ups. I could be wrong but I doubt these two have ever played before. The Stones won the competition back in 1985 and enjoyed a great run to the semi-finals in 2012. The Wire hail from Cheshire and are one of the top clubs playing at the level below Wealdstone. If they win this last-16 tie it will equal their best ever performance in the FA Trophy

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Metropolitan Police @3pm - the hosts saw their game at Leatherhead postponed on Saturday and their lead at the top cut to just two points as nearest rivals Billericay thrashed struggling Tooting 6-2 at Imperial Fields. Given that the Blues still have seven games in hand, Dulwich's time at the top will soon be over. If they are to keep themselves in with a chance then they've got to get back to winning ways soon but in Met Police they face another top six side. Having lost their last two home games to Merstham and Wingate & Finchley, it could be another tough afternoon

Bostik League South Division
Thamesmead Town v Lewes @3pm - after winning last weekend's top of the table clash against Cray, Lewes have managed to stay just ahead of their south-east London rivals. After nicking a late draw against Walton Casuals on Saturday, the Rooks are now two points clear and can't really afford any slip ups if they're to stay out of the play-off places. Thamesmead are ticking over nicely enough in midtable with their recent games producing loads of goals (there have been 24 in their last five matches) and the reverse fixture ended in a 2-2 draw

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Fisher v K Sports @3pm - currently third, the Fish are London's main challengers in this division and will hope to return to the ninth tier as soon as possible. K Sports are currently top and will provide a stern test for the Rotherhithe club
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Sunday 4 February

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United @215pm - the Magpies are set to spend their second Sunday in a row in London following this weekend's FA Cup defeat at Chelsea. Now both out of the nation's premier cup competition, both sides can concentrate on the more important task of securing top-flight survival. Newcastle sneaked a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture shortly after Roy Hodgson's arrival at Palace in October. Consequently I think they'll find the current Eagles side much improved and could struggle

Women's FA Cup Fourth Round

London Bees v Chelsea @2pm - we're now down to the last 32 and the draw has thrown up this interesting London derby. The hosts play in the second tier of the women's game and will do really well to make progress as the Blues could well be the top side in the land by the time this kicks off
Millwall Lionesses v Coventry United @3pm - in the other London tie there could also be a mismatch as FAWSL2 leaders Millwall host a side from the tier below


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.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

*don't worry, I had to look this up before using it

Sunday 21 January 2018

TLFG: 22-28 January 2018

Welcome one and all to this week's guide.

As usual there's plenty going on but at the top end, very few of our local Premier League or Championship teams are playing at home because of the next round of the FA Cup.

However, don't let that put you off as several of the ones that are in town are offering cheaper tickets than normal (Chelsea in particular) and there are a few other great deals around too.

For me, the most eye-catching prices are to be found at Dagenham & Redbridge who are hosting their annual 'Daggers Against Racism Day'. 

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Tickets for the National League match against Solihull Moors are just £2.50 if you want to stand or £9.99 if you'd prefer a seat. They're even cheaper for concessions and kids - however, you must buy them in advance to get those prices.

The club deserve a lot of credit for putting on this event in area which (in)famously elected 12 BNP councillors back in 2006 to make them the official opposition to the Labour Party. There was also some minor disorder at a previous anti-racism game back in 2012 but that, thankfully, that doesn't seem to have been repeated.

Looking ahead a couple of months, if the England v Italy game at Wembley isn't for you then you might prefer another international friendly which was announced this week (thanks a lot to TLFG reader Colin W for the tip-off).

Don't forget - prices increase on the day so BOOK NOW!

It has been the custom for many years now for Australia to play mid-season friendlies in London as most of their players are based in Europe and there's a large community of supporters based in the capital.

They started off using QPR's Loftus Road but now more frequently use Fulham's Craven Cottage which is where they'll be entertaining fellow World Cup qualifiers Colombia on 27 March at 8pm. Tickets go on sale for £25 on 29 January.

I'm a bit of a sucker for games like this and last went to the Nigeria v Senegal game at Barnet's ground back in March. It's quite possible other friendlies could be announced in London before the World Cup so let me know if you hear of anything.

