Monday 26 February 2018

TLFG: 26 February - 4 March 2018

It's not been a great week for London football.

Arsenal losing to Manchester City in the EFL Cup Final and Chelsea going down at Old Trafford in the Premier League were the most headline-grabbing disappointments but lower down the divisions, pain is being felt too.

Whether you're a QPR fan who, like me, witnessed the 5-2 humbling by a previously poor Nottingham Forest side at Loftus Road or a Barnet fan whose side seem to take one step forward and one then one step back to stay marooned at the bottom of the EFL - things can seem a bit gloomy.

But then you hear about sides like Thurrock who have pretty much announced that this season will be their last after their chairman announced he would step down earlier in the season.

The Bostik League side have flitted between the sixth and eighth tiers in recent years and could still be saved if some new investors emerge.

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Much has been made of the off-field problems at Dulwich Hamlet over the last few months and news about a bid from Rio Ferdinand to save them from their property developer owners appeared in The Independent earlier this week.

The former Manchester United and England defender who hails from nearby Peckham and knows manager Gavin Rose well is said to have had an offer in the region of £10m turned down with the owners wanting somewhere nearer £13m for the club and the valuable inner London site on which it stands.


Our friends at 'Two Men In Search...' recently paid a visit to crisis club Thurrock

National League side Dagenham & Redbridge are also feeling the pinch at the moment and have let a number of experienced pros leave in recent weeks.

To help them raise funds, West Ham have agreed to bring a squad to Victoria Road for a friendly on 21 March with adult tickets priced at £15.

Aside from that, there are also some big positives especially in the Championship where, apart from QPR, all our local sides are really shining at the moment and could feasibly make the play-offs.

Fulham are the form team in the division at the moment and added the scalp of leaders Wolves to their impressive collection with a 2-0 win on Saturday.

The National League and National League South also look set to deliver some London success stories this season with a number of clubs pushing for the title and promotion in both divisions.

Many congratulations to Wealdstone who thrashed big-spending Billericay Town 5-2 in Essex on Saturday to reach the FA Trophy semi-finals. Bromley and Leyton Orient could also join them but will need to negotiate tricky midweek replays at Spennymoor and Gateshead respectively.

Overall, the purpose of this blog is primarily to encourage you to get out there and watch live football - particularly at the lower levels. By all means go to Premier League games, I simply ask that you don't forget the rest - they are the bedrock on which the national game rests so do your bit to ensure those foundations stay strong.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the Premier League and EFL and there's also an FA Cup replay too.

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 26 February

Premier League Cup
Watford v Cardiff City @7pm - get the week underway with some U23 football at Wealdstone's Grosvenor Vale ground. As with all matches at this level, double check all the details before you travel as they are highly susceptible to change

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Sporting Club Thamesmead v Bridon Ropes @745pm - the only non-league game in the capital on Monday is this local derby in the 10th tier

A bit further afield
If neither of these float you boat then there are a couple of non-league alternatives just beyond the M25 - Kingstonian entertain Worthing in a Bostik Premier (7th tier) match at Leatherhead's ground whilst title chasing Beaconsfield Town are visited by Bedford Town in the Evo-Stik East (8th tier). Both games kick-off at 745pm - Leatherhead's ground is the easier to get to by public transport
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Tuesday 27 February

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Blackburn Rovers @745pm - with four points from their last two games the Dons have just about kept themselves out of the relegation zone. On Tuesday they welcome leaders Blackburn for one of their biggest and toughest games of the season. The Lancashire club won the Premier League 23 years ago and were a feature of the top flight until as recently as 2012. After a few rough seasons, the Rovers faithful look like they might finally have something to cheer about. The match is all-ticket and you'll need to have a previous purchasing history to be able to buy one

FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final
Fulham v Chelsea @705pm - although there might be more significant non-league matches on Tuesday, this U18's fixture between very near neighbours at Craven Cottage should draw a decent crowd. With adult tickets costing only £4 this really is a fine option and great value too

Friendly
Brentford B v Swansea City XI @1pm - the Bees' second string welcome another interesting opponent to Jersey Road for this lunchtime kick-off. Admission to games at Brentford's training ground is usually free but check the details before you travel

National League
Boreham Wood v Maidenhead United @745pm - the hosts' impressive winning streak came to an end with a 0-0 draw at Woking on Saturday. It meant that Luke Garrard's side missed out on moving into the top three as they continue to defy their status as minnows of the division. On Tuesday they welcome Maidenhead who have acquitted themselves well after promotion and with a concerted effort could just squeeze into the play-off places come the end of the season

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hungerford Town @745pm - the Beavers ground out a vital 1-0 win over Bognor on Saturday to climb back into second spot and keep the pressure on leaders Dartford on whom they have a game in hand. Hungerford aren't a patch on the side that challenged for promotion last year and should be beaten

Bostik League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Billericay Town @745pm - after losing a couple of matches, Wingate brought back a bit of stability with a fine 0-0 draw against title contenders Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday. Next up they welcome leaders Billericay for another tough game. After sweeping most sides away this year, the cracks of a team built on slightly suspect foundations are starting to show. With owner-manager Glenn Tamplin spending a relative fortune on assembling his side over the last few months, things have started to go a bit wrong. Even though they are one point clear at the top and have at least five games in hand on all of their challengers, they are wobbling at a crucial time. Having lost their last two league games, they also got knocked out of the FA Trophy on Saturday by Wealdstone at home, shipping five goals in the process. Tamplin said before the game that he would resign as manager if he lost and he stuck to his word - see how the players respond by getting down to Summers Lane on Tuesday

Middlesex Charity Cup Quarter-Final
AFC Hayes v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - arguably the tie of the round is the Hayes derby. I'm not a huge Hayes aficionado but I can't remember the last time these two played but whenever it was, this should be pretty important locally. It's also only £5 to get into
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Wednesday 28 February

