Monday 27 March 2023

TLFG: 27 March - 2 April 2023

Greetings and welcome to this week's TLFG.

As you can imagine, I've had a particularly hectic weekend with Non-League Day (NLD) on Saturday and Women's Football Weekend on Sunday.

Early indications suggest NLD was a great success, possibly the best ever thanks to a whole host of things, not least the interest and involvement shown by La Liga club Athletic Bilbao.

As a result of this, I went to meet their delegation of officials and fans who attended the National League South match between Dulwich Hamlet and Oxford City.

A crowd of over 3,000 watched Dulwich Hamlet on Non-League Day

It was great to meet up with them and do a couple of interviews for the club and a big Spanish YouTube channel - the latter gave me a tip off that another La Liga club could be getting involved soon too but I won't tell you who just yet.

The game itself produced an entertaining 2-2 draw and a crowd well in excess of 3,000 - there was talk in the boardroom that a further 400 people had been turned away.

My other highlights of the day were seeing BBC Football Focus once again dedicated to the day with Alex Scott, Glenn Murray and Ashley Williams bringing us the show from Scarborough Athletic.

The Premier League trophy went to Coventry Sphinx in the company of Dion Dublin to the delight of many locals.

The games at Slough Town and Wealdstone were both broadcast live on BT Sport with the Stones seeing a record attendance (3,000+) for their derby against Barnet.

Another important stat for us was our position at the top of the UK's Twitter trending chart for a large chunk of the day which was very pleasing.

On Sunday, I showed my support for Women's Football Weekend by attending the FA Women's National League game between Actonians and Norwich City.

Neck-and-neck in the battle for fourth place, it was the hosts who dominated proceedings and, bar a slightly uncertain final quarter, came away with a 4-1 win.

New signing Sophie Baigent, a youngster on loan from Super League side Reading, looked really good.

A composed centre-back, she kept things tight at the back and then scored with a powerful header from a corner to make it 3-0 in the second half - definitely one to watch.

The other highlight of the afternoon for me was taking my daughter and a friend along.

My daughter led the team out again as a mascot whilst her friend did a bit of flag bearing.

The pair and all the other kids present, took part in a half-time penalty shootout, got autographs from the players at full-time and then posed for a team photo on the goal-line.

The visiting friend now wants to join the club as soon as possible as she had so much fun.

As I've been so rushed off my feet, I've only written match previews for Monday and Tuesday so far and I'll hopefully add a bit more as the week goes on.

 THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League and many other games in our local non-league and women's competitions.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - turquoise 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 27 March

Professional Development League
QPR v Birmingham City @7pm - the week begins with this U21 game at Hanwell Town's ground. The R's had been on a good run but disappointingly came unstuck at bottom club Watford last week. The Blues are fifth in Group North so should start as marginal favourites. It's usually around £5 to get in, payable on the gate

MCFL Premier Division
PFC Victoria London v Shepherd's Bush @745pm - there's a random bit of 11th-tier action at Rectory Park on Monday night. Currently second and 10 points behind leaders Clapton CFC, the visitors have an outside chance of the title. PFC are only two points above the relegation zone so badly need a win themselves
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 28 March

U21 International Friendly
England v Croatia @745pm - the Three Lions continue their build-up to this summer's Euro U21 tournament with this friendly at Craven Cottage. Tickets are £15

League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Walsall @745pm - defeat to Barrow on Saturday extended the Dons' winless run to 11 games. Still 11 points clear of the relegation zone, they'll probably be fine but a win here against the midtable Saddlers would be very welcome. Tickets

National League
Wealdstone v Oldham Athletic @745pm - after smashing their attendance record at Grosvenor Vale on Non-League Day, the Stones should expect another healthy turnout for the visit of a former Premier League team. The Latics looked like suffering back-to-back relegations earlier in the season but they're now nine points clear of the relegation zone and should be okay. Tickets
Boreham Wood v Torquay United @745pm - in the other fifth-tier game, the hosts should expect to beat relegation threatened Torquay. If they do come away with three points, they'll move up to fifth. Tickets

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Taunton Town @745pm - the Beevers' great recent form came to an end on Saturday when Farnborough beat them 1-0. Next up, they face a side only a point behind them. Both could do with a win to give themselves a bit of breathing space in the battle to avoid the drop