Despite another hectic work schedule, I can actually say that I've got a game booked for this Saturday with my ticket already purchased for QPR's away game at Bristol City.

The main reason I'm going is to visit family and friends but thought I might as well look in on this too while I'm down there.

I've been to Ashton Gate quite a few times over the years but it's been a while and the ground has been developed a lot so it'll be interesting to see what it's like. Hopefully City will still be feeling the effects of their midweek EFL Cup semi-final against Manchester City otherwise we could be in for a hiding!

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include an EFL Cup Semi-Final and the next round of the FA 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
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 22 January

Premier League Cup
Watford v Southampton @7pm - a decent looking U23 game being played at Wealdstone's ground in Ruislip gets the week underway. Tickets for adults are only £5 so it's pretty good value too

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v Potters Bar Town @745pm - the best of the day's non-league action should be found at Coles Park where the clubs in seventh and sixth meet for a chance to break into the top five

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Tuesday 23 January

EFL Trophy Quarter-Final
Chelsea U21 v Oxford United @730pm - if you didn't already know, this competition pits U21 sides from a selection of Premier League and Championship clubs against first team squads from clubs in League One and League Two in an attempt to give the best youngsters the chance of some 'proper' football against some hardened pros. The concept hasn't really been embraced by anyone involved, particularly the lower league clubs and their fans, and crowds have been poor as a result. The best thing about this match is that it will give you the chance to see a match at Stamford Bridge for just £5

Premier League International Cup
Arsenal v Bayern Munich @7pm - if you want to take a look at some of the best up and coming talent in Europe then you'll probably do much better to make your way up to Boreham Wood to watch this U23 match - as always, check with Arsenal before you travel to make sure of all the details

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - Gavin Rose's side suffered an unexpected loss at home to Merstham on Saturday as they failed to take the opportunity to extend their lead over Billericay who had their game called off. Their five-point lead at the top looks good until you notice their Essex rivals have a whopping seven games in hand and it looks even more flimsy when you also bear in mind Glenn Tamplin's team have only lost one league game all season. On paper, Wingate are a better side than Merstham so could make life hard again

Bostik League North Division
AFC Hornchurch v Barking @745pm - the Urchins' four-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 0-0 draw by fellow promotion hopefuls Dereham. On Tuesday the leaders next welcome local rivals Barking who are also in with a chance of going up

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Bedfont Sports v Westfield @745pm - one of the games of the week at non-league level sees the top two in the CCL battle for supremacy. The visitors have been top for ages and seemed to be coasting to the title. However, with three of their last six games getting postponed, Bedfont have won eight of their last 10 to draw level. Although Westfield have far superior goal difference and four games in hand, it's made the title race interesting again and if the hosts win who knows what might happen?
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Wednesday 24 January

EFL Cup Semi-Final second leg
Arsenal v Chelsea @8pm - the match of the week is this big London derby where a place in a Wembley cup final is up for grabs. After the first leg ended goalless, the Gunners should start as marginal favourites. Both sides enjoyed emphatic victories in the league on Saturday but given this is Arsenal's only realistic chance of silverware this season, you'd hope Arsene Wenger will pick a full-strength side

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
London Lions v Baldock Town @8pm - if you can't get a ticket for the match above, then this one elsewhere in north London could be your next best alternative. Although way down in the 10th tier, this match between two of the division's top three also has plenty riding on it
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Friday 26 January

Essex Senior League
Tower Hamlets v Barkingside @745pm - there's not a huge amount riding on this game, although being down in 17th the visitors could do with the points, but it's a game and it should keep you entertained. The ground is a few minutes walk from Mile End Tube station so is pretty easy to get to

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Saturday 27 January

Championship
Brentford v Norwich City @3pm - it's FA Cup Fourth Round which means all our local Premier League clubs are either playing away on or not playing at all on Saturday. As a result, this second-tier game becomes the best one on offer. The Bees, as one of the smallest clubs in the division, are defying all the odds again and pushing for a play-off place. With four wins from five they've moved to within touching distance of the top six - if they win this and results go their way then they'll be in it. Norwich have been inconsistent and are sitting snugly in midtable which will almost certainly be seen as disappointing by their fans. Brentford are winless in three against the Canaries at Griffin Park so they'll want to put that right