FA Cup Fifth Round Replay
Tottenham Hotspur v Rochdale @745pm - despite being one of the best teams in the country, Spurs have made heavy weather of getting this far in the competition, needing a replay to beat League Two Newport County in the last round and another one to get past a side from the third tier here. Keith Hill's side did superbly well to hold Tottenham to a 2-2 draw last week but if they come even close to that again it will be a major upset. Tickets are also great value with most priced at just £10

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Thursday 1 March

Premier League
Arsenal v Manchester City @745pm - after being seen off with relative ease in Sunday's EFL Cup Final, the Gunners have to face this mightily impressive City side again just four days later. Gunners fans I know have already written off the match given what they saw from their side at Wembley. When you consider Arsene Wenger's side have also recently lost matches to Ostersunds, Spurs and Swansea it's not a particularly happy time at the Emirates
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Friday 2 March

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Chelsea @705pm - the weekend gets off to a fine start with this U23 fixture at Boreham Wood's ground. Also at 12pm, Tottenham host Derby at their training ground - admission to both of these games is likely to be free but check all the details with the clubs before you travel in case either are to be played behind closed doors

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Saturday 3 March

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Huddersfield Town @3pm - there are two Premier League games in London this weekend and tickets are available for both which is something of a rarity. With Manchester City pretty much champions already, the fight for second place is now what it's all about. Spurs could end the day in third with a win here and they should get it against the relegation-threatened Terriers. However, David Wagner's side have won their last two and should be well motivated to do well on their trip to Wembley
Watford v West Bromwich Albion @3pm - if City are dead certs for the title, then the Baggies are equally likely to go down. Seven points adrift of safety at the bottom and with only three wins all season, it's looking grim for Alan Pardew's side. Watford are the kind of unpredictable midtable side who will either arrive in complacent mood, coast and give West Brom a chance or smell blood and rip them to pieces

Championship
Brentford v Cardiff City @3pm - after their stunning 5-0 demolition of Birmingham in midweek, the Bees had the chance to jump up to seventh on Saturday but lost 1-0 at Leeds. The result still leaves them only four points away from the play-off places so there's still plenty to play for. After a dip in form around Christmas, Neil Warnock's Cardiff side are firing on all cylinders again with four wins on the trot seeing them eat up the ground on the seemingly uncatchable leaders Wolves who are hitting a rough patch of their own. If Brentford are to be taken seriously as promotion contenders then they must be targeting a win here
Millwall v Sunderland @3pm - the Lions climbed into the top half with another win on Saturday. The victory at Burton means the Bermondsey club are now just six points adrift of the play-off places and with 12 games to go and with the kind of momentum they currently have, who knows what could be possible. If they can't beat Sunderland then they might as well bin off such dreams - the Mackems have been absolutely woeful this season and are bang on course for another relegation. However, they've started to develop a habit in recent weeks of snatching 3-3 draws against supposedly much better teams so Millwall you have been warned!

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic @3pm - one of the games of the day in the EFL is this London derby at Kingsmeadow. Both sides are desperate for the points at either end of the division and the small ground is likely to be packed to the rafters. Like the Blackburn game earlier in the week, tickets are only available to people with a previous purchasing history and must be bought in advance

League Two
Barnet v Port Vale @3pm - it's been another strange week for the Bees, losing their home game to Carlisle but winning away at Colchester on Saturday. That fine result means Graham Westley's charges are still six points from safety at the bottom but are showing signs of improvement. Next up are Port Vale who are the side in 22nd that they need to catch to get out of the bottom two - a huge game for both sides

National League
Boreham Wood v Macclesfield Town @3pm - if they can see off Maidenhead earlier in the week, The Wood will go second which means this will become a top-two clash as the Silkmen are currently five points clear at the top. Luke Garrard's side held Macclesfield to a 0-0 draw in Cheshire back in November so they should be able to at least match them again here

National League South
Welling United v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - the focus on this division in recent weeks has mainly been on Dartford and Hampton & Richmond but the Wings have been mounting a promotion push of their own. Although the title would seem beyond them, getting a place in the top seven is a real possibility. With four wins from five, Welling have climbed to eighth and next face Hemel who currently hold the coveted seventh place. The Hertfordshire club are winless in four and there for the taking

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - in a week where further details about the turbulent times affecting the Hamlet off the field have emerged, the club will look to sustain their promotion challenge with a win against opposition from Kent. Tonbridge are usually among those hoping for at least a play-off spot but it hasn't really happened for them this season. Nonetheless, Dulwich won't be able to take anything for granted and will need to be well focused in order to take the points

Bostik League North Division
Barking v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - with only one defeat in five, the Blues still harbour realistic hopes of making it to the play-offs. On Saturday they welcome Essex club B&P who are currently second and looking very likely to make the 'post season' to use an American term

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
AFC Croydon Athletic v Sevenoaks Town @3pm - the hosts have had a decent season and are currently fifth. Given they've played more games than those immediately above them, it's unlikely they'll finish much higher. On Saturday they entertain the league leaders and could do local rivals and title contenders Beckenham a big favour by beating them

Combined Counties League First Division
Worcester Park v Badshot Lea @3pm - we've got a top-three clash to enjoy at Skinners Field on Saturday as the hosts will look to take another significant step towards securing the title. Already eight points clear and with games in hand, Worcester Park are almost there
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Sunday 4 March

FA Women's Premier League Southern
Crystal Palace v Swindon Town @2pm - the Eagles' take on bottom club Swindon knowing a win against their struggling opponents will put them top of what is effectively the third tier of women's football in England

A bit further afield
A short trip north-west of London will see you at Kings Langley FC which provides a home for Watford Ladies. They have a Super League 2 game against Sheffield FC which kicks-off at 3pm

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 18 February 2018

TLFG: 19-25 February 2018

I'm tired.

