Sunday 24 November 2019

TLFG: 25 November - 1 December 2019

This time last week I had no idea that we'd be welcoming Jose Mourinho back into the Premier League as Tottenham's new boss.

For me, it wasn't a huge surprise that Mauricio Pochettino was fired, Spurs' season has been a huge disappointment, but not many foresaw the appointment of the Portuguese.

In fact most fans and correspondents were staggered or even horrified in some cases.

Despite being probably the most famous and successful Chelsea manager of my lifetime, I have always rather liked him and the persona he brings as part of the package.

Tickets for West Ham's derby against Arsenal are on general sale
Yes he has lost his winning touch in recent years but I'm glad to see him back in the top flight again.

If he gets the results then most people in N17 will no doubt embrace him.

A relatively comfortable win at West Ham got his reign off to the perfect start and very winnable games against Olympiakos and AFC Bournemouth follow which could give him an enjoyable honeymoon period.

With those out of the way, huge games against former clubs Manchester United and Chelsea loom large in December and those could go a long way to defining how successful the 2019/20 season will be for him.

In other news, things continue to look decidedly dodgy for Arsenal and their manager Unai Emery.

Only a 96th-minute goal earned them a 2-2 draw against a poor Southampton side who conceded nine goals against Leicester a few weeks ago.

All in all, bar Spurs, it was a pretty miserable weekend for London's top sides with Chelsea, Crystal Palace, the aforementioned West Ham and Watford all losing.

In the Championship, Fulham won the derby against QPR to go fourth whilst there were also wins for Brentford and Millwall.

AFC Wimbledon got back to winning ways to move three points clear of the relegation zone in League One whilst Leyton Orient lost again to slide to 18th in League Two.

Bromley won the derby at Sutton United to stay level on points with leaders Barrow in the National League to remain as London's top non-league side.

'Two Men In Search...' pay a visit to Kingstonian

I've worked some very unsociable hours this week meaning football attendance has been a non-starter so I've had to follow from afar like many others.

It's been great to hear from those of you who have emailed or messaged me with various questions and observations - thanks as always.

Although I have next weekend off, my wife is going to a hen do so I'm babysitting for a lot of it.

Taking my six-year-old to a game isn't an issue but with a one-year-old also in tow it could be quite a challenge but let me know if you have any suggestions for where I could take them bearing in mind I'll be travelling by public transport and don't want too much walking at either end - this could actually make for quite an interesting feature in itself - 'Groundhop Dad'!

Anyway, that's enough from me - enjoy your football watching.


THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include a full programme in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Cup, 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 25 November

Professional Developement League
As usual, the week gets underway with some U23 action. Sadly it's all happening at club training grounds so check with Crystal Palace and QPR to see what admission policy is in place for their matches on Monday lunchtime. It's usually fine to go along but always check or you could get caught out

CCL Premier Division
Sutton Common Rovers v CB Hounslow United @745pm - the only senior football of the day takes place at Gander Green Lane where the hosts will break into the top three with a win over their struggling opponents
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Tuesday 26 November

Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v Olympiakos @8pm - after his triumphant start at West Ham on Saturday, new boss Jose Mourinho will go in search of his third Champions League title with Spurs. Their opponents are currently top of the league in Greece but only managed a draw against struggling Panionios on Saturday. In the reciprocal fixture back in September, Tottenham blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 but you'd have to fancy them to win here. Tickets are not on general sale but if you know a member or season-ticket holder they can buy for you

Uefa Youth League
Tottenham Hotspur v Olympiakos @2pm - earlier in the day, the two clubs' U19 teams will do battle at Spurs' training ground. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked on 0344 844 0102, Option 2. They could well be gone by now but give them a call and see

Championship
Fulham v Derby County @745pm - if you can't get a ticket for any of the above, then why not spend the evening on the banks of the Thames at Craven Cottage? Fulham continued their good record of results against QPR with a 2-1 win over their west London rivals on Friday night. The three points lifted them to fourth. After a dodgy start, perennial promotion chasers Derby are now moving back into contention thanks in part to a fine win over Preston on Saturday. It will be quite something if the visitors do win - they haven't picked up a league victory here since 1969! Tickets
Millwall v Wigan Athletic @745pm - with all due respect, this is one of the unsexiest midweek fixtures you could hope to find at any point during the season let alone on what is predicted to be a wet Tuesday in November. To their credit, the Lions have done well since Gary Rowett came in as manager and they're now five points off the play-offs. The Latics, however, have picked up only one point from their last five games and are really struggling for form. Tickets

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Sutton United @745pm - the pick of the NL action can be found at Victoria Road where we have a derby to enjoy. The Daggers are slap bang in midtable but are on a very sticky run of four defeats in five. Sutton have had a stinker of a season and unsurprisingly lost Saturday's derby against title challenging Bromley. Peter Taylor's side won at Gander Green Lane in September and should come out on top here

FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round Replays
Dartford v Maidstone United @745pm - after fighting out an entertaining 2-2 draw in front of over 1,200 fans in the original tie on Saturday, these two Kent rivals will have another go at Princes Park on Tuesday. With only three points separating them in the league, it should be close again
Hornchurch v Oxford City @745pm - the Urchins have been having a fine season in the Isthmian League so it wasn't a huge surprise to see them get a draw at NLS also-rans Oxford City. Back on home turf, the Essex club could well have enough about them to progress

Isthmian League Premier Division
Enfield Town v Carshalton Athletic @745pm - talking of the Isthmian League, two of the promotion contenders meet at Donkey Lane on Tuesday. Both sides have games in hand on the clubs above them thanks to their good cup runs, so a win for either could well be significant
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Wednesday 27 November