FA Cup Fourth Round
Millwall v Rochdale @3pm - given some of the ties that could have come out of the FA's velvet bag of fate, this is possibly one of the most uninspiring possible. With all due respect, a match between a midtable Championship side and one towards the bottom of League One doesn't get the pulse racing (a bit like QPR v MK Dons in the previous round). It also seems ambitious to be charging £15 for a ticket but that's the going rate

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Solihull Moors @3pm - if it's value you're after then the deal of the day is to be found way out east where it's the annual 'Daggers Against Racism Day' and tickets to stand are only £2.50 while seats are just £9.99 - however these prices only apply if you buy in advance. As for the game itself, Dagenham seem to be losing their mojo and have slipped to 10th but the table is tight and a win over a struggling but resurgent Moors side could put them right back among the leading pack
Leyton Orient v Aldershot Town @3pm - a bigger crowd will almost certainly be found at Brisbane Road where two of the biggest clubs in the division do battle. The O's are fighting relegation and with only one loss in five games they seem to be turning things around. The Shots, on the other hand, could go top if they win

National League South
Dartford v Whitehawk @3pm - top plays bottom at Princes Park but the game might not be as one sided as the league table suggests. The visitors are one of the form teams of the division who are showing good signs of recovery after a dreadful start. Still a whopping 12 points adrift of safety, they've got an almost impossible task to avoid the drop but a win here could work wonders

Bostik League Premier Divsion
Hendon v Folkestone Invicta @3pm - two of the top five meet at Silver Jubilee Park for what will hopefully be an entertaining encounter chock full of goals. As two of the division's highest scoring clubs with 60 goals apiece, the clubs produced a five-goal thriller the last time they met back in September
Tooting & Mitcham United v Billericay Town @3pm - a match of big importance at either end of the table as the relegation threatened hosts look to fend off a powerful raiding party from the east

Evo-Stik League East Division
Hayes & Yeading United v AFC Dunstable @3pm - six wins on the trot, culminating in a 9-1 win over Arlesey Town on Saturday, have powered United to fourth in the table. Only four points behind third placed AFC Dunstable and with two games in hand, a crack at the title is still very much on the cards if they win here

FA Women's Super League 2
London Bees v Watford @2pm - with many of the local men's pro clubs away from home or without a game, the hosts will be hoping for a decent turnout for this derby match being played at The Hive which is close to Canons Park Tube station. Tickets for the match are also only £4
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Sunday 28 January

FA Cup Fourth Round
Chelsea v Newcastle United @130pm - one of the best ties of the round is being held over until Sunday lunchtime. Tickets for the all-Premier League match-up are also on sale to non-members at a flat rate of £30 so fill your boots as there probably won't be many other opportunities this season

FA Women's Super League 1

Chelsea v Everton @1230pm - in an unfortunate bit of scheduling, the best of the day's women's action is taking place at Kingsmeadow where the Blues host the struggling Toffees knowing a win could put them top


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 14 January 2018

TLFG: 15-21 January 2018

Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

How has the week been for you?

After the bonanza of festive football we all enjoyed in recent weeks, things have calmed down a bit but there's still been plenty going on.

Personally my own football watching has been hampered by having a sick child whose vomiting bug will almost certainly emerge in my system in the near future so brace yourselves! 

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However, I know that's not been the case for many readers with regular contributor Chris H and many other hoppers making it out to watch Altis FC at their new ground next to West Ham's home at the London Stadium. Check out pictures from his and other readers' visits to games on our Facebook page.

Interestingly that particular game had been thought up and partly staged by football journalist and groundhop supremo Tony Incenzo to allow people the chance to see a game at that ground. Last week we had the chance to enjoy a one-off at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre so where else would you like to see a game played?

Several amateur teams have unusual grounds not least the Honorable Artillery Company who occasionally play at their grounds in Moorgate right in the centre of the City of London on what must be one of the most valuable football pitches in the country if not the world!

Send in your suggestions or get them over to Tony and see what can be arranged.