Having enjoyed a week's holiday, I had to head into work for an 0530 start this morning after very little sleep and I've now been up for getting on for 20 hours so forgive me if this week's entry isn't up to scratch.

The highlights of the last few days were a trip to York with my family for a bit of sightseeing - the National Railway Museum and York's Chocolate Story were probably the standout attractions we had time to visit. Whilst on Thursday I was lucky enough to land some passes to the London Classic Car Show at the Excel Centre.

I'm not a motoring fan, I don't even have a driving licence but even I could appreciate the fine pieces of engineering that were on display from vintage 1920s cars right through to top of the range contemporary models from McLaren, Jaguar and Lister. Heck, I even got to see Anthea Turner!

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I also finally got round do donating blood platelets again after colds had ruled out my last two attempts - I was particularly motivated after learning of the death last week of young football fan Frankie Sherwood whose story I'd followed for a couple of years and who had received platelets to help him with his neuroblastoma treatment.

Saturday had been all about going to see some football but an inability to commit meant that come the day, half-decent tickets to see QPR play Bolton had skyrocketed to £38 and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much to watch two lower midtable Championship sides have a go at each other so I decided to go and watch my local non-league side Kensington Dragons instead.

They play at the Linford Christie Stadium on Wormwood Scrubs and I noticed they had a decent Middlesex County League game against Cricklewood Wanderers who'd had a decent run in the FA Vase.

It was weird walking to the 230pm kick-off flanked by fans going to QPR whose Loftus Road ground I had to pass on my way.

I cut a lonely figure at the Scrubs on Saturday afternoon
On arrival at the Scrubs I noticed to my dismay that the stadium was a hive of inactivity with the pitch looking pretty heavy and no goals set up.

I then peered into the distance and saw the two teams in action on one of the Scrubs' regular park pitches but I'd have needed football boots or wellies to make it across and I simply wasn't prepared. I had to tramp back home via Loftus Road again but this time the action was well underway and I had to listen to my fellow fans from outside as they enjoyed what ended up being a pretty comfortable 2-0 win.

Once again, there may be opportunities for me to see a game this week but there are obstacles that need to be removed before I can be certain.

Have a great week and enjoy your football.


THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the Champions League and  Europa League and there's the EFL Cup Final too.

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 19 February

Professional Development League
Millwall v Watford @1pm - there is also a derby between Crystal Palace and QPR at the Eagles' training ground but I've gone for this as it's being played at Dartford's ground which has fine facilities for spectators who are being allowed in for £5. Whether the Palace game is open to the public remains to be seen so check with the club before you travel

National League South
Wealdstone v Gloucester City @745pm - the early kick off at Dartford above means you could easily combine it with this non-league match if you've got the day off. With both sides needing points to further their ambitions at either end of the table, it should be far more competitive than the afternoon games
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Tuesday 20 February

Champions League
Chelsea v Barcelona @745pm - with the competition down to its last 16 sides, the Blues welcome one of the biggest clubs in the world who have won this title five times. Although they're the top club in Spain at the moment, they're not the super power they have been in recent years, something reflected by them being only third favourites to win the Champions League. Sadly, Chelsea are also way off their best and are not expected to make it to the next round

Championship
Brentford v Birmingham City @745pm - a run of three games without a win looked to have put paid to the Bees' play-off hopes but a comfortable victory at Sunderland on Saturday combined with three of the four teams immediately above them dropping points has put them back in contention. Birmingham, on the other hand, have been pretty poor this season and despite a three-game unbeaten run bringing them into February, they've lost another couple of games since and are looking vulnerable again
Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday @745pm - aside from a now understandable blip at Rochdale in the FA Cup, the Lions are on a great run at the moment. Now six games unbeaten, thanks to a win at Birmingham on Saturday, Neil Harris's side continue to impress. Promoted to the second tier at the start of the season, the Bermondsey club are one of the smallest in the division and punching well above their weight. Currently 14 points clear of the relegation zone, another season in this division looks pretty much certain. The Owls, conversely, are one of the big boys of the Championship and were expected to do well this year but after a good start it's all gone a bit meh and they're now below Millwall in the table

League Two
Barnet v Carlisle United @8pm - last weekend the Bees stung promotion chasing Notts County and this weekend they took a point off title contenders Accrington - four points they never looked like getting prior to Graham Westley's arrival as manager. Sadly a midweek loss at fellow strugglers Yeovil was sandwiched in between meaning the north London club are still in dire trouble. Carlisle are a solid midtable side but they face a mammoth journey down from Cumbria and must be beaten

National League
Boreham Wood v Maidstone United @745pm - if Barnet do go down there is a very real possibility that they could be replaced by near neighbours Boreham Wood, something which would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago. In all honesty it still seems pretty unthinkable now - could we really see a club with average crowds of 699 make it into the EFL??? At the time of writing The Wood have won four of their last five games to leave them sitting snugly among the play-off places. As a former Football League side themselves and with crowds that dwarf those seen at Meadow Park, we should really be talking about Maidstone making a promotion push but they'll just be happy to stay up

London Senior Cup Quarter-Finals
Dulwich Hamlet v Harrow Borough @745pm - with promotion very much the priority for Dulwich there could well be some squad rotation going on at Champion Hill. Consequently, admission has been cut and the crowd is likely to be somewhat lower than normal. Harrow haven't quite secured enough points to make them safe from the drop but could have enough to cause an upset if Steve Baker selects a competitive starting line-up
Metropolitan Police v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - both of these sides usually take this competition very seriously with one or other of them featuring in the last four finals. The Met still have a good chance of making the play-offs while Tooting are fighting tooth and nail to avoid the drop - whoever sees it as a bigger priority will probably come out on top

