Sunday 27 September 2020

TLFG: 28 September - 4 October 2020

As September comes to an end, another busy week of football looms.

At the time of writing, debate is raging about the handball rule and whether or not the Premier League should bailout the EFL and National League clubs who are still forbidden from opening their gates to spectators.

Where do you stand on the issue? Should they put their hands in their pockets? Should the government provide the cash or should a limited number of fans simply be let in?

Personally I find it hard to argue why you couldn't let in 800-1,000 fans at National League games. Such attendances would surely provide enough cash to keep sides going, particularly in the North and South divisions where many clubs don't get that many fans anyway.

 Believe it or not, Folkestone striker Ian Draycott missed from here!

With up to 600 fans allowed in the seventh tier, it's pretty much business as usual at that level with very few clubs ever exceeding that number in non-Covid times.

Talking of that level, I saw two Isthmian Premier sides meet in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

Once again I took some friends who were new or recently returning to non-league football and they loved it - one even travelled all the way from Croydon at short notice.

Wingate & Finchley and Folkestone Invicta provided the entertainment in north London and we got five goals in what turned out to be a pretty one-sided game.

The visitors from Kent were the pre-match favourites and two goals in each half saw them complete a relatively comfortable 4-1 win (something they were to repeat three days later in the league too).

Like my own club Harrow, Wingate really struggle to get new fans through the turnstile but the lure of the FA Cup seemed to draw a few extra out on a cold and wet night.

Talking of wet, the rain was heavy at times and this caused most people, quite understandably, to head for the covered areas of the stadium which are fairly limited.

Despite pleas on the PA system, social distancing went out the window with people packed shoulder to shoulder in the stands and at times on the terraces.

As we head deeper into autumn and winter this is likely to happen far more often and I don't know how clubs get round this issue without reducing attendances.

The week ahead will see more announcements from the National League about whether their opening round of league fixtures will go ahead on Saturday. If they do and by some miracle fans are allowed in, I'll add the matches to the map.

It's all about the FA Cup for me this week and I'll be off to the Rogers Family Stadium to watch Harrow Borough v Cray Valley PM on Saturday.

There are great ties all over the capital that day so make sure you try and get to one.

Thanks as always to those who have donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. Cheers one and all.


THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the FA Cup, Isthmian League, Southern League and Women's National League. There are also games at higher levels but none of them are open to the public.

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. However, capacity restrictions are currently in place at all grounds because of Covid-19 meaning only clubs from the seventh tier and below can currently admit spectators.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



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




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

Monday 28 September

Isthmian League Premier Division
Haringey Borough v Leatherhead @3pm - the week begins with a bit of seventh-tier action on White Hart Lane. The hosts have made a great start to the season, winning both league games and making smooth progress in the FA Cup. The Tanners haven't been quite so fortunate having been knocked out of the cup by lower-division opposition and getting stuffed 7-0 at Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday. Tickets for Haringey games are normally £10 but, as in previous years, you can download a FREE SEASON TICKET which is one of the best deals I've ever heard of

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
Frenford v Barkingside @745pm - if that's not convenient for you, a 10th-tier derby between two Ilford clubs might be more to your liking. The hosts have recently re-opened their improved ground and are among the division's early frontrunners whilst the 'Side are looking for their second win of the campaign

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Tuesday 29 September

Southern League Premier Division South
Metropolitan Police v Harrow Borough @745pm - there are three games on Tuesday and none of them really stand out. Of the five London clubs in this division, none of them have yet managed to win. With two draws, Metropolitan Police are the only unbeaten side and they host Harrow Borough who have lost both games but they came against two of the biggest clubs. These two have some of the smallest followings in the division so don't expect a big crowd. The stadium, which hosts numerous county cup finals and other interesting matches, is worth a visit though

Isthmian League South Central Division
Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - the game of the night in the eighth tier takes place near Heathrow Airport. Ashford won their opening league game and also began their FA Trophy campaign with a win at Hullbridge Sports on Saturday. The Terrors have had a more faltering start, going out of the FA Cup at the hands of Fisher, losing their first league game but also progressing in the FA Trophy. I'd make Ashford marginal favourites for this one

Essex Senior League
Cockfosters v West Essex @745pm - for me, the pick of the ninth-tier action is to be found at Chalk Lane where an impressive Cockfosters side entertain West Essex. Having won all four of their league games, and banging in 14 goals in the process, the club from the end of the Piccadilly Line sit proudly at the top of the league. Having suffered only one defeat themselves so far, the visitors are also in the top five. It could be a cracker! 
Walthamstow v Hashtag United @745pm - it should also prove to be a lively night at Wadham Lodge where the Stow welcome joint leaders Hashtag who you may have seen winning an FA Cup tie live on the BBC last week. A decent turnout is expected and you can buy tickets in advance

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Wednesday 30 September

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - sadly for these sides, both have made a disappointing start. The K's have lost both of their league games heavily, albeit against highly fancied opposition, and are also out of the FA Cup. Wingate find themselves in a similar position which may lead some to think this could be a highly important game even at this early stage

Combined Counties League Division 1
Westside v Tooting Bec @745pm - there are games at higher levels than this but I'd skip them in favour of this clash between two potential promotion contenders. Westside only moved up to this level last season and have acquitted themselves well. They moved to a new groundshare with Colliers Wood United over the summer and have won all four of their league games to go top on goal difference. Tooting Bec have also started well with only one defeat, meaning they're also in the top six

