Sunday 29 September 2019

TLFG: 30 September - 6 October 2019

Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.

Another month is about to come to an end and we're into October already - it seems no time since I was writing about pre-season games.

How has your football week been?

After the joy of seeing QPR win at Millwall last Saturday, I was brought firmly back down to earth by West Brom on Saturday who won comfortably in W12 to go top of the Championship.

The 10th Non-League Day is now less than two weeks away

Mark Warburton's side have really impressed at times this season but it has almost exclusively come against mid-level to poor sides. Matches against the Baggies, Swansea and Bristol City have all been lost fairly easily.

However, no-one seems to mind that much.

Nothing was expected ahead of the season starting so to be up in play-off contention and attempting to play good stuff with a bit of spirit is earning the team a lot of credit.

Elsewhere, Harrow Borough ended their four game losing streak with a very well needed win over Blackfield & Langley but then lost again to Gosport Borough - on paper you'd have expected the results to be the other way round as B&L had been doing quite well but that's the topsy turvy world of non-league.

Talking of non-league, we're now less than two weeks away from Non-League Day and next week will be our NLD Special so if your club are doing anything to mark the day, please get in touch.

For me, the highlight of the coming week will be the next round of games in the FA Cup.

The Non-League Day shop has all kinds of merchandise in it
15% of all sales go to Prostate Cancer UK
Although Harrow are out, plenty of other local sides are still involved and are now only two matches away from playing an EFL team in the First Round proper - all of the ties are in the TLFG Daily Digest below.

Before I sign off, it was good to see another big crowd attend the Women's Super League match between West Ham and Spurs at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Over 25,000 turned out as the visitors won 2-0.

Lastly this week, many thanks to all the readers who have donated to TLFG's lung cancer fighting fund over the last few months. I really really appreciate it and thanks for all your kind words. The page will stay open as the fight goes on!

As always - enjoy your football and have a great week.


THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include the return of the Champions League and Europa League, plus a full programme of fixtures in the Premier League and EFL. We also have plenty of games in the FA Cup and all our local non-league competitions - there are over 80 matches in total so there's plenty to choose from. 

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 30 September

Isthmian League Premier Division
There are two games in the seventh tier on Monday evening with Carshalton Athletic welcoming Lewes and Kingstonian travelling to Haringey Borough. All three London clubs have hugely important FA Cup ties at the end of the week so might have more than half an eye on those games. If they do beat the K's, Haringey will go third
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Tuesday 1 October

Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v Bayern Munich @8pm - after disappointing back-to-back defeats to Leicester and Colchester, Spurs returned to winning ways on Saturday against Southampton. German champions Bayern will represent a huge step up in class and they began their European campaign with a 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade. On Saturday they also won 3-2 at Paderborn to extend their unbeaten start to the season and remain top of the Bundesliga - it's going to be very tough for the hosts. Tickets are not available to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Hornchurch v Folkestone Invicta @745pm - without doubt the non-league match of the night sees the top two in the Isthmian League meet at Bridge Avenue. The Urchins are currently second just a point behind Invicta but have way better goal difference - it should be a cracker!

FA Trophy Extra Preliminary Round Replay
Hanwell Town v Harlow Town @745pm - after fighting out a 1-1 draw on Saturday, two of the Isthmian League South Central's top five will have another go. The winners will host AFC Dunstable in the next round on Non-League Day

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Wednesday 2 October

Championship
Charlton Athletic v Swansea City @745pm - after losing a couple of games it looked like the Addicks' bubble had burst and no-one was really that surprised but on Saturday they propelled themselves back into the top six with an impressive win over promotion rivals Leeds United. Next up are the second placed Swans as the very challenging games continue. Tickets are on general sale
Brentford v Bristol City @745pm - in the other second tier game of the night, the struggling Bees welcome a City side who have only lost once in the league this season. Brentford badly need a win but it looks unlikely here. Tickets are not on general sale

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Beckenham Town v Crowborough Athletic @745pm - one team to watch are the Becks who appear to be really going for it this season. I've heard there's been some investment and there's a great pitch at Eden Park Avenue. On said pitch, they've been pretty impressive - currently joint top and with three games in hand it's looking really good for the south London club. Crowborough have finished in the top three the last two seasons but they've made a terrible start and are second from bottom

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Thursday 3 October

Europa League
Arsenal v Standard Liege @8pm - the Gunners have had a great 10 days with three wins in a row, starting with a 3-0 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening Europa League game. Only three days before this match, Arsenal have a huge Premier League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford so they might not be at their freshest. Tickets are not currently on general sale

Premier League Cup
Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers @1pm - if you're free at lunchtime you might like to pop down to Dulwich Hamlet's Champion Hill for this U23 game. I'm unsure of ticketing arrangements at the moment but I wouldn't expect entry to cost more than £5

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Friday 4 October

Premier League Cup
Charlton Athletic v Swansea City @1pm - the following day there's some more U23 action at Dartford's Princes Park. Once again, don't expect to pay more than £5

Essex Senior League
Tower Hamlets v Takeley @745pm - the hosts have struggled this season and find themselves in the bottom three. As a result, it looks like being a tough night for the Mile End club as Takeley are in the top four and going for the title

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
Newbury Forest v Frenford @745pm - neither of these sides are doing particularly well but it's an Ilford derby so hopefully that should add a bit of spice to proceedings
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Saturday 5 October