Essex Senior League
West Essex v Redbridge @745pm - if none of the above appeal, then maybe an east London derby will get you out of the house. I think I'm right in saying that the hosts made a fine start to the season and topped the league in the early stages. They've fallen away a bit since then but are still capable of bagging a place in the top five. Beginning on 28 October, the Motormen won 13 games on the trot to cement themselves at the top but that run has now ended. By a quirk of fixture fate, they ended up playing nearest rivals Great Wakering home and away in back-to-back games at the start of February but only gleaned one point and now they and FC Romania are only three points behind while Basildon in fourth could get even closer if they win their games in hand - Redbridge badly need to win here
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Wednesday 21 February

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Hendon v Barnet @745pm - I'm a big supporter of getting more of London's pro clubs to take part in county cup competitions like this one so credit to the Bees for entering this year. Barnet used to compete regularly and won the cup twice way back in the 1930s. In more recent times they've switched to similar competitions in Hertfordshire as it was a better geographical fit when they were playing at Underhill. However, now they're at The Hive they've made a return to Middlesex. On paper they should comfortably win this north London derby but they'll probably only field a development team and Hendon are a fine non-league side with one of the best records in the history of the cup (13 titles). Admission has also been reduced to £5 and there's an exhibition game of walking football before the match to keep you entertained

FA Women's Super League 2
Millwall Lionesses v London Bees @745pm - after narrowly losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, the Lionesses return to league action with this derby on Wednesday night. Currently second to Doncaster by only a point, a win here against the struggling Bees could put them top

A bit further afield
Elsewhere on Wednesday two of London's biggest clubs are fielding U19 teams in the Uefa Youth League. Tottenham Hotspur entertain Monaco at Stevenage's ground at lunchtime before Chelsea take on Feyenoord at Aldershot Town in the evening. Both grounds are outside London but easy to get to by train and you can pay on arrival
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Thursday 22 February

Europa League
Arsenal v Ostersunds FK @805pm - having won the opening leg in Sweden 3-0, progress into the last 16 looks like a formality for the Gunners. However, with Sunday's EFL Cup Final looming, Arsene Wenger will almost certainly tinker with his starting line-up and the visitors might have a slim chance of forcing their way back in

A bit further afield
Your alternative option on Thursday night can be found on the northern fringes of London where Tottenham Hotspur Ladies play Watford Ladies in a derby at Cheshunt FC
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Friday 23 February

FA Women's Super League 1
Arsenal v Everton @730pm - with the top two spots pretty much sewn up already, the Gunners need to make sure of pipping Liverpool to third place. On Friday they welcome the Reds' big rivals to Meadow Park for a match they should win

A bit further afield
If only men's football will do then head up once again to the northern outskirts of the capital to see Woodford Town 2017 in Essex Senior League action against Takeley. The north-east London club are currently groundsharing at Goffs Lane, home of FC Broxbourne Borough

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Saturday 24 February

Premier League
Watford v Everton @530pm - there's only one Premier League game in London this weekend and it's up at Vicarage Road. Although in midtable, neither are quite out of the woods when it comes to avoiding relegation so they could both do with a win. When I last checked, only a handful of tickets were still available so don't delay buying one if you want to go

Championship
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers @530pm - although playing at the level below, this game is arguably far more important than the one above and could be far more entertaining. The Cottagers are the team to watch in the Championship at the moment with five wins and a draw from their last six putting them top of the form table and in the top five overall. Last Saturday they saw off the then even hotter Aston Villa and now they welcome the leaders for another huge match. Wolves' form has dipped slightly of late so it should be really interesting to see what happens - tickets are available
Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest @3pm - despite a lot of moaning and groaning by QPR fans over the last couple of months, things really aren't that bad. With three wins from the last six, midtable safety is almost assured. Although just behind QPR in the table, Forest's form is worrying and a home win should be the order of the day. However, the visitors are one of Rangers' bogey teams and history suggests it could go either way

League One
Charlton Athletic v Shrewsbury Town @3pm - the deal of the day is to be found at The Valley where all tickets are being sold at a flat rate of £5. Usually when clubs do this it's for matches against unglamorous opponents who no-one really wants to watch but that's definitely not the case here as Charlton are currently sixth and the Shrews are top so it's a really important game

Premier League International Cup
Arsenal U23 v Dinamo Zagreb II @2pm - in a slightly strange bit of scheduling, the Gunners' youngsters welcome Croatian opponents to Boreham Wood for this knockout tie. Usually U23 games at Meadow Park are free entry but check before you travel

FA Trophy Quarter-Finals - this competition for sides in the fifth to eighth tiers of the English system is now down to its last eight. With £10,000 prize money up for grabs for each of the winners and a place in the final at Wembley in May now within touching distance, things are getting really serious.
Bromley v Spennymoor Town @3pm - the Ravens are one of three London clubs to have made it this far so the chance of one of our local teams getting to Wembley is good. They are also doing well in the league and are the highest ranked club left in the Trophy so it will be interesting to see which competition they prioritise. On paper they should be too strong for Spennymoor who play a level below and face a long journey down from County Durham. They should not be underestimated though as they've enjoyed three promotions since winning the FA Vase five years ago and are well positioned to go up again this year
Leyton Orient v Gateshead @3pm - in terms of size and average attendance, the O's are the biggest club left in. After a terrible start to life in non-league football, they've started to regroup under new boss Justin Edinburgh and are gradually climbing the table. They have also done really well to get this far in the Trophy and should fancy themselves against another side with a long journey down from the north east
(The other remaining London club are Wealdstone and they're playing away at Billericay Town. The Essex club are based a short journey outside London so this is also a very decent option if you fancy visiting a new ground)

National League
Sutton United v Guiseley @3pm - the U's are London's main challengers for the NL title. Currently in fifth, five points behind leaders Macclesfield, they've still got a great chance of getting promoted. A win is almost a certainty against Guiseley who have miraculously dodged relegation in recent seasons and are rooted to the bottom again after seven straight defeats