Women's National League Division 1 South East
AFC Wimbledon v Kent Football United @745pm - there are also a couple of women's games to enjoy on Wednesday. The Dons opened their season with a win and may well have another one by the time this kicks off. They play their matches at Carshalton Athletic's ground
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Friday 2 October

Essex Senior League
West Essex v Southend Manor @745pm - once again West Essex top the bill on a Friday night. Depending on midweek results, the Barking-based club could be up in the top three. However, if they lose at Cockfosters they could find themselves below the visitors - it should be close
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Saturday 3 October

FA Cup Second Round Qualifying
Saturday is all about the next round of the FA Cup. At this stage teams from the National League South (sixth tier) enter the draw. At the time of writing, no teams from the sixth tier are allowed to admit any spectators so one or two big ties that might have made this week's guide (e.g. Dartford v Slough Town) won't appear. If something changes during the week then I'll try and update this. Given the reduced capacities at most clubs and the increased FA Cup interest, some ties will sell out so I'd advise you to purchase tickets online in advance where this is possible. The winners of each tie receive £3,375, the losers £1,125 so the stakes for some of these small clubs are high.

Update -  the FA have now decided to ban fans of National League South clubs from attending all ties home or away. Therefore, if you want to watch Dulwich or Maidstone you will have to pose as a home fan or neutral - utterly farcical!

Corinthian Casuals v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - if I didn't have a club still in the draw, then this would be the tie I'd love to get a ticket for. Two great sets of fans, two very unusual kits and a whole load of history behind both sides. The hosts play a level below Dulwich who struggled in the National League South last season but still averaged crowds of over 2,000. It should be a great occasion and will almost certainly sell out. Tickets are likely to go on sale on Monday but that hasn't been confirmed yet
Hendon v Maidstone United @3pm - another game that's likely to hit its 600 capacity is this one at Silver Jubilee Park. Like the match above it sees a seventh-tier side take on one of the biggest clubs from the level above. Buying a ticket in advance is a must 
Walthamstow v Hornchurch @3pm - the lowest ranked London club left in the FA Cup, the Stow face a very tricky game against the Urchins who play two levels above them. Although they haven't been that lucky in the league yet, the club from E17 have won three penalty shoot-outs already this season as they've progressed in various competitions. They're probably going to need quite a bit of good fortune here too. Tickets could well sell out but they aren't available yet so keep checking the club's website for the latest
Hayes & Yeading United v Bognor Regis Town @3pm - there's an all seventh-tier game at the SkyEx Stadium over in west London. H&YU were in great form when the season ended abruptly in March and would almost certainly have made the play-offs. That form hasn't carried over into the new campaign yet but they should have a reasonable chance against Bognor who, although often among the promotion contenders, aren't firing on all cylinders themselves yet
Metropolitan Police v Walton Casuals @3pm - the Met have made the first round twice in recent years and will start as marginal favourites in this tie against one of their local rivals. Casuals have never made it beyond the Third Round Qualifying, so a win here would equal their best performance in the competition
Haringey Borough v Chertsey Town @3pm - Borough made the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the FA Cup last season when their goalkeeper reported being racially abused during a tie with Yeovil Town. Hopefully there'll be nothing like that this time round and although they look like winning on paper, Chertsey have real potential to cause them problems. The reigning FA Vase holders know how to put a successful cup run together and notably upset Leatherhead in the last round 
Harrow Borough v Cray Valley PM @3pm - another seventh-tier side that can't take anything for granted are my own team Harrow. Steve Baker's side bowed at this point last season to a talented Carshalton team who went on to make it to the First Round. Cray Valley finished as runners-up to Chertsey in the last FA Vase final and were on course for back-to-back promotions before Covid-19 kicked in. All in all, the south-east London club look like dangerous opponents
Bedfont Sports v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - talking of Carshalton, the Robins have been drawn away on Saturday and face a trip to the end of Heathrow Airport's runway where Bedfont's ground is located. The visitors looked good in pre-season and are unbeaten. Sports have lost both of their league games so far and will cause quite an upset if they win this 
Hanwell Town v Hartley Wintney @3pm - the Geordies had ambitions of making it into the Isthmian Premier last season and probably would've done if Covid hadn't intervened. Whether they're good enough for that level remains to be seen but if they beat Southern League also-rans Hartley who play a level above them then they'll have made a pretty good case. There's every chance they will as they've won all four games they've played this season 
Barking v Kings Langley @3pm - the Blues have made the Second Round several times but the last time was way back in 1983 when they narrowly lost 2-1 to Plymouth. Now as an eighth-tier team they've done really well to get this far and they'll start as underdogs here against a side from the level above them
Chipstead v East Grinstead Town @3pm - probably the most 'meh' tie of those on offer is this all-eighth tier match. Chipstead are bottom of the Isthmian South Central after losing their opening two games whilst East Grinstead are in the top five of the Isthmian South East - an away win looks likely