Premier League
Watford v Sheffield United @3pm - the Hornets' winless start to the season continued with a defeat at fellow strugglers Wolves on Saturday. In theory it should get easier against a newly promoted side but the Blades have been reasonably impressive and only narrowly lost to leaders Liverpool in their last game. Watford have to win and tickets are on general sale
West Ham United v Crystal Palace @530pm - the evening's TV game sees the Hammers and Eagles face off in a London derby. West Ham find themselves, slightly surprisingly, in third after a draw at Bournemouth so confidence at the London Stadium should be high. Although not doing quite so well, a win over Norwich put Palace into the top 10 too so this should be well contested. Tickets are on general sale

Championship
Fulham v Charlton Athletic @1230pm - if a top flight match isn't for you, there's a good selection of matches in the EFL with this derby between sides with their eyes on a play-off spot meeting at Craven Cottage. Fulham were among the favourites for promotion whilst little was expected of Charlton but it's the latter who are higher at the time of writing but that could change in midweek. Tickets are on general sale
Millwall v Leeds United @3pm - after losing at Charlton on Saturday, Leeds have to make another trip to south-east London just a week later. The Lions were right up with the leaders early in the season but they're now five without a win and are sliding down the table. For many, the most interesting match up could be between the rival fans who have two of the worst reputations in the country. Tickets no longer appear to be on sale
Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers @3pm - if you're heading to Fulham as a tourist or groundhopper, it is just about possible to get yourself back up to Shepherd's Bush in time for this one. One TLFG reader attempted this a couple of weeks ago and made it by using a Santander Cycle to get him there. It was a bit tight but only because the nearest docking station to the stadium was full - perhaps a dockless Lime Bike would be more useful. As for the match, QPR's winning run came to an end against West Brom on Saturday. The Baggies went top and were far superior by all accounts. Rovers missed the chance to move level on points with Rangers by losing to Luton. Tickets are on general sale

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Rochdale @3pm - the wait for a Dons win has been extended by another week following their 3-2 loss at Peterborough United. With manager Wally Downes suspended in midweek over a betting charge, it's a depressing time at Kingsmeadow. Rochdale are also struggling so this is an important game for the south London club. Tickets are on general sale

National League
Bromley v Barrow @3pm - although the hosts lost at Yeovil on Saturday, they did manage to retain top spot. Although back in seventh, Barrow will provide formidable opposition as they are the division's most in-form team with five consecutive wins
Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet @3pm - both sides drew at the weekend to keep themselves firmly in the hunt for a play-off place. This is of course also a derby and one which the Bees have dominated in recent years, winning the last four

FA Cup Third Qualifying Round
Things are starting to get serious for the non-league clubs still left in the competition with the winners of each tie earning £11,250 in prize money to add to any won in previous rounds. They are also now only 180 minutes away from the First Round proper and the chance of playing a League One or League Two team. This round is for all remaining teams from the sixth tier downwards - fifth tier clubs enter in the next round

Dulwich Hamlet v Eastbourne Borough @3pm - the Hamlet demolished Bognor in the previous round and have now landed a more challenging home draw against a fellow National League South club. Dulwich are only three places above Eastbourne so it should be close
Welling United v Tavistock @3pm - one of the mismatches of the day would appear to be at Park View Road where NLS side Welling entertain ninth tier club Tavistock who face a long trip up from Devon. A trip to Tavistock to watch QPR back in 2010 inspired me to launch Non-League Day and they've enjoyed at least two, possibly three promotions since then
Haringey Borough v Cray Wanderers @3pm - two of the Isthmian League's top 10, at the time of writing, meet at Coles Park. Boro made it to the First Round last season and narrowly lost to AFC Wimbledon whilst a win for Cray will equal their best ever performance in the competition
Hayes & Yeading United v Hendon @3pm - if I were to pick a game to go to, it would be this one. Two old Isthmian League rivals, now both in the Southern League, meet in this derby at the SkyEx Stadium. The Greens are finding things tough at the moment so the hosts look more likely to progress
Kingstonain v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - with Grays Athletic being thrown out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player just over a week ago, the K's found themselves playing March Town (Grays' previous opponents) in a hastily re-arranged Second Qualifying Round game in midweek which they won. They've landed a tough but winnable home tie against Southern League opposition
Tooting & Mitcham United v Poole Town @3pm - the Terrors pulled off one of the shocks of the last round by beating Dorking Wanderers from two levels above them. Next up they have another tricky game against Poole. The Dorset club play one level above them, are top and in decent form. The fact Tooting are at home and they beat an even stronger side in the last round should give them a high level of confidence coming into this one
Abbey Rangers v Whyteleafe @3pm - the last tie taking place locally is between two of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition. Hailing from Addlestone, Combined Counties League club Abbey got this far by beating Walthamstow in a replay last week. Given they started in the Extra Preliminary Round, another victory here against the Leafe, who play one level above them, would see their total winnings increase to £27,640 which could be transformative for a club of their size. It's also a huge amount of money for the visitors too and it is they who should start as favourites

Isthmian League South Central Division
Hanwell Town v Chalfont St Peter @3pm - with Tooting involved in the FA Cup, Hanwell have the chance to climb above them into second with a win here. If they get a really hefty victory and leaders Westfield lose, then they could go top. However, Chalfont are a top four club themselves so this could be a bit of a humdinger

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Balham v Ascot United @3pm - the best match in the ninth tier would appear to be this one at the Wibbandune where fourth-placed Balham host the league leaders. Ascot are two points clear and have a great goal difference already so they should be pretty tough to stop

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
Lopes Tavares v Little Oakley @3pm - look no further than the Terence McMillan Stadium in Newham for the match of the day in the 10th tier. Lopes Tavares are top and saw off challengers Halstead with relative ease on Saturday. Next up they face the team in second

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Sunday 6 October

Premier League
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth @2pm - with three games in seven days the Gunners starting XI should see some rotation. With the matches against Man Utd and Standard Liege out of the way, Arsenal finish the week with an important game against a highly competent Bournemouth side. The clubs have only ever played nine times with the Cherries winning just once. Eddie Howe's men are unlikely to win but a draw isn't inconceivable. Tickets are not available to non-members

Premier League Cup
Fulham v Everton @11am - earlier in the day there's an U23 match at Fulham's training ground in Motspur Park. Unusually the admission details haven't been published yet but it's usually £3 for adults - check before you travel


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 22 September 2019

TLFG: 23-29 September 2019

Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.

