Monday 23 December 2019

TLFG: 23 December 2019 - 5 January 2020

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

My annual labour of love covers the next two weeks and includes all the derbies of Boxing Day right through to the FA Cup Third Round.

I've been working on this all week and there are, as usual, some really great games coming up.

One striking thing about this festive period is the lack of games at the lower levels. In the eight years since I started writing this blog, the amount of non-league football on Boxing Day and New Year's Day has decreased markedly.

London's non-league scene lost one of its biggest characters on Friday

On Boxing Day this year there's nothing on in the ninth and 10th tiers and only one match in the eighth and the same is true of NYD.

There are all sorts of strange kick-off times and make sure you check all public transport details before you travel.

Boxing Day travel is usually the most affected with very few National Rail services and there also appears to be some major engineering work on the Northern Line too.

On a more sombre note, the big story on London's non-league scene this weekend was the sad news of the death Mishi Morath.

The Dulwich Hamlet superfan was known by all and sundry on the non-league scene and was seen on live TV a few weeks back giving an interview to Dan Walker during the BBC's coverage of the Hamlet's FA Cup tie against Carlisle.

Heavily involved in the club's community outreach team, he saw the real benefits of Non-League Day and played a big part in generating the huge crowds that have now become the norm at Champion Hill.

He lived and breathed Dulwich but loved to groundhop as a neutral too, visiting hundreds of grounds around the world.

Known for being a bit of a spiky character at times, most people got on the wrong side of him at some point (me included) but it's a testament to the man that tributes poured in from all over on Friday, even from those who didn't have much time for him.

Very fittingly, the Hamlet's players ended a long winless run with a resounding win at fellow strugglers Hungerford on Saturday as a perfect tribute to the man they all knew.

RIP Mishi.

Lastly, many thanks to Stefan B from Germany and all those who have donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund this year - many, many thanks.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next two weeks include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MATCH MAP 23-27 DECEMBER
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



MATCH MAP 28-29 DECEMBER
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin



MATCH MAP 30 DECEMBER-3 JANUARY
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



MATCH MAP 4-5 JANUARY
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin





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

Thursday 26 December

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion @1230pm - a busy programme of top-flight football gets underway at lunchtime. Spurs have won five of the eight games Jose Mourinho has presided over since joining the club and they should more than fancy themselves against Brighton. However, the Sussex club beat them comfortably earlier in the season and roared on by what should be a sizeable away support, they could nick a draw. Very unusually for league games at the THS, tickets are on sale to non-members
Chelsea v Southampton @3pm - the Saints have had a poor season but won their huge relegation six-pointer at Aston Villa on Saturday to move out of the bottom three. If they can get anything at Stamford Bridge to stay out of the relegation zone it will be quite some achievement as they are winless in nine against the Blues so a home win looks likely. Tickets are not available to non-members
Crystal Palace v West Ham United @3pm - there's a traditional Boxing Day feel at Selhurst Park where we've got a proper London derby to enjoy. Two midtable teams could well produce a competitive and entertaining game so this could well be worth a watch on Amazon Prime - sadly it's not on sale to non-members

Championship
Brentford v Swansea City @3pm - the Bees picked up one of their best results of the season on Saturday when they drew 1-1 at leaders West Brom. The point kept the west London club in the division's top six at Christmas, a fine achievement for one of the smallest clubs in the division. Elsewhere, Swansea won at Luton to end the day just behind Brentford on goal difference so this could be a cracker. Tickets have sold out
Charlton Athletic v Bristol City @3pm - the Addicks nicked a 95th-minute equaliser to salvage a point at QPR on Saturday as their winless run extended to 11 games. Down in 18th they're going to find it tough going against play-off chasing City who are unbeaten in three against the London club and beat them earlier in the season at Ashton Gate. Tickets are on sale to non-members

League Two
Leyton Orient v Colchester United @1pm - after a very dodgy spell, the O's have gone on a three game unbeaten run and are up to 15th. Essex club Colchester dispatched struggling Carlisle 3-0 on Saturday to leave them nicely placed on the edge of the play-off places so will start as favourites. Tickets are on sale to non-members

National League
Barnet v Boreham Wood @3pm - the pick of the games for me in the fifth tier is this north London derby at The Hive. Both sides are pushing hard for the play-offs but it's The Wood, historically a smaller club, who are in the top five at the time of writing. A couple of years back they made the play-off final at Wembley but lost - maybe this is their year?

National League South
Welling United v Dartford @1pm - in terms of derbies, this is the big one for these two. Located about five miles apart on the south-east side of town, there have been some huge games between them particularly in recent years. With both sides in midtable it doesn't have quite as much riding on it as it could do but it should still draw a substantial crowd
Dulwich Hamlet v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm - talking of crowds, there could be an even bigger one here as the Hamlet pull in the biggest attendances in the division (c.2,500-3,000) which is quite an achievement for a side which has barely won a match this season. That terrible run finally came to an end at Hungerford on Saturday. This will also be the first home game since the death of Dulwich superfan Mishi Morath who sadly passed away at the end of last week and no doubt the club and his fellow supporters will mark the occasion accordingly

Isthmian League Premier Division
Enfield Town v Haringey Borough @3pm - if you don't fancy the north London derby at Barnet then there's another one at Donkey Lane - ahem, I mean the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. Of the two I'd choose this - it might be two levels below but it's a lot cheaper and hence better value. The two have lost a bit of momentum of late but with their games in hand, they are both realistic play-off contenders

Southern League Premier Division South
Hendon v Harrow Borough @1pm - my personal choice for Boxing Day will be this derby between two old rivals. I can't remember the last time these two didn't play each other on 26 December but it's been a while. In recent years these games have produced goals, loads of 'em - 48 from the last 10 league games! Both sides are having a season to forget so any points will be very gratefully received

Isthmian League North Division
Grays Athletic v Aveley @1pm - if you're over on the far eastern side of town you've got the chance to enjoy this intriguing looking groundshare derby. Both sides are in the division's top six so there's plenty to play for
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Friday 27 December

ECL Division 1 South
May & Baker v Lopes Tavares @745pm - Parkside plays host once again as this 10th tier match takes centre stage on Friday. The visitors are going for the title and could move five points clear with a win

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Saturday 28 December

Premier League

Watford v Aston Villa @3pm - one of the most important games of the festive period is this relegation six-pointer at Vicarage Road. With Villa having lost four on the trot, Nigel Pearson's Watford side might fancy their chances after beating Manchester United on Sunday. This match appears to have sold out
West Ham United v Leicester City @530pm - tickets shouldn't be a problem to see this arguably more attractive fixture at the London Stadium later in the afternoon. The Hammers didn't play this weekend but with two wins from four, they are improving. However, they'll need to be at their very best for this one as the Foxes are still outside contenders for the league title