Tenth tier

Combined Counties League Division 1
Chessington & Hook United v Jersey Bulls @3pm - if for whatever reason you don't fancy an FA Cup game then you could try this match between two of the early pacesetters in the CCL1. As many readers will know, Jersey had already secured promotion when Covid cut last season short and robbed them of the glory. Thankfully for them, they haven't lost any of that momentum and have won their opening four games to sit joint top. Chessington are also on 12 points but have played a game more. Strangely, the visitors are also playing on Friday night so they could be a bit tired UPDATE - Jersey Bulls are no longer playing in this game and have been replaced by FC Deportivo Galicia

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Rayners Lane v St Panteleimon @3pm - these two were among the frontrunners last season and they've started well again, both have 100% records so far. Although it's very early days, this could have quite an impact on the final table

Eleventh tier

Middlesex County League Premier Division
Stonewall v Brentham @3pm - at the time of writing it was unclear if spectators would be allowed in to this game. If they are it will be a groundhopper's dream as it's set to be played at the London Marathon Community facility which lies in the shadow of West Ham's London Stadium. Other sides, most notably Hackney Wick, have tried unsuccessfully to move there so it will be quite a coup if Stonewall can secure it UPDATE - this match is being played behind closed doors

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Sunday 4 October

Women's National League Division 1 South East
Actonians v Enfield Town @2pm - in the fourth tier this match at Rectory Park looks well worth a watch. The other match between Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon is likely to be behind closed doors but check with the club nearer the time to be sure


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 20 September 2020

TLFG: 21-27 September 2020

So here we are again, another week has flown by and we're on to the next one.

Despite rapidly rising Covid-19 infections, football continues to take place with EFL clubs, including Charlton Athletic, hosting test games and the National League following suit with some matches over next few days.

A couple of those are taking place locally at Dagenham & Redbridge and Dartford. Tickets are on sale for the former but there was no news at the time of writing about availability at the Darts - see the Daily Digest below for more details.

My football week was pretty good with a rare midweek trip to North Greenford United v Edgware Town being the highlight.

The next round of the FA Cup gets underway on Monday

I took a friend who hadn't been to a non-league game for years and he was treated to a very entertaining spectacle as the hosts won 3-1 courtesy of three fantastic goals.

Equally impressive was the warm welcome we were given by all the club staff we came into contact with and it was also heart warming to see several tables weighed down with tins and other produce after a very successful foodbank appeal.

My friend thoroughly enjoyed himself and I also got to meet long term TLFG reader and fellow QPR fan Chris H who was also in attendance.

If I play my cards right, I will hopefully get out for another midweek trip. On Wednesday, Wingate & Finchley take on Folkestone Invicta in the FA Cup which I'm hoping will be well worth a watch.

I used to go fairly regularly to W&F when this blog started but it's been a few years so I'm looking forward to it.

I also continued my participation in a virtual run around 'the 92' with the QPR Runners group on Saturday. As a group we're trying to run the 3,000+km as quickly as we can. Three of us did a QPR-Fulham-Chelsea-QPR loop last weekend, whilst on Saturday we did another loop from QPR to Brentford and back. Overall, members of our small Facebook group have covered over 1,400km in eight days which is pretty amazing - well done all.

Thanks this week to Chris H, mentioned above, and Simon K who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. Cheers gents.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the FA Cup, FA Trophy, Isthmian League, Southern League and Women's National League. There are also games at higher levels but none of them are open to the public.

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. However, capacity restrictions are currently in place at all grounds because of Covid-19 meaning only clubs from the seventh tier and below can currently admit spectators.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



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




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

Monday 21 September

FA Cup First Round Qualifying
The bulk of the midweek action is in the FA Cup with 16 ties between Monday and Wednesday involving our local sides. At this stage of the draw, all the seventh tier clubs join the action alongside the remaining ones from the lower tiers. The winners of each tie receive £2,250 and the losers £750.

Carshalton Athletic v Faversham Town @745pm - the Robins are among the contenders for the Isthmian League title so should start as strong favourites against Faversham Town, from a level below, after soundly beating Potters Bar in their opening league game. Tickets are available and you're strongly advised to buy online in advance as their matches are selling out

New Salamis v Brentwood Town @745pm - Cypriot side New Salamis are making their debut in the FA Cup this season and have notched a couple of tidy wins to get this far. The 10th tier side, who play their games at Haringey Borough, face a step up in class in Isthmian League Brentwood and it would be one of the results of the round if they were to win. The chances of you getting in are slim - I understand from the club that there have been a few returns but you can only get them from team's clubhouse on Myddleton Road in Bowes Park

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Tuesday 22 September

Friendlies
The National League announced some test games a few days ago and two of them are taking place in TLFG's catchment area on Tuesday. Dagenham & Redbridge host FA Trophy finalists Concord Rangers whilst Dartford entertain Dover Athletic. Both games are limited to 1,000 spectators so buying in advance is strongly advised if not obligatory. At the time of writing, there are some still available at Dagenham (click here) whilst Dartford still haven't put any on sale which suggests they were caught on the hop by the selection of their game. Check their site regularly for updates