Championship

Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest @745pm - QPR are currently the only side in the top four divisions in England who have yet to keep a clean sheet. It's all about scoring for Rangers and with their games producing a total of 59 goals (for and against) this season, you shouldn't be short of entertainment. Despite all this action, they're on a pretty sticky run and are now winless in five. The stats would suggest that run could get extended here as Forest are fifth and have won on three of their last five visits. Tickets

Premier League International Cup
Arsenal v Villarreal @7pm - if that's not for you, there's a bit of U23 European action at Boreham Wood where the Gunners' development team take on Spanish opposition

ECL Division 1 South
Lopes Tavares v Hackney Wick @745pm - there's an east London derby in the 10th tier where two clubs in very different form meet at the Terence McMillan Stadium in Newham. The hosts have been top pretty much all season but haven't played a lot of late so their lead is just one point. The Wickers, despite their big media profile, have had a tough season. Having to play their home games in Haringey and with only one win from nine, they're down in the bottom three

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Thursday 28 November

Europa League

Arsenal v Eintracht Frankfurt @8pm - much has been written about the Gunners' struggles in the Premier League this season but in Europe it's been a different story. After four games, Arsenal are unbeaten and top of Group F. When they travelled to Germany to play Frankfurt in September, the north London club won 3-0 but morale has plummeted since then and it could be a different story. Tickets are not available to non-members

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Friday 29 November

Premier League Cup
Fulham v Plymouth Argyle @7pm - get your weekend underway with some U23 action at Fulham's training ground in Motspur Park. Admission details haven't been published yet but it's usually £3 for adults on the gate - check with the club on the day

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Saturday 30 November

Premier League
Chelsea v West Ham United @3pm - the Blues were a little unlucky to lose at Manchester City on Saturday and they face a midweek trip to Spain for a Champions League game before this. On current form there can surely only be one winner here as the Hammers are in trouble and are now only three points above the relegation zone. Tickets are not available to non-members
Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - if Spurs hadn't changed their manager last week, then you'd have to fancy the Cherries' chances of getting something. However, with Mourinho now in charge it could be very different. Tottenham won with relative ease against West Ham and should beat Olympiakos and you'd expect them to pick up three points here as the players continue to try and impress their new boss. Since joining the Premier League in 2015, Eddie Howe's side have lost all four of their away games against the north London club, scoring none and conceding 13 so the omens don't look good. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday @1230pm - the Addicks are on TV again on Saturday. At the time this was selected it might have looked like a pretty decent game but both sides' form has slipped badly in recent weeks with only one win between them from their last five games. Tickets
Brentford v Luton Town @3pm - after beating local rivals Reading on Saturday, the Bees' next home match sees them take on another club from just outside London. With four wins from five, Brentford are now the Championship's form team so a match against the side in the worst form should yield another three points. With Griffin Park closing at the end of the season, tickets for matches are becoming increasingly hard to get hold of and this one is on restricted sale too

FA Cup Second Round
Kingstonian v AFC Fylde @3pm - with AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient already out of the FA Cup, there's only one tie in the London area all weekend and it's the Isthmian League K's who host. After thrashing crisis club Macclesfield in the last round, Kingstonian have drawn a National League side in this round. Lancashire club Fylde made the National League play-off final and won the FA Trophy last season but begun this season poorly. However, with a new manager in charge, their form has improved significantly and should still start as strong favourites. A potential tie against one of the giants of the Premier League awaits the winners so there's a huge amount at stake. Tickets

National League
Bromley v Yeovil Town @3pm - there's a huge game in the fifth tier where two of the top five meet at Hayes Lane. The Ravens are joint top and desperate for a crack at the big time whereas Yeovil are back in non-league football just five years after being a Championship side and are just as desperate to get back in the EFL. The south-east London club have seen a 37% increase in attendance this season as their average has now gone past the 2,000 mark and this is likely to boost it even further. Tickets are cheaper if booked online in advance and there's a free pint if you arrive before 1pm

National League South
Wealdstone v Concord Rangers @3pm - there's only one game in the sixth tier but it's an important one as the Stones look to strengthen their grip on top spot. Having dominated for the opening months of the season, Dean Brennan's side are starting to wobble. With only two wins from five in the league and booted out of the FA Trophy by Royston Town in one of the cupsets of the round on Saturday, they need to win here. Essex club Concord are slap bang in the middle of the table so should be beaten but they've given Wealdstone trouble in some big games in the past

Isthmian League Premier Division
Carshalton Athletic v Cray Wanderers @3pm - if the Robins win in midweek then this could be a top-six clash. Cray, London's oldest club, enjoyed promotion last season and have hit the ground running. Not only are they in the top five but they're the division's joint top scorers
Haringey Borough v Worthing @3pm - as a result of their extended run in the FA Cup, Haringey have several games in hand on the clubs above them. In fact if they won them they'd be above third placed Worthing so this could well end up being a match between two play-off contenders

Isthmian League South Central
Chertsey Town v Hanwell Town @3pm - this should have been a blockbuster clash between the top two but both suffered surprising defeats on Saturday to leave Hanwell top but Chertsey down in fifth. Nonetheless, it should still be a great game

Essex Senior League
Walthamstow v Hashtag United @3pm - on the subject of blockbuster games, we've definitely got one in the ninth tier where the top two, at the time of writing, meet. Takeley have a midweek game which could see them leapfrog both into top spot but they will have played four games more than either of them by that stage so it will be a slightly false lead. The Stow and Hashtag are only a point apart but it's the hosts who are banging them in for fun at the moment with seven on Saturday taking their total to 43 goals from 14 games.