National League
Sutton United v Yeovil Town @1230pm - with no EFL action scheduled for Saturday the focus next switches to the fifth tier where there are a number of games. The action kicks off in south London at lunchtime where the struggling U's welcome title contenders Yeovil. Sutton are usually among the frontrunners themselves but have found it hard to adapt to life without old boss Paul Doswell who stood down towards the end of last season. Thankfully for the Gander Green Lane faithful, new manager Matt Gray does seem to be getting things to work and they're now up to 17th and building a decent unbeaten run. Yeovil were a Championship side as recently as 2014 so they've suffered quite a bit over the last five years but they're up in second and looking for a quick return to League Two
Bromley v Dagenham & Redbridge @3pm - only a point behind Yeovil, Bromley look like ending the year as London's top non-league club something they'll make sure of with a win here. Alongside Torquay, the Daggers are suffering the worst form in the division right now so an away win looks highly unlikely

National League South
Wealdstone v St Albans City @3pm - in my opinion there isn't really a standout game in the NLS on Saturday so I've gone for this as it features the Stones who are still seven points clear at the top and going for the title. When I was growing up in the '80s, Wealdstone were one of the top non-league clubs in the country. In 1985 they won the Gola League (the fifth tier) and the FA Trophy to do the 'non-league double' but things started to get very complicated after they sold their ground in the early '90s and they fell down the leagues. Here we are over 30 years later and they're on the cusp of returning to the big time. St Albans have been among the play-off contenders in recent seasons but all's not well this year with the team fighting relegation and many fans unhappy with the way the club is being run - the walk-up admission fee of £18 being, understandably, one of their biggest gripes. Thankfully it's only £13 at Wealdstone unless you're a season-ticket holder from another club in which case it's £9

Isthmian League Premier Division
Corinthian Casuals v Cheshunt @3pm  - again there aren't any really eye-catching games at this level on Saturday but this relegation six-pointer will be of great importance to all those involved. Corinthian Casuals are one of London's most historic clubs and gave rise to the formation of Brazilian giants Corinthians and a strong link exists between the clubs to this day. Sadly the Tolworth-based club are having a very poor season and have only one league win to their name

Isthmian League South Central
Hanwell Town v South Park @3pm - the hosts have been top for a while now and if they hold on, they'll be promoted to the highest level they've ever competed at which would be quite a way to celebrate their centenary year. The visitors are in lower midtable so they should be beatable

SSML Premier Division
Broadfields United v Harefield United @3pm - the best match in the ninth tier would appear to be this groundshare derby on the far west of TLFG's catchment area. These sides got promoted together last season and it seems to be all about consolidation this time with both sides holding their own in midtable

SCEFL Division 1
It's hard to pick one game in the 10th tier as the fixture secretary in this division has lined up a number of groundshare derbies to keep you entertained. Bridon Ropes play Meridian VP, Forest Hill Park host Lewisham Borough and Sutton Athletic take on FC Elmstead - all at 3pm. The first is the longest established groundshare so will probably be the most meaningful

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Sunday 29 December

Premier League
Arsenal v Chelsea @2pm - one of the biggest matches of the festive period takes place at the Emirates on Sunday and will be Mikel Arteta's first home game in charge of the Gunners. With Chelsea ending their disappointing run of results with a superb 2-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday, Frank Lampard and his team will head into their Christmas games in good spirits. The sides haven't met since the Blues thrashed Arsenal in last season's Europa League final in Baku and, at the present time, look the more likely to win again. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Fulham v Stoke City @3pm - the EFL returns on Sunday and you shouldn't struggle to pick up a ticket for any of the games on offer. At the time of writing, the Cottagers are London's top Championship club courtesy of their superb win over Leeds United on Saturday. On paper, a game against struggling Stoke should yield another three points but anything's possible in this crazy division. Tickets are on sale to non-members
Millwall v Brentford @3pm - the pick of the day's games in the second tier must be this derby at The Den. The Lions' unbeaten run came to an end at home to bottom club Barnsley on Saturday to once again highlight how unpredictable the Championship is. As mentioned above, Brentford are having a fine season so they should start as marginal favourites. Tickets are on sale to non-members
Queens Park Rangers v Hull City @3pm - lastly, and I'm afraid leastly, we have this game of little consequence between two average sides who ultimately probably won't achieve that much this season. QPR won at Hull during a brief purple patch back in the autumn and are in very similar form to them at the current time. Tickets are on sale to non-members

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United @3pm - the Dons' narrow loss to Tranmere on Saturday means they still can't quite break free and leave the relegation zone well behind. In fact, it could well get a whole lot closer if they lose this one against a talented Oxford side who gave Manchester City a good game in the EFL Cup last week and are well in contention for an automatic promotion place. Tickets are available

Isthmian League South East Division
VCD Athletic v Phoenix Sports @1pm - before all of the action above, we have this non-league derby to look forward to. If you're on a budget and in south-east London then this is the one for you. These clubs are so close together that you can hear what's going on at the other's stadium if they're playing at the same time - it's about 260m as the crow flies

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Wednesday 1 January

Premier League
Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm - after a three-day lull the action returns with a bang on New Year's Day with three top-flight games taking place in the capital at different times. Sadly hopping from one to the other is logistically impossible unless you have lots of money and a helicopter. Given that they're bottom, every match for the Hornets will be important until they become mathematically safe. With the Villa game out of the way, they welcome a very useful Wolves side who look all set to fight for a top-six finish. These sides first played way back in 1912 and in the 48 matches since then, each have won 15 times - I'm going for a draw. Tickets are available
West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth @530pm - the Hammers' festive programme continues with an important if unglamorous game against the Cherries. The Dorset club are locked on 19 points with their opponents and both need to be watchful of a resurgent Southampton and Watford who could reel them in if they drop too many points. Tickets are on sale to non-members
Arsenal v Manchester United @8pm - the day ends with its biggest match as two titans of the English game meet at the Emirates. If you go back 20 years then this really would have been a match to watch out for but unthinkably both these sides are midtable alsorans these days. Nevertheless, this is still a huge occasion. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Millwall v Luton Town @1245pm - there's an early kick-off in the second tier for this almost derby (with Luton just outside the M25, any game against a London club is effectively a derby). The Hatters have found it tough going since returning to this level at the start of the season and are perched precariously just above the relegation zone. Fans of both sides have a bit of a reputation too so it could get lively. Tickets are available to non-members
Fulham v Reading @3pm talking of almost derbies, there's another one at Craven Cottage where the representative side of another one of London's satellite towns pay a visit. With only one defeat in five, Reading have improved a lot over the last couple of months but Fulham should still be too good for them. Tickets are available
Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City @3pm - at the time of writing, this is just another match between two midtable sides but with two games to play before this, things could look very different. There have been some pretty big matches between these two in their struggles to get out of League One and the Championship over the years with both coming out on top at various points. These games are usually pretty tight but there are usually goals. Since first playing in 1932, there's only been one 0-0 draw between them at Loftus Road and that was way back in 1948. Tickets are available to non-members