FA Cup First Round Qualifying
Bedfont Sports v Lewes @745pm - the hosts began their league campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat at title contenders Hanwell on Saturday which although disappointing should give them some heart that it was that close. On Tuesday they welcome former fifth tier club Lewes for what would appear to be a winnable tie. The Rooks aren't the side they once were and lost 4-1 at Enfield Town on Saturday. At the time of writing, very little ticketing info is available so check the club's website for updates
Chertsey Town v Leatherhead @745pm - when I saw this tie, it immediately stood out for me. Similar to the match above, it's an eighth tier versus seventh tier fixture. Both clubs have great cup pedigree - Chertsey are the reigning FA Vase holders whilst Leatherhead have had numerous runs into the so-called 'proper' rounds of the FA Cup. The Curfews sold out their Preliminary Round match and should get a decent crowd here so buy in advance to avoid disappointment
Walthamstow v St Margaretsbury @745pm - I've highlighted this all-ESL tie simply to give you the chance to run the rule over the Stow who seem like a club on the up. Among the pre-season favourites for the ESL title, the club from E17 are starting to grow their fanbase. They drew nearly 300 for their Extra Preliminary Round tie against London Lions which is a significant attendance for a club in the ninth tier. Walthamstow got through the last round against Cockfosters on penalties and also required spot-kicks in their FA Vase win on Saturday. Tickets are on sale here

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Wednesday 23 September

FA Cup First Round Qualifying
Wingate & Finchley v Folkestone Invicta @745pm - the tie of the night is this clash between two Isthmian League Premier Division teams. Despite playing at the same level, it's a bit of a David v Goliath match-up. Wingate have been a seventh-tier side since 2011 but have really struggled to attract crowds with an average of only 123 last season as they fought relegation. Somehow, they always manage to stay up and on Wednesday they welcome Folkestone who pull in crowds five times the size of theirs. The Kent club were in the top five when the 2019/20 season ended early so it will take quite an effort to beat them. Tickets are on sale and if you buy in advance you get a free e-programme  
Cray Wanderers v Fisher @745pm - London's oldest football club begin their FA Cup campaign with a home tie against Rotherhithe outfit Fisher. On paper, this looks like a home banker. Cray play two levels above the Fish and are among the title contenders, something they underlined by thrashing Kingstonian 5-1 on opening day. However, the visitors have only lost one of the six games they've played this season and caused a cupset by beating Tooting & Mitcham in the last round. Tickets are available in advance
Cray Valley PM v Burgess Hill Town @745pm - CVPM seem to be another club to keep an eye on this season. They've made good progress in the last couple of years, made the FA Vase final at Wembley in 2019 and were on course for another promotion last season before Covid-19 intervened. They've made a number of decent signings over the summer and got a decent 0-0 draw at title rivals Hastings United on Saturday. BHT are no more than a midtable side in the same division as them and should be beaten. Tickets should be available on the door
Sutton Common Rovers v Metropolitan Police @745pm - there's potential for a cupset here as ninth tier SCR welcome a side from two levels above them. The hosts are unbeaten so far this season and have rattled in a decent number of goals in the process. The Met won their opening league fixture against Yate but will have to avoid complacency at all costs. The capacity of this match at Gander Green Lane has been limited to 300 so you're again advised to buy online in advance 

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Friday 25 September

Essex Senior League
West Essex v Walthamstow @745pm - the pick of the night's action is this ninth-tier match at Mayesbrook Park. Given that landlords Barking are now groundsharing with two clubs, we can expect West Essex to become a regular of the Friday night schedule throughout the season. Despite a humbling by New Salamis in the FA Cup, West Essex have made a solid start to this campaign and are up in fourth after going three games unbeaten. The Stow are underperforming slightly with one win from three league games and are well down the table 

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Saturday 26 September

Seventh tier

Isthmian League Premier Division
Haringey Borough v Bognor Regis Town @3pm - north London club Haringey began their league campaign with a useful 2-1 win at Corinthian Casuals on opening day. The White Hart Lane club have challenged for promotion in recent seasons but fell away into midtable last season so it will be interesting to see how they fare this time. Bognor are usually around the play-off places and had a recent but unsuccessful spell in the National League South - they started off with a draw at Bishop's Stortford
Kingstonian v Worthing @3pm - as mentioned above, the K's got thrashed at Cray on Saturday and it won't get any easier here as they welcome the side who were top when the 2019/20 season came to an end. The Sussex side won 2-1 at promotion rivals Folkestone on Saturday to emphasise their title credentials. Tickets can be bought here

Southern League Premier Division South
Harrow Borough v Salisbury @3pm - the Boro started their season with a close to 600-mile round trip to Cornwall to play the highly fancied Truro City. Despite an excellent fight, they lost 1-0 to a controversial goal in the latter stages of the game which must have been sickening. On Saturday they welcome another one of the biggest clubs in the division for another tough game. Managed by Steve Claridge, Salisbury only managed a draw with Hendon on Saturday. Tickets are available in advance
Hendon v Truro City @3pm - a short journey to the north-west, it's the Greens' turn to take on Truro. Buoyed by their solid point on the road at Salisbury, they should fancy their chances of taking another point here. Tickets are available in advance

Eighth tier

FA Trophy First Round Qualifying
Northwood v Basildon United @3pm - the FA Trophy, for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers, starts on Saturday. Due to an uneven number of clubs, this 34-team mini round kicks things off and only one London club are hosting a tie. Both sides play in the Isthmian League and lost their opening league games so I doubt there will be much to choose between them. 