It's been a busy old week on the pitch for most of our local clubs.

The top sides were all involved in European and league action with differing results.

Tottenham blew a 2-0 lead to draw with Olympiakos in Athens and Chelsea came unstuck against Valencia at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. Arsenal were the only success story, winning 3-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

Come the weekend, the disappointment continued for Spurs and Chelsea as they both lost to Leicester and Liverpool respectively whilst Arsenal again stole the show with a superb late comeback to beat Aston Villa with 10 men.

The 10th Non-League Day is now less than three weeks away!

Elsewhere in the Premier League, West Ham inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Manchester United as the Red Devils' underwhelming start to the season continued.

Crystal Palace drew with Wolves but the biggest humiliation of the entire week was suffered by struggling Watford who lost 8-0 at Manchester City to stay rooted to the bottom.

In the Championship, QPR are now the top London club after they extended their winning streak with a 2-1 derby win at Millwall. The result leaves them just one point off top spot in what is a very congested division.

Charlton experienced defeat for only the second time this season but it came in the form of a 2-0 loss to struggling Wigan which would have been particularly disappointing - anything's possible in this division.

Fulham and Brentford slipped further down the table with a couple of unremarkable draws.

AFC Wimbledon lost again to remain firmly in the League One relegation zone - only Bolton with their huge points deduction are below them.

Following their promotion from the National League, Leyton Orient are also finding things tough going and they lost again with Colchester notching a 2-1 win.

As we come into a new week, the fifth tier is being topped by Bromley who beat former EFL club Notts County at Hayes Lane in front of a crowd of over 3,000 - impressive stuff from the south London outfit.

Aside from that it was all about the FA Cup as far as I was concerned. My side Harrow Borough sadly lost 1-0 to an accomplished Carshalton Athletic team so won't be tasting the glamour of  playing EFL opposition in the First Round proper, something they last achieved with a trip to Northampton Town in 2016.

There were some big shocks as the magic of the cup manifested itself in several locations around the capital.

West Ham Women play at the London Stadium on Sunday - tickets are on sale now
Ninth tier Hadley edged past Ramsgate to make it into the hat for the Third Qualifying Round. However, the biggest upsets were caused by Corinthian Casuals, Enfield Town and Tooting & Mitcham United who all vanquished National League South opposition.

Plenty of other London clubs also made it through - the draw will take place on Monday lunchtime.

My week has been spent preparing for Non-League Day (NLD), there's now less than three weeks to go.

A few clubs and leagues have started to announce their special offers.

If you've not heard of NLD, it's an event I set up back in 2010 to promote semi-professional and amateur football.

It's always held on an international break to maximise the media opportunities for clubs at this level and hopefully scoop up a few fans of the big clubs who might still want to see a game when their favourite side has the week off.

We must be doing something right as we've made it to a tenth year.

I'm very pleased to say that sister events are happening in France and Germany on the same weekend this year so if you're in either of those countries please take part.

Many thanks also this week for the emails and correspondence I received from TLFG readers including Nick G, Chris H and Sam W.

Lastly this week, many thanks to all the readers who have donated to TLFG's lung cancer fighting fund over the last few months. I really really appreciate it and thanks for all your kind words. The page will stay open as the fight goes on!

As always - enjoy your football and have a great week.


THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include the return of the Premier League and a full programme of fixtures in the EFL. We also have plenty of games in all our local non-league competitions and a first ever Women's Super League game at the London Stadium - there are over 100 matches in total so there's plenty to choose from. 

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
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 23 September

Professional Development League
Queens Park Rangers v Crystal Palace @1pm - get your week underway with some U23 football. This match is being played at QPR's training ground near Heathrow where it's usually free entry but check all details before you travel

London Senior Cup
Tower Hamlets v Leyton Orient @745pm - originally scheduled for Tuesday night (thanks to TLFG reader El Hugh for informing me of the change) this match sees the ninth tier hosts take on what will probably be an U23 side from their near neighbours. Tickets are £5
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Tuesday 24 September

Carabao Cup Third Round
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest @745pm - this competition often represents the best chance to see the big teams in action if you don't have membership. Tickets are on general sale and are very reasonably priced at £10 and £20 for lower and upper tier. There's real cupset potential here as the Gunners are in iffy form and will probably rest a few players while Forest are flying in the Championship and could really give it a go, no doubt roared on by several thousand of their own travelling fans
Watford v Swansea City @745pm - after being demolished by Manchester City on Saturday, the Hornets will hope for a morale boosting win here but they may well have to work hard for it as Swansea are joint top of the Championship. Tickets are on general sale for £10