MCFL Premier Division
London Samurai Rovers v Clapton CFC @2pm - nothing really floats my boat in the 10th tier so give this 11th tier match your consideration. LSR are, as their name might suggest, a team with their roots in London's Japanese community. They enjoyed promotion with the Tons last season and they both look like challenging for honours this season too. LSR are currently second but the visitors have the games in hand to put them right up there as well. This match is being played at Northwood's ground and could easily draw a crowd of 200+

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Sunday 1 December

FA Women's Super League
Arsenal v Bristol City @1230pm - there are a number of women's games on Sunday but this match featuring the reigning league champions Arsenal tops the bill. The Gunners kept up the pressure on leaders Manchester City with a 1-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday. They could go top with a win here and they should win as they beat the Robins 7-0 in the League Cup last week. Tickets are cheaper if bought online in advance
West Ham United v Manchester United @3pm - if you're on the east side of town, you might find this midtable contest more to your liking. The Hammers made it to the FA Cup Final last season but are struggling to really assert themselves in the league. In midtable and in no real danger of going down, it's probably quite easy to coast along and wait for the big cup games but a visit from this newly promoted Man Utd side should hopefully make things a bit more interesting. Tickets


GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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

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

Sunday 17 November 2019

TLFG: 18-24 November 2019

Welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

How's your week been?

Mine has been pretty quiet with no live football whatsoever as family commitments have taken priority.

I did do an interview with The Athletic on Friday about "Women's Football Weekend" and the parallels it has with Non-League Day.

Did you get to see a WSL game or something at a lower level? I would've been all over it but my Auntie Beryl booked tickets for the family to go and see the Tutankhamun exhibition months ago so I found myself at the Saatchi Gallery instead which was also very interesting.

Tickets are on sale for Saturday's big derby at the London Stadium
I really don't have a lot more to add. There are a lot of big games this week as the Premier League and EFL return in full.

There are four games in the top flight with West Ham's derby against Tottenham being the highlight of what's on offer - tickets are available too.

Aside from that there are also some cracking non-league games, an FA Cup replay and the next round of the FA Trophy.

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

THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include a full programme in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, 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 18 November

Professional Developement League
Charlton Athletic v Watford @1pm - the pick of the day's U23 action takes place at The Valley where the Addicks take on their counterparts from Vicarage Road. There's also a game at Crystal Palace's training ground but as with all U23 games, confirm all the details before you travel

FA Youth Cup Second Round
With a lunchtime game under your belt, you can then head to one of the U18 cup matches taking place in the evening. Usually I don't cover this competition until the next round and I'm beginning to remember why as fixtures get postponed and moved at very short notice. At this stage, three games are on - Croydon v Bath City,  Hanworth Villa v AFC Wimbledon and Dulwich Hamlet v Forest Green Rovers. Entry prices vary but never go above £5

Isthmian League Premier Division
Haringey Borough v Hornchurch @745pm - if youth football's not your thing then this senior match at Coles Park should be more to your liking as two of the Isthmian League's title contenders go head-to-head. Although Haringey are way down in 10th, they have five games in hand on the leaders thanks to their extended run in the FA Cup. The Urchins are up in fourth but have games in hand too which means these two should both be fighting for honours by the end of the season
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Tuesday 19 November

FA Cup First Round Replay
Bromley v Bristol Rovers @745pm - fighting hard for the National League title and taking League One play-off contenders Bristol Rovers to a replay in the cup, the Ravens are having a great season. Over 2,000 tickets have already been sold and the remainder are on general sale for £15 so act fast if you want to go as none will be available on the day

FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Bedfont Sports v Paulton Rovers @745pm - the hosts almost got thrown out of this competition after fielding an ineligible player in the opening round but were instead given the chance to re-play the tie. As a result they've been playing catch up for the last few weeks with most sides now getting ready for Third Qualifying Round ties this weekend. After beating a decent Grays side and the higher ranked Hitchin in previous rounds, they should fancy their chances here

Southern League Cup Second Round
Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - having met twice already this season in two very entertaining games, these two local rivals will look to put on another goal feast. With 14 goals finding the net in those two encounters which took place in the space of 10 days last month, this will hopefully be another cracker

Essex Senior League
Walthamstow v Takeley @745pm - unbeaten in their 12 league games so far this season, the Stow are second with games in hand on the leaders. One of those games is this one against third placed Takeley who are often among the top clubs in this division - a big game for both

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Wednesday 20 November

Isthmian League Premier Division

Kingstonian v Enfield Town @745pm - with only one home win this season, the K's league form has been pretty unimpressive but in the cups it's been a different story. Through to the Second Round of the FA Cup and the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy, the south-west London club have barely put a foot wrong. Enfield are still in the Trophy too but, more importantly, are doing really well in the league and have strong title aspirations

FA Women's League Cup
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - there are a number of games in this competition on Wednesday night with this crosstown derby the standout match. We're still at the group stage at the moment with the top two in each group progressing. Chelsea are currently top and Spurs are third

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Thursday 21 November

FA Women's League Cup

Arsenal v Bristol City @730pm - in Group B the top two meet at Boreham Wood. Despite their disappointing league form, it's actually Bristol City who are top, one point ahead of the Gunners

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Friday 22 November

Championship
Fulham v Queens Park Rangers @745pm - pretty much every west London derby gets picked for TV these days and this one is no different. Unfortunately for QPR their record in such derbies is pretty poor. Against Brentford they've lost eight of the last 11 and against the Cottagers it's six of the last 10, including a 6-0 and a 4-0. No matter who's in charge or who the players are, Rangers really struggle to get themselves properly prepared for these matches. With Fulham only a couple of points ahead of QPR, on paper at least, it should be a close game. Unusually for a game at Craven Cottage, tickets are only on sale to people with a previous purchasing history and QPR's allocation sold out a long time ago

