Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.
It's been a hectic bank holiday weekend so apologies for the slightly late publication.
Again, I'll keep this brief as I'm short on time, but a lot of competitions have now finished or are wrapping up this week so the amount on offer is somewhat reduced.
I managed one game over the last few days - the first match played by QPR Women at Loftus Road.
They took on Norwich City in a fourth-tier match and grabbed a late goal to win 2-1 and secure a fourth-place finish just ahead of Actonians.
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| Danish TLFG reader Thomas pays a visit to Leyton Orient |
An appreciative crowd of around 500, way higher than normal, had an enjoyable afternoon and hopefully more games will be played there next season.
I plan to be back in the same stadium on Tuesday lunchtime when it's the turn of the men's U23 side to take to the pitch and entertain their counterparts from Wigan Athletic.
With manager Mark Warburton leaving the club in less than satisfactory circumstances after the final match at Swansea this Saturday, the mood around QPR is a bit strange at the moment.
Did he need to go? Who will be next?
With three years of service under his belt, he's the fifth longest-serving manager since I started watching the club in the early '80s and that should say something about the overall quality of his work.
To put that in perspective, the revered Neil Warnock only managed 22 months in the R's hot seat.
Oh well, that's football. Here's to whoever replaces him.
Lastly this week, thanks to Danish reader Thomas M O, who sent me an email about how he and his friends had used TLFG when their trip to see Chelsea fell through.
They ended up going to see the women's team play at Spurs instead and also visited Leyton Orient over the course of the weekend too.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, some of our local non-league competitions and the final day of 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
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin
TLFG DAILY DIGEST
Tuesday 3 May
Professional Development League
With the season coming to a close for most U23 teams, Millwall, QPR and Watford are all playing games at their main stadiums on Tuesday lunchtime. Entry is often free, pay what you want or no more than a fiver - check with the club on the day for all the details
MCFL Premier
NW London v Clapton CFC @8pm - the hosts won another cup at the weekend and will take a huge stride towards the MCFL title if they win this. Anything less than a win will knock the third-place Tons out of the race
MCFL Division 1 South/West
Shepherd's Bush v Hayes & Hillingdon @745pm - when Shepherd's Bush FC launched near me last summer, I was more than a little excited. However, my enthusiasm was quelled by them playing virtually all their games at Brunel University in Uxbridge. Despite this, it's been a great debut season and they'll win the division with a victory here. On this occasion, they're playing at Northwood so the spectator facilities will be much better than normal
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Wednesday 4 May
FA Women's Super League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @715pm - the biggest crowd of the night should be found at the Emirates Stadium where the women's version of the North London Derby is taking place. With Chelsea four points ahead, a defeat for the Gunners in their penultimate game will end their title hopes and see the Blues crowned champions. Tickets are available
Middlesex Charity Cup Final
Hanwell Town v Uxbridge @745pm - the Geordies secured promotion to the seventh tier on Sunday with a play-off win at Chertsey Town. On Wednesday they have the chance to bring home some more silverware and end their season on a real high. Uxbridge didn't finish far behind them in the league so it should be close. It's being played at Enfield Town
CCL Division 1 Play-Off Semi-Final
Hilltop v Eversley & California @745pm - after a superb debut season at this level, Hilltop finished second and now face this tricky play-off match against E&C who finished fifth
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Thursday 5 May
MCFL Premier
CB Hounslow United Reserves v NW London @745pm - if they haven't already won the title, NW London might have another chance to clinch it here
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Premier League
Brentford v Southampton @3pm - with Burnley and Everton picking up some crucial wins in recent weeks, the Bees and Saints aren't quite safe just yet and therefore, a win would do very nicely for both. When the clubs last met in January, Southampton enjoyed a convincing 4-1 win. Tickets are not available to non-members
Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm - the hosts appeared to have sewn up third place weeks ago but only two wins from their last five has suddenly put that in doubt. With Arsenal and Spurs rapidly catching up, they badly need to win here against eighth-placed Wolves to arrest the slide. Tickets are not available
Crystal Palace v Watford @3pm - a win here will almost certainly secure the Eagles' place in the division. Sadly, the same can't be said of Watford who could win and still get relegated as they're that far adrift. Tickets are only available to members
League Two
Leyton Orient v Tranmere Rovers @3pm - it's the final day of the season in the fourth tier. The O's have managed a midtable finish and have nothing to play for. The same cannot be said of Tranmere who can squeak into the play-offs with a win. Tickets are available
CCL Division 1 Play-Off Final
Hilltop v Wallingford Town @3pm - there are bigger games at non-league level on Saturday but this, for me, is the most significant. The hosts, who have their roots in the Somali community, are new to football at this level and have impressed many people I've spoken to with their style of football. Finishing as runners-up to London Lions, they should start as favourites. However, their form dipped noticeably in the final few games and they've done well to raise their standards again to make it this far. The visitors, on the other hand, finished well and could have the momentum required to go up
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Sunday 8 May
Premier League
Arsenal v Leeds United @2pm - a game of huge importance at either end of the table. The Gunners need the win to stay in the hunt for a Champions League place whilst Leeds need three points to try and keep them up. Tickets are only available to members
FA Women's Super League
Chelsea v Manchester United @12pm - it's the final day of the WSL and the biggest game is this match between two of the top three. It's possible that the Blues could be league champions by the time this kicks-off but if not, then a win here will seal it for Emma Hayes's side. Anything less and they could let Arsenal nick it from them at the death. Tickets are sold out
West Ham United v Arsenal @12pm - with tickets like gold dust for the game above, you should be able to get one for the next biggest game of the day at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground. If the Gunners beat Spurs on Wednesday, then a win here could be enough to pip Chelsea to the title
MCFL Premier Division Cup Final
Kensington Dragons v Clapton CFC @3pm - if you'd prefer a non-league match, then this cup final at Uxbridge's ground should draw a lively crowd of several hundred. The Tons, roared on by their large following, should start as favourites
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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!
Spurs v Leicester in the WSL is a bit of a nothing game, but it is being played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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