National League
Bromley v Woking @745pm - of arguably far greater importance is this match between two of the top three in the fifth tier. The Ravens have made steady improvement in recent years but very few expected them to be top and unbeaten after 12 games. The newly promoted Cards are also raising a few eyebrows with their performances too and are only a point behind
Sutton United v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - all in all it's a pretty big night of NL action in the capital with this derby also taking place at Gander Green Lane. The U's are still finding their feet under new boss Matt Gray but they absolutely thumped struggling Chesterfield on Saturday to stride back towards the top half. The Daggers dropped a couple of points at Torquay but extended their unbeaten run to eight games, keeping them in the play-off places
Boreham Wood v Notts County @745pm - another side to impress on Saturday were the Wood who thrashed Stockport 4-0, a result I didn't see coming. Next up they entertain another famous County who are still struggling to make headway in the division after narrowly losing 2-1 at leaders Bromley

Southern League Premier Division South
Harrow Borough v Blackfield & Langley @745pm - after watching the Boro thrash Binfield 5-0 in the FA Cup two weeks ago, things have dipped worryingly for Steve Baker's team. The four matches since then have all been lost. Blackfield & Langley, from the Southampton area, are little more than a village team who have made great progress of late and will be very dangerous opponents. Among the frontrunners in the division and through to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, it could well be a tricky night for Harrow

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round Replay
Abbey Rangers v Walthamstow @745pm - after fighting out a 1-1 draw on Saturday, we'll have to wait until Tuesday night to discover which of these two local ninth tier teams will make it into the Third Qualifying Round. Hadley pulled off a shock to make it through on Saturday but there aren't any other teams left from a lower level than this. By this stage the draw will have been made and they'll know who they'll be getting in the next round

London Senior Cup First Round
Metropolitan Police v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - there are a number of ties on Tuesday with the most notable being this derby at Imber Court. Although the first team are allowed to play, it's highly likely you'll only get an U23 side from the Dons

Middlesex Charity Cup First Round
Rayners Lane v Cockfosters @745pm - there's nothing particularly exciting about this one other than it's between the two stations at either end of the Piccadilly Line 
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Wednesday 25 September

Carabao Cup Third Round
Chelsea v Grimsby Town @745pm - unlike the matches at Arsenal and Watford, the Blues have managed to sell out this tie against League Two opposition which is quite an achievement. Chelsea have a decent record in this competition, winning it five times and finishing as runners-up three times including last season. It's been 23 years since the clubs last faced each other and on that occasion the London club won 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in an FA Cup replay and a similar score looks likely here

London Senior Cup First Round
Beckenham Town v Brentford B @745pm - the Bees entered sides in this and the Middlesex Senior Cup last season, winning the latter and getting to the final of this competition. It's therefore fair to say that they take this sort of thing pretty seriously. Beckenham are doing well in the league but it will still take some doing for a ninth tier team to beat a Championship club's reserve side

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Holmesdale v FC Elmstead @745pm - the visitors are top, unbeaten and five points clear even at this early stage. Holmesdale are a top seven club so this should be a good test of their title credentials

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Thursday 26 September

Professional Development League
Watford v Wigan Athletic @2pm - if you've never been to Vicarage Road before then this U23 game should provide you with a good value opportunity. As with all games at this level, check all the details before you travel - Watford games often get switched to their training ground at short notice

Women's Champions League
Arsenal v Fiorentina @730pm - the Gunners won the first leg in Italy 4-0 so progress into the last 16 looks almost certain. This match is being played at Boreham Wood - adult tickets are £7 in advance or £10 on the gate

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Friday 27 September

Championship
Fulham v Wigan Athletic @745pm - get your weekend underway with a trip to Craven Cottage. The hosts were among the hot favourites for promotion this term but haven't quite got going yet with three wins from their opening eight fixtures leaving them slap bang in the middle of the table. Wigan were expected to struggle and are hovering just above the relegation zone. Tickets start at £25 and are in reasonable supply

Premier League 2
Fulham v Middlesbrough @12pm - if you really like Fulham then you can get a double helping on Friday by going to this U23 match earlier in the day at the club's training ground. The spectator facilities are pretty reasonable and it's £3 to get in

Velocity Trophy
Barking v Brentwood Town @745pm - the best non-league option of the night is this all-Essex affair at Mayesbrook Park where these two contest a group game in what is also known as the Isthmian League Cup
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Saturday 28 September

Premier League
Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm - the Blues have been a bit hit and miss so far this season - thrashing Wolves last Saturday and then losing at home to Valencia and Liverpool a few days later. However, even with this kind of form you wonder whether Brighton should even turn up as they've lost every time they've played Chelsea, home or away, since 1967! Tickets are not available to non-members
Crystal Palace v Norwich City @3pm - despite some positive performances and surprise wins, both these sides will still be happy simply to avoid the drop this season. After their heroic win over Manchester City last week, Norwich were brought back down to earth by Burnley on Saturday and Palace were also thrashed by Spurs after wins over Man Utd and Villa. I still fancy Palace though as the Canaries haven't won on their last 15 visits to Selhurst Park. Tickets are not available to non-members
Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton @3pm - Spurs' defeat at Leicester on Saturday has left them 10 points behind leaders Liverpool meaning their hopes of the title look over already. Southampton lost their derby against Bournemouth on Friday and will be coming into this on the back of another derby against Portsmouth in the cup. On paper you'd expect Spurs to win but the Saints could conceivably nick a draw. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion @1230pm - the day's action starts at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium where two of the division's form sides go head-to-head. QPR extended their winning run to four matches with a 2-1 win at Millwall on Saturday. The Baggies have drawn a couple of late but extended their unbeaten run with a 4-2 win over Huddersfield on Sunday. This match will see the return of striker Charlie Austin to a club where he is still adored after helping them into the Premier League in 2014. Tickets are available
Charlton Athletic v Leeds United @3pm - after their brilliant start to the season, the Addicks have lost a couple of games and are back down in seventh. However, the table is desperately tight and a win here against the current leaders will put them level on points. Tickets are only available to people with a previous ticket booking history