Premier League 2
If you can't get a ticket for this but still want to watch Fulham, their U23 team are also in action on Friday night as they host Swansea City at the club's training ground. Over on the other side of town, it's also West Ham United v Aston Villa at Dagenham & Redbridge's stadium

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Saturday 23 November

Premier League
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur @1230pm - a packed programme of Premier League action gets underway at lunchtime with this derby in the Olympic Park. Both clubs fought for control of the Olympic Stadium a few years ago with the Hammers eventually coming out on top. Given what Spurs have ended up with instead, I don't think they'll have too many complaints. Back to the present day and both sides are going through a pretty bad patch at the moment with only bottom clubs Southampton and Norwich in worse shape. Unsurprisingly there are quite a few tickets available for what is normally one of London's bigger games
Arsenal v Southampton @3pm - as mentioned above, the Saints have had a very poor start to the season and the Gunners are struggling too. Both managers are under huge pressure and a win for either could see the other sacked. Since returning to the Premier League in 2012, Southampton haven't won a league game at the Emirates so their chances of picking up three points look slim. Tickets are not available to non-members but if you want to see an Arsenal side in action, their U23 team are also playing Southampton in a Premier League 2 game at Boreham Wood at 1pm
Crystal Palace v Liverpool @3pm - after losing at Chelsea last weekend, Palace slipped to 12th as their winless run extended to four games. It's not going to get any easier on Saturday as the unbeaten league leaders visit Selhurst Park. There have been some pretty epic matches between these two over the years, not least last season's seven-goal thriller at Anfield, but it's the Reds who invariably come out on top. Jurgen Klopp's side put in a very professional performance to win 2-0 in south London on their last trip in January and I expect something similar here. Tickets are not available to non-members
Watford v Burnley @3pm - it's not the sexiest of games by any means but it could be crucial, particularly for the Hornets. After being bottom for so long, Watford finally got their first win last week against fellow strugglers Norwich. That result has put them only three points from safety and this should be a game that they target another three points. Despite being incredibly unfashionable, Burnley continue to hold their own and ended a poor run with a solid win over West Ham in their last game. Tickets are available

Championship
Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City @1230pm - there's some lunchtime action in the second tier where the Addicks welcome the Bluebirds. After a fine start, Lee Bowyer's side are now four games without a win and could do with a positive result. Cardiff lost their last match and saw veteran manager Neil Warnock leave the club. On Saturday they replaced him with former Millwall manager Neil Harris. Tickets are available to non-members
Brentford v Reading @3pm - in this division, Brentford are geographically Reading's closest rivals so this is very much a derby. Rail connections between the two towns are good and I've been on trains that have been absolutely heaving from fairly early in the day. The Bees are higher up the table and in good form but the Royals are enjoying a big change in fortune under new boss Mark Bowen and should be more than competitive on what will probably be their last ever visit to Griffin Park before its demolition. As a result, tickets are not available to non-members

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham @3pm - with 7 points from their last five games, the Dons have improved significantly under Glyn Hodges. The Gills' form is similar and are the sort of team Wimbledon could well beat. Tickets are available to non-members

Level Two
Leyton Orient v Forest Green Rovers @3pm - the O's suffered the ignominy of losing at home to Maldon & Tiptree in the FA Cup First Round. With four divisions separating the two, it was a proper giant killing and cost manager Carl Fletcher his job just 29 days after being appointed. Former non-league club FGR arrive at Brisbane Road as one of the division's top clubs and will be very tough to beat. Tickets are available

National League
Sutton United v Bromley @3pm - since losing highly successful manager Paul Doswell, Sutton's fortunes have plummeted as replacement Matt Gray has struggled in the role. With only four wins from 20 league games so far this season, it's quite surprising that he's still in the job. On Saturday they welcome local rivals Bromley who are challenging for the title, playing the likes of Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup and having possibly the season of their lives - it could be an uncomfortable afternoon

FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round
This national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers, with its final at Wembley, has reached its final qualifying round. There are numerous ties across the city, some of which are still to be decided - here are a few of the more notable ones.
Dulwich Hamlet v Chippenham Town @3pm - after their FA Cup run ended at the hands of Carlisle, the Hamlet's only remaining way of getting to Wembley this season is through this competition. Both sides are in midtable in the National League South so it should be closely contested. Dulwich drew another crowd in excess of 3,000 on Saturday so turn up early to get a decent view as the sightlines aren't great
Carshalton Athletic v Tooting & Mitcham United @3pm - the hosts also saw their fine FA Cup run end last week and should, in theory, start as favourites here. However, this is a south London derby and Tooting are in superb form albeit in the division below. It's an intriguing one
Enfield Town v Maldon & Tiptree @3pm - again at first glance the hosts should be strong favourites. They play a division above the visitors and are one of the best teams in it but M&T are also in great form and grabbed all the headlines recently by beating Leyton Orient in the FA Cup

A bit further afield
Leatherhead v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - just beyond the M25 we've got a big Surrey derby at Fetcham Grove. Matches between these two have drawn big crowds in recent years and hopefully this will be no different. Given Wanderers now play at a higher level and there will be no league games between the two, there's even more reason for a good turnout

Isthmian League South East
Cray Valley PM v Guernsey @2pm - following their promotion, CVPM have settled in superbly at this level and are top after 11 games. Guernsey joined the English league system in 2011 and looked like surging up the pyramid after winning back-to-back promotions in front of huge crowds. However, the eighth tier is as far as they've got. Last year was dreadful by their standards as they finished in the bottom three but this year they're back in contention and could move into the play-off places with a win here - note the early kick-off time
Phoenix Sports v Chichester City @3pm - hoping to keep Guernsey out of the top five are Phoenix who are just ahead of them on goal difference. The south-east London club welcome one of the most famous teams in non-league at the current time with the Sussex side creating lots of headlines in the FA Cup this season. After receiving a bye in the First Round because of Bury's sad demise, the tiny club will now travel to either Tranmere or Wycombe in the Second Round.  Although well down the league table, they should be right up there among the play-off contenders if they win their games in hand