National League South
Dartford v Truro City @3pm - the Darts held on to top spot for another week after winning at Wealdstone on Saturday but nearest rivals Havant & Waterlooville still have the games in hand to sweep past them should they win them. Truro are also among the leading pack and had a spell at the top themselves earlier in the season so it could be challenging afternoon

Bostik League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - a north versus south London clash between sides hoping to make it up via the play-offs. It's also a bit of a David and Goliath clash as W&F look to get one over on the giants of the division. They pulled off a shock win at Champion Hill earlier in the season so should be more than capable of doing it again

Evo-Stik League East Division
Hayes & Yeading United v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @3pm  - the hosts strode into the top three with victory at Cambridge City on Saturday with former QPR midfielder Scott Donnelly among the scorers. Next up are local rivals Ashford - if Hayes win they could end the day six points off top spot

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Croydon v Beckenham Town @3pm - the visitors are having their best season in years and are currently joint top with Sevenoaks. Sadly they've played three games more than their rivals so a win in this local derby is almost essential. Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders are also being admitted for half price - perfect for any Palace fans who are without a game on Saturday

Combined Counties League First Division
Cobham v AC London @3pm - the top three are eligible for promotion come the end of the season subject to having good enough grounds and with both of these sides in the top six, they've got a decent chance. Cobham have several games in hand which if won will put them third
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Sunday 25 February

EFL Cup Final
Arsenal v Manchester City @430pm - the first major piece of domestic silverware comes up for grabs on Sunday. Despite all the moaners, Arsene Wenger has delivered yet another cup final appearance for the Gunners' fans. Given Manchester City's electric performances this season, the north London club will do extremely well to win it but few expected them to beat Chelsea in the FA Cup last May. Despite having bigger priorities than Arsenal, City usually treat this competition with great respect and have won two of the last four finals - it's theirs to lose


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 11 February 2018

TLFG: 12-18 February 2018

Greetings one and all. How has your week been?

I've been on a week of late shifts so my chances of seeing some live football were very slim indeed.

Instead my time has been taken up preparing for and hosting my five-year-old's birthday party (some regular readers may remember her being born) and getting in a training run for the Big Half in about three weeks time - it took me on an 18km route along the Thames to Brentford and back but saw me pick up yet another calf injury so I've been resting up for the last five days wondering whether or not I should train again before the race or how much.

On the football front more announcements were made regarding the Conifa World Football Cup which will be taking place here in London from 31 May-9 June.

Last week we discovered Sutton United would be one of the host venues but since then it has been revealed that Bromley and Enfield Town have been added to the list as well. 

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With north and south London well covered, hopefully we'll see some clubs in the east and west too - talks are said to have taken place with both QPR and Charlton but no announcements have yet been made.

The biggest event of the week from a London perspective must have been the North London Derby which Spurs won 1-0. Most Arsenal fans I know lost hope when the starting line-up was announced and their dreams of reaching the top four now look all but over.

With the match taking place at Wembley, the chances of getting a ticket greatly increased. Did you get one? How did it compare to a derby at White Hart Lane? How did the bigger venue and bigger crowd affect the intensity? I'd like to hear your views.

QPR and Poland midfielder Pawel Wszolek will be doing a live Q&A in Hammersmith
I've got a week off for half-term but will be up in Yorkshire for a midweek mini-break on Tuesday and Wednesday so I'm unlikely to catch any football then but there is a good chance on Saturday.

QPR v Bolton and Metropolitan Police v Harrow Borough are the two most obvious options for me. Tickets for the former should be easy to get hold of and relatively cheap on Twickets while I'm tempted to go to the latter as I've never been to Imber Court and really should tick it off my list.

Also this week if you're a QPR fan, Polish or ideally both then you might be interested in going to a live Q&A with Pawel Wszolek who plays for the R's and Poland. If you go you will also qualify to buy a ticket for QPR's forthcoming home match against Sunderland for only £5!

The event is taking place at 330pm on Tuesday 13 February at the Polish Social and Cultural Association in Hammersmith and entry is free although you must reserve a place in advance. As someone who has been to the centre's cafe, I can vouch that they do great cakes! Thanks to TLFG reader Colin W for the tip off.

Lastly this week I'd like to give a big thank you to Wayne C from the USA and Christer S from Sweden who gave very generously to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - it's very very much appreciated.

THE WEEK AHEAD
There are over 70 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the EFL 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 12 February

Premier League
Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion @8pm - rocked by back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Watford, Antonio Conte and the Blues face another potential humiliation as the Baggies pay a visit to Stamford Bridge. Bottom of the league and with only three wins all season, Alan Pardew's side should be cannon fodder for a side of Chelsea's calibre but given their current form who knows???

Premier League Cup
There are two games in this U23 competition over the course of the day meaning you could comfortably attend both. Charlton Athletic open proceedings with a game against Stoke City at 2pm at Greenwich Borough's ground before Watford take on Blackburn Rovers at Wealdstone at 7pm. Please check all details with the respective clubs before you travel as they can change at short notice

Hertfordshire Senior Cup Semi-Final
Boreham Wood v Kings Langley @745pm - the best non-league option of the night is to be found at Meadow Park where five-times former champions Boreham Wood should start as strong favourites against a local rival who play two levels below them. It's unlikely the hosts will field a full-strength side and adult admission has been cut from £18 to £10 accordingly

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Tuesday 13 February

League One
Charlton Athletic v Bradford City @745pm - the match of the night takes place at The Valley where two of the biggest clubs in the division go head-to-head. Both former Premier League clubs are firmly in the hunt for a play-off place but Bradford's form has dropped off worryingly in recent weeks. The Addicks won the reverse fixture 1-0 and will feel hopeful of completing a double here