Isthmian League North Division
Romford v Aveley @3pm - playing their first league game of their new groundshare at Barking, Romford will hope for a much better season than the last one. Following the investment of Glenn Tamplin, who famously spent loads on Billericay Town, a lot more is expected of the east London club. Aveley were among the frontrunners last season and started with a win on Saturday. There's also a bit of derby feel to this one too. 

Isthmian League South Central Division
Uxbridge v Bracknell Town @3pm - both sides finished in the top six last season so we should get a competitive game here. Bracknell started with a tidy 2-0 win over Chipstead whilst Uxbridge narrowly lost at Chertsey who should also be among the promotion contenders

Isthmian League South East Division
Whyteleafe v Chichester City @3pm - the Leafe had a decent season and were pushing for a play-off spot when the season ended. They enjoyed an emphatic 4-1 win at Herne Bay on Saturday to give them great confidence going into this one. Chichester were also well placed for a shot at the play-offs last year and famously made it to the second round of the FA Cup

Ninth tier

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Hanworth Villa v Ascot United @3pm - the Villains are unbeaten in three and have become the top-ranked London club in the CCL, a drastic improvement on their struggles of last season. Ascot were top when the league ended early and have picked up where they left off and are already two points clear

Tenth tier

Combined Counties League Division 1
Walton & Hersham v Farnham Town @3pm - based on last season's standings, this match between the sides who finished in third and second should be a good one. Both sides have started well again, with the hosts top at the time of writing

Eleventh tier

Middlesex County Football League Premier Division
Clapton CFC v Indian Gymkhana Club @3pm - the Tons' league campaign finally gets underway on Saturday with this match. Wadham Lodge regularly saw crowds of 400+ for their matches last season which made them, to my knowledge, the best supported club in the 11th tier anywhere in the country. Covid-19 restrictions will probably see admission capped at a lower level with only 250 allowed to their friendly against NW London. Ticket details haven't been released yet so check their website for updates - it could well sell out

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Sunday 27 September

Women's National League Southern Premier Division
Hounslow v Gillingham @2pm - with matches involving clubs in the top two tiers still shut to the public, this third-tier match tops the bill. Now playing at Rayners Lane's impressive new facilities, Hounslow charge £3 to get in

Women's National League Division 1 South East
Enfield Town v Leyton Orient @2pm - in the fourth tier this London derby at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium looks well worth a watch

London & South East Women's Regional League
QPR v Dulwich Hamlet @2pm - these two were fighting for the title in the fifth tier when the season got abandoned so it should be good. However, at the time of writing, all QPR home games have so far been behind closed doors so check nearer the time to see if this has changed



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 13 September 2020

TLFG: 14-20 September 2020

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

The last week has seen the season continue to get going with the Premier League and EFL getting underway over the weekend.

Saturday also saw the lion's share of the next round of FA Cup ties get played.

It was a happy time for me as QPR and Harrow Borough both enjoyed victories with Rangers getting a slightly surprising 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest and Boro squeaking past Langney Wanderers in the cup on penalties.

The FA Vase gets underway this week

Over the next few days we see the start of the Isthmian League and Southern League, the opening round of the FA Vase and the next round in the women's FA Cup.

In other words there's no reason to miss out as there's plenty on offer.

On Saturday it's even possible to do a 'double' thanks to the FA Vase tie at Walton & Hersham kicking off at 745pm.

I'm all set to go to the SSML match between North Greenford United and Edgware Town on Tuesday and hopefully a game somewhere on Sunday but we'll see.

I also began a virtual run around 'the 92' with some of the QPR Runners on Saturday. As a group we're trying to run the 3,000+km as quickly as we can. Three of us did a QPR-Fulham-Chelsea-QPR loop yesterday morning which was a around 15km. I believe there are plans to run to Brentford on Saturday.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Isthmian League, Southern League, FA Vase, Women's National League and Women's FA Cup. There are also games at higher levels but none of them are open to the public.

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. However, capacity restrictions are currently in place at all grounds because of Covid-19 meaning only clubs from the seventh tier and below can currently admit spectators.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



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




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

Monday 14 September

London Senior Cup Final
Brentford B v Hendon @730pm - there's only one game on Monday night and it's a good one. With last season's competition delayed by Covid-19, the final is only now being played. Hanwell Town's Powerday Stadium plays host and with a limited capacity, only a few tickets are left. The Brentford allocation has sold out but Hendon still have some on sale for £10

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Tuesday 15 September

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Southall v Hanworth Villa @745pm - the hosts have made a superb start to the season, winning all four of their matches. The last of those was Saturday's impressive FA Cup win over Ashford Town who play a level above them and whose ground they share. Hanworth have made a reasonable start and are also in the top five

Essex Senior League
Fisher v Tower Hamlets @745pm - hailing from either side of the Thames, this is a local derby of sorts. Sadly, the sides have only accrued one point between them from the five games they've played so this could be an important game even at this early stage. Tower Hamlets could find things tougher than normal this season as they've taken up a groundshare with Phoenix Sports way down in south-east London and their already small fanbase will no doubt shrink

Combined Counties League Division 1
Chessington & Hook United v Farnham Town @745pm - the visitors were all set to finish as runners-up to Jersey Bulls last season but saw Covid-19 rob them of promotion. This season has begun well again with three wins out of three. Chessington had a poor campaign but have made a much better start this time round

