Monday 28 March 2022

TLFG: 28 March - 3 April 2022

Howdy folks and welcome to this week's TLFG.

After the trials of Covid, Non-League Day (NLD) and my return to work on Sunday, it's been a busy few days.

Consequently, there are only match maps at this point - I'm just home, it's 0030 and I really need the rest.

Saturday was a lot of fun. My highlight of NLD was probably the BBC's legendary sports show Football Focus being dedicated to the day, with Alex Scott presenting live from South Shields FC in the north-east.

Once again, #nonleagueday topped the Twitter trending charts in the UK and crowds around the country were huge in some cases, with Notts County topping the attendances with over 10,000.

Lots of clubs seemed to raise impressive sums of money for Prostate Cancer UK so I couldn't be happier.

I spent the afternoon at Harrow Borough who doubled their average crowd for the visit of Welsh club Merthyr Town which ended 1-1.

All in all, I think we'll be back next season.

OK, I've got to get to bed - hopefully I'll get some time to fill this out a bit as the week progresses.


THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, most of our local non-league competitions and the Women's Super League. 

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 - turquoise pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



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




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.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here  

Sunday 20 March 2022

TLFG: 21-27 March 2022

Greetings everyone - welcome to TLFG's Non-League Day special edition.

It's been tough to produce as I tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and have been feeling pretty rough.

There was further bad news at the beginning of the week when my Dad, having beaten lung cancer, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He was in remarkably good form when I spoke to him the other day and maybe believes he can defeat anything that this 'whack-a-mole' kind of disease can throw at him - here's hoping.

Non-League Day takes place on Saturday

On the bright side, I did finally get to pick up my QPR Supporter of the Year award for 2020/21 prior to the R's dismal 3-1 defeat to bottom club Peterborough - a side who have now got the better of them three times this season.

On Saturday I also enjoyed a visit to Silver Jubilee Park to watch Hendon rather undeservedly lose 2-1 to Yate Town in the Southern League.

Although I was originally intending to go to Tiverton to watch Harrow, it had been frowned upon by my other half so I made full use of the free entry offer the Greens had going for their game instead.

On arrival, I had the honour of finally meeting chairman Simon Lawrence who was greeting spectators as they arrived.

Like Harrow, Hendon are another fine seventh-tier club who are really looking to reach out to their local community and bring new fans in so if you're in the Kingsbury/Cricklewood area, please give them a try.

With Non-League Day (NLD) on Saturday, the remainder of this blog will be devoted primarily to that and I'll produce an in-depth look at what's on and update it as clubs announce new offers and events. 

(UPDATE - an NLD guide is now up, scroll down to see more)

I've done three match maps this week, with one focusing entirely on 26 March itself.

My NLD will be spent at Harrow Borough whose game against Merthyr Town kicks off at the slightly earlier time of 2pm to try and encourage fans heading to the England game at nearby Wembley to pop in on their way there.

Northolt Park station is a short walk away from Earlsmead, with trains taking just five minutes to get to the national stadium and Rayners Lane, with frequent services to Wembley Park, is also reachable on foot or by bus or taxi.

I'll be spending Non-League Day at Harrow Borough

Ticket holders for the Three Lions' game against Switzerland or any Premier League or EFL season-ticket holders will get in for half price (£6).

It's even better for NHS staff, emergency services and armed forces personnel who will get in for free as will all U16s.

If you do fancy joining me, tickets are available in advance or on the gate.

One other match I want to give a quick shout-out for is the England v Ukraine fans' match on Friday night at Bedfont & Feltham's ground near Heathrow.

Supporters of both teams are putting on a benefit game to raise funds for humanitarian aid to be sent to the war-torn nation.

So where do you think you'll spend NLD? The options are almost endless with numerous clubs at all levels offering more than I think I've ever seen before.

There's a real feeling that it could well be the biggest NLD yet!