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Southend United @3pm - there's another almost derby at Kingsmeadow but it looks like being really important for the Dons. Both sides are in the bottom five but Southend have been really terrible, picking up just seven points from 22 games - they would be bottom if Bolton hadn't been deducted loads of points. If the hosts don't win, they will see it as a huge missed opportunity. Tickets are available

National League
Boreham Wood v Barnet @3pm - it is a fun quirk of the National League that the clubs who play each other on Boxing Day, always meet in the reciprocal fixture on New Year's Day so you often get to play your nearest and possibly biggest rival home and away in quick succession. As with most games by this stage, it's significance could have changed greatly given how the previous two festive fixtures pan out
Bromley v Dover Athletic @3pm - the Ravens could be top again by the time this kicks-off  but they could just as easily be down in sixth. Although a London club, Bromley play on the Kent side of the city and are affiliated to the Kent FA hence the reason Dover are seen as an appropriate opponent at this time of year. The visitors had a great run in the FA Cup this year but they're struggling a bit in the league and have fallen to 15th
Sutton United v Woking @3pm - of the three fifth-tier matches in London, this Surrey derby could well draw the biggest crowd. Aside from Dulwich, these two have won the Surrey Senior Cup more times than anyone else (28 times between them) and are almost certainly the biggest clubs in the county. The Cards are back in this division following promotion and are on course for a play-off place - on paper they are the favourites to win here

National League South
Dartford v Welling United @3pm - it's also derby day part two at Princes Park, see Boxing Day for more info on the clubs' rivalry
Wealdstone v Slough Town @3pm - if you're anywhere on the west side of town and looking for a game then this top-two clash (at the time of writing) should provide a decent spectacle. I've spoken a lot about the Stones already but Slough were also a force to be reckoned with when I first got into non-league football in the late '80s. They too have led a nomadic existence since then but they now have a very smart new stadium near Slough station and they're pushing hard for promotion - the gap between them could be as little as one point by the time this gets underway

Isthmian League Premier Division
Haringey Borough v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - below the sixth tier there's really not very much going on at all. The pick of the action is this north London derby at Coles Park where the hosts should beat relegation threatened Wingate

Isthmian League South Central Division
Staines Town v Uxbridge @3pm - the Swans have been poor this season and are struggling again following their relegation last season. Uxbridge are still very much in the hunt for a play-off place and should win here

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Friday 3 January

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Derby County @7pm - there's no rest for the Gunners' U23 side who return to action early in the New Year with this PL2 match against Derby at Boreham Wood. Admission to these games is usually free but check all the details on the day

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Saturday 4 January

FA Cup Third Round
In the eyes of most people, the FA Cup starts here as the Premier League and Championship clubs enter the draw. They go up against all the other League One, League Two and non-league clubs who have battled through the earlier rounds which began way back in August. For the casual fan, groundhopper or football tourist, this round often provides a great opportunity to get a good price ticket to watch a game at some of the biggest clubs. Demand for these games from regular attendees is often low as top teams usually field several reserves or youngsters. The other thing to note is that all matches are kicking off at one minute later than normal to raise awareness of the 'Heads Up' mental health campaign 
Watford v Tranmere Rovers @301pm - the only Premier League side playing at home on Saturday are last season's beaten finalists Watford. Given how seriously they took it last season, you'd think they might give it another good go but given their fight against relegation, they probably won't want that distraction. However, losing to League One strugglers Tranmere would be terrible for the morale of the fans and the squad so they shouldn't take this too lightly. Tickets are available to non-members and cost £15
Fulham v Aston Villa @301pm - there's huge potential for a cupset at Craven Cottage where promotion chasing Fulham welcome relegation threatened Premier League side Villa. With John Terry on the visitors' coaching staff, I'm sure the home fans will be very keen to win. Tickets are available and are cheaper (£25) if bought in advance
Brentford v Stoke City @301pm - there's an all-Championship tie at Griffin Park which is unlikely to get too many pulses racing. As a result there are tickets available priced at £15. Remember, this much-loved stadium is closing at the end of the season and tickets are becoming very hard to get hold of for non-members so take your chance while you can
Millwall v Newport County @1231pm - after seeing off non-league minnows Maldon & Tiptree in the last round, League Two Newport head for the capital with some giantkilling pedigree of their own. Last season the Welsh side beat Middlesbrough and Leicester. The season before that they beat Leeds and held Tottenham to a draw. All in all, the Lions won't be able to take anything for granted. Tickets are on sale to non-members for £12

National League
Barnet v FC Halifax Town @3pm - at the time of writing, Halifax are one of Barnet's main rivals for a play-off place. The north London club should fancy their chances though as the visitors are on a poor run and could be vulnerable to another defeat
Dagenham & Redbridge v Torquay United @3pm - with five defeats in a row each, at the time of writing, these are the two clubs at the bottom of the NL form table. What kind of match it's likely to produce I'm not too sure

National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Braintree Town @3pm - there's nothing particularly outstanding going on in the sixth tier on Saturday but it's really hard to ignore a game at Champion Hill. Even though the Hamlet are having a disappointing season, the overall fan experience is usually a good one so if you're new to the capital and want to experience something a little different then get yourself down there. Given how big the crowds are these days, it's worth turning up early to make sure you get a decent view or you could get stuck at the back and see very little

Isthmian League Premier Division
Hornchurch v Horsham @3pm - two of the Isthmian League title contenders meet at Bridge Avenue for one of the games of the day. The Urchins are currently down in fifth but have two games in hand so could easily catch up with the leaders if they won them

Isthmian League South East
Whyteleafe v Hastings United @3pm - the Leafe have surged into the play-off spots in recent weeks and face current leaders Hastings in a match which could propel them into the title race if they won it

SCEFL Premier Division
Beckenham Town v Chatham Town @3pm - there were a few contenders for match of the day in the ninth tier and I've gone for this as the Becks, one of our local sides, are going for the title and look like ones to watch. The visitors are in fourth and it will do Beckenham's hopes no harm at all if they can see them off