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Wednesday 16 September

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Balham v Welling Town @745pm - the hosts have moved to groundshare with AFC Croydon Athletic this season and they've made a reasonable start with two wins out of three propelling them into the top five. The Boots have only played two league games and won them both to sit fourth

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Friday 18 September

FA Vase First Qualifying Round
With the FA Cup already underway, the Vase starts on Friday. This national knockout competition is for clubs in the ninth to eleventh tiers and usually has its final at Wembley so it's hugely prestgious for the clubs involved. On Friday there are two ties to sink your teeth into. There's an all-SSML tie at Rayners  Lane's ground between Broadfields United and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos whilst in east London Barkingside entertain Coggeshall United 

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Saturday 19 September

Seventh tier

Isthmian League Premier Division
With pre-season out of the way, the Isthmian League kick-offs on Saturday. Cray Wanderers, London's oldest club, were second at the time Covid-19 intervened last season so they'll hope to have another good campaign. They start with an interesting home game against Kingstonian. Only a point behind Cray in third were Carshalton Athletic. The Robins have had a great couple of years and have made impressive progress off the pitch too. They are definitely ones to watch and will fancy their chances against Potters Bar Town. For me, the pick of the action in north London should come at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium where Enfield Town host former National League/Conference club Lewes

Southern League Premier Division South
It's also opening day in the parallel Southern League. Hayes & Yeading United were flying when things came to an abrupt end in March. Third and the highest ranked TLFG side in the league, the west London club must have been gutted to see things end early. They begin their campaign with a tricky game against Taunton Town who should be in with a shout of the play-offs

Eighth tier

Isthmian League North Division
Like Hayes, Aveley also got stuck in third but had the games in hand to comfortably finish second. With one of the best grounds of any non-league club in TLFG's catchment area, they'll be hoping for at least play-off place this season. On Saturday they welcome Norfolk club Dereham Town who should also be competitive in 2020/21

Isthmian League South Central Division
On and off the pitch, Hanwell Town have made great strides in the last couple of years. The west London club were title challengers in 2019/20 and little has changed for them to be considered as anything less this time. They have an opening day game against Bedfont Sports who finished in midtable. There's a mouthwatering game at Alwyns Lane where Chertsey Town welcome Uxbridge. These sides finished third and fourth so we could be in for a cracker!

Ninth and tenth tiers

FA Vase First Qualifying Round
The main action at these levels on Saturday is in the opening round of this competition. There are numerous ties taking place all over London. 

It's quite hard to pick which ones will be the best at this early stage in the season but here's a few that standout for me.

First up we have some derbies. In Ilford, Frenford welcome near neighbours Newbury Forest to their recently revamped ground. Next to Heathrow, British Airways entertain CB Hounslow United whilst up in north London there's a 'name' derby (for want of a better description) between Hadley and Hadleigh United.

Lewisham Borough CFC are the only London club to be making their debut in the competition this season and they have a tough home draw against Balham (update - this has now been switched to Balham).

Of big interest to grondhoppers will be the evening kick-off between Walton & Hersham and Meridian VP which starts at 745pm. This allows you to combine it with a huge selection of the 3pm games and do a 'double'.

Combined Counties League Premier Division
If you don't fancy a Vase game, the impressive Southall side I mentioned above play Ascot United. The visitors were pretty much champions elect last season and are right up among the frontrunners again. If the 'All can beat them too then they'll have to be taken very seriously indeed.

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Sunday 20 September

Isthmian League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - the hosts have their roots in the local Jewish community and often see their games moved at this time of the year for religious festivals - this time it's Rosh Hashanah. Wingate were one of the biggest beneficiaries of the season ending early as relegation was looking increasingly likely. Essex club B&P were in no danger of the drop but weren't pulling up any trees either

FA Vase First Qualifying Round
There are three more ties to savour on Sunday as West Essex, Croydon (at Glebe) and Westside all host matches to liven up your Sunday afternoon


Women's Football
There are several games open to spectators on Sunday with the Women's National League match between Hounslow and Crawley Wasps at Rayners Lane topping the bill. There are also several FA Cup ties with AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Fulham, Millwall  and QPR among those in action



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 6 September 2020

TLFG: 7-13 September 2020

It's generally been a pretty decent week at TLFG Towers - mainly thanks to you, dear readers, who have sent me some really gratifying comments.

Over lockdown it was quite tempting to draw a line under this blog and move on. It made a pleasant change not having to sit up late on a Sunday night/Monday morning typing away when I knew a 4am work alarm was looming, something which was was often the case.

When I set this up in 2011 as a way to keep my hand in after taking redundancy from BBC Sport, I'd never written a blog, had no idea where it would take me or how much time it would consume.

I originally created TLFG as something I would write for myself - it held all the information I would be looking for as a neutral looking for a game. What's on, where, how to get there, ticket info and some match recommendations to give it a more personal or blog feel.

Early page views were hard to come by, with 50 in one day being a great achievement. It's now well into the hundreds and into seven figures for all-time views. As someone who used to work on a website with millions of views a day, I know that's not a great achievement but I'm happy enough given what a small-time operation this is.

TLFG has given me some great opportunities and I've met some top people and my knowledge of the 100+ clubs around the capital has become almost encyclopedic - certainly when compared to the average man on the street.