Isthmian League Premier
Enfield Town v Hornchurch @745pm - this game at Donkey Lane immediately got my attention when I saw it was taking place this week. The Towners picked up a solid 3-1 win at Herne Bay on Saturday to keep their place in the top five. The Urchins, meanwhile, suffered a surprise loss at home to Margate as the title race took another twist. Although they remain top with a game in hand, Bishop's Stortford are now back on level points

London Senior Cup Semi-Final
Haringey Borough v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - both in the bottom eight in the Isthmian League, these two could probably do with the distraction of a cup semi-final. To add a bit of spice, this is a north London derby too

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Hayes & Yeading United v Brentford B @745pm - there's also a cup final place up for grabs at the SkyEx where Southern League side H&YU welcome the reserve side from their local Premier League club. Hendon knocked the Bees out of the London Senior Cup last week so Hayes, a better side, should be capable of doing something here. The winners will play Harrow Borough in the final

Surrey Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Metropolitan Police v Sutton United @745pm - I think it's fair to say that The Met, with three final appearances in the last 10 years, have taken this competition more seriously than the U's. Although Sutton are the second most successful club in the history of the competition, they haven't won it for 20 years and haven't been to the final since 2013. As an EFL side, the visitors should start as favourites but they're likely to only field a development side

SCEFL Challenge Cup Semi-Final, Second Leg
Sutton Athletic v Fisher @745pm - having won the first leg 3-1, the Fish head to Kent as strong favourites for this one. The winners will face Hollands & Blair or Kennington in the final

London Senior Trophy Final
Tooting Bec v FC Petrocub @745pm - a big night of cup football comes to an end with one of the first finals of the season. Open to clubs primarily in the 10th and 11th tiers, these sides from the Southern Counties East League and Essex Alliance League will contest the Trophy at SC Thamesmead's ground. Tooting Bec will start as favourites as they play a level above their opponents
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 29 March

UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter-Final
Arsenal v Bayern Munich @8pm - trailing 1-0 after the first leg, the Gunners have a good chance of making it to the final four of the continent's top women's club competition. They warmed up for this by thrashing local rivals Spurs 5-1 on Saturday to keep themselves in the hunt for the Super League title. This match is being played at the Emirates Stadium and tickets are available for £12

FA Women's Champonship
Charlton Athletic v Lewes @645pm - if an unusually earlier kick-off could be good for you, head to VCD Athletic's ground in south-east London to see this women's second-tier game. Currently fourth and unbeaten in five, the Addicks could still finish second and should start as favourites here

SCEFL Premier Division
Holmesdale v Phoenix Sports @745pm - if leaders Erith & Belvedere slip up on Tuesday, then the huge lead they had at the start at February could be cut to just three points if second placed Phoenix Sports win here

SCEFL Division 1
Lewisham Borough v Bermondsey Town @745pm - the hosts pushed leaders Snodland hard on Saturday but narrowly lost 1-0 in front of a record crowd on Non-League Day. After a great run, that's now two defeats in a row but in bottom club Bermondsey, they face a team who can't buy a win and three points look likely
--------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday 30 March

UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter-Final
Chelsea v Lyon @8pm - if Arsenal have a good chance of making the semis, the Blues' opportunity is even greater because they beat the reigning European champions 1-0 in the first leg. However, unlike Arsenal, they come into this match after losing their big Super League game at Manchester City on Sunday. Emma Hayes' side had looked like strong favourites to win a domestic treble this season but after losing to Arsenal in the League Cup Final, that target has gone. Although they're well placed to win the league, they're starting to look far more fallible than they did, giving the likes of City, Manchester United and Arsenal real hope of challenging them. Lyon arrive as leaders of the French league after beating Guingamp 6-0 on Sunday. The match is being played at Stamford Bridge and tickets are available

Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Halstead Town @745pm - after a bit of last-minute rescheduling, Woodford now place Halstead on Thursday and have seen their match on Friday at Ilford moved to Saturday afternoon. On paper, this looks like a home banker

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

Friday 31 March

Premier League 2
Fulham v Leicester City @7pm - the pick of the games is this U21 match at the Cottagers' training ground in Motspur Park. Currently a top-five club in the country's elite development division, Fulham have a fine crop of young players and they should have more than enough to beat bottom club Leicester. Admission is usually around £5, payable on the gate

Professional Development League
Watford v Peterborough United @1pm - earlier in the day, you've got the chance to visit Vicarage Road on the cheap as the Hornets' U21 side welcome their Posh counterparts. Tickets are £5 and can be bought in advance