CCL Division 1
Tooting Bec v Farnham Town @3pm - in the 10th tier, two of the top four meet in the battle to see who finishes second. With leaders Jersey Bulls still yet to drop a point (19 wins out of the 19), they're 24 points clear at Christmas so the rest are left scrapping for the remaining promotion places. Both of these sides have games in hand on second placed Bedfont & Feltham so they should catch them in the not too distant future

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Sunday 5 January

FA Cup Third Round
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest @201pm - at the time of writing, former European champions Forest look like heading to Stamford Bridge in pretty dreadful form. Since thrashing QPR 4-0 at Loftus Road, their form has completely fallen apart and they're five without a win. It looks ominous for Sabri Lamouchi's side. Impressively, this match has already sold out
Crystal Palace v Derby County @201pm - the Rams are another Championship club who are really struggling to win at the moment. Down in 17th, their hopes of another play-off push look long gone. With Palace looking relatively comfortable in midtable, I'd like to see them have a real go at this competition. Unusually for Palace home games, tickets are on sale to non-members for £15
Charlton Athletic v West Bromwich Albion @201pm - the Addicks would love to get any kind of win under their belts just to build a bit of momentum. Whether they do will depend a lot on which West Brom team turn up. The Baggies look all set to secure promotion this season so might rest a few players just to make sure they get back into the Premier League. Tickets are on sale to non-members for £15
Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City @201pm - the R's enjoyed a very rare run to the Fifth Round last season after beating Leeds and Portsmouth. Given their realistic promotion hopes are slim, I'd like to see Mark Warburton play a strong side here and really go for it. Swansea won here in the league earlier in the season and are firmly in the promotion race so they might rest one or two for this one. Tickets are on sale to non-members for £15

FA Women's Super League
Chelsea v Reading @1230pm - women's football makes its return after the festive break with a full round of Super League games. Of the several matches on offer, this match between two of the top six would appear to be the most interesting

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 15 December 2019

TLFG: 16-22 December 2019

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

With Christmas fast approaching, the football is showing signs of winding down.

There isn't a huge amount of midweek action, there's nothing on Thursday and only one women's game all week.

To keep you interested there are one or two oddities like Brentford B playing an Hibernian XI at Bedfont Sports, Stevenage switching their county cup tie to Hadley and Chelsea fielding a young side in the FA Youth Cup.

Edgware Town are giving away free season tickets to locals
On Saturday there's no Premier League, League One or League Two football in the capital so the focus will primarily be on the Championship and National League.

This time next week I hope to bring you the annual TLFG Christmas/New Year Special which should take you all the way through from 23 December-5 January.

It's usually packed with great local derbies and the Third Round of the FA Cup.

If you haven't done so yet, the Euro 2020 ticket ballot is open until 18 December so don't miss out if you want to get some.

Also, I've booked a trip Paris at the end of January to discuss the expansion of Non-League Day into Europe with the good people at 'So Foot' magazine.

The trip will also include a visit to the Stade Bauer to watch a Red Star game which I'm greatly looking forward to.

Lastly, many thanks to all those this year who have donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - many, many thanks.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. 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 - blue 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 16 December

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion @745pm - despite hailing from outside London, Brighton are one of Palace's biggest rivals, if not their biggest. With Selhurst on the same train line into the capital from the south coast, this is effectively the Seagulls' biggest derby and there have been one or two incidents in recent years. Only three points apart in the table, this should be as competitive as ever. Palace have only won three of the last 10 games between the sides since 2012 with the Sussex club winning both matches last season. Tickets are not available to non-members

Premier League 2 & Professional Development League
Earlier in the day there are a couple of U23 matches. West Ham host Newcastle at the Rush Green training complex which the Hammers' women also play at, whilst on the other side of London, near Heathrow, QPR entertain Cardiff at the club's training ground. Check all the details with the clubs on Monday morning as kick-off times and venues often change at short notice

FA Trophy First Round Replay
Aveley v Carshalton Athletic @745pm - the best non-league option of the night takes place at Parkside where the Millers will hope to continue their great run in this competition. As one of the lowest-ranked sides left, they did superbly well to hold Carshalton to a 3-3 draw on Saturday. They did exactly the same to Taunton in the previous round and then beat them in the replay - the Robins will need to be at or close to their best to progress

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Tuesday 17 December

Premier League International Cup
Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb @7pm - this competition for some of the best U23 sides in Europe is still in the group stage at the moment. Both sides have so far beaten Villarreal so are joint leaders of Group A. This match is being played at Boreham Wood's stadium - as above, check all the details with Arsenal before you travel

Friendly
Brentford B v Hibernian XI @2pm - precise details of this game are a bit sketchy at the moment but from what I understand, these two will be playing each other at Bedfont Sports' ground near Heathrow at lunchtime

FA Trophy First Round Replays
Dagenham & Redbridge v Sutton United @745pm - after fighting out a 1-1 draw on Saturday, these two National League clubs will have another go at Victoria Road on Tuesday. On current form, you'd have to fancy the visitors
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Tonbridge Angels @745pm - there's an all-NLS affair at the Beveree where the promotion-chasing hosts should start as favourites

National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Havant & Waterlooville @745pm - although they're the best supported club in the NLS, the Hamlet just can't buy a win at the moment. Their poor form continued on Saturday with a disappointing FA Trophy defeat to Isthmian League club Hornchurch. Next up are promotion contenders H&W - another tough evening looks likely

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Spelthorne Sports v Ascot United @745pm - one of the matches of the week at any level is this ninth-tier clash between the top two in the CCL. Four points separate the sides but second place Ascot have a game in hand so this match could be crucial in determining the eventual champions

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Wednesday 18 December

FA Youth Cup Third Round

Chelsea v Huddersfield Town @7pm - the Blues have dominated this U18 competition in recent years, winning it seven times since 2010. Last year, however, they didn't even make the final so they will want to get off to a good start here. This match is being played at Kingsmeadow and adult tickets are £3

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Friday 20 December

Friendly
Brentford B v Huddersfield Town U23 @12pm - the Bees' development side play their second game of the week at the club's training ground in Osterley. These matches are usually free entry but check all the details before you head off