 THE WEEK AHEAD

Aside from the huge selection of non-league games on NLD, there is also a sold-out England match, a couple of games in the EFL and plenty of women's matches. I've also added a stack of youth matches at U18, U19 and U23 levels.

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 - turquoise pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



SATURDAY MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin



SUNDAY MATCH MAP
Sunday fixtures - orange pin


NON-LEAGUE DAY GUIDE
(This is a work in progress and will be updated as the week progresses)

Saturday 26 March

FIFTH TIER

National League
Wealdstone v Bromley @3pm - the biggest game of the day is this fifth-tier derby between two sides from opposite sides of London. It's been mainly about consolidation for the Stones this season and they seem to have managed that with relative ease. On Saturday they pushed league leaders Stockport County really hard before eventually losing 4-2. Bromley, on the other hand, are still very much in the hunt for a play-off spot and are in the FA Trophy Semi-Finals meaning another trip to Wembley is within their grasp. NLD Deal - it's £10 for all Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders. The club are also taking part in the National Lottery Football Weekends scheme which allows you to bring a friend for free if you have a lottery ticket for Saturday's draw, check with the club for all the T&Cs. Update - this match has been made all-ticket so you must buy in advance

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SIXTH TIER

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Dartford @3pm - although down in 14th, the hosts have two games in hand which if won would put them right back in contention for a play-off spot. Dartford were top but are still third and firmly in the race for promotion. The Cleo Saul Beveree Stadium is one of London's favourite non-league grounds, especially on a sunny spring afternoon so I'd urge you to pay a visit if you're in that part of town. NLD Deal - like Wealdstone, H&RB are taking part in the 2for1 lottery promotion too

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SEVENTH TIER

Southern League Premier Division South
Harrow Borough v Merthyr Town @2pm - my beloved Boro are pulling out all the stops this year as they look to enjoy their best NLD ever. As mentioned above, the game has been brought forward to 2pm, with the very gracious assistance of their Welsh opponents, to try and encourage people with tickets for England v Switzerland to visit them first. Harrow are lucky enough to have goal machine James Ewington in the side and he's well on course to score 40 goals this season. NLD Deal - ticket holders for the Wembley match will get in for half price as will all Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders. It's also free for all NHS, emergency services, armed forces personnel and U16s
Hayes & Yeading United v Tiverton Town @3pm - the hosts are currently top in what is one of the tightest title races there is. With Metropolitan Police, Taunton Town and Farnborough all within three points of them, it looks like going down to the last day. Although in lower midtable, Tiverton were one of the first teams to stop Hayes winning when they drew 0-0 in Devon back in November. NLD event - this is being declared a 'dementia friendly football match' with a local Dementia Friends group attending the match in what is being described as the first 'Forget Me Not FC' match day

Isthmian League Premier Division
Corinthian Casuals v East Thurrock United @3pm - one of London's most colourful and historic clubs, CC's play in Tolworth and are easily reachable by train. With the support of their lively fans, they should have too much ETU who are bottom after winning only 6 of their 34 games. As an NLD treat, there will be a Brazilian samba band playing in the clubhouse after the match - a nod to the club's link with South American super club Corinthians
Cray Wanderers v Kingstonian @3pm - founded in 1860, the hosts are London's oldest club so are worth a watch just for that. They've had a tough season and are currently in the bottom three but have just appointed former Bromley boss Neil Smith as manager. The K's were right up with the title contenders earlier in the campaign but their form has left them and they're now down in midtable. NLD Deal - Premier League/Championship season-ticket holders get in for £5
Haringey Borough v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - playing on White Hart Lane within sight of the Tottenham Hostpur Stadium, the hosts have left it late to declare their plans but they're pretty great. NLD Deal - quite simply, everyone is allowed in for free with a collection to be split between Prostate Cancer UK and Ukraine Relief
Wingate & Finchley v Bishop's Stortford @3pm - one of the division's smallest clubs, Wingate have been holding their own at this level now for 10 years. With former player Marc Weatherstone now in charge of the team, they're fighting hard again. The visitors are having a fine season - currently second, they will start as favourites. NLD Deal - Premier League season-ticket holders will get in for £6