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

Saturday 1 April

Premier League
Arsenal v Leeds United @3pm - if Manchester City lose the early game against Liverpool then the Gunners will go 11 points clear if they win here. With Leeds just two points above the relegation zone, a home win looks almost certain. The Yorkshire club have a pretty poor record against Arsenal in recent years - their last win against them was in 2003. Tickets are only available to members
Crystal Palace v Leicester City @3pm - with only four points between the bottom nine clubs, the relegation fight has never been so tight. This will be Roy Hodgson's first game in charge of Palace since returning to the club and it's a crucial one against one of their fellow strugglers. The 75-year-old pulled off a minor miracle keeping Fulham up in 2007/08 and hopefully he'll be able to get things right here too. Tickets are only available to members
Chelsea v Aston Villa @530pm - in the late game, two clubs locked on 38 points in the middle of the table will look for a win that could get them back in contention for a European place. The Blues have only lost one of their last 12 against Villa but the visitors are in marginally better league form and could get something here. Tickets are sold out

League One
Charlton Athletic v Shrewsbury Town @3pm - with teams 15 and nine points adrift of the play-off places respectively, this is approaching 'dead rubber' status. Mathematically it's not all over, certainly not for the visitors, but there isn't a whole lot to play for here. The Addicks won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in October so I'm not expecting a classic here. However, funny things often happen at this point of the season and it could end up being a 5-5 draw. Tickets

League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Rochdale @3pm - if the Dons fail to beat Walsall in midweek, then they'll get the best chance they'll get of ending their winless run here. The visitors are bottom, 10 points adrift of safety and seem destined to be playing non-league football next season. Tickets
Leyton Orient v Carlisle United @3pm - the match of the day in the fourth tier sees the leaders host the side in fourth. The O's are five points clear at the top and eight points clear of fourth so a win here would take them a huge step towards automatic promotion as the top three go up by right. This game is so hot that it's sold out

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers @2pm - I'm pretty sure that the original kick-off time for this was 12pm which would've allowed you to see two games on Saturday. However, it's been moved back a couple of hours so unless you're a fan of either side or a connoisseur of U21 football, then I wouldn't bother. It's been played at West Ham's Rush Green facility near Romford and it's usually about £5, payable on the gate 

National League
Bromley v Solihull Moors @3pm - on level points just outside the play-off places, this looks like the game of the day in the fifth tier. Averaging even bigger crowds than Dulwich Hamlet, the Ravens are the best supported non-league side in the capital. With modern facilities, the club are all set to push on to the next level. Last season they won the FA Trophy at Wembley and they have a chance of more glory if they can bridge the seven-point gap to the top seven. Solihull made it to the play-off final at the London Stadium last season but lost 2-1 to Grimsby Town after extra-time after initially taking the lead. Tickets

National League South
Dartford v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - talking of the Hamlet, they've got this derby against the Darts the same afternoon which means we should get a decent attendance here too. Of importance at either end of the table, there's quite a bit riding on this. The hosts seem to have been second for weeks and weeks, despite only one win from their last five. While they've clung to this position, leaders Ebbsfleet have pulled well clear at the top and will almost certainly claim the title in the next couple of weeks. Dulwich, on the other hand, are in the relegation zone but a win here could seem them climb out as Cheshunt are only a point ahead

Isthmian League Premier Division
Enfield Town v Cray Wanderers @3pm - head to Donkey Lane for the match of the day in the seventh tier. Things were pretty tight at the top but the top four have started to put a bit of daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in the last few weeks. At the time of writing, Enfield and Cray are the best of the rest in fifth and sixth and need to win here to keep touch. If the Towners beat Hornchurch in midweek, then another win here could see them move right back into contention

Isthmian League South Central
Walton & Hersham v Basingstoke Town @3pm - if I wasn't working on Saturday, this is the game I would be making a beeline for. Only a point apart, these two are currently well clear of the rest at the top of the division. Unsurprisingly, they draw some of the best attendances in the eighth tier and I would expect at least 500 to turn out for this one, if not considerably more

CCL Premier North
North Greenford United v Flackwell Heath @3pm - despite covering several leagues in the ninth tier, there's nothing to match what's going on at Walton & Hersham. Instead, this match between two of the top eight in the CCL North is the best I can find. The visitors are currently third and get the biggest crowds in the division 