'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' pay a visit to Aveley's fine new stadium

If you're really keen to visit one of the capital's biggest clubs but can't get a ticket or have been put off by the cost then there are some good opportunities to do it on the cheap this week with both Chelsea and West Ham hosting FA Cup replays and Crystal Palace playing an FA Youth Cup match at Selhurst Park. All these games are on sale to non-members and tickets are much cheaper than normal.

Also this week, I've included an 'A bit further afield' section on Sunday because there's not a lot going on in London and a few tickets are still available for a Premier League game not all that far away - scroll down to find out where.

Once again we're very lucky to have another ground/club/match review from our good friends at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' who headed out to the TLFG border town of Aveley to see their highly regarded new facilities.

Finally this week, many thanks to Dutch reader Benjamin D who very generously donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund  - it is very much appreciated and everyone knows Feyenoord are vastly superior to Ajax :-)


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some matches in the Premier League and EFL and some FA Cup replays.

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
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 15 January

Premier League 2
There are a several games at U23 level on Monday with the standout one being Arsenal v Manchester United. The game is being played at Boreham Wood's ground at 7pm. Entry always used to be free to games like this but getting the details has been hard so check the Arsenal website on the day for the latest. Earlier in the day at 12pm, Tottenham Hotspur host Everton at their training ground which should also be worth seeing but, as above, check all the details before you travel just in case something has changed

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v AFC Hornchurch @745pm - the best of the day's non-league action should be found at Coles Park where Haringey play the latest of their games in hand. The last week has been a good one for the north London side who have enjoyed back-to-back wins over Aveley and Bury Town to keep themselves well in with the promotion-chasing pack. Next up is the visit of the division's top side. The Urchins have been top for a while now and although only three points clear, have three games in hand on their nearest rivals - a big game for both teams

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Tuesday 16 January

FA Cup Third Round Replay
West Ham United v Shrewsbury Town @745pm - if you've not been to see the Hammers at the London Stadium yet then now's your chance. Most tickets to watch them take on the League One title contenders are only £10 and they're in plentiful supply. Consequently the atmosphere is likely to be a bit lacking but it's a chance to tick off one of the big grounds at a fraction of the normal cost

FA Trophy Second Round Replay
Boreham Wood v Gateshead @745pm - after fighting out an entertaining 3-3 draw on Saturday, these two National League sides will have to do it all again on Tuesday. Sadly this is unlikely to draw a big crowd as the hosts have the lowest attendances in the division and the visitors have the best part of a 500 mile round trip to undertake

Middlesex Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Wealdstone v Hampton & Richmond Borough @745pm - these two have dominated this competition over the last 10 years with Hampton winning it four times, beating Wealdstone in three of those finals. The Beavers edged to a 1-0 win in last year's final and on paper should win again. However, given their current title bid, Hampton will almost certainly rotate their squad

Velocity Trophy Quarter-Final
Wingate & Finchley v Billericay Town @745pm - as we approach the business end of what is more commonly known as the Isthmian League Cup, Wingate welcome the current league leaders and reigning cup holders. The big spending Essex club will no doubt be prioritising their league games so might rest one or two players

Evo-Stik League East Division
Egham Town v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - from a TLFG perspective it's been all about the Sarnies in this division over the last couple of years as they've challenged for promotion. A similar push looks unlikely this year but in the case of Hayes, it's still all to play for. After several seasons of struggle, the west London club are finally in their new ground and are playing some good stuff. Up in fourth, they could cut the gap on the top three to just three points with a win here
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Wednesday 17 January

FA Cup Third Round Replay
Chelsea v Norwich City @745pm - as with West Ham's game above, tickets to see the Blues take on the Canaries in this unwanted FA Cup replay are cheaper than normal and readily available. Although they're not as cheap, £30 to watch Chelsea take on a Championship side still represents pretty good value if you've never been to Stamford Bridge

Bostik League South Division
Cray Wanderers v Ashford United @745pm - the hosts' long unbeaten run continued on Saturday with their 1-0 win at Guernsey keeping them in second just a point behind leaders Lewes. A win over struggling Ashford looks likely and with the Rooks not playing, they should go top
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Friday 19 January