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EIGHTH TIER

Isthmian League North Division
Aveley v Stowmarket Town @3pm - arguably the game of the day in the eighth tier, leaders Aveley host the team two points behind them in third. Not only this but Stowmarket have a game in hand. The Millers' Parkside ground is very modern and has some of the best facilities of any non-league club within the M25
Barking v AFC Sudbury @3pm - the Blues have struggled this season and AFC Sudbury aren't pulling up any trees but there's something happening that could tempt you to Mayesbrook Park. NLD Deal - a free glass of beer on entry, how big it is and what beer it is we don't know. It's also half price for Premier League, EFL and National League season-ticket holders and kids for a quid

Isthmian League South Central
Chertsey Town v Guernsey @1245pm - with Bracknell already having won the title, it's all about who finishes second. The Curfews are currently in the runners-up spot and will want to hold on to it. A visit from Guernsey, or any club from the Channel Islands, is always a bit of a novelty and that's why the game kicks off so early. As a result of this, you could probably get to Egham Town v Burnham at 3pm and if you're an England ticket holder, you'll definitely make it to Wembley too. NLD Deal - half price for emergency service and armed forces personnel
Chipstead v Thatcham Town @3pm - in the deep south of TLFG's catchment area, the Chips welcome 2018 FA Vase winners Thatcham who are only two places below them. NLD Deal - it's pay what you want and there's a collection for Prostate Cancer UK, although this is currently only being promoted by the away team so double-check this on the day 
Hanwell Town v Westfield @3pm - the Geordies are just a point behind Chertsey and pushing hard for second themselves. Westfield are in lower midtable and should be beaten. With Harrow just up the road, there's a lot of competition in this part of London to tempt you in. NLD Deal - it's free for emergency services and U18s, half price for PL/EFL season-ticket holders and England v Switzerland ticket holders
Sutton Common Rovers v Staines Town @3pm - being played at Sutton United's Gander Green Lane, SCR should be hopeful of taking all the points against bottom club Staines. NLD Deal - all prices have been cut so that adults are now only £5 and there will be a collection for Prostate Cancer UK too
Tooting & Mitcham United v Binfield @3pm - another one of our clubs to be struggling in this division, the Terrors will hope for some extra backing as they go after three crucial three points. NLD Deal - free entry for U18s
Uxbridge v Marlow @3pm - with only five points separating the sides in second and seventh, that race for the runners-up spot is set to be fierce. These two are both among that group. NLD Deal - half price for Premier League/EFL season-ticket holders

Isthmian League South East
Phoenix Sports v Hythe Town @3pm - two of the bottom six do battle to pick up some crucial points. NLD Deal - £5 for any "League or National League" ST holders

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NINTH TIER

CCL Premier Division North
Edgware Town v Holyport @3pm - currently seventh, the hosts should see off bottom club Holyport with ease. There are clear views of the Wembley Arch from the north end of Silver Jubilee Park and the 83 bus, which stops nearby, will drop you off at the top of 'Wembley Way' if you're going to the England game. However, traffic might mean you need to leave before the end. NLD Deal - free entry for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders and members 
Wembley v North Greenford United @3pm - a local derby not far from the national stadium so another good option if you're going to watch England. However, despite sharing a name and being in the same part of London, it's still a two-mile walk so you'd probably have to leave before full time. There are no deals in place that we're aware of

CCL Premier South
Walton & Hersham v Knaphill @3pm - Surrey club W&H are having a fine season and are engaged in a titanic title fight with Beckenham Town. The Swans are currently one point clear but have played more games. Knaphill, near Woking, don't have far to travel so should give this a bit of a derby feel. NLD Deal - free entry for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders

Essex Senior League
Cockfosters v Redbridge @3pm - just around the corner from the Tube station of the same name, Cockfosters welcome the second-placed Motormen. NLD event - one of the more unusual but highly important things to be taking place anywhere in the country, the hosts are holding a stem cell donor recruitment event on behalf of the Leukaemia Cancer Society
Ilford v Sawbridgworth Town @3pm - two of the bottom six are set to battle it out for a crucial three points at Cricklefields. The Foxes appear to be hosting a collection for Prostate Cancer UK, with adult entry a reasonable £7
West Essex v St Margaretsbury @3pm - the hosts are coasting along comfortably in midtable whilst the hosts are down in the bottom three. NLD Deal - it's pay what you want for everyone at Wadham Lodge and there's a free burger and beer for the first 10 people through the gate

SCEFL Premier Division
Erith & Belvedere v Canterbury City @3pm - the Deres have an outside chance of a top-three finish and should have enough to win here. NLD event - 50% of the gate receipts will be donated to the local foodbank
Glebe v Bearsted @3pm - with Chatham and Sheppey well clear in the top two spots, it's all about securing third for Glebe. Bearsted are down in 11th. NLD Deal - buy one, get one free on drinks until kick-off

SSML Premier
Harefield United v Arlesey Town @3pm - there's a midtable clash at Preston Park which lies in a part of suburban west London that's more like a country village. NLD Deal - pay what you want

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TENTH TIER

CCL Division 1
AFC Hayes v Kensington & Ealing Borough @3pm  - a midtable contest at Farm Park, it should be pretty even. NLD Deal - free entry for NHS staff and armed forces
Bedfont & Feltham v Sandhurst Town @3pm - located very close to the runway at Heathrow Airport, this is one of the most photographed non-league grounds in London. Sandhurst, pushing for a place in the top three, will start as favourites. NLD Deal - £3 for Premier League/EFL season-ticket holders
FC Deportivo Galicia v Bagshot @3pm - playing next door at Bedfont Sports' ground, FCD are the division's highest scorers with a whopping 108 goals from 33 games. The visitors have been struggling this season and should be beaten. NLD Deal - everyone paying the £5 entry fee gets a free pin badge and very smart they are too
Hilltop v London Lions @3pm - one of the biggest games of the day at any level, this top-two clash should be well worth a watch. Being played at the Middlesex Stadium near Ruislip, it pits one side with their roots in the Somali community against one with a Jewish background. NLD Deal - all ticket prices halved so it's now only £2.50 for adults and there will be a collection for Prostate Cancer UK
Rayners Lane v Wallingford Town @3pm - there's another fine game in this division just a few miles to the east. The Lane are third, a position they will probably finish in. One of the most entertaining sides in the division, they're one of four clubs to have so far scored 100 goals or more. The visitors are in the top six too so we could have another cracking match on our hands. Close to Rayners Lane station, this is another good option if you're going to the England game. NLD Deal - half price for Premier League/EFL season-ticket holders, a prize draw for those who buy a programme and half of all gate receipts will go to the Ukraine Relief Fund
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ELEVENTH TIER

Middlesex County Football League
Stonewall FC v Larkspur Rovers @2pm - there aren't any special deals that we're aware of in the 11th tier but the games are really cheap or free anyway. This match features the capital's top LGBT football club and it's being played at the London Marathon Community Track which sits in the shadow of the London Stadium in what was the Olympic Park
Kensington Dragons v Sporting Hackney @2pm - if you're an England fan looking for an early kick-off then this match at Linford Christie Stadium on the edge of Wormwood Scrubs could be for you. 
Pitshanger Dynamo v NW London @2pm - playing at North Greenford United's ground, this is another one that's well placed for fans heading to Wembley. The hosts are battling to avoid the drop whilst NW London are going for the title

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TWELFTH TIER

Surrey South Eastern Combination
AFC Whyteleafe v Frenches Athletic @3pm - the hosts are a phoenix club set up at the start of the season following the sudden and rapid demise of Isthmian League side Whyteleafe. Consequently, the club play in a much better stadium and have a much bigger fan base than most clubs at this level. They're targeting a record crowd of around 400 and have made it free entry so anything's possible



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.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here  

Sunday 13 March 2022

TLFG: 14-20 March 2022

It's been another incredibly busy week at TLFG Towers as Non-League Day (NLD) gets ever closer.