CCL Division 1
British Airways v FC Deportivo Galicia @3pm - with average crowds of around 30, don't expect a cracking atmosphere for this derby. The sides groundshare at stadiums that are right next to each other in the shadow of Heathrow Airport and its flightpath - if you like getting close to big planes, then this is the ground for you. On the pitch, the visitors are currently top and beat eighth tier Ashford Town in the Middlesex Charity Cup last week

SPCFL Premier
AFC Cubo v Worcester Park @3pm - at first glance, the league table seems to suggest AFC Cubo are cantering to the title thanks to an 11-point lead over the second-placed club. However, when you look at the games played, you notice that several other teams have quite a backlog of fixtures and could come right back into contention. One of those are third placed Worcester Park. If they win their four games in hand, and succeed here then they'll be top. Cubo need to see them off. This is being played at a sports ground close to Chiswick Bridge

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

Sunday 2 April

Premier League
West Ham United v Southampton @2pm - the week ends with this huge relegation six-pointer at London Stadium. As mentioned above, the clubs in the bottom half are ridiculously close together so any win is extremely valuable. Currently both in the relegation zone, a win will probably lift either of them out of it. Despite being a such an important match, tickets are available

EFL Trophy Final
Bolton Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle @3pm - if you want to go to a Wembley final then this is your chance as two of the top sides in League One do battle. This competition is primarily for third and fourth tier teams with a few Premier League U21 sides thrown in for good measure. Adding the academy sides has proved incredibly unpopular and thankfully none have ever made it to the final. On paper, League One leaders Plymouth should start as marginal favourites but both still have so much more to play for in the league, that you wonder what kind of sides they'll put out. Tickets are available directly from each club - Bolton tickets, Plymouth tickets

FA Women's Super League
Arsenal v Manchester City @1230pm - it's also a big day of action in the women's game. At Meadow Park, two of the title contenders meet in the biggest match of the weekend. After a little wobble, the Gunners have now won three in a row to leave themselves three points behind co-leaders Manchester United and Manchester City. Given how tight the margins are in this division, you feel anything less than a win for the hosts will end their chances of becoming champions. This match has sold out
West Ham United v Liverpool @5pm - the early kick-off above means you easily do a WSL doubleheader on Sunday thanks to this one starting so late. Again, this should be really evenly balanced as the sides are just a point apart in midtable. Tickets are available

FA Women's Championship
London City Lionesses v Charlton Athletic @2pm - if the Addicks win their midweek game in hand then this will see second play third in the women's second tier. LCL looked out of the title race but then beat leaders Bristol City to give themselves a chance. Sadly, they followed it up with an unexpected 3-0 loss at Durham to put them back to square one. If Charlton and Birmingham both win on Sunday, then they could end the week in fourth. Tickets

FAWNL Division 1 South East
Actonians v Hashtag United @2pm - in the fourth tier, many eyes will be on what happens at Rectory Park. The Tags are currently top but only one point ahead of AFC Wimbledon with a game in hand. The Dons are at home to bottom club Cambridge City who they should beat with ease. Fifth-place Actonians should provide Hashtag with more of a challenge and they've put up a decent fight in the previous two meetings this season (4-2 in the league and 3-0 in the FA Cup). Last season, the A's actually won when they met at this venue and having dispatched Norwich City 4-1 on Sunday, they might fancy themselves to get a point but it's a big ask. Tickets


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

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

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

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


Sunday 19 March 2023

TLFG: 20-26 March 2023

Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG.

The focus this week is mainly on Non-League Day and Women's Football Weekend which both take place this weekend.

With so much going on, I'm absolutely cream crackered so I'll keep this brief.

Over the last few days I've been to three games.

Firstly on Thursday I went to Hanwell Town again to watch QPR U21s take on their counterparts from Charlton Athletic.

The sides put on a very entertaining game which the R's won 4-2.

This year's Non-League Day is on Saturday

I also saw my daughter in action again for Actonians U10s as they played Enfield Town away - the furthest we've yet had to travel for a game. 

Getting there for 9am on Saturday was a challenge but we made it and she did me proud in the wet conditions, getting a great assist for their goal in a 3-1 defeat. 

Then on Sunday, I finished my week watching Actonians Reserves beat Headstone Manor 8-0 in the GLWFL Cup.