SSML Premier Division
Wembley v Tring Athletic @3pm - there are no real blockbuster fixtures in the ninth tier this week so I've gone for this one as it sees the Lions welcome the current league leaders. Over the summer, former England manager and current Crystal Palace supremo Roy Hodgson conducted a coaching session for the Tring players and it seems to have paid off as they've made a great start to the season. With only 12 points from 12 games, the same can't be said for Wembley who could well struggle here

SSML Division 1
St Panteleimon v New Salamis @3pm - the standout game of the day in the 10th tier sees the top two in this division go head-to-head. Both sides are new to this level of football after enjoying promotion at the end of last season and are 'smashing it' as I believe the youth say. The hosts, who play at North Greenford United, have yet to lose any of their opening 16 league games so will start as favourites. The pair met in the Division 1 Cup recently and it went to penalties with the Saints edging through so it should be close again. Both sides also have their roots in the Greek/Cypriot community as well

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Sunday 24 November

FA Women's Super League
Arsenal v Liverpool @2pm - there are two WSL games on Sunday with this match being the most eye-catching as reigning league champions Arsenal take on Liverpool. The Reds are having a terrible season so far and have picked up only one point from their opening five games. Tickets to watch the Gunners at Boreham Wood are cheaper if bought online in advance
West Ham United v Reading @3pm - in the other top-flight game of the afternoon, last season's beaten FA Cup finalists host the Royals. Both are currently locked in midtable so it should be close. Tickets for matches at Rush Green are £8


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 10 November 2019

TLFG: 11-17 November 2019

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

I've just enjoyed a week a off work. It was my birthday on Tuesday but aside from that, it wasn't a hugely eventful time.

I had a couple of health tests as I'm getting on a bit - one came back all normal but the other result is still pending but hopefully I'll be ok.

It was also my eldest daughter's school play which saw actor Bill Nighy take a seat on the front row as a surprise special guest and I made a first visit to the Design Museum on the edge of Holland Park.

I also began negotiations with a potential sponsor for next year's Non-League Day.

It's Spurs v Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday
But you don't really want to hear about any of that. What football did you see? I hear you ask.

Aside from watching Dulwich Hamlet do themselves proud in the FA Cup on Friday (on TV like most others I hasten to add), I ended the week by going to Wembley to watch England's women take on Germany in a friendly.

As I expected, it was a great experience.

The atmosphere is totally different from big men's games - there's no lack of passion in the crowd but it's totally devoid of all the negativity and aggression.

When you come out for refreshments at half-time, there isn't spilt beer all over the floor and goodness knows what else and there was no drunken behaviour at all.

Call me too middle aged, too middle class or whatever - but I've had enough of all the aggro at football.

With monkey chanting at all levels of the men's game in the last month or so, the 'f' and 'c' words used as a matter of course in the earshot of whoever because 'we're not in a church' and all other kinds of anti-social behaviour creeping back into our grounds, I found my trip to Wembley really refreshing.

Everyone I know who attended enjoyed themselves despite the terrible weather and disappointing last-minute defeat. It only cost me a total of £11 for an adult and junior ticket. Everyone just wanted to have a good time and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I love football but I haven't taken my wife to a men's game for years - she's not 'white English' and got assaulted on her first visit to QPR in 2005 and given verbal abuse on Uxbridge Road before a game whilst she was shopping by R's 'fans' on the way to a game about 18 months ago. 

There wasn't a hint of that kind of behaviour from a crowd of nearly 80,000 on Saturday and I can't wait for the women's Euros here in 2021. 

Which brings me nicely to the subject of 'Women's Football Weekend' which takes place this weekend.

With it being an international break, the FA have decided to try and promote women's football in a similar way I do semi-pro football with Non-League Day.

In fact, I've directly told the relevant people at the FA that they should be doing this for several years now and have offered to help them out.

I never got a reply but lo and behold, we now have such an event which is great to see.

If you want to take in a match, the north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal is the main event. Not only is it a big derby but it's being played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and tickets are only £6.50 so don't miss out.

I've got another couple of days off in the coming week so hope to get to a game on Tuesday but who knows what will happen.

Lastly from me, many many thanks to readers Bruce G from Massachusetts, USA and Cameron H from Australia who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - it's been made good use of this week, I assure you!

Have a great week and enjoy your football.

THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include a Euro 2020 qualifier, action in the EFL, National League, FA Trophy, 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
Friday fixtures - black pin



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



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

Monday 11 November

FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round Replay
Aveley v Taunton Town @745pm - the Millers were just five minutes away from recording a notable cupset on Saturday but ultimately had to settle for a 3-3 draw, a result they would no doubt have taken before kick-off. After a long journey down to Somerset to play one of the best sides at the level above them, Aveley had their work cut out but acquitted themselves well. Now it's the west country team who have to make that journey but on a Monday night - it could be another close one

FA Youth Cup Second Round
If the the journey to Essex is too much for you, there are a couple of U18 games in west London that could be more convenient with Uxbridge hosting Newport County and Hanworth Villa taking on AFC Wimbledon in a couple of pretty prestigious ties for the non-league clubs.
Update - the Hanworth game is now taking place next week

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Tuesday 12 November

National League South
Welling United v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - after impressing a live TV audience with a spirited display in the FA Cup on Friday night, Dulwich return to league action with this derby against the Wings. Both sides are perched a little too close to the relegation zone than they'd like to be so a win would do wonders for either

FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Carshalton Athletic v Frome Town @745pm - the Robins also saw their fine FA Cup run come to an end on Saturday at the hands of Boston United. However, they go straight back into cup action with this match against Frome. The Somerset club suffered relegation last season but are top of the Southern League Division 1 South as they look to make an instant return to the seventh tier. Given their current form, they could be trickier opponents than their ranking might suggest

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round Replay
Bedfont Sports v Hitchin Town @745pm - after fielding an ineligible player in the Preliminary Round, Bedfont are a round behind everyone else because they had to re-play their tie against Grays which they won. On Saturday they travelled to Hitchin, and like Aveley, they did well to earn a replay against higher level opposition. Hitchin aren't having a great season and could vulnerable

London Senior Cup Second Round
Hendon v Leyton Orient @745pm - as regular readers know, I'm a huge advocate of London's pro clubs entering development sides in local county cup competitions. It used to be a common occurrence when I was growing up but it barely happens these days. However, Leyton Orient are one of the sides who do and every credit to them. After winning at Tower Hamlets in the First Round, the O's next play a side from two levels higher up who should present them with a decent challenge

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Wednesday 13 November

FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round

Hayes & Yeading United v Soham Town Rangers @745pm - at the time of writing, the hosts are about to take on Oxford United in an FA Cup tie which will be arguably the biggest match in the club's history. Whatever happens in that match, they'll have to go straight into this delayed FA Trophy game three days later. Soham play a level below Hayes so Paul Hughes' side should start as favourites

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Thursday 14 November

Euro 2020 qualifier

England v Montenegro @745pm - the biggest match of the week takes place at Wembley where the Three Lions could clinch top spot in Group A with a win here. Their Balkan opponents have been very poor with no wins from their seven group games so far and they lost 5-1 at home to Gareth Southgate's side in the reciprocal fixture back in March. The most notable thing about this match is that it's England's 1,000th men's international and tickets are available

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Friday 15 November

Professional Development League
Queens Park Rangers v Coventry City @2pm - if you're free at lunchtime on Friday, there's an U23 game at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. These games are usually free entry but check with the club on the day

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Saturday 16 November

League Two
Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe United @3pm - with it being an international break, the highest level match you'll be able to see will be this fourth tier one at Brisbane Road. On paper, it's not hugely mouthwatering as it features two of the bottom nine. Neither are in great form and unsurprisingly, tickets are available

National League
Bromley v Harrogate Town @3pm - the Ravens are currently top of the National League and are therefore the best non-league side in the country. On Saturday they welcome Harrogate who are up in the play-off places and should provide stiff opposition. Both sides will be coming into this off the back of huge FA Cup games against Bristol Rovers and Portsmouth respectively, which will no doubt have some bearing on their performances. Tickets for Bromley games are always cheaper if booked online in advance

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Wealdstone @3pm - the Stones saw their match against Eastbourne Borough postponed on Saturday but they still ended the day seven points clear at the top. On Saturday they face Middlesex rivals Hampton & Richmond for what is often an entertaining game. After a bit of a revival to lift themselves out of the relegation zone and up into midtable, Gary McCann's side have now lost two in a row and will have to do something special to get something here

Isthmian League Premier Division
Enfield Town v Folkestone Invicta @3pm - when it comes to non-league football, England's seventh tier is probably my favourite. The standard is good, the grounds are decent and the admission fee is on or around a tenner (£11 in this case). The match of the day at this level takes place at Donkey Lane where two of the Isthmian League's top four do battle. Enfield have several games in hand on all of the teams above them and they'd be top if they won them

Isthmian League South Central
Tooting & Mitcham United v Hanwell Town @3pm - there's also a huge game in the eighth tier at Imperial Fields where fourth placed Tooting host the leaders. This might as well be a top-two clash as both sides have games in hand on the teams in second and third so it's pretty huge. Both sides also normally wear black and white stripes so it's a 'kit derby' too

CCL Premier Division
Spelthorne Sports v Colliers Wood United @3pm - there's another top-four clash in the Combined Counties League too. Again both sides have games in hand on the leading pair so a win here for either could be crucial

MCFL Premier Division
Clapton CFC v Pitshanger Dynamo @2pm - nothing really takes my fancy in the 10th tier but this 11th tier match at Wadham Lodge should be well worth a watch. Although both sides are outside the top four, the Tons have the games in hand to move up alongside the frontrunners and they have a good chance of winning here. Pitshanger are usually among the title challengers so it's a bit of a surprise to seem in sixth with more games played than most others. As regular readers know, you're guaranteed a great match experience at Clapton CFC games - the fans are among the liveliest, most creative and inclusive of any around and could easily get 400-500 for this match which is the same as some of the bigger teams in the seventh tier get. Entry is by donation so you could technically get in for free too

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Sunday 17 November

FA Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @3pm - this weekend sees the first 'Women's Football Weekend' where the FA try to promote football at this level during an international break (a bit like Non-League Day). The standout game in the capital on Sunday is this north London derby which is being played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Tickets are still available and are only £7 for adults including a booking fee. If you've not been to Spurs' fantastic new stadium, this is your chance
Chelsea v Manchester United @2pm - if that's not for you, then you might prefer this other blockbuster clash in south-west London. Sadly this isn't being played at Stamford Bridge but at Kingsmeadow which Chelsea Women share with AFC Wimbledon. Adult tickets for this are also available but come in at a slightly more expensive £9


GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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

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

Monday 4 November 2019

TLFG: 4-10 November 2019

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

Apologies for the late publication this week - I was simply too tired to finish it off last night.

The irony of writing this blog is it takes so much time that you end up having to make the decision whether to go to a live game or put together the latest piece.

On Saturday I had planned to go to a game but the weather was so bad that many matches got called off and having got really wet and cold doing St Albans parkrun in the morning, I didn't fancy getting wet and miserable again.