League Two
Leyton Orient v Port Vale @3pm - with only one team going down this season, it is likely that quite a few poor sides could survive. The O's have found life back in the fourth tier a struggle with only two wins from 10 games. Despite being way down in 21st they are still five points clear of the relegation zone and will probably stay up. Port Vale are coasting along in 13th so this is unlikely to be a classic but what do I know? Tickets are available from £18

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Liverpool @1pm - the Gunners have decided to play another U23 game on a Saturday lunchtime. This one takes place at Boreham Wood where matches are usually free to get in but check before you travel

National League
Barnet v Solihull Moors @3pm - the Bees' title hopes took a knock on Saturday as they lost at fellow contenders Halifax. Solihull were runners-up last season but are in shocking form at present and should be beaten
Dagenham & Redbridge v Chorley @3pm - the Daggers could be in the top five if things go well in midweek and they should fancy their chances against newly promoted Chorley. The Lancashire club have started badly but are showing signs of improvement so can't be totally ruled out

National League South
Wealdstone v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - the game of the day at this level sees the runaway leaders host the team in third. Dean Brennan's Stones are eight points clear after only 11 games and thrashed Farnborough 5-0 to make smooth progress in the FA Cup on Saturday. Havant have only lost once in the league this season so they could conceivably get something here
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - at the other end there's a big relegation six-pointer between two of the bottom three. Hampton are bottom but are only a point behind Tonbridge so a win for either will do their league position a power of good
Dartford v Slough Town @3pm - after an iffy start, the Darts have started to pull away from the bottom but they'll find things tough here as Slough are second only to Wealdstone in terms of current form

Isthmian League Premier Division
Cray Wanderers v East Thurrock United @3pm - there are no real standout fixtures in the seventh tier on Saturday but this match between two of the division's top eight should be competitive enough. Remember, if you're new to London, it's always worth watching Cray as they're the oldest club in the capital

Velocity Trophy
Aveley v Grays Athletic @1pm - there's a groundshare derby between two Isthmian League North clubs at 1pm. The early kick-off is because Clapton also groundshare at Parkside and have an Essex Senior League game against leaders Saffron Walden Town at 4pm so you can see two games without changing location although a separate admission fee will apply

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Abbey Rangers v Molesey @3pm - the hosts are turning into a decent cup team. Last season they made it to the fifth round of the FA Vase and this season they're just a replay away from a place in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup which would be a club record. As a result they have a couple of games in hand which if won would put them just behind Molesey in the race for the title

Combined Counties League Division 1
AFC Hayes v Jersey Bulls @1pm - the all-conquering Bulls fly over from the Channel Islands looking to extend their 100% winning record to a ninth game. The hosts are down in midtable and it looks highly unlikely they'll get anything out of this

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
Lopes Tavares v Halstead Town @3pm - the Newham based hosts have been a revelation this season and are gaining some very positive reviews as the weeks go by. A 2-0 win at Holland on Saturday saw them leapfrog Saturday's visitors into top spot

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Sunday 29 September

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Sunderland @12pm - the Hammers' U23 side are unbeaten in the PL2 this season and should extend that run against the Mackems who have yet to win. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge

FA Women's Super League
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur @230pm - the biggest crowd is likely to be found at one of the day's women's games as West Ham host Spurs in this derby at the London Stadium. To top it all, adult tickets are just £2 and kids go free



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 September 2019

TLFG: 16-22 September 2019

Greetings one and all.

This week's TLFG is going to be a bit minimal for now.

I've been really busy over the last few days so it's just the match maps for now and I'll try and give you some more detail tomorrow.

There are some really good games on this week and Sunday looks like being one of the busiest ever with matches in the Premier League, FA Cup and Women's Super League.

Many thanks also this week for all the emails I received from TLFG readers including Vegard, Nathan and Joakim - hopefully you all enjoyed your football watching.

Lastly this week, many thanks to all the readers who have donated to TLFG's lung cancer fighting fund over the last few months. I really really appreciate it and thanks for all your kind words. The page will stay open as the fight goes on!

As always - enjoy your football and have a great week.

UPDATE (17/09/19) - the TLFG Daily Digest has now been updated with my picks for the week ahead


THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include the return of the Champions League and a full programme of Premier League and EFL fixtures. We also have the next round of the FA Cup and plenty of games in all our local non-league competitions - there are over 90 matches in total so there's plenty to choose from. 

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.

Tuesday 17 September

Champions League
Chelsea v Valenica @745pm - after winning last season's Europa League, the Blues return to Champions League action with this game against the side who finished fourth in Spain. Frank Lampard's side come into this on the back of an impressive 5-2 away win at Wolves while Valencia lost by a similar score to Barcelona to sit only two points above the relegation zone - it looks like Chelsea's to lose. Tickets have sold out

League Two
Leyton Orient v Crewe Alexandra @745pm - your next best option is this fourth-tier contest. Winless in four, the O's are starting to slide down the table so three points here would be very useful. However, Crewe could move level with the leaders if results go their way so will be very tough to beat. Tickets are available from £20

National League
Barnet v Aldershot Town @745pm - there's also a decent bit of action in the fifth tier too where a resurgent Bees side will break into the top four with a hefty win over the struggling Shots

FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Molesey v Greenwich Borough @745pm - after seeing Saturday's original tie abandoned (this is not a replay), the clubs will try again on Tuesday. A visit to Fisher on Non-League Day awaits the winners
Hillingdon Borough v Harborough Town @745pm - after fighting out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the weekend, the hosts will look to try and cause an upset in this replay by beating a side from the level above 
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Wednesday 18 September

Isthmian League North Division
Grays Athletic v Tilbury @745pm - it's derby day in Essex where these local rivals meet for bragging rights. Grays will also go joint top if they win

Essex Senior League
Sporting Bengal United v Tower Hamlets @745pm - it's also the Mile End derby between sides who share the same ground. Both clubs originally have their roots in the local Bengali community and this can get quite lively, in a good way

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Thursday 19 September

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
Fire United v Newbury Forest @745pm - thanks to this match, we've got our first week where there's a match every day. Even at this early stage of the season, this has the look of a relegation six-pointer about it. The hosts have lost all four of their opening games, conceding 17 goals in the process whilst Forest have only picked up one point  from six so don't expect a high level of quality!