As for Non-League Day on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao are sending a delegation to the match between Dulwich Hamlet and Oxford City so I'll be heading there and tickets are available now.


There are several designs in the Non-League Day t-shirt range and you can choose your own colours
and a percentage of the proceeds goes to Prostate Cancer UK

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the National League, Isthmian League, Southern League and Women's Super League and many other games in our local non-league and women's competitions.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - 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 20 March

Professional Development League
The week begins with two U21 games at clubs' main stadiums. Charlton Athletic take on Bristol City at The Valley at 2pm  (tickets are £3) whilst Watford host QPR at Vicarage Road at 1pm (tickets are £5). 

London Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Hendon v Brentford B @745pm - these sides have contested two of the last three LSC finals so it's fair to say that they both take this competition pretty seriously. Brentford are the reigning champions after beating the Greens on penalties last year. The main story following the Bees' second string around this season, is the presence of David Beckham's son Romeo in the squad. Occasionally Beckham Senior turns up to watch and causes quite a stir

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

Tuesday 21 March

National League South
Welling United v Tauton Town @745pm - defeat at struggling Weymouth on Saturday saw the Wings extend their winless run to seven games. Now only six points above the relegation zone, things look a bit worrying for the south-east London club. However, if they beat Taunton who sit a couple of places below them, things could appear a lot more rosy

Southern League Premier South
Hanwell Town v Poole Town @745pm - the Geordies picked up their first win in nine games at Gosport on Saturday to move 11 points clear of the relegation zone and calm a few nerves. The visitors are on an impressive 12-game unbeaten run and are unsurprisingly in the top five. However, their play-off place is by no means secure and they need to keep the points coming in
Harrow Borough v Bracknell Town @745pm - Boro made the long journey down to Devon on Saturday to play Plymouth Parkway and ended up losing 4-0. The result left them in the relegation zone, three points adrift of safety but with games in hand on most of those around them. Worryingly, star player George Moore went off injured during that game and if that proves to be something serious it could be disastrous for Steve Baker's side. It's not likely to get any easier here either. Bracknell are third, have won nine of their last 12 games and beaten Harrow twice already this season in the league and cup
Metropolitan Police v Swindon Supermarine @745pm - the most finely-balanced game looks like being this one between the clubs in sixth and eighth. Both are still very much in the hunt for a play-off place and the visitors could end the day in the top five if they win and Poole lose, although there would need to be a significant swing in goal difference
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 22 March

SCEFL Premier
Phoenix Sports v Erith Town @745pm - game of the day for me is this ninth-tier match between two of the division's top four. As mentioned in recent weeks, leaders Erith & Belvedere who seemed to have an insurmountable lead (23 points clear at the start of February), seem to be wobbling rather badly. With only one win in five, their lead is now only seven points and second placed Phoenix have this game in hand. The Dockers are nine points off the title pace themselves so both really need to win this to close the gap even more

SCEFL Division 1
FC Elmstead v Lewisham Borough @745pm - a couple of points apart in ninth and eighth, these two still have their sights on a play-off spot. With four wins and a draw from their last five, Lewisham currently top the division's form table and could be ones to keep an eye on in the closing weeks of the season
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 23 March

CCL Division 1
Brook House v Sandhurst Town @730pm - the hosts, formerly known as AFC Hayes, were a Southern League side when I started writing this blog but have suffered a couple of relegations since then. They're not having a great campaign this time either and are in the bottom three. Sandhurst, on the other hand, are the division's highest scorers with 101 goals from just 26 games. Fifth at the time of writing, they have six games in hand on leaders FC Deportivo Galicia and it looks like just a matter of time before they usurp them 

FAWNL Division 1 South East
London Seaward v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - a big game in the women's fourth tier sees third play second. Currently 11 points behind leaders Hashtag United, the hosts have probably left it too late to win the title but finishing runners-up is still an outside possibility if they win here
---------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 24 March

Essex Senior League
The Non-League Day celebrations get underway on Friday night when the ESL's Groundhop begins. With matches stretched across the whole weekend, three are being played at Athletic Newham, Romford and Woodford Town on Friday. All kick-off at 745pm. My personal pick would be the match at Ashton's where Woodford always get a good crowd and you'll get a free programme 
-------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 25 March