So instead I made a short notice decision to go to the FA Vase tie between Southall and Seaford Town on Sunday instead.

Sandro Fernandes scores Southall's third as they beat Seaford Town in the FA Vase

The 'All groundshare at Ashford Town (Middlesex) whose Short Lane ground has always seemed to be a bit of a mission to get to on public transport but I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go.

The stadium is near Heathrow Airport so I got the Piccadilly Line to Terminal 4 and then caught the 482 bus to Long Lane and walked down. I opted for Heathrow rather than Hatton Cross because this bus and the 490 are both totally free to use around the airport perimeter which is a bit of a bargain.

The ground itself is famous for having what I presume are fuel silos/tanks for Heathrow's airliners at one end, giving it a really industrial feel.

Southall play in the ninth tier Combined Counties League and have made good progress during the time I've been writing this blog, earning two promotions despite playing at three different grounds.

Seaford play in the 10th tier but put themselves about robustly throughout the game, picking up several bookings.

The hosts were definitely the better side, with two or three really talented players and eventually played out a 3-1 win to move into the Third Round.

The west London club have a decent record in this competition, making the quarter-finals in 2017 and the final way back in 1986 so maybe this could be their year again.

In other news, my club Harrow Borough travelled down to Dorset on Saturday to play Dorchester Town in a Southern League game.

They nicked a 2-1 win with a last-minute goal but it later emerged that Boro's black players had been subjected to monkey chants during the game. To their credit, Dorchester reported the incident to Kick It Out and the police promptly after the game.

After the much publicised trouble at Haringey Borough the other week, it was really disheartening to hear about more problems in the non-league game.

Right, I think that's about it from me.

As always, have a great week and enjoy your football watching. I'm off to see the Lionesses play Germany at Wembley on Saturday and might squeeze in another game if I can.


THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include action in the Champions League, Premier League, EFL and the First Round of the FA Cup plus loads of action 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
Friday fixtures - black pin



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



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

Monday 4 November

Professional Development League
As usual, the week gets underway with some U23 football. However, the pick of the games between Millwall and Charlton is taking place at the Lions' training ground which isn't open to the public. TLFG reader Chris H did manage to get in last week because he knew one of the players and got on the guest list but he did advise that one of the goals is just a few feet from the perimeter fence of the ground and you can stand outside and look in. Alternatively, if you're prepared to make a short journey outside London then Watford are playing Ipswich at St Albans City where I believe it is £3 to get in

Essex Senior Cup Third Round
Redbridge v Barking @745pm - if the pitch is up to it, the best non-league option of the day is this east London derby in the Essex Senior Cup. The visitors play a level above the hosts so should start as favourites. Oakside is one of the easiest stadiums in London to get to by public transport as it's right next to Barkingside Tube station on the Central Line

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Tuesday 5 November

Champions League
Chelsea v Ajax @8pm - the game of the day sees the Blues look to take a big step towards qualification for the knockout phase. Having beaten the Dutch giants in Amsterdam two weeks ago, the west London club should fancy their chances of picking up another three points. I had my reservations about Frank Lampard's appointment but he seems to be getting quite a lot right with this Chelsea side at the moment, winning eight of the last 10 games in all competitions. This match is not sold out but you will need to be a member or know one who can buy for you

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Dartford @745pm - after decidedly dodgy starts both of these TLFG clubs are now on the rise. With eight defeats from their first 11 games, Hampton manager Gary McCann must have been feeling the pressure. However, they've now won four on the bounce to become the form team of the division and the Darts will have to be at their best. With new boss Steve King in charge their fortunes are starting to turn around too and they enjoyed a solid 2-0 win at Eastbourne Borough on Saturday

FA Vase Second Round
Abbey Rangers v Ascot United @745pm - this tie between two of the top clubs in the Combined Counties League got postponed on Saturday so you've got another chance to catch what should be a fine game. Abbey play about halfway between Chertsey and Addlestone stations in Surrey

Middlesex County League Premier Division
Clapton CFC v NW London @745pm - there's a rare chance to see a bit of 11th tier action on Tuesday as the Tons play their rearranged game against NW London. With a crowd of 909 on Non-League Day and over a thousand for their title decider last season, Clapton CFC must be the biggest or at least the best supported club at this level anywhere in the country. Although midweek attendances are usually well down on this, they could still get 200 which would be way more than many of the other far more senior non-league teams playing on Tuesday

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Wednesday 6 November

EFL Trophy

Leyton Orient v Brighton & Hove Albion U21 @745pm - in theory this match should see the O's first XI take on a development side from Brighton. In reality, the hosts may well field quite a few of their own youngsters in what has become a very devalued competition. Accordingly, adult tickets are available from just £7

FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Grays Athletic v Bedfont Sports @745pm - the hosts have had a really tough time in FA competitions this season. After being thrown out of the FA Cup for accidentally fielding an ineligible player who hadn't given them all his personal info, they are now having to re-play this tie because their opponents had a similar, although not identical, thing happen but they didn't get thrown out. At this stage, the competition is now two rounds further down the line so this tie is holding everything up. As a result, the winners will travel to Hitchin on Saturday and then the winners of that will play in the next round on Monday, a week today. What a mess!