With scores of press releases going out to various entities and meetings going on with our partners, this blog has very much taken a back seat.

So regretfully, it's just match maps again this week.

There are now less than two weeks to go

There are some really good games though, so make sure you have a good hunt around to make sure you don't miss them.

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The big news of the week has of course been the sanctioning of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Essentially this means the club can't receive any revenue but can spend as much as it wants until it runs out of money - which given the huge wage bill, probably won't take too long.

Listening to the radio just now, I heard the word 'administration' mentioned in relation to Chelsea and it seems almost unthinkable.

As a QPR fan, you wouldn't expect me to shed many tears over their predicament and I'm not but as a matter of personal policy, I always try to avoid gloating as it's one of the most pathetic and destructive behaviours imaginable and one that can so easily be thrown back in your face.

The future looks very uncertain but it does for the whole of Europe right now, something which is far more concerning.

------------------------------------------

Congratulations to Bromley who have made it through to the FA Trophy Semi-Finals after beating Solihull Moors on Saturday.

Sadly it wasn't to be for Dagenham & Redbridge or Southall who both lost quarter-final ties on penalties in the Trophy and FA Vase respectively.

--------------------------------------------

On to personal news and I'm pleased to say that I've been given another chance to pick up my QPR Supporter of the Year award for 2020/21 ahead of the R's home game against Peterborough United on Sunday so if you go to the game, you might see me make a brief trip onto the pitch before the action gets underway.

Before that, I plan to undertake another West Country awayday with Harrow Borough as they head down to Devon to play Tiverton Town on Saturday. It'll be a new ground for me, despite my Dad having lived in that region for about 20 years.

Lastly, there was also a nice cameo appearance from yours truly in this month's When Saturday Comes (WSC), which some of you may have seen mentioned on Twitter, something which is always an honour.

I think that's all I've got time for - please help me by spreading the word of Non-League Day if you can.

The match finder is up and running so you can locate a game wherever you are in the country on 26 March and take a full part in the festivities.


THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, most of our local non-league competitions, the Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup. 

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 - turquoise pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin



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




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.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here  

Sunday 6 March 2022

TLFG: 7-13 March 2022

After running out of time last week, I've managed a fuller edition of TLFG this time - yes, the Daily Digest is back.

For most of the week, I was expecting another short version as Non-League Day (NLD) prep is really taking up a lot of time.

Our match finder is now finally available and the whole site should be up and running by the end of the week too.

We're still in discussions with Kick It Out about which matches will feature as showpiece games but we'll probably know in the next few days.

There's less than three weeks to go until Non-League Day

It was disappointing when the FA scheduled England's match against Switzerland on the same day (26 March) but the 530pm kick-off means that several clubs close to Wembley have games which they hope Three Lions fans and hopefully a few Swiss ones will want to go to beforehand.

My own club Harrow Borough have brought forward their game against Merthyr Town to 2pm and are offering half-price entry to England v Switzerland ticket holders as well as season-ticket holders of any Premier League or EFL club. 

Other clubs hosting games in the area include Edgware Town and Wembley who both have views of the stadium from their grounds. 

In other news, I was supposed to pick up my QPR Supporter of the Year Award on Saturday ahead of the R's game against Cardiff City.

Sadly, I was working so couldn't go but it doesn't sound as if I missed much on the pitch as Rangers threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 with a terrible second-half performance.