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Friday 20 September

Premier League 2
Fulham v Reading @7pm - if you've not been to Craven Cottage before, this U23 game is your chance. At only £3 for adults, it's great value too 

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
May & Baker v Little Oakley @745pm - if you want a non-league option or you're based on the east side of town, then this is your best bet. This game will see the visitors go top if they win

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Saturday 21 September

Championship
Millwall v Queens Park Rangers @3pm - there isn't any Premier League action in London on Saturday leaving this tasty derby in the second tier to take second stage. After getting off to a fine start, the Lions are now winless in four and down in 15th. QPR, on the other hand, have won three in a row to climb to seventh. However, form usually deserts the visitors on their trips to The Den where the hosts and their fans usually get really stuck in. In fact, Rangers' last away win against them was in 1990. The good news for you is that tickets are on general sale, starting at £25
Brentford v Stoke City @3pm - if that's not for you, then you've got another opportunity to visit Griffin Park before it gets demolished at the end of the season. Despite their lengthy spell in the Premier League, Stoke have really struggled since coming down and are bottom after seven games. The Bees haven't had a great start but won this fixture 3-1 last season and should take all the points again. Tickets are on general sale

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers @3pm - another week has gone by and I'm sad to report that the Dons are still without a win. Thankfully there are quite a few other pretty shocking teams so they're not bottom and still in touch with the rest of the pack. The visitors are another midtable team that they need to be beating to have any chance of staying up. Tickets are available

National League
Boreham Wood v Stockport County @3pm - the hosts should be able to expect one of the biggest crowds of the season at Meadow Park when former second tier side Stockport pay a visit. After falling out of the EFL in 2010, Stockport have found life tough but they're now back in the fifth tier and things are looking a lot brighter. The Wood need to get something out of this tough fixture or they could end the day in the relegation zone
Bromley v Notts County @3pm - arguably the match of the day at this level takes place at Hayes Lane where the title-chasing hosts welcome one of the National League's newest members, the recently relegated Notts County. Like many former EFL clubs before them, they haven't found the adjustment that easy and after a rocky start are gradually climbing the table. Again, you should expect a sizeable non-league crowd for this one
Sutton United v Chesterfield @3pm - it's a very similar story at Gander Green Lane where another one of London's non-league grandees hosts a former EFL club. All all the former league clubs in action, the Spireites are in the biggest difficulty and start this match in the relegation zone. Sadly, Sutton aren't up to their usual standards and could be beaten

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
The world's favourite cup competition reaches what is in reality its fourth round. At this point, all the clubs in the sixth tier enter the draw so the chances of any real minnows progressing greatly diminishes. The winners of each tie receive £6,750, the losers £2,250 so there's quite a bit at stake. There are numerous ties all over London, here are a few juicy ones which stand out for me

Corinthian Casuals v Chelmsford City @3pm - one of the capital's most historic clubs, who were the inspiration for Brazilian giants Corinthians, host a team from the level above them. A cult side with a growing following, Casuals could give their Essex opponents a challenging afternoon
Enfield Town v Braintree Town @3pm - there's a similar match up in north London where an Isthmian Premier side host one from the NLS. Enfield are one of the biggest clubs in their league and are among the title contenders but their opponents are in great form and are pushing for promotion back to fifth tier where they played last season - it looks tough for the hosts
Harrow Borough v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - these two used to play regularly in the Isthmian League and Harrow would often struggle. However, since moving to the parallel Southern League, the Boro have found themselves in the top eight most of the time. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the Robins who are on the best sides in the Isthmian League - is the Southern League much weaker or have Harrow simply got way better over the last year?
Tooting & Mitcham United v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - these two fought tooth and nail for the Isthmian League South Division title in 2016/17 with Tooting coming out on top on goal difference only as both sides accrued an almost unbelievable 105 points each! Wanderers had to settle for promotion via the play-offs. In the end it is the visitors who have gone on to prosper with Tooting coming straight back down and Dorking getting promoted again last season. With two divisions now between them, the smart money would appear to be on the visitors
Balham v Royston Town @3pm - tiny Balham FC have enjoyed a fine few years. Founded in 2011 they've moved rapidly up the divisions and now find themselves in the Combined Counties Premier Division. The ninth tier club don't have a ground of their own but have still continued to thrive and are among the frontrunners in the league this season. With wins over Rusthall, Redhill and Horley Town they've only faced teams of a similar quality. Royston play two levels above them so this will be a real test of their ability but this is the cup and anything can happen
Hadley v Ramsgate @3pm - up in north London another ninth-tier team have landed a home draw. They also have to face higher level opposition but only from the division above. Ramsgate are also bottom of their division without a league win whilst Hadley are among the title contenders in the Essex Senior League so this has cupset written all over it. If they do pull off the win, it will take their cumulative prize money from this season's competition to a sizeable £16,390 - a huge amount for a club at this level
Walthamstow v Abbey Rangers @3pm - this tie stands out as it pits two of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition against each other, meaning we'll get at least one locally based ninth-tier club in the next round. On paper, the two midtable teams look very well matched so this is one of the toughest ones to call
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Sunday 22 September

It really is Super Sunday in the capital with four Premier League games, two FA Cup matches and seven women's games - I can't remember a busier one!