SCEFL Challenge Cup
Lewisham Borough v Forest Hill Park @745pm - I don't usually highlight league and county cup games at this stage but this is a groundshare derby and as such, it's always worth a mention

SSML Division 1 Cup
New Salamis v St Panteleimon @745pm - likewise this game also grabbed my attention as it features two clubs with their roots in the Greek/Cypriot community. Both are new to 10th level football but both are in the SSML Division 1's top three and doing really well. I really fancy this one - it's being played at Enfield Town's ground if you're interested in going

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Friday 8 November

FA Cup First Round

Dulwich Hamlet v Carlisle United @755pm - with all six preliminary and qualifying rounds out of the way, the remaining non-league teams get to join all those from League One and League Two in the so-called First Round proper. For a club of Dulwich's size, their FA Cup record is pretty rubbish - this will be the first time they've made this stage since 1998. To get this far they've had to beat Bognor Regis, Eastbourne Borough and Havant & Waterlooville so it hasn't been an easy ride by any means. On Friday they welcome Carlisle who are in the lower reaches of League Two so the cupset potential is there for all to see, not least the good people at BBC Sport who have selected it as their live TV game. The money they get for being televised and all the prize money received up to this point should run well into six figures which shows just how important this competition is for non-league clubs. Tickets go on general sale from 6pm today but you will need to buy them in person from the club and there are only 157 left! It will almost certainly sell out so don't bother going to the match without one

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Woodford Town @745pm - in the highly likely event you miss out on a ticket for the above, this is your next best option. It's only a midtable clash but it is a derby and, as we mentioned earlier, the ground is easily accessible by public transport unlike the other two games taking place on Friday

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Saturday 9 November

Women's International Friendly
England v Germany @530pm - the biggest crowd of the day will be at Wembley where it's a sell out for this women's game which I think is unprecedented - it's a pretty big deal whatever. With adult tickets at £10 and U16s getting in for a quid I decided to grab a couple so my daughter and I will be heading to the national stadium for a combined price of £11. The Lionesses did really well to make it to the World Cup semi-finals in the summer but Germany who didn't get that far are still, according to the Fifa rankings, Europe's top side. Phil Neville's team are also in rather mediocre form at the moment so it's going to be tough

Premier League
Chelsea v Crystal Palace @1230pm - before all that, we have the small matter of a London derby. As I mentioned above, the Blues are in pretty decent form at the moment and under normal circumstances would start as strong favourites. However, Roy Hodgson has got his Palace side playing with some belief and although winless in three, they have been capable of taking points off the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United so far this season. They have also won on two of their last five visits to Stamford Bridge which is more than most teams can boast. Tickets have sold out
Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United @3pm - when this fixture was announced back in the summer, you'd have been hard pushed to predict anything other than a home win. Three months into the new season and it is the newly promoted Blades who are a top-six club and Spurs who are midtable also-rans. Among the title challengers in recent years, Tottenham are currently winless in four and 18 points behind league leaders Liverpool after only 11 games. They're also 10 points off the top four and only five points above the relegation zone - in short it's been a bit of a disaster by their high standards. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship
Millwall v Charlton Athletic @3pm - we've reached the fourth match on our list for Saturday and this is sold out too. It's a big local derby so that's no surprise but it was on general sale until quite recently. Charlton have had much the better season so far but both clubs' form is fairly similar so it should be a closely fought cracker of a game
Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough @3pm - which all means that if you haven't got a ticket yet, your best option is this match at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. If you're visiting London, QPR will rarely let you down when it comes to ticket availability. Even the big derby against Brentford last week didn't sell out, despite the fact Mark Warburton's side have been playing some really good stuff. Boro have had a shocking season and are down in the bottom three

FA Cup First Round
AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers @3pm - there's all-League One affair at Kingsmeadow where the Dons will look to keep the positive vibes going under new boss Glyn Hodges who has now taken them out of the relegation zone after their very poor start. Doncaster had a reasonable run in the competition last season and should start as favourites. Tickets are available
Carshalton Athletic v Boston United @3pm - the Robins' FA Cup record is even worse than Dulwich's with this being their first time at this stage since 1997. With wins over Bracknell, Harrow, Lowestoft and Dagenham & Redbridge, the south London club have had to work hard to get this far and they should feel confident of giving sixth-tier club Boston an uncomfortable afternoon. Tickets are £10 and available on arrival

National League South
Wealdstone v Eastbourne Borough @3pm - if they win this and results go their way, the Stones could end the day 10 points clear at the top. Eastbourne are fighting the drop so a home win looks highly likely

Isthmian League South Central
Hanwell Town v Ware @3pm - this eighth-tier division is incredibly tight at the top with three points separating the top five. These clubs are two of the contenders so a win for either could be crucial

CCL Premier Division
Colliers Wood United v Ascot United @3pm - there's an even bigger game in the CCL where two of the top three meet in SW20

Essex Senior League
Walthamstow v Saffron Walden Town @3pm - it's third versus second at Wadham Lodge as the big games continue in the ninth tier

CCL Division 1
Bedfont & Feltham v Jersey Bulls @1pm - in the 10th tier, the newly formed Jersey side have been unstoppable since entering English football at the start of the season and have won all 13 of their league games so far. It doesn't look good for the hosts but who knows? Could they be the first team to beat them???

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Sunday 10 November

FA Cup First Round
Leyton Orient v Maldon & Tiptree @1245pm - Essex minnows M&T are having a great season in the Isthmian North but they've never made it this far in the FA Cup so it's a huge day for the club. The O's play four levels above their opponents so anything less than a win will be quite an upset. Tickets are available from £10 and it's unlikely to sell out
Barnet v Fleetwood Town @1245pm - the Bees made it to the Fourth Round last year beating Bristol Rovers and Sheffield United in the process. Doing well enough in the National League this season, they should have a decent chance against Joey Barton's Fleetwood side. Tickets are available
Hayes & Yeading United v Oxford United @215pm - following on from these two we have a real David and Goliath clash at the SkyEx Stadium in west London. After overcoming Poole Town in the last round, H&YU have landed a juicy home tie against a former top-flight side who are among the frontrunners in League One. This is also being televised but tickets have sold out


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