Friendly
Brentford B v Reading U23 @1pm - the closest you'll get to see some professional footballers in action on Friday will be this friendly for Brentford's second string at their training ground. As always, check all details with the Bees before you travel UPDATE:18/01/17 - this match has now been moved to Sunday 21 January at 1pm

FA Youth Cup Fourth Round
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United @7pm - if you want to see some of the stars of the future then get yourself along to Selhurst Park which is hosting this cup match for U18s. Tickets are £5 if bought in advance but jump to £10 if you buy on the day

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Barkingside @745pm - probably the most meaningful match of the day will take place at Oakside. These clubs used to groundshare but it was one-time owners Barkingside who ultimately ended up moving out after they sold the stadium lease to Redbridge (then Ford United) who, several years later, put the rent up and effectively forced them out meaning this derby has a bit extra to it. From a purely footballing perspective, Redbridge are currently top and looking to get back into the Bostik League

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Saturday 20 January

Premier League
Arsenal v Crystal Palace @3pm - the game of the week must surely be this derby at the Emirates. Although the Gunners are up in sixth, it's their manager Arsene Wenger who is under far more pressure following their cup upset at Nottingham Forest last week and their Premier League humbling at Bournemouth this weekend. Rumours abound that Carlo Ancelotti could be coming in to replace him if the Frenchman leaves in the summer but it could come a lot sooner if results continue to flounder. Contrast this to the mood at Palace where despite their relatively lowly position, things are well and truly on the up. The appointment of former England boss Roy Hodgson seems to have been an inspired one as they have climbed from rock bottom to the heady heights of 12th following a 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday. Despite this, the Gunners should still start as favourites - especially when you consider the Eagles have only beaten them twice on their travels since 1934
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - without membership it will be very hard or expensive to get tickets for the Arsenal game but there are still a few available to non-members for this one. Like Palace, the Hammers have turned things round since bringing in a new manager and although they're up in 11th they're still only five points above the relegation zone so things could still go south quickly, especially if they lose to the Cherries who are one of the teams below them

Championship
Fulham v Burton Albion @3pm - the Cottagers made the play-offs last season and are the top ranked London club in the division again following a five-game unbeaten run. On Saturday they picked up an impressive win at fellow promotion contenders Middlesbrough to move into eighth just one point adrift of the play-off places. With average crowds of under 5,000 Burton are the smallest club in the division by a long way and it's no surprise that they find themselves in the bottom three but they have spirit and can beat most clubs in the division on their day
Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough @3pm - after all the despondency following their loss to MK Dons in the FA Cup, Rangers responded well with a 3-1 at Burton on Saturday. With only one defeat in five league games, things seem to be stabilising. Boro, freshly relegated from the Premier League and with new boss Tony Pulis in charge pose a significant threat. There are often quite a few goals when these two play with the last two matches alone producing 10 goals

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Blackpool @3pm - the Dons could only manage a draw at arch rivals MK Dons on Saturday, a result which saw them slide down to 22nd. Despite this there is still cause for hope as it's tight down there with four teams all within a win's reach. Blackpool are just beyond this group so are definitely beatable
Charlton Athletic v Walsall @3pm - just when it looked like the Addicks could be slipping out of the promotion race they picked up two crucial wins over struggling Oldham and Bury to stay in the top six. The Saddlers should be tougher opponents than either of those two so we'll get a better idea of how significant Charlton's resurgence is

League Two
Barnet v Lincoln City @3pm - defeat at Crawley on Saturday saw the Bees remain bottom and their losing run extended to five games. It's looking pretty gloomy for all connected with the north London club right now and it's not likely to get any easier when the Imps pay a visit on Saturday. The newly promoted side, who enjoyed a famous run in the FA Cup last season, are up in sixth and beat them earlier in the season

National League
Boreham Wood v Dover Athletic @3pm - the NL fixture computer has thrown up a couple of very decent looking games in this division on Saturday. Firstly we have this match between sides occupying the last two play-off places. Despite being the smaller club, the Wood have become a bit of bogey team for their Kentish opponents having won four of the five games played against them since joining the fifth tier in 2015. Current form would also suggest they win this one too
Sutton United v Dagenham & Redbridge @1230pm - down at Gander Green Lane we've got this derby between teams in the top eight which will generate a far bigger crowd. Former leaders Sutton's form has become a bit patchy of late allowing current leaders Macclesfield to move six points clear of them in third. The Daggers were also among the pacesetters but only one win in five has seen them drop down to eighth and they could conceivably drop another two or three places with defeat here. Also, given the early kick-off you can easily combine this with the game at nearby Carshalton Athletic which kicks-off at 3pm