I did, however, get to a game on Sunday.

Over the last few months, regular readers will know that my daughter has started playing for Actonians U9 team.

Today she and her team-mates were invited to be mascots for the first team in their FA Women's National League game against London Seaward (formerly known as Leyton Orient until the club inexplicably took the name off them last season) at Rectory Park.

My daughter ended up being paired with goalkeeper Roschelle Shakes - I say goalkeeper, she's usually a striker but injury to Paige Horsnell meant she had to start the game in goal.

A commanding presence, she barely put a foot wrong and pulled off a couple of decent saves as Actonians generally dominated the game and won 3-0.

Maria Ledezma-Viso makes it 3-0 to Actonians

The win left them fourth in the table with QPR, who have games in hand,  being the only club likely to catch them.

Talking of the R's, they were playing on the neighbouring pitch at the same time so I got two games for the price of one!

Their match against Cambridge United was a thriller that saw them win 3-2 with a very late goal despite having a player sent off and another sin-binned.

Rumours suggest they could play some more games at Rectory Park so there could be some more doubleheaders coming up.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, most of our local non-league competitions and the Women's Super League too. 

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 - turquoise 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 March

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @8pm - despite some iffy results of late, a place in the top four is still within Spurs' grasp. On paper, they should beat a relegation-threatened Toffees side who haven't enjoyed a 'new manager bounce' under Frank Lampard. It's hospitality packages only at this stage

Professional Development League
Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town @1pm - the pick of the youth action is this lunchtime kick-off at The Valley. As always, check all the details before you travel for this and any other academy game

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Tuesday 8 March

Isthmian Premier
Corinthian Casuals v Bognor Regis Town @745pm - the highest level of football you can watch on Tuesday is this seventh-tier match in Tolworth. With both sides trundling along in midtable, there's very little riding on it

Combined Counties League Premier South
Beckenham Town v Badshot Lea @745pm - there's a feast of great games in the CCL on Tuesday so it's really hard to pick just one but I've gone for this as it pits second against fourth. It's also worth checking out the matches at Abbey Rangers, AFC Croydon Athletic and North Greenford United

Combined Counties League Division 1
Hilltop v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - the hosts have been one of the breakthrough teams of the season and are top of the division after stepping up to this level for the first time in 2021/22. In this match they take on the club they groundshare with and they should win

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Wednesday 9 March

Isthmian Premier
Cray Wanderers v Haringey Borough @745pm - Sitting 19th out of 22, London's oldest club are in danger of relegation. The last time I checked, they had games in hand so the table looked a bit false. However, they've now played more than all those around them and they're still down there. Haringey are only six points ahead of them and they drew 1-1 earlier in the season so it should be close again

Combined Counties League Premier South
Colliers Wood United v Raynes Park Vale @730pm - always one of my highlights of the season, the A3 Derby is back. Postponed from earlier in the season, this should be worth a watch if you're in south-west London. Up in the top six, RPV are favourites

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Thursday 10 March

FA Women's Super League
West Ham United v Chelsea @745pm - women's football takes centre stage on Thursday as the Hammers look to take advantage of the Blues' current inconsistency. Having lost Saturday's League Cup Final to Manchester City, Chelsea have now won only one of their last three games which is unusual for a side of their ability. Despite an upturn in their recent fortunes, it will take something pretty special for the hosts to prevail. Tickets are available

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Friday 11 March

Premier League 2
Chelsea v West Ham United @7pm - the following night, the two clubs' male U23 sides meet at Kingsmeadow. At this level, Chelsea are having a stinker and are second bottom, whilst West Ham are third with games in hand on all of those above them. Tickets are £5 and will be available on the gate

Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v FC Clacton @745pm - if you'd rather a non-league option then head to north-east London for some ESL action. Woodford are always welcoming to new visitors and would love to see you there. The two clubs are neck-and-neck in midtable so it should be competitive