Premier League
West Ham United v Manchester United @2pm - the Hammers have made a promising start to the campaign and are now up in eighth with only one defeat from their first five. Despite all the negativity surrounding Man Utd, they are still in the top four but are on level points with six other teams including their hosts. The good news - tickets are available on general sale
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers @2pm - with seven points from five games, Palace will be happy enough with the start they've made. After qualifying for the Europa League, a lot was expected of Wolves this season but they're yet to win and find themselves in the bottom two. Tickets are only available to members
Arsenal v Aston Villa @430pm - with just outside the top six and the other just above the relegation zone, neither of these clubs are really where they want to be. The Gunners are now three without a win after throwing away a 2-0 lead at Watford on Sunday. Villa have managed only one win and have conceded a total of 13 goals on their last three visits to the Emirates. Tickets are only available to members
Chelsea v Liverpool @430pm - the game of the day takes place at Stamford Bridge where Frank Lampard's improving Blues take on the league leaders who have won every game this season. The two last met in August in the European Super Cup where Liverpool edged to victory on penalties in Istanbul. Unsurprisingly this is sold out

FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
There are two ties on Sunday with Cray Wanderers, London's oldest club, welcoming Soham Town Rangers from the level below and Kingstonian hosting Grays Athletic in another all Isthmian League tie. On paper both home teams should win and both kick-off at 3pm. UPDATE 21/09/19: THE MATCH AT KINGSTONIAN IS NOW OFF

FA Women's Super League
Chelsea v West Ham United @2pm  - there are several women's matches on Sunday but the pick would seem to be the derby at AFC Wimbledon's ground. Fourth and fifth at the time of writing, this could be closer than in recent seasons


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 9 September 2019

TLFG: 9-15 September 2019

Greetings one and all and first up apologies for another late publication.

As you may have seen on Twitter, I joined Sky Sports News presenter Jeff Stelling and various ex-footballers on Sunday to take part in the 'March for Men' which raises funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

We started off at West Ham before visiting Charlton, Millwall, Arsenal and Spurs where we were given our medals for completing the 26-mile walk pitchside by Ledley King and Ray Clemence.

It was a great day and was very well organised - other walkers included David Seaman, Paul Parker, Mark Bright, Francis Benali and the 'Unbelievable' Chris Kamara who gave motivational speeches throughout the day.

Yours truly at Tottenham after completing the 'March For Men'
The hospitality laid on by the clubs we visited (with the exception of Arsenal who did very little indeed) was superb so many thanks to them.

I primarily took part because I dedicate Non-League Day (NLD) to the same charity and they invited me along.

With less than five weeks to go until NLD, I've got to really knuckle down and get the event over the line. If your club would like to raise funds for PCUK on the day or you as a fan want to put on your own event like a walk to an away game - please get in touch with them so they can support you.

Overall it was a pretty busy weekend as I also went to watch Harrow Borough in the FA Cup.

They hosted Binfield from two levels below them but the Berkshire side came into the game in great form, meaning complacency could have been a real problem.

Fortunately manager Steve Baker put out pretty much the strongest side possible and saw his charges win 5-0 earning them a tough home tie against Carshalton Athletic in the next round.

Michael Bryan gives Harrow the lead from the penalty spot
I think that's it from me. I'm going back on to late shifts this week so I won't get to see any football over the next few days but I hope you do.

Many thanks also this week for the positive emails I received from TLFG readers Lukasz and Les A - I'm really pleased to have been able to help and I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know.

Lastly this week, many thanks to all the readers who have donated to TLFG's lung cancer fighting fund over the last few months. I really really appreciate it and thanks for all your kind words. The page will stay open as the fight goes on!

As always - enjoy your football and have a great week.


THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include the return of the Premier League and a full programme of fixtures in the EFL. We also have the next round of the FA Vase and plenty of games in all our local non-league competitions - there are over 70 matches in total so there's plenty to choose from. 

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
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 September

Professional Development League
Crystal Palace v Leeds United @1pm - the pick of the U23 games takes place at Selhurst Park where adult tickets are £5
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Tuesday 10 September

London Senior Cup First Round
Hendon v Cockfosters @745pm - there are a number of non-league games on Tuesday, most of which are in cup competitions. To be honest, not many really stand out so I've gone for this as Hendon are the highest ranked team in action and tickets have been reduced to £6

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Wednesday 11 September

Premier League International Cup
West Ham United v Valencia @7pm - the Hammers' U23 side begin their international campaign against Spanish opposition. The match is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground

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Friday 13 September

Premier League 2
There are two U23 games on Friday. The first kicks off at lunchtime where Tottenham Hotspur take on Southampton at their training ground. Spurs often let people in for free to watch these games but sometimes play them behind closed doors so check before you travel. Later in the day, Chelsea welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Stamford Bridge where adult tickets are £5

FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
The next round of the FA Vase gets underway on Friday night. If you've never heard of the Vase, it's a national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth-11th tiers with its final at Wembley in May. Broadfields United (who play in Harefield) entertain Hanworth Villa in a battle of two ninth-tier clubs and New Salamis (who play in Enfield) lock horns with Tower Hamlets where the higher ranked visitors should start as favourites
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Saturday 14 September