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Wealdstone v Staines Town @745pm - with 11 wins from 21 appearances in the final, the Stones have an impressive history in this competition. Having seen off big rivals Hampton & Richmond in the previous round, they should fancy their chances against the Swans who play a level below and only just scraped past Uxbridge on penalties in the last round

Bostik League Premier Division
Hendon v Leiston @745pm - with only one win from six league games since the start of the year, 2018 hasn't been particularly kind to the Greens. However, they are still very much in touch with the top five and should return to it with a win here. Leiston are only a few points behind so it's likely to be a challenging game. Aside from anything else, Hendon are running a pre-Valentine's Day promotion of free entry for your partner so bring 'em along

Evo-Stik League East Division
Egham Town v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - from a TLFG perspective the Sarnies have been the team to watch in this division over the last couple of years but having twice missed out in the play-offs, their chance to go up seems to have been missed. Stuck in the lower midtable doldrums, Egham won't be going anywhere this year. Hayes & Yeading, however, are strongly in contention for a top-five finish and could conceivably have an outside shot at the title. If they win here, it will be their ninth in 10 games

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Cockfosters v Hadley @745pm - there was a lot of talk about the North London Derby over the weekend - well this is another one. Little is riding on this in terms of the league but local bragging rights are up for grabs for these two clubs from either side of Barnet

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Harefield United v Southall @745pm - head down to Preston Park on Tuesday if you want to see local-side-in-exile Southall who arrive in Harefield as the division's top club. Playing their home games all the way out at Burnham clearly hasn't adversely affected the visitors who are having their best season for years

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Wednesday 14 February

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Balham v Horley Town @745pm - with the top four sides so much better than everyone else, this midtable clash in the middle of February already has the look of a dead rubber about it even when you consider that the hosts have five or six games in hand on most of those above them. This match could play a crucial part in determining who finishes fifth which is pretty much the best either of these sides can hope for
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Friday 16 February

FA Cup Fifth Round
Chelsea v Hull City @8pm - with the FA Cup down to its last 16 teams things are starting to get serious. Out of contention in the league and also out of the EFL Cup, this is the Blues' one chance of domestic silverware this season so you'd hope they'd field a strong team to get the job done. Hull got relegated from the Premier League last season and have had a terrible time in the Championship with Saturday's win at Nottingham Forest lifting them out of the bottom three in what is a tight relegation fight between at least six clubs, five of which were in the Premier League at some point. The Tigers are also winless in 15 against Chelsea in all competitions and have to go way back to 1988 to find their last one. This match also represents your only chance of seeing a Premier League team in action this weekend as all our other local sides have been eliminated already or are playing away - thankfully tickets are on sale to non-members for a not unreasonable £30

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Saturday 17 February

Championship
Fulham v Aston Villa @3pm - the match of the day on Saturday should be this clash between two promotion contenders at Craven Cottage. With four wins and a draw and five wins on the bounce respectively, these two are also currently top of the division's form table so it should be a cracker. With Villa among the biggest sides in the country, let alone the division, a decent crowd is expected for what could be a thrilling showdown. A few tickets are still available to non-members but don't hang around
Queens Park Rangers v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - a couple of miles up the road in Shepherd's Bush we have a far less enticing fixture between two sides looking to make sure of avoiding the drop. QPR are eight points clear of the relegation zone so should be alright but the Trotters are much closer to the trap door and could end the day in the bottom three if they lose here. If you are keen to go to this, check the Twickets re-sale website (fully endorsed by QPR - you pick your ticket from the box office) which should see you be able pick up a ticket for below face value

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers @3pm - after suffering morale-crushing defeats to fellow strugglers Bury and Northampton, hopes of a Dons renaissance are starting to fade. Next up are midtable Rovers who despite being down in 11th still have a chance of challenging for a place in the top six. The hosts managed to win the reverse fixture in Bristol back in November so this should give them some belief

League Two
Barnet v Accrington Stanley @3pm - the Bees fightback is on after the division's bottom club recorded a shock 1-0 win over high flying Notts County on Saturday. After an important game at Yeovil in midweek, Graham Westley's side return to The Hive to face the team currently in second. It's going to be another tough ask but who knows?

National League
Sutton United v Wrexham @3pm - with just eight points separating the top nine clubs, any game between teams in that group is going to be important. At the time of writing, Sutton are fifth and Wrexham third. With the U's averaging crowds of over 2,000 and Wrexham over double that, we could see a very large attendance indeed
Boreham Wood v Gateshead @3pm - in the division's other game, The Wood are still well in the hunt for honours themselves. With only one league defeat since the start of the year they should be confident of beating their north-eastern opponents but mindful of the fact that they were recently beaten by them in the FA Trophy

National League South
Wealdstone v Dartford @3pm - the Stones' long journey down to Cornwall to play Truro on Saturday saw them rewarded with an important victory which extended their winning run to three games and closed the gap on the play-off places to five points. Here they welcome the long term league leaders who seem to have been top forever despite another tight title race. Sadly for the Darts you feel that their tenure at the top could be coming to an end. With two defeats on the trot and the two below them both having games in hand, their current two-point lead looks pretty flimsy. In essence, they badly need to win here

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Enfield Town @3pm - the Hamlet had their game at Lowestoft postponed on Saturday meaning they missed the chance to return to the top after Billericay only managed to draw at Met Police. Their next home game is against the Towners who have been up among the play-off places with Dulwich in recent seasons but have failed to fire this time round and are way down in 18th. Despite this, their support has held up reasonably well and you'd like to think a crowd of at least 1,500 will be present

Bostik League South Division
Cray Wanderers v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - two former Premier Division sides do battle to get back up after several years away from the league's top flight. Cray beat Ramsgate on Saturday to go top and take full advantage of title rivals Lewes' postponement. Like some of those mentioned above, this division is also witnessing a very exciting title race with only six points between the top six clubs. Carshalton are part of that leading pack so this game has quite a bit riding on it