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Saturday 12 March

Premier League
Brentford v Burnley @3pm - the Bees are in the middle of a crucial run of games, which will surely decide whether they retain their Premier League status. After losing to Newcastle, they picked up a priceless 3-1 win at bottom club Norwich on Saturday to move six points clear of Burnley and the relegation zone. If they beat the Clarets as well, things will look very rosey indeed. Tickets are only available to members

Championship
Millwall v Middlesbrough @3pm - from almost out of nowhere, the Lions have become the form team of the division with five wins on the trot. This has catapulted them up 10th just three points behind Boro who occupy the last play-off spot. They could even start this match on level points if they win their midweek trip to Blackburn. Tickets are available

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Lincoln City @3pm - the Dons lost at title contenders Wigan to extend their winless run to 17 games. Somehow, they're still just above the relegation zone as the teams below them have faltered too. The Imps are a couple of places above them so this is a must-win game. Tickets are available

National League
Boreham Wood v Chesterfield @520pm - in the late televised game, two of the title contenders meet at Meadow Park. The Wood impressed many people with their run to the FA Cup Fifth Round which saw them eventually bow out at Everton on Thursday. Although fifth, they have games in hand on all the clubs around them and are still well in the hunt for top spot. Former EFL club Chesterfield, who also had a big FA Cup trip to Chelsea in January, are second but have played more than everyone else. The reverse fixture saw the Spireites win 2-1 at the end of October

FA Trophy Quarter-Finals
Bromley v Solihull Moors @3pm - in case you don't know, the FA Trophy is a national knockout competition for sides in the fifth to eighth tiers, which usually has its final at Wembley. As we're now down to the last eight, it's fair to say things are getting pretty serious. At Hayes Lane, 2018 finalists Bromley welcome fellow National League play-off hopefuls Solihull who are currently on a 10-game unbeaten run. This might worry most teams but probably not the Ravens, who were the last side to beat them two months ago. Tickets are available
Dagenham & Redbridge v York City @3pm - in the other London tie, the Daggers will start as favourites as they host a side from the level below. However, York have a good recent record in this competition and have made the final three times since 2009, winning twice. If the east London club manage to ward off complacency, then they should be ok. Tickets are available

National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - when there are no real standout fixtures in the sixth tier, it's really hard not to recommend a visit to the Hamlet. I might just as well copy and paste this paragraph every time they have a home game. A trip to Dulwich might not represent a typical afternoon out at this level, but it should be a good one. Often sold out on Saturdays, Champion Hill is one of the most welcoming, lively and colourful grounds in the capital and is well worth trying out. At the time of writing, the hosts are just about holding on to a play-off spot and will have to be on their game if they want to avoid any mishaps against an improving Havant side. If you do want to go, you're strongly advised to buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 30 minutes before kick-off to get a good view

Isthmian Premier
Hornchurch v Enfield Town @3pm - after an unspectacular start to the campaign, last season's surprise FA Trophy winners Hornchurch have started to build up a head of steam which has seen them rise to fifth. Enfield were giving leaders Worthing plenty to think about until they lost to them last weekend on the south coast. They're now fourth and 11 points adrift. If they lose this, they'll be swapping places with the Urchins

Isthmian South East
Cray Valley PM v Hastings United @3pm - game of the day in the eighth tier sees fourth play first. CVPM have lost three in a row so it doesn't look like a great time to be playing the U's who have won six on the bounce and are 10 points clear

CCL Premier Division North
Hanworth Villa v Abbey Rangers @3pm - at the time of writing, these are the top two in this ninth-tier division. Midweek results could see Abbey drop a place or two if they lose but it should still be good. Over the 10 years or so that I've been writing this blog, Hanworth have often been there or thereabouts without really threatening to win the title. This year, it looks almost impossible for them to lose it. Currently 23 points clear with eight games to go, only Abbey and Southall have any vague chance of catching them because they have some games in hand