 

One of my main regrets, rather ironically, is that despite spending hours writing about football every year, I hardly get to watch any.

My new career on the railway affords me only one Saturday off a month and one completely clear Tuesday night so my chances of seeing anything are few and far between. The Sundays I do get off are usually spent writing this - one of the sacrifices I make for you dear readers!

That's why it's great to hear from you - where you've been, where you're going and the tips about matches I may have missed, are coming up or have been changed in some way. Given how big a task it is to keep across everything, there's no way I can do it without your contributions so thank you.

Despite my whining about not going to any games, I did make it to my first post-lockdown match on Saturday.

I actually headed beyond London's boundaries about 30 miles south of Shepherd's Bush to the Sussex town of Horsham where my favourite non-league side Harrow Borough were playing a friendly.

The hosts moved to a new stadium last season and it has since won awards so I was keen to visit.

However, the first and only problem is its location.

As someone who doesn't drive, the fact it's some two miles from the station isn't great. However, taxis are available right outside and cost us £7. 

With the capacity capped to a Covid-19 reduced 280, I bought an e-ticket in advance - the first time I've ever done this for a non-league game. 

We joined an orderly socially distanced queue on arrival, had our temperatures checked, gave our track and trace details and went in.

The facilities were really good - a top of the range 4G pitch and brand new everything else.

Serving hatches selling food and drink were open in the side of the impressive clubhouse with no queues, low prices and friendly staff all of which really impressed my friend Mike who joined me for his first ever non-league match. As a Crystal Palace season-ticket holder he was struck by so many of the positives us regulars take for granted.

The match itself produced five goals and some really memorable moments.

Harrow went behind early on when keeper Purdue rushed out to head clear, only for it to go straight to Horsham full-back Sparks to lob perfectly back over his head from range.

Boro barely threatened in the opening half hour and then something utterly bizarre happened.

The hosts had started the game with a trialist in goal. He'd looked competent enough in the early stages but was never really tested until the 32nd minute when he pulled off a decent diving save to his right. However, on getting up he attempted to throw the ball out to his full-back only to hold on to it a smidgen too long and throw it into his own net! What a gift.

Sadly, Horsham retook the lead shortly after and the score remarkably stayed at 2-1 until the 85th minute despite a load of chances at either end.

With five minutes to go, young substitute Zidan Akers lashed one into the top corner from 25 yards with the best strike of the day. If he's not already been signed for this season, he should be - I was impressed every time he had the ball.

Despite the euphoria of the goal and the short time remaining, I felt Harrow would concede another and it was that man Sparks who popped up at the far post again to nick the win in injury time.


August was about helping restaurants, could September be football fans' chance to support non-league clubs?

Although the result was disappointing, it was great to get back to watching live football.

I was impressed with the set-up and the people at Horsham and was also very pleasantly surprised by the town centre which I was not expecting.

As I said above, my friend Mike had never been to a non-league game and was struck by the facilities, the prices, customer service and the level of entertainment.

With Non-League Day all but cancelled for 2020 because of Covid-19, this month and maybe the early stages of October are an ideal time for non-league clubs to try and attract to new people through their gates.

With no Premier League or EFL fans being allowed into their own grounds, I'm hearing stories of other friends who are exploring what's on in their area often via the medium of an FA Cup tie and having a great time in the process.

Many readers of this blog know how good the non-league experience is so keep spreading the word.

There was a month of action to save the ailing hospitality trade (#EatOutToHelpOut), maybe there should be something similar to help/save some of this country's smaller football clubs - #GoNonLeagueToHelpOut??? 

It's not nearly as catchy but you get my drift. 

Well I think that's about enough from me. Before I go, a big thank you to Kevin O from Hertfordshire who donated to TLFG's coffee drinking fund on Saturday - cheers.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, the opening batch of fixtures in the Spartan South Midlands League, games in the Combined Counties League, Essex Senior League and Southern Counties East League plus a few pre-season matches.

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. However, capacity restrictions are currently in place at all grounds because of Covid-19 meaning only clubs from the seventh tier and below can currently admit spectators.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



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




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

Monday 7 September

Eastern Counties League Division 1 South
Barkingside v Hackney Wick - there's only one game on Monday night and it takes place in Ilford. Both sides began their league seasons on Saturday with the 'Side losing 2-1 at highly fancied Little Oakley and the Wickers drawing 2-2 with Benfleet. On paper this is a bit of a derby but neither club have their own ground and have found it hard to build a fanbase as a result. However, the hosts are always very keen to welcome visitors so don't be put off

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Tuesday 8 September

Friendlies
The bigger non-league clubs in London are still playing friendlies at this stage and there are several on Tuesday. The most eye-catching would appear to be the match at Bridge Avenue where Hornchurch welcome National League South side Maidstone United. The Kent club are one of the best supported sides at this level and averaged over 1,800 for home games last season. Elsewhere in east London there's a groundshare derby between Barking and big-spending Romford - former Billericay owner Glenn Tamplin's new club. There's also a local derby between North Greenford United and Hanwell Town which is pay what you want - bargain! 