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Saturday 21 December

Championship
Fulham v Leeds United @3pm - with no Premier League games in London on Saturday, the Championship is your next best option and there are some decent matches on offer. The best of the bunch is this one between sides who are desperate to go up. With three league titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup win and a large fanbase, Leeds are one of the biggest clubs in the country but they haven't played in the top flight since 2004 when financial problems looked set to ruin them. Last season they looked all set to return but fell away and lost in the play-offs. At the time of writing they are second and 10 points clear of the play-off zone so it will take another pretty spectacular collapse to rob them of promotion. Fulham were snapping at their heels a few weeks back but three straight defeats have seen them slip to sixth. With one stand closed for renovation, tickets are at a premium and are only on sale to people with at least a previous booking history
Queens Park Rangers v Charlton Athletic @3pm - if you can't get one for the match above then tickets for this derby shouldn't present you with any such problem. Although they're both from London, the rivalry isn't particularly intense so it never sells out. QPR have had a funny week, winning 2-0 at Birmingham on Wednesday before losing 5-3 to bottom club Barnsley on Saturday as their suspect defence returned. The Addicks have now gone 10 games without a win so QPR are pretty much the perfect team to play as they usually prove to be particularly generous in such circumstances
Millwall v Barnsley @3pm - in the day's other second-tier game, the Lions will look to extend their unbeaten run against the Tykes. Now only two points off a play-off place, Gary Rowett's side should fancy their chances against the division's bottom club. Tickets are on sale to non-members

National League
Boreham Wood v Harrogate Town @3pm - after a poor season last year and a slow start to this campaign, a good run of results has seen The Wood start to come back into play-off contention. They're now only one point behind the top seven and with Halifax losing their way and Harrogate just ahead of them, this has become an important game for both sides
Bromley v Eastleigh @3pm - the hosts are the capital's top non-league club. Third, at the time of writing, they could return to top spot with a big win here. Eastleigh recently took Crewe Alexandra to a replay in the FA Cup but they're midtable in the league and should be beaten
Sutton United v Wrexham @3pm - if the biggest non-league crowd of the day doesn't come at Hayes Lane, then it may well come at Gander Green Lane instead where two sides with great FA Cup pedigree of their own do battle. Usually among the promotion contenders, both sides have had disastrous seasons by their usually much higher standards. Both are in the bottom six but both are showing significant signs of improvement so it should be close

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Slough Town @3pm - after a very bad start to the season, Gary McCann's side have risen majestically up the table to find themselves only three points behind the play-off places. On Saturday they'll have their work cut out as the division's form team pay them a visit. Still only in second, Slough will be desperate to cut the gap on leaders Wealdstone to just four points

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Corinthian Casuals @3pm - the standout game of the day in the seventh tier is the Kingston derby. The sides groundshare in Tolworth and usually generate a decent crowd for these games. It's going pretty well for the K's at the moment after making it to the second round of the FA Cup and FA Trophy. Their league position could do with some improvement but those cup runs have seen several games postponed and they have games in hand as a result. Sadly for the Casuals, they've only won one league game all season and are bottom of the division

Isthmian League South Central
Uxbridge v Hanwell Town @3pm - in the eighth tier it's all about the top four clash between these two west London rivals. Both are having seasons to remember and could very conceivably go up

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Beckenham Town v AFC Croydon Athletic @3pm - the Becks have been top for most of the season and they'll hope to extend their lead to anything up to nine points by winning this derby. AFC Croydon are struggling and need the points to keep them just above the relegation zone

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Rayners Lane v St Panteleimon @3pm - the hosts have recently opened their ground after a multi-million pound refurbishment and the reviews are pretty good. On the pitch, Rayners Lane are also doing well and should be in with a shout of promotion. Playing their home games in nearby Greenford, leaders St Panteleimon have only lost once all season and will start as strong favourites

Middlesex County League Premier Division
Clapton CFC v Kensington Dragons @2pm - the Tons missed their chance to climb the table on Saturday after seeing their game against Indian Gymkhana fall foul of the weather. They stayed in sixth and still have the games in hand to potentially put them top. On Saturday they host my local non-league side who play their games at Wormwood Scrubs. The Dragons are mired in a relegation battle but have several games in hand which will hopefully pull them clear

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Sunday 22 December

Premier League
Watford v Manchester United @2pm - with only one league win all season things are looking pretty grim for the Hornets and new boss Nigel Pearson. Their unsurprising 2-0 loss at Liverpool on Saturday saw them end the day six points adrift of safety and teams who find themselves bottom at Christmas rarely recover. United are building a decent unbeaten run but they're still pretty underwhelming by their usually high standards, with a draw against a struggling Everton side on Sunday nothing to shout about. Tickets are not available to non-members
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea @430pm - the week ends with its biggest match as two giants of the English game meet at the THS. Aside from it being a huge derby, it's even more notable this year as Spurs are now managed by Jose Mourinho who really made his name as boss of the Blues. There were a lot of groans following his appointment but he's won five of his first seven games, lifting Tottenham to fifth and through to the knockout stage of the Champions League. After a great start, Frank Lampard's Chelsea are starting to struggle. Limited by a transfer ban, Chelsea's squad isn't as strong as it could be and they've now lost four of their last five league games, including Saturday's home defeat by AFC Bournemouth. Tickets are not available to non-members

Isthmian League South East
Phoenix Sports v Sittingbourne @3pm - if you can't get tickets for either of the above, there's a random bit of Isthmian League action to be enjoyed in south-east London. Neither side are setting the world alight but Phoenix should be able to challenge for the play-offs if they get their act together

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 8 December 2019

TLFG: 9-15 December 2019

Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.

After last week's doom and gloom I'm feeling far more positive, something helped in part by QPR finally winning a game.

Preston, one of the R's biggest bogey teams, were beaten relatively comfortably in W12 by all accounts so hopefully we'll kick on and have another good run.

Who knows what we can achieve? Given we hadn't won for eight games, it's bonkers to think that yesterday's win has put us just four points off a play-off spot but that's the crazy world of the Championship for you!

My other club Harrow Borough had a really bad week, conceding a combined total of 12 goals in their home games against Brentford B and Tiverton Town - manager Steve Baker must surely be on borrowed time as the wins have completely dried up.

As mentioned last week, looking ahead to the end of May, fans of Conifa football will be pleased to know the Surrey international side will be hosting the four-team Southern Frontier Cup at Whyteleafe's ground.

North American side Cascadia, Yorkshire and now Parishes of Jersey have all confirmed that they will take part  - tickets are on sale now for what should be an entertaining weekend.

Talking of big football tournaments, the draw for Euro 2020 took place recently and several games will be played in London in June and July. The ticket ballot is open until 18 December so don't miss out if you want to get some.