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hungerford Town @3pm - back at Christmas something like one point separated the top six but since then things have become more stretched. It's great to see one of our local sides Dartford still leading the way and nice to see Hampton tucked in just behind them. The Beavers could go top themselves if they win against midtable Hungerford

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Merstham @3pm - the Hamlet currently top the Bostik League but you feel it's only a matter of time before Billericay catch them. Having lost at Margate on Saturday, Dulwich are only five points clear of their Essex rivals who now have six games in hand. Merstham are one of the division's strugglers and got thrashed here last season so simply must be beaten

Bostik League South Division
Cray Wanderers v Lewes @3pm - one of the matches of the day at non-league level sees the top two in this division do battle at Hayes Lane. Who is first and who is second at the start of the game depends on how Cray do in their midweek game against Ashford but it should hopefully be a humdinger whatever

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Hadley v Welwyn Garden City @3pm - for me the pick of the games in the ninth tier is this one at Brickfield Lane where midtable Hadley welcome the league leaders. WGC are currently two points clear at the top and have three games in hand. They also made it to the FA Vase third round and are in the SSML Premier Division Cup final so should be formidable opponents

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Enfield Borough v Brimsdown @3pm - up in north London it's derby time at the QEII Stadium. Although Brimsdown currently ground share at Haringey Borough, the Enfield area is their heartland so hopefully we'll get a game with a bit of passion

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Sunday 21 January

Friendly
Brentford B v Reading U23 @1pm - the closest you'll get to see some professional footballers in action on Sunday in London will be this friendly for Brentford's second string at their training ground. As always, check all details with the Bees before you travel

Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final

Erith Town v Whitstable Town @3pm - two SCEFL Premier Division clubs meet for a place in the semis in the only men's game on Sunday

FA Women's Premier League Southern
Queens Park Rangers v Crystal Palace @2pm - the best of the women's action is this third tier game being played at Uxbridge FC

A bit further afield - given it's a pretty quiet day in London, you might be interested to know that the last few tickets are currently available to non-members for Southampton's Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur at 4pm. Trains from London Waterloo take less than 90 minutes to reach Southampton so it's a very doable day trip. UPDATE:(16/01/18) - a handful of tickets are still available but engineering work on the rail line to Southampton means journey times will be a lot longer than normal so factor this is in if you plan to go

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 7 January 2018

TLFG: 8-14 January 2018

Welcome one and all to the first TLFG of 2018!

I hope you're well and the festive break was a good one for you. Happy Christmas to anyone celebrating the Orthodox version today (Sunday).

So how was it for you? How many games did you get to see?

Personally I managed two. I could've done at least four but decided to stick with just a couple to conserve my funds and energy (I did a lot of running during this period including five parkruns all over London).

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Both took place at the recently re-named Rogers Family Stadium as I went to watch a couple of Harrow Borough games.

Sadly there wasn't much to celebrate as they lost the derby match against Hendon 4-0 and then went down 2-1 against Leatherhead.

Despite the results, it was good to get back there and see some games and I even took a couple of friends to boost the attendance.

Harrow (in red) successfully defend a corner during the Boxing Day derby against Hendon

I also had the chance to watch QPR a couple of times but I found myself making excuses again and passed up the opportunity. It was a shame to miss the win over Cardiff but the MK Dons defeat in the FA Cup is one I'm sure all R's fans will want to erase from their memories ASAP.

So what else has been going on?

Regular readers will know that the Conifa World Football Cup is coming to London at the end of May and the draw took place on Saturday in Northern Cyprus. Local interests Ellan Vannin (a.k.a. the Isle of Man) are in Group 1 alongside Barawa (Africa), Tamil Eelam (Asia) and Cascadia (North America).

More details about venues and tickets are set to be announced later this month so keep your eyes peeled for further updates.