Combined Counties League Premier Division
CB Hounslow United v Hanworth Villa @3pm - in terms of the league this isn't a hugely important game but it is a derby and if you're a groundhopper it gives you a chance to check out the hosts' new ground which is receiving rave reviews

Essex Senior League
Wadham Lodge v Waltham Forest @3pm - the Walthamstow derby between two sides who groundshare. Neither side is having a great season but a derby's a derby so it should be worth a watch

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Beckenham Town v Tunbridge Wells @3pm - the Becks have made solid progress on the pitch this season and are challenging hard for the title, so much so that a hefty win in this game against relegation threatened opponents could put them top

Combined Counties League Division 1
Raynes Park Vale v Worcester Park @3pm - it's derby day in SW20 as RPV welcome near neighbours and title favourites Worcester Park. Although down in eighth, the hosts could conceivably begin a promotion push with a win here, especially when you consider the visitors can't be promoted because their ground isn't up to scratch

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Sunday 18 February

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round
Arsenal v Millwall Lionesses @2pm - there are several women's games on Sunday but this one is my top pick as it's a derby. The Gunners play a division above the Lionesses so should start as strong favourites
Chelsea v Doncaster Rovers Belles @2pm - in terms of quality then this might actually be a better watch as it pits the team who are second in the country against the team who are top of the division 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.

Monday 5 February 2018

TLFG: 5-11 February 2018

For most people the focus this week has been domestic football but not for me.

My sights have been more on upcoming international events and how this blog will cover them.

No sooner had I published last week's piece than one regular reader tipped me off that there could be yet another friendly taking place in London in the last week of March.

At the moment it's still to be confirmed but it's set to be another Africa v Europe clash so I'll let you know if I hear any more.

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Aside from that, Conifa announced who will be playing in the opening group games of the World Football Cup and where.

National League side Sutton United will play host to the opening two games on 31 May as Ellan Vannin (aka the Isle of Man) take on Cascadia (which is basically the area of North America around Seattle and Vancouver) before Padania (northern Italy) face Matabeleland (western Zimbabwe) later in the day.

Tickets go on sale on Monday and will cost from £10 - presumably for a doubleheader but that will need confirmation.



As I understand it, the next host venue and set of fixtures will be announced on Tuesday. 

Aside from some great results for a few of our local Premier League and EFL sides this weekend it was also a big few days in FA Trophy and FA Vase. 

Sadly we don't have any local interest in the Vase but I'm pleased to say that Leyton Orient and Wealdstone both made it through to the quarter-finals. Bromley might also join them but they have to get through a replay with Workington on Tuesday first.



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 on sale now.

Regular readers might remember a couple of weeks ago this blog featured coverage of a match at the small stadium next to West Ham's ground which drew in quite a few groundhoppers.

I'm pleased to report that as of next season, Essex Senior League side Hackney Wick will be moving there so there'll be plenty more chances to pay it a visit.

Lastly, a very big thanks to Simon K from London who became the latest person to donate to TLFG's coffee drinking fund - it's hugely appreciated and keeps me going so cheers!

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

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 5 February

Premier League
Watford v Chelsea @8pm - the week gets underway with a derby at Vicarage Road. The Hornets are badly out of form at the moment and need to get something from this game. Chelsea come into this match on the back of their humbling 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth so boss Antonio Conte will be looking for a strong response

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Everton @7pm - there are a number of U23 games on Monday but this game between two of the top five sides in the country is the standout fixture. The match is being played at Boreham Wood's ground - as with all youth fixtures, please make sure you check all the details before you travel as venues and kick-off times can change at short notice

Essex Senior League
Tower Hamlets v Basildon United @745pm - the best non-league option is to be found at the Mile End Stadium where the hosts welcome the title-chasing Bees

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Tuesday 6 February

FA Trophy Third Round Replay
Bromley v Workington AFC @745pm - with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs, a trip to Wembley in getting close for both teams. Although playing two divisions below their opponents, Workington gave a spirited display against Bromley on Saturday but had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Whether they have enough to beat them in the replay remains to be seen - the 650-mile round trip on a Tuesday night probably won't help

Bostik League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - with the hosts pushing for a play-off place and the Terrors desperate to avoid the drop, this game is of equal importance at either end of the table

London Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Dulwich Hamlet v Harrow Borough @745pm - despite being one of the biggest sides in the competition and having won it five times, Dulwich haven't made the final since 2004. Currently the highest ranked side left in the competition, they should start as favourites here. However, they are likely to rest a few players and this would seem to be reflected in the admission price which has been cut to £6 for adults. Harrow are in the same division as Dulwich but are a much smaller club and have never made the final

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm - the Motormen had another game postponed on Saturday but their nearest rivals failed to take advantage. Great Wakering won at Sporting Bengal to stay fourth but crucially they closed the gap on the leading trio. With a game in hand as well, a win here could put them firmly in contention

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Wednesday 7 February

FA Cup Fourth Round Replay
Tottenham Hotspur v Newport County @745pm - Spurs should have seen off their League Two opponents at the first attempt but could only manage a 1-1 draw last weekend. Given the Premier League title is beyond them then I'd hope they'll go for it this time and make sure of their place in the next round. Tickets for this match are also only £10 or £15 depending on where you sit

Bostik League South Division
Thamesmead Town v VCD Athletic @745pm - both sides are in midtable so there's not a huge amount riding on it but with the pressure off, it could be a cracker

London Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Cray Valley PM v Croydon @745pm - CVPM shocked a number of bigger clubs to win the cup last year and continue the defence of their title against a fellow ninth-tier side
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Friday 9 February