Lastly, many thanks to long-time reader Alex O from the Netherlands who donated to the TLFG's coffee-drinking fund this week - many, many thanks.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include games in the Champions League, Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, Women's League Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. 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 - blue 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 9 December

Premier League
West Ham United v Arsenal @8pm - the week gets off to a lively start with this big London derby in the Olympic Park. Both sides are drifting and in dire need of a win - Arsenal sacked their manager last week and the Hammers could well get rid of theirs with another defeat here. The Gunners' overall record against West Ham is very good indeed but they've often struggled at the London Stadium so this is pretty hard to call. Given the sides' woeful form, tickets are still available to non-members

Professional Development League
With it being a Monday, there are a couple of U23 games taking place at 1pm. The best option is Millwall v Ipswich as it's being played at The Den but Charlton are also taking on Coventry at Dartford's ground. As always, check all details before you travel

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Tuesday 10 December

Champions League
Chelsea v Lille @8pm - many people were singing Frank Lampard's praises recently and rightly so as the Blues were doing well. However, three defeats in their last five Premier League games, including losses to woefully out of form sides like Everton and West Ham might be changing people's minds. A couple of draws in their last two Champions League games have also made the concluding part of the group stage more challenging than it should have been. They come into this final game third in the group knowing really only a win will do to be sure of progress. Fortunately, French club Lille have been the whipping boys up until this point, are already out and should be beaten here. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town @745pm - tickets shouldn't be an issue at The Valley where two of the division's most out of form teams go head-to-head for a badly needed win. The Addicks started the season superbly but with only one point from their last six games, they've fallen down to 17th. Huddersfield came down from the Premier League at the end of last season and have really struggled to get to grips with the second tier. They sacked their manager and brought in the highly rated Cowley brothers from Lincoln who started well but it's all gone downhill again and they're now perched just above the relegation zone

National League South
Wealdstone v Eastbourne Borough @745pm - the Stones were way out in front a few weeks ago but a run of indifferent form has seen their lead at the top cut to four points by an impressive Slough side. They do have a game in hand over their nearest challengers so a win here against a struggling Eastbourne side will restore their advantage to seven points

London Senior Cup Second Round
Cray Valley PM v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - CVPM have had a great year, winning the SCEFL and making it to the FA Vase final last season and now challenging strongly for the Isthmian League South East title following promotion. On Tuesday they take on what is likely to be a Dons development side in a competition they've also excelled in since 2017

Southern Combination Cup Second Round
Walton & Hersham v Walton Casuals @745pm - down in Surrey we've got a Walton derby to look forward to. The clubs share a new state of the art ground but it's the visitors who will start as favourites as they play three levels above their 'hosts'

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Wednesday 11 December

Championship

Brentford v Cardiff City @745pm - after a superb run which lifted them into play-off contention, the Bees have now lost two of their last three to slip back a little. Cardiff, under new manager Neil Harris, moved above them into the top eight on Saturday with a 3-2 win over Barnsley. The former Millwall boss has done well since replacing Neil Warnock and is yet to lose a game so this should be another challenging game for Brentford. A little surprisingly, tickets are on sale to non-members

FA Women's League Cup
Chelsea v Reading @7pm - there are a number of group games around London in this competition on Wednesday night but this appears to be the only all Super League one. Like the men's equivalent, the big teams tend to rest a few players for these early matches. Nonetheless, these two are the top two in Group D (a six-team group) so it should go a long way to deciding who wins it

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Thursday 12 December

Women's Isthmian League Cup Quarter-Final

In the absence of anything else in the capital on Thursday why not try out a women's game at a lower level? Ashford Town host Enfield Town whilst Phoenix Sports take on Leyton Orient - both at 745pm

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Friday 13 December

Championship
Charlton Athletic v Hull City @745pm - the Addicks have been picked for live TV broadcast by Sky again as they play another game shortly after Tuesday's match against Huddersfield. The Tigers are another Championship side in pretty iffy form but nowhere near as bad as Charlton's so this could be tough again. Tickets are available to non-members

FA Youth Cup Third Round
West Ham United v Charlton Athletic @7pm - if you'd prefer a more cut-price option then head to Dagenham & Redbridge's ground where the Hammers have drawn Charlton's youngsters in this prestigious competition for U18 sides - tickets are usually no more than £5, payable on the gate

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Saturday 7 December

Premier League
Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - the only top-flight game taking place in London on Saturday is to be found at Stamford Bridge. On paper you'd expect a home win but the Cherries have been a bit of a thorn in Chelsea's side since joining the Premier League in 2015 and have won two of their four league games in SW6. They also crushed Chelsea 4-0 when they last hosted them back in January. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Brentford v Fulham @3pm - to many, a far more interesting game is taking place elsewhere in west London where these two local rivals will duel for bragging rights. Both are pushing for a play-off spot at the very least and the atmosphere should be good. As has been mentioned many times before, Brentford's much loved Griffin Park stadium is closing at the end of the season so most of their home games sell out or go on restricted sale. If you can get a ticket for what will almost certainly, barring a cup draw, be the last meeting between the two at GP, you'll be very lucky indeed

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers @3pm - the Dons have definitely improved under new boss Glyn Hodges but they still face a long tough fight to stay up. Just three points above the relegation zone, their form is patchy and every win will be precious. Doncaster aren't having a great season but are comfortable enough in midtable and recently beat Wimbledon in the FA Cup. Tickets are available to non-members

League Two
Leyton Orient v Bradford City @3pm - just ahead of Newport County, the O's are second bottom of the League Two form table and really struggling for points. Still six points clear of the relegation zone, they're currently relying on the teams below them to continue being bad but those teams are all starting to pick up points. Bradford came down from League One last season but have responded well, mounting a very credible push for an automatic promotion place. Tickets are available to non-members

FA Trophy First Round
The FA Trophy is a national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley. The qualifying rounds are now over and the all the National League (NL) sides from the fifth tier finally enter the draw. At this stage the ties are still regionalised over the north and south of the country. Winners of each tie receive £4,500 and the losers £1,500

Barnet v Weymouth @3pm - the Bees made it to one of the competition's first finals in 1972 but lost comfortably to Stafford Rangers and have never been back. Geographically they're one of the closest teams to Wembley and you can see the stadium clearly whilst waiting for a train back from Canons Park. Weymouth play in the division below Barnet but are pushing for promotion and could test their hosts if they're not really on their game
Sutton United v Dagenham & Redbridge @3pm - there's an all-NL affair at Gander Green Lane where two London sides in the lower half of the table look for a bit of cup joy. Both have made it to the final before but neither have won and the last time was over 20 years ago
Carshalton Athletic v Aveley @3pm - the Robins had a great run in the FA Cup and will want to do even better in this competition. On paper they should make progress here as they are playing one of the lowest, if not the lowest ranked, teams left in the competition. The Millers have done really well to get this far and have caused some upsets along the way. Their victory over Taunton, a club of similar standing to Carshalton, should give them confidence going into this one
Enfield Town v Ebbsfleet United @3pm - there's another intriguing tie in north London where Isthmian League play-off hopefuls Enfield host a struggling Ebbsfleet side who play two divisions above them. Their recent form has dipped alarmingly but home advantage could give them a real chance of a cupset
Hornchurch v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - there would appear to be even bigger cupset potential at Bridge Avenue where another promotion-chasing side from the Isthmian League host a struggling side from the National League South, just one division above. This Dulwich squad is said to be the most expensive ever assembled but their form is woeful and they haven't won a league game in months