So what have you been to see over the last couple of weeks?

A hastily arranged friendly at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre between two non-league sides caused a flurry of activity among the groundhopper community earlier in the week. Primarily an athletics stadium, and a decaying one at that, the chance to watch a game there for free drew a few committed hoppers to that corner of south-east London. Built on the site of the stadium that used to host FA Cup finals before Wembley, it is historically quite a significant place.

This Saturday sees a bumper crop of four Premier League games in the capital and the last time I looked, the ones at Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Watford were on sale to non-members - a rare thing indeed!

Finally this week, many thanks to American reader John B who very generously donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund it is very much appreciated.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some matches in the Premier League, the semi-finals of the EFL Cup 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
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 8 January

Professional Development League
Crystal Palace and QPR have U23 games at their respective training grounds. Both games kick-off at 1pm. Palace entertain Ipswich while QPR welcome London rivals Charlton. If you're interested in going to either, make sure you double check all the details before you travel as venues and whether or not the public will be admitted can be changed at short notice

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v Aveley @745pm - there are other non-league matches taking place on Monday but this is probably the most meaningful. Haringey had a number of games in hand after a couple of decent cup runs but three defeats from their last five has probably knocked them out of a title race being dominated by AFC Hornchurch. However, a place in the play-offs looks like theirs for the taking - provided they don't mess up too much more

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Tuesday 9 January

EFL Trophy Third Round
Charlton Athletic v Oxford United @745pm - the much maligned EFL Trophy is down to its last 16 teams. It's straight knockout from this point onwards. Fans and some participating clubs aren't really into this and attendances have been small - consequently adult tickets are only £10

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

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Boreham Wood @745pm - this match has a lot going for it: a derby, two of the top eight and only a point between them in the table. Both recorded decent results on Saturday so this should be close

Bostik League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Leiston @745pm - a couple of levels below, we've got another top eight clash. Although the quality of football might be quite decent, don't expect a huge crowd - Wingate have the smallest attendances in the division and Leiston hail from Suffolk so won't bring many

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm - the Motormen saw their match against Stansted postponed on Saturday allowing FC Romania and Basildon United to close the gap on the leaders. Next up for Redbridge are two-time former champions GWR. Rovers are currently fifth and are by no means out of the title race themselves
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Wednesday 10 January

EFL Cup Semi-Final first leg
Chelsea v Arsenal @8pm - London's two biggest clubs meet as the EFL Cup nears its climax. Normally this competition would be well down the list of priorities for both but with the league title almost certainly beyond both of them then maybe they'll give it a good go. With five wins from seven appearances in the final, the Blues have by far the more impressive record and should be favourites to prevail over the two legs

Bostik League South Division
Cray Wanderers v VCD Athletic @745pm - currently third and with games in hand on the top two, this is an important game for Cray. VCD should be beaten and the points will lift them to second
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Friday 12 January

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Leicester City @7pm - the Hammers' U23 side face a tough match against Leicester who are currently second in this league for the best academy sides in the country. This match will be played at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground but, as always, double check the details before you set off
Fulham v Reading @7pm - two of the top sides from the division below meet in the other U23 game of the night and this might end up being your preference as it's being played in the comfortable surrounds of Craven Cottage. However, please check this before you depart as some sources are suggesting it might be at Motspur Park instead

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Saturday 13 January

Premier League
Chelsea v Leicester City @3pm - both sides found themselves held by lower league teams in the FA Cup on Saturday in what must be seen as slightly disappointing performances. Chelsea come into this on the back of their big cup semi against Arsenal so might need to rotate their squad a bit. If the Foxes do get something out of this it will be some achievement as they've only managed one win in 14 attempts against the Blues and that came two seasons ago when they won the title
Crystal Palace v Burnley @3pm - after their horrific start to the season, new manager Roy Hodgson has done a superb job to turn Palace's fortunes around lifting them from the bottom right up to 14th. They have an FA Cup game against big rivals Brighton on Monday but will no doubt view this tricky game against an outstanding Burnley team as more important. A lot has been made of how well Sean Dyche's side have done this season but it's worth pointing out that they are now winless in six in all competitions so things aren't quite as rosy as they might appear
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @530pm - the day's late game looks like a good one. These two have seemingly been in England's top flight forever (Everton hold the record for the most seasons spent in the country's highest division) and both come into this game in the top 10. Both had excellent season's last time out and have fallen a bit behind those high standards. New manager Sam Allardyce has done really well to lift the Toffees who were really floundering under Ronald Koeman but Spurs are still in far better form and should have the edge at Wembley
Watford v Southampton @3pm - this match completes what is a bumper programme of Premier League games in London on Saturday. Aside from the Chelsea game, all the others should have tickets available in fairly decent supply to non-members including this one. On paper this is probably the least attractive game as it features two sides in pretty dodgy form but that suggests to me that it could be pretty close