Championship
Millwall v Cardiff City @745pm - get the weekend underway with this intriguing looking match in the second tier as the Lions welcome the Bluebirds from Wales. Although 16 points apart in the table, when it comes to current form these two are neck-and-neck. With two of the fieriest sets of supporters in the division, it could get lively although the Friday night scheduling for TV could well see the attendance hit

Professional Development League
Watford v Coventry City @2pm - earlier in the day we have an U23 game which is currently scheduled to be played at Watford's training ground but check all the details before you travel

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Sutton Common Rovers v Colliers Wood United @745pm - if neither of the above take your fancy, there's also a decent ninth-tier match between two south London clubs at Gander Green Lane. With leaders Westfield looking increasingly uncatchable, SCR are very much in the race to finish as runners-up

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Saturday 10 February

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @1230pm - without question the match of the week is this - the second North London Derby of the season. Taking place at Wembley, a huge crowd of 80,000+ is expected for what will hopefully be a great advert for the Premier League. Spurs are really starting to impress at their temporary home with Everton and Manchester United defeated with relative ease in recent games. The Gunners have been shaky this season but with the likes of Sanchez, Giroud and Walcott out and Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan in during the transfer window, the squad has been significantly freshened up. The results were instant with both new signings making their mark during a 5-1 thrashing of Everton on Saturday. Historically Arsenal have dominated the north London football landscape and they won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in November. With three of the last five games ending in a draw, I think we'll get another one here. As a side issue, the early kick-off should make it just about possible to combine this with another game - Barnet and Hendon would seem the best options
West Ham United v Watford @3pm - with tickets all but impossible to get for the match above, there are still quite a few available for this via the Hammers' re-sale site. A derby in its own right too and with both sides fighting to avoid the drop, this should be well worth a watch. As mentioned above, Watford are in terrible form but they did beat West Ham 2-0 earlier in the season so should have some belief in turning things around

Championship
Brentford v Preston North End @3pm - sitting just outside the play-off places, PNE are one of the teams the Bees simply have to beat if they are to mount a promotion challenge themselves. Things were looking promising for Dean Smith's side until back-to-back defeats left them eight points behind the top six. However, Brentford have an absolutely superb record against Preston winning eight, drawing one and losing just one of their last 10 games against them (home and away) with the last game at Deepdale ending in a 3-2 win - more of the same please

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Northampton Town @3pm - with three wins and a draw, January was an excellent month for the Dons who started to push away from the bottom four. Sadly, February began with defeat at Rotherham and defeat here to fellow strugglers Northampton could see them slide right back into the bottom four

League Two
Barnet v Notts County @3pm - the appointment of new manager Graham Westley in mid-January halted the run of defeats but the draws with Lincoln and Cheltenham appear to have been but a brief respite for the Bees. On Saturday they lost at Mansfield to stay rooted to the bottom and with promotion chasing Notts County next to visit, it's likely to stay that way

National League
Leyton Orient v Tranmere Rovers @3pm - two of the biggest clubs in non-league football meet at Brisbane Road for a match that could draw a bigger crowd than some of the games in League One. Both sides have seen far better days and it's still a shock to see either playing at this level. The O's made it through to the FA Trophy quarter-finals on Saturday after winning a thriller at Dover and are well on course to make it to Wembley. Tranmere's focus is more on the league which they could easily win - with only six points separating the top eight teams, it's anyone's!
Bromley v Maidstone United @3pm - the hosts are among the title-chasing pack and could edge into the top five if they win here. Although Maidstone will more than likely end up in midtable, they too are one of the biggest sides in the division and there should be a sizeable crowd for this too as it's a Kent derby
Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot Town @530pm - an absolute barnstormer of day in the National League concludes with this TV game at Victoria Road where the Daggers welcome another one of the title contenders. Although not a derby as such, Aldershot is close to London so a significant number of away fans should be expected to travel. Also, the late kick-off should enable you to combine this game with one of the earlier kick-offs in the Bostik League at either AFC Hornchurch or Barking

National League South
Dartford v Chelmsford City @3pm - despite intense competition in this division too, the Darts have managed to keep themselves at the top for quite a while now. Although they got stuffed at St Albans on Saturday, nearest rivals Hampton & Richmond also lost to Bath meaning they stayed three points clear. Chelmsford were contenders themselves but a poor run has seen them drop to eighth - they should still be tough opponents though

Bostik League Premier Division
Metropolitan Police v Billericay Town @3pm - the Met earned an excellent point at title-chasing Dulwich on Saturday. The result ensured leaders Billericay, who were playing in the FA Trophy, remained top. The big-spending Essex club are scoring an average of three goals a game this season and will start as overwhelming favourites at Imber Court

Bostik League North Division
AFC Hornchurch v Haringey Borough @3pm - the Urchins took another big stride towards the title with a 3-0 win at Hertford on Saturday. The result leaves them 13 points clear with 13 games to go - mathematically they could still blow it but given their current form it seems highly unlikely. Haringey beat Brentwood 1-0 to keep their place in the top seven and their promotion hopes alive

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Basildon United @3pm - depending on midweek results these two could be the top two in the league by Saturday. It's possible that a win for Basildon here could see them end the day only a point behind the Motormen

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Sunday 11 February

FA Women's Super League 1
Arsenal v Yeovil Town @2pm - currently fourth but miles off title pace, a bit like the men's team, the Gunners welcome the division's bottom club who have lost all seven of their matches this season

A bit further afield
There are several women's games on in London on Sunday but if that's not for you there are a couple of other matches you might want to consider within 70 miles of London. First off in the Premier League there is the big game between Southampton and Liverpool at 430pm. Tickets were still available when I last looked but a previous purchasing history with the Saints was a requirement. A more realistic option is the 1pm kick-off in the Evo-Stik League East Division between AFC Dunstable and Hartley Wintney - both are in the top four so it should be good



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