Isthmian League South Central
Tooting & Mitcham United v Ware @3pm - two of the division's title contenders meet in a big game at Imperial Fields. The Terrors have the games in hand to put them top so a win over second-placed Ware could be of huge significance in the final shake-up at the end of the season

Essex Senior League
Hadley v Hashtag United @3pm - after seeing off title rivals Walthamstow in E17, Hashtag will look to effectively the end the challenge of another one of the contenders

MCFL Premier Division
Clapton CFC v Indian Gymkhana Club @2pm - although way down in the 11th tier, Wadham Lodge is always worth a visit when the Tons are at home. On Saturday they scraped past Stonewall on penalties in what was an entertaining cup game by all accounts. Although in midtable, Clapton CFC have played less games than all those above them so are still in the hunt for another promotion. Admission is by donation so is effectively pay what you want

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Sunday 15 December

Premier League
Arsenal v Manchester City @430pm - the week ends with its biggest match as two giants of the English game meet at the Emirates. Much has been written already about the Gunners' woe but City are having a very poor season by their stratospheric standards. Although still in the hunt for the Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, their hopes of winning the Premier League title look dead already thanks to Liverpool's outrageously good form. The reigning champions' defeat to local rivals Manchester United on Saturday saw them end the day a whopping 14 points behind Jurgen Klopp's team. Tickets are not available to non-members

FA Trophy First Round
Kingstonian v Woking @3pm - there's also one tie in this competition on Sunday and it could be a humdinger as former K's boss Alan Dowson brings the Cards to Tolworth. This all-Surrey tie between two of the biggest clubs in the county has been made all-ticket which means you must buy in advance. Tickets are priced at a very reasonable £10 and are available to non-members online

FA Women's Championship
Crystal Palace v Durham @1pm - the top women's match of the day is this one between two of the top six in the second tier. Adult tickets are £5

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 1 December 2019

TLFG: 2-8 December 2019

Greetings and welcome to the first TLFG of December as another year begins to draw to a close.

When I set up this blog in 2011 as an antidote to being made redundant from the BBC, I never thought I'd still be here eight years later. 

It has afforded me a creative outlet, expanded my knowledge of the London football scene and given me some great experiences at home and abroad thanks to some of the contacts I've made with TLFG readers.

There have been many kind offers of hospitality by fellow fans in other countries some of which I've been able to take up and others which I haven't but one day who knows?

It's London Non-League Dogs Day on Saturday
Away from the blog, the last couple of months have been a bit strange for me with the last 10 days in particular being a bit of a rollercoaster emotionally. 

I think I mentioned about a month ago that I was undergoing some health tests - first up, it seems these are all likely to produce good or acceptable results. 

However, one did come back with a very worrying reading which caused me to really confront my mortality - something I hadn't really grappled with since being a teenager. 

Thankfully, other tests have since pretty much abrogated that result and I should be ok subject to a couple rather more 'invasive' explorations but I should still be here for Christmas.

Elsewhere, my Dad who regular readers know is fighting cancer, has been hit with very rapidly diminishing eyesight which has turned his incredibly active lifestyle on its head in a staggeringly short time. It does seem it could be partially treatable and he has a big meeting about the progress of his cancer treatment on Tuesday so it's a big week.

Whyteleafe will be hosting the Southern Frontier Cup in May 2020
All this does put football into perspective and I've opted to spend the last week with my family rather than head out to a windswept ground which no-one else is interested in.

However, it has still lifted me on a couple of occasions over the last few days and preparing this blog has taken my mind off things.

Hearing from readers usually puts a smile on my face too and few events have been as eye-catching and fun as this Saturday's 'London Non-League Dogs Day' put on by TLFG reader Andy Lloyd-Williams at Fisher's SCEFL game against Erith & Belvedere in Rotherhithe.

With treats for your dog on the door and an 'interspecies team photo' with the players after the game, it's almost as unmissable as Crufts for canine football fans.

Also, looking ahead to the end of May, fans of Conifa football will be pleased to know the Surrey international side will be hosting the four team Southern Frontier Cup at Whyteleafe's ground.

North American side Cascadia and Yorkshire have so far been confirmed with one more team to be revealed in the coming days - tickets are on sale now for what should be an entertaining weekend.

Talking of big football tournaments, the draw for Euro 2020 took place on Saturday and several games will be played in London in June and July. The ticket ballot re-opens on Thursday 4 December so don't miss out if you want to get some.

Well I think that's it for me, hopefully I haven't depressed you too much, have a great week and enjoy your football!

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include a full programme in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. 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 2 December

Professional Developement League
As usual, the week gets underway with some lunchtime U23 action. Crystal Palace take on Middlesbrough at Dulwich Hamlet's ground whilst QPR entertain Colchester at their training ground. With all games at this level, always check the details before you travel as they can change at short notice

Velocity Trophy
Brentwood Town v Grays Athletic @745pm - the top non-league game of the night is this Essex derby which has been switched to Aveley's ground

A bit further afield
If you're prepared to travel north into deepest Hertfordshire then you'll be rewarded with the opportunity of watching the U18 game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in the FA Youth Cup at Stevenage's ground at 7pm
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Tuesday 3 December

Premier League
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth @730pm - the new era of Amazon broadcasting the Premier League begins on Tuesday night with this match at Selhurst Park. The Eagles enjoyed a very tidy win at Burnley on Saturday, leaving them just two points off the top five. The Cherries lost at Spurs to extend their losing run to three matches. In the eight games between them since Bournemouth joined the Premier League, the Dorset club have only won twice and lost 5-3 on their last visit in May. Unusually for a Palace home game, tickets are on general sale

London Senior Cup Second Round
Harrow Borough v Brentford B @745pm - after a decent start, Boro have won only one of their last 13 games in all competitions. A lot of the matches have been close but they've often lost in the end. Last season things were going much better and they met the Bees' second string in the final of the Middlesex Senior Cup. Brentford stuffed a decent Beckenham side 6-0 in the previous round and should comfortably win here

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Wednesday 4 December

Premier League

Chelsea v Aston Villa @730pm - the Amazon coverage continues with this match at Stamford Bridge. The Blues suffered a surprise defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday so will want to bounce back immediately against a Villa side who have lost three of their last five. The Birmingham club haven't played Chelsea for nearly four years and their record against them is poor with their 2012 visit to SW6 ending in an 8-0 loss being a particular low. Tickets are not available