Championship
Brentford v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - the Bees suffered the humiliation of losing at home to League Two side Notts County in the FA Cup on Saturday. They'll want to put that behind them as soon as possible and concentrate on keeping their good run in the league going instead. Bolton have been pretty poor this season but are showing signs of improvement with three wins from four lifting them out of the relegation zone
Millwall v Preston North End @3pm - the Lions are one of the smaller teams in the division but are more than holding their own. Currently 15th, they come into this on the back of a solid 4-1 FA Cup win over Barnsley. Preston, on the other hand, are well in the hunt for a play-off place and crushed League Two promotion contenders Wycombe 5-1 at Adams Park as they enjoyed a fruitful afternoon in the cup too

FA Trophy Second Round - with all our other EFL teams playing away, the focus next switches to the FA Trophy. This knockout competition is for clubs which play in the fifth to eighth tiers of English football with the final at Wembley in May. At this stage we are down to the last 32 teams. The draw is completely open (not regionalised or seeded) and the winners of each tie receive £7,000 prize money
Sutton United v Hendon @3pm - we've got a derby at Gander Green Lane where a team from London's deep south host one from the north-west. As recently as 2011, these two were playing each other in what is now the Bostik League but two promotions in seven years has left the U's in a far superior position. Hendon are having a fine season and should be able to challenge Sutton but avoiding defeat will take some doing
Wealdstone v Hereford @3pm - for me one of the games of the day at any level will be this one at Grosvenor Vale. Back in 1985 the Stones were the best team in the fifth tier and became the first club to do the non-league double, winning both the Conference and FA Trophy. They've had a tumultuous ride since then, losing their ground, losing loads of money and plummeting down the divisions but 33 years on they've made it back up to the sixth tier and on paper they should start as favourites against Hereford from the division below. Well that would be the case under normal circumstances but the Bulls are no ordinary seventh tier club. Founded from the ashes of former EFL club Hereford United in 2014, the club have made rapid progress through the divisions and made the FA Vase final in 2016. Still comfortably generating crowds of 2,500+, the Vale is likely to be packed and segregation will be in place. However, tickets will be available on the day - just make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment

National League South
Dartford v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - with the title race so desperately tight almost every game is of significance to someone. As it stands, this will see the leaders play host to the side in fourth. Havant are three points behind but crucially have two games in hand on all those above them so are effectively the leaders in waiting

Bostik League South Division
Chipstead v Lewes @3pm - this game gives you the chance to take the measure of Lewes who are the current leaders. The Sussex club are way too big to be in this division and it seems as if they've got a side together who are capable of getting them out of it

Evo-Stik League East Division
Ashford Town (Middlesex) v AFC Dunstable @3pm - the hosts sit just outside the top six and will need to beat sides like second-placed Dunstable if they are to progress

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Hanworth Villa v Walton & Hersham @3pm - two of the top six meet at Rectory Meadow on Saturday. Hanworth's title challenge is all but over but there's still a chance the Swans could claim the title if Westfield fall apart in the second half of the season

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Bridon Ropes v Punjab United @3pm - fourth plays second at the Meridian Sports Ground. The Ropes are having a great season by their standards but welcome a club who are new to the division and doing even better

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Sunday 14 January

FA Women's Super League Cup Semi-Final
Chelsea v Manchester City @2pm - the pick of the day's games sees the top two sides in women's football meet in the semi-final of the League Cup for what should be a great game at AFC Wimbledon's ground



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.