Combined Counties League Premier Division
With three of our local ninth-tier leagues getting underway on Saturday, we've been given a very early look at how sharp some of the teams are. Banstead Athletic were pretty poor in 2019/20 and were among the beneficiaries of the season being declared null and void. On Saturday they started with a tidy 2-0 win over Badshot Lea to make a decent start. On Tuesday they host Sutton Common Rovers who would've probably finished in the top five if they'd been allowed to complete their fixtures

Essex Senior League
A couple of games look decent here. Firstly the north London derby between Cockfosters and Enfield. The hosts enjoyed a good FA Cup win in midweek and began their league campaign with a victory too. Sadly Enfield don't play in their home town so building a strong fanbase has again been hard and as such, it might not be as lively as some derbies in this part of the world. Over at Wadham Lodge Walthamstow entertain Stansted - both sides finished in the top five last season so should hopefully produce a decent contest

Combined Counties League Division 1
Walton & Hersham were the top TLFG team in this division last season and flew out of the traps with a 6-0 demolition of Ash United to go straight to the top of the table. On Tuesday they welcome the exotically titled FC Deportivo Galicia who look likely to achieve another midtable finish

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Wednesday 9 September

Friendlies
National League club Bromley travel to Chipstead on Wednesday night. With three divisions separating the clubs, you wonder how strong the visitors' line-up will be but they haven't played too many games yet and will want to give most of their players a chance. In the other pre-season game, Grays Athletic host Kingstonian in what should be a decent all-Isthmian League clash (this has now been cancelled)

Essex Senior League
If you want a competitive game, the east London derby between Ilford and Redbridge should be well worth a watch. Neither managed a win on the opening day so should both be hungry for points

Combined Counties League Premier Division
One team to keep your eye on in the ninth tier could well be Southall. They were well in with a shout of a top-three finish before Covid-19 intervened and have got off to a cracking start, thrashing Molesey 7-0 in the FA Cup and Cobham 4-0 in the league - both games were away from home too. On Wednesday they make the short trip to Bedfont to play CB Hounslow United who were bottom before the season was abandoned. They look better this time round but could still be on a hiding to nothing

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Thursday 10 September

London FA U18 Cup Final

I don't normally cover matches at U18 level but given there's nothing else on and I know that some of you are partial to a bit of youth football then you might be interested in this. This year's final features Welling United and Phoenix Sports and takes place at Park View Road. I have no idea how good either side is but Welling are the bigger club by some way

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Friday 11 September

FA Cup Preliminary Round
The next round of the country's top cup competition begins on Friday night in north London where first-time entrants New Salamis welcome West Essex to Coles Park for what should be a very entertaining tie. On paper, the hosts should start as underdogs as they play a level below the visitors but I can see them causing a cupset here 

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Saturday 12 September

FA Cup Preliminary Round
There are a sprinkling of pre-season and lower league games on Saturday but why bother with one of them when the majority of games in the area are in this grand competition. At this stage, a few seventh tier clubs enter the draw and prize money for a win goes up to the rather random amount of £1,444. 

Carshalton Athletic defied their seventh-tier status to make it to the First Round proper last year where they were disappointingly beaten by fellow non-leaguers Boston United. They'll hope to get this year's campaign off to a solid start as they entertain Whitstable Town from the division below. 

Hailing from the same division as Carshalton, Kingstonian went one better and made the Second Round in 2019/20 before also losing to non-league opposition in the form of AFC Fylde. The K's should also make progress on Saturday as they welcome Horley Town from two divisions below.

If I was to pick a game to go to as a neutral it would probably have to be the derby between Chertsey Town and Abbey Rangers. The Curfews are the reigning FA Vase holders so know a thing or two about getting to Wembley. They now play a level above Abbey, who come from neighbouring Addlestone, and should have too much for them. By reading the club's Twitter feed, the game will probably sell out so contact them as soon as possible if you want to go. 

Although not quite as close together as the teams above, there's a south-east London derby feel to Cray Valley PM v VCD Athletic. Both play in the Isthmian League South East and CVPM also made it to the FA Vase final in 2019 where they lost to Chertsey. This looks like a tough one to call.

If the Chertsey game is convenient for you but you can't get a ticket, then the groundshare derby between Southall and Ashford Town (Middlesex) looks like another humdinger. As already mentioned above, the 'All are in cracking form and could well give their landlords a very uncomfortable afternoon.

The all-Essex Senior League clash between Walthamstow and Cockfosters also looks pretty mouthwatering. Both have made good starts to the season and Wadham Lodge should see a good size crowd turn out for this one.

Last but by no means least, you could try heading to Colliers Wood United's ground to watch FA Cup first timers Westside. The south London club are pretty new to senior football but have started this season really well, winning 2-0 at Billingshurst in the last round and thrashing Sandhurst 5-1 in their opening league game. On Saturday they face a big step up in class as Isthmian League club Chatham Town roll into town for quite possibly the biggest game in Westside's history.

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Sunday 13 September

London & SE Women's Regional League
There are three fixtures scheduled at Dartford, Denham United and Dulwich Hamlet but at the time of writing none of the clubs have confirmed whether or not their matches will be open to the public. Dartford and Dulwich's men's teams play in the National League South so aren't allowed to host games - this has therefore complicated things a bit. Denham aren't affected in this way but I haven't been able to get hold of them. UPDATE - these matches are all open to the public but, particularly with Dulwich, you are advised to buy a ticket in advance



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.