Kent Senior Cup Second Round
Phoenix Sports v Charlton Athletic @745pm - like Brentford, the Addicks are another pro club to enter a development side in their local county cup which I applaud. They've won it three times, with the last title coming in 2015. Even though it will largely be youngsters in action, they should still edge past their Isthmian League opponents

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Thursday 5 December

Premier League

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @815pm - with Unai Emery gone, caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg could only inspire his Gunners charges to a 2-2 draw at lowly Norwich on Sunday. Next up are another side they should, at least on paper, also beat. Brighton have lost three in a row but I still expect to see a well motivated and spirited performance from them which could make for another difficult evening for this very shaky Arsenal team. Tickets are not available

Friendly
Brentford B v Grasshopper Zurich U23 @1pm - earlier in the day you should be able to get a bit of free European football at the Bees' training ground where the west London club stage another one of their high profile friendlies (double-check all the details on the day)

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Friday 6 December

Championship
Millwall v Nottingham Forest @745pm - with two draws last week, the Lions extended their unbeaten run to four matches. On Friday night they welcome a very capable Forest side who are well placed to push for promotion. Millwall are on a three-game unbeaten run against the East Midlands club and are actually four games up in the head-to-head since records began in 1909. Tickets are available

Premier League 2
There's also a fine selection of U23 football on Friday with a mouthwatering game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool opening proceedings at midday at Spurs' training ground. Arsenal then entertain Blackburn Rovers at 7pm at Boreham Wood, whilst Fulham take on West Ham United at Motspur Park at 7pm. Admission details vary so check with all clubs on the day for the latest information

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Saturday 7 December

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley @3pm - after winning their opening three games under Jose Mourinho, Spurs travel to Man Utd for a huge match in midweek before returning to the THS for this eminently winnable game. The Clarets have defied the pundits again this season and appear in no danger of relegation but they'll still start as second favourites here - their last away win against Tottenham was in 1983. Tickets are not on sale to non-members
Watford v Crystal Palace @3pm - the Hornets lost their huge six-pointer at Southampton on Saturday which saw them sack manager Quique Sanchez Flores on Sunday, less than three months after he rejoined the club. Next up they have a very tough midweek trip to Leicester before they welcome Palace to Vicarage Road. A new manager should be in place by then so it appears quite a hard game to call at this point. Tickets are available

Championship
Fulham v Bristol City @3pm - with four wins a row, the Cottagers have hit a purple patch and are now real contenders for automatic promotion. On Saturday they welcome the Robins who, a bit like Derby, always seem to be around the top six but never make it to the promised land of the Premier League. Although Fulham are in better form, they'll need to be wary as City have won four of their last six against them. Tickets are available
Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End @3pm - the R's recovered from their 4-0 thrashing in midweek by Nottingham Forest to record a 1-1 draw at Derby on Saturday but they still slipped further down the table as their winless run got a bit longer. PNE were right up with the title challengers but two defeats in a week has seen them slip to fifth. The Lancashire club have become a real bogey team for QPR - they're unbeaten in nine games against them, winning the last six. Tickets are available

National League
Barnet v AFC Fylde @520pm - with AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient playing away, there's no other EFL action in London on Saturday. In the fifth tier this rather uninspiring match between two teams in the bottom half has been picked for live broadcast by BT Sport causing its late kick-off. The Bees put five past a stuggling Ebbsfleet side in their last match to end an iffy run but they should find things tougher against a resurgent Fylde side who've won their last two in the league and beat Kingstonian on Saturday to move into the Third Round of the FA Cup. Tickets are available

National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Dartford @3pm - despite their good cup performances and huge fanbase, it's not going too well for the Hamlet in the NLS this season. Another loss at Oxford City on Saturday means they haven't won a league game since August. Now just four points above the relegation zone, a win in this derby will make a big difference. The Darts have been in better form of late and are above Dulwich in the table but only by three points - an important game for both

Isthmian League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Hornchurch @3pm - in the seventh tier there's a match of great significance at either end of the table as Wingate look to move clear of the bottom three and the Urchins attempt to move into the top three. Despite their lowly position, W&F picked up an impressive point at title chasing Enfield Town on Saturday so they shouldn't be too overawed

Isthmian League South Central
Uxbridge v Harlow Town @3pm - the Reds are having their best season since 2011-12 when they made the play-offs. Sadly they didn't win and have been drifting around the eighth tier ever since. However, under new boss Danny Edwards they've surged into the top three in this division and look all set for another play-off campaign. Harlow have become a bit of a yo-yo club in recent years between the Premier Division and this one and they're just behind Uxbridge in what is a very congested top 10

FA Vase Third Round Replay
Sutton Common Rovers v Lancing @3pm - after fighting out a thrilling 3-3 draw in Sussex on Saturday, these two ninth-level clubs will have another go at taking a big step towards Wembley in this replay at Gander Green Lane

SCEFL Premier Division
Fisher v Erith & Belvedere @3pm - after several similar and very successful events around the country, Non-League Dogs Day comes to Rotherhithe as owners and their hounds are heartily encouraged to head to St Paul's Stadium to enjoy the action. With free dog treats provided on the door to entice your pooch and various other prizes available it should be a fun afternoon

CCL Division 1
Tooting Bec v Jersey Bulls @2pm - the match of the day in the 10th tier would appear to be this top-two clash at Imperial Fields. Channel Islands club Jersey have entered the English league system for the first time this season and have won all of their first 17 league fixtures to go 20 points clear with less than half the season gone. The task for second placed Tooting Bec is therefore a huge one - will they be the first team to beat them???

MCFL Premier Division
Cricklewood Wanderers v Brentham @230pm - there's also a top-two clash in the 11th tier where leaders Brentham travel to play Cricklewood at Wembley's Vale Farm ground. The visitors are celebrating their centenary season and are currently three points clear with three games in hand

MCFL Premier Division Cup Quarter-Final
Clapton CFC v Stonewall @130pm - over in Walthamstow you should be able to expect a lively exchange between two sides who produced a seven-goal thriller on this year's Non-League Day in front of a crowd of over 900

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Sunday 8 December

FA Women's Super League
Chelsea v Manchester City @12pm - on a packed day of women's football there's one standout game topping the bill as two of the top three meet in a high stakes game at high noon. These teams, along with Arsenal, dominate this league and any dropped point is usually crucial. With the Gunners demolishing Bristol City 11-1 on Sunday to go top on goal difference, a defeat for either of these sides could be hugely damaging to their title hopes. Tickets are available in advance or on the day but given the small stadium it could be pretty full


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