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace @3pm - with the international break now over, the Premier League returns with this London derby. Palace provided the opposition when Spurs opened their new ground back in April and lost 2-0. After four games of the new season, Palace find themselves in the top four and arrive in N17 on the back of an away win at Manchester United. On paper you'd still have to favour Tottenham - they haven't lost a home league game against the Eagles since 1997. Tickets are only available to members

Championship
Fulham v West Bromwich Albion @1230pm - if you can't get a ticket for the above, do not fear - there's a really good selection of Championship games instead starting with this match at Craven Cottage. Fulham were one of the favourites for promotion after their relegation from the Premier League but they haven't had it all their own way. With three wins from six, they're already six points behind leaders Swansea but they're still very much in contention for a play-off place. On Saturday they will face the Baggies, one of their main rivals in the race to go back up, so there's plenty at stake. Tickets are on general sale but start at a rather pricey £35
Queens Park Rangers v Luton Town @3pm - the early kick-off at Fulham means you should just about be able to do a double and get to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium for this one too. With Luton just outside London, this is to all intents and purposes a derby. With the Hatters having spent a lot of time in the lower leagues in recent years, this will be the first time the sides have played since 2007. With the away allocation having already sold out, there should be a great atmosphere. Tickets are on general sale in home areas
Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City @3pm - the Addicks came up via the League One play-offs last year and have continued their great form into the new season. With four wins from six, they're right up in second and doing really well under Lee Bowyer. Birmingham haven't been quite as impressive but are still a top 10 side and should provide solid opposition. However, tickets are only on sale to people with a previous booking history

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Shrewsbury Town @3pm - the Dons narrowly avoided relegation last season but it looks like being only a stay of execution as they've yet to win any of their first seven. The Shrews are having an indifferent season and are the kind of team Wimbledon really need to beat to have any chance of staying up. Tickets are available from £17

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Leicester City @1230pm - rather randomly, the Gunners are putting on an U23 match at the Emirates Stadium on a Saturday lunchtime. Tickets are only £4 but must be bought in advance - nothing will be available on matchday. General sale begins at 11am on Tuesday 10 September

National League
Barnet v Maidenhead United @3pm - after a decent start the Bees began to lose their way but a win at Eastleigh has kept them ticking over in midtable. The Magpies have enjoyed steady progress on and off the pitch in the time I've been watching football and they're now part of the NL's top four. Consequently they should start as favourites here
Dagenham & Redbridge v Hartlepool United @3pm - locked together on 15 points and just outside the play-off places, these two former EFL sides should put on a decent display as they look for a way into the top seven

National League South
Welling United v Wealdstone @3pm - the pick of the games in the sixth tier is this crosstown derby between the Wings and Stones. Welling finished third last season but with three wins from 10 have really struggled to get going this time. Not so Wealdstone who have won nine of their games and are already seven points clear at the top

Isthmian League Premier Division
Carshalton Athletic v Hornchurch @3pm - in my opinion, the match of the day in the seventh tier would appear to be this one at Colston Avenue. The hosts finished second last season and are right up in the top four again but so are the Urchins who are looking for their second promotion in three seasons

Isthmian League South East Division
Cray Valley PM v Chichester City @3pm - CVPM won the SCEFL last season and got to the final of the FA Vase at Wembley. Unfazed by the move up to the eighth tier, they're unbeaten after four games and are top. Sussex club Chichester sit only a point behind in third

FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Most of our local sides in the ninth to 11th tiers will be playing in this competition. There are numerous ties all over London but the following ones stand out for me:
Beckenham Town v Farnham Town @3pm - the Becks are currently third in the SCEFL and should therefore be one of London's best hopes of making progress deep into the competition. Surrey club Farnham play a level below but are promotion contenders
Molesey v Greenwich Borough @3pm - the Moles have also made a good start in the CCL and could also do well this season. They face another team who got relegated alongside them from the Isthmian League last season but Greenwich have continued to struggle and should be beaten
Wembley v Risborough Rangers @3pm - the FA Vase provides groundhoppers with a very realistic and far more affordable way of doing a 'Road to Wembley' than the FA Cup and if you're going to attempt it, including a game at Wembley FC always seems like a sensible option. The ninth-tier club play a level above the visitors but they'll have to avoid complacency as Rangers have yet to lose a game and are top of their division
Lopes Tavares v Catholic United @3pm - two clubs who are making their debuts in the Vase this season meet at the Terence McMillan Stadium in Newham. The hosts have had a fine start and are second in the ECL Division 1 South. Consequently they should win as Catholic United play a level below
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Sunday 15 September

Premier League
Watford v Arsenal @430pm - bottom after four games and without a win, the Hornets dispensed with the services of manager Javi Gracia just four months after leading them to the FA Cup final. He has been replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores who previously managed the side in 2015-16. After a couple of years with Espanyol and a brief spell in China, he's now back in the Watford hotseat and goes straight in at the deep end with this tough first game against Arsenal. The Gunners are in the top five but haven't won in two and will hope to get back on track here. Tickets are not on general sale

FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Edgware Town v Eynesbury Rovers @3pm - can't get a ticket for Watford? Try a Vase game instead. Edgware have made a reasonable enough start in the SSML but it's going to be challenging for them on Sunday as they take on the league leaders. There is also a game at Vale Farm where Cricklewood Wanderers play Long Buckby

FA Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @2pm - if you'd prefer some women's football, the best option would appear to be this match at The Hive where Spurs will play the first game at their new home. Both sides slipped to narrow 1-0 defeats in their opening games so it should be close. Tickets are £6.50 if bought in advance or £8 on match day 

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.