SCEFL Division 1
Stansfeld v Snodland Town @3pm - although second and four points behind leaders Sutton Athletic, the hosts must still be title favourites as they have three games in hand. Snodland are two points behind in third but have played more games and will be fourth if Tooting Bec win on Tuesday

MCFL Premier Division Cup Semi-Final
Clapton CFC v Cricklewood Wanderers @2pm - there's a double of sorts over at Wadham Lodge where The Tons go for cup glory on the pitch next to the main stadium where West Essex will be playing at 3pm. Although down in the 11th tier they often get lively crowds of 400+ so are well worth experiencing. With the overlap in kick-off times between the two games, you'll have to leave one early or turn up late for the other but with Clapton CFC games being pay what you want, you can't really go wrong  

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Sunday 13 March

Premier League
Chelsea v Newcastle United @2pm - there are three top-flight games in London on Sunday including this intriguing game at Stamford Bridge. Uncertainty is swirling around the west London club at the moment as owner Roman Abramovich has put the club up for sale. The Russian billionaire has transformed the club into one of the biggest in the world since taking over in 2003 and no-one's quite sure what his departure will bring. It's been a rollercoaster of a week on the pitch which began with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup Final, a hard-fought 3-2 win at Luton in the FA Cup and a 4-0 drubbing of Burnley at Turf Moor. Here, a section of Blues supporters decided to sing their owner's name rather than show solidarity for the people of Ukraine prior to kick-off. Since the humiliation of losing to Cambridge United in the FA Cup at the start of January, Newcastle are now unbeaten in seven and almost certain to avoid relegation. Chelsea have won eight of their last 10 games against the Toon but that record could come under some pressure here. Only hospitality packages remain
West Ham United v Aston Villa @2pm - the Hammers narrowly lost their big game at Liverpool on Saturday to miss their chance of returning to the top four. Having played three games more than some of the clubs around them, a Europa League spot looks increasingly like their most realistic target. Villa have stabilised under Steven Gerrard and won't go down or get into Europe - it's now all about playing for places and the prize money that goes with them. West Ham appear to be a bit of a bogey team for Villa who have only beaten them once in their last 11 attempts. Tickets are available
Arsenal v Leicester City @430pm - the day concludes with a chance to watch a resurgent Arsenal who after four straight wins, find themselves back in the top four. It seemed almost unthinkable that they'd come anywhere near this earlier in the season but boss Mikel Arteta has pulled off a minor miracle to put them right back in there with all the other big clubs. They have games in hand too, so catching third-place Chelsea should also be possible. After winning last season's FA Cup, Leicester have been very underwhelming this season. With only nine league wins, they're very much stuck in the midtable doldrums and should be beaten. Tickets are only available to members

FA Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @1230pm - Spurs drew with Reading on Sunday which meant they were unable to reclaim third place from Manchester United who won on Saturday. City, on the other hand, are starting to looking ominously good. After seeing injuries ruin most of their season, the stars are returning and so are the wins. Saturday saw them come from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 in the League Cup Final as they picked up the first major bit of silverware of the campaign. An away win looks most likely and will leave them just two points off third. Tickets are available
Chelsea v Aston Villa @1pm - if you're in south-west London you'll be much better placed to head to Kingsmeadow where the Blues will look to restart their chase of Arsenal. Emma Hayes' side haven't played a league game for nearly a month since they drew 0-0 with the Gunners and they're now eight points behind the north London club but have three games in hand. Villa sit just above the bottom three and their fine young England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton will probably have a busy afternoon. Tickets are available

FA Women's Championship
Charlton Athletic v Liverpool @2pm - in the second tier of the women's game, it looks like being a tough afternoon for the Addicks who welcome the leaders. A couple of games without a win have seen the hosts slip to fifth but they should take heart from seeing London City Lionesses hold the Reds to a 1-1 draw on Sunday

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!

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