NON-LEAGUE DAY

National League
Wealdstone v Barnet @3pm -  topping the bill on NLD is this local derby between two pretty bitter rivals. The Stones and Bees have been playing each other on and off for years but the rivalry has only been properly rekindled since Wealdstone recently returned to the fifth tier. They're both in the top eight and going for promotion too. Barnet took a decent point off title chasing Notts County on Saturday whilst Wealdstone suffered a surprise 4-1 defeat to struggling Scunthorpe. The match is so big that it's being televised live by BT Sport and the hosts are trying to smash their attendance record so I'd strongly advise you to buy tickets in advance - there are discounts available for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders
Boreham Wood v Eastleigh @3pm - there's also a great looking game at Meadow Park where another two of the top eight do battle for a crucial three points. The Spitfires leapfrogged the Wood with a win over Altrincham on Saturday but they've played two more games and need to win here to stay ahead of Luke Garrard's side. If you buy a ticket for this match, you'll get a free one for the following game against Torquay on Tuesday

National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Oxford City @3pm - although in the sixth tier, this match at Champion Hill could get the biggest non-league attendance of the day in London. Dulwich always come close to selling out but they get really big crowds on NLD which they usually strongly embrace. To make things even bigger this year, La Liga club Athletic Bilbao will be launching their support for Non-League Day by sending an official club delegation to the game and paying for a number of their fans to attend. The European giants will then host their own version of the event in the Basque Country in September. On the pitch, third place Oxford will start as favourites. You are strongly advised to buy your tickets in advance - this is where I'm going
Dartford v Chelmsford City @3pm - there's another cracking looking game at Princes Park where two of the current top four look for a win which will help cement their play-off place. The Darts have been second for a long time now and with leaders Ebbsfleet 18 points clear, it's the highest they're likely to finish. Ticket offers are available
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Farnborough @3pm - the Beveree regularly does well in polls about fans' favourite London non-league grounds. The club has struggled a bit this season and there has been quite a lot of off-field upheaval but things seem to be settling down and four straight wins has lifted Mel Gwinnett's side eight points clear of the relegation zone. The visitors are only two places above them but there's a whopping 10-point gap as a large group of clubs in the bottom half have been somewhat cut off from the rest. Tickets are cheaper if bought in advance
Welling United v Bath City @3pm - all four of our local NLS sides are at home with the Wings hoping to build on what they hope will be a positive midweek game against Taunton. Still looking to make sure of avoiding the drop, they welcome a Bath side who are still very much in contention for a play-off place. Prices for tickets in all categories have been reduced for NLD

A bit further afield
It's also worth noting that two NLS clubs just outside London who take NLD really seriously are also playing at home. Slough Town host leaders Ebbsfleet United in a huge game which is also being shown live on BT Sport and kicks-off at 1230pm. This will allow you to get to a number of 3pm kick-offs and give you the chance to see two games that afternoon (clubs like Burnham, Uxbridge and Windsor are all close by).  They are also selling a limited number of cheap tickets in advance. On the north side of town, Cheshunt also go to town on NLD with the entertainment starting at 11am ahead of their game against Weymouth at 3pm

Isthmian League Premier
Hornchurch v Margate @3pm - although there's quite a bit on, there aren't many standout fixtures in the seventh tier. The biggest crowd will probably come at Bridge Avenue where the table-topping Urchins will look to extend their lead to six points against midtable Margate. Sadly, they seem to be the only local club in the top three tiers of non-league football to have no acknowledgement of NLD at all on their website or social media
Corinthian Casuals v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - at the other end of the table, two of the bottom six meet for what is undoubtedly an important game for both. NLD is all about people who are new to the game at this level discovering clubs and CC's are one of the most historic in England, giving rise to Brazilian giants Corinthians with whom they still have strong links today
Cray Wanderers v Horsham @3pm - talking of history, they don't come much more historic than Cray who are London's oldest club having being founded in 1860. They're having a decent season and could end the day in the play-off places but the visitors are only a point behind. Ticket deals
Kingstonian v Haringey Borough @3pm - down in the bottom five, the K's could do with a few more points. Haringey are the kind of midtable side that they could beat. Ticket deals
Aveley v Brightlingsea Regent @3pm - there's an all-Essex affair at Parkside where title contenders Aveley take on a side who are rooted to the bottom. Ticket deals

Southern League Premier South
Metropolitan Police v Chesham United @3pm - there are four games in this division on Saturday with this one between two of the top eight being the pick of what's on offer. Imber Court is a fine venue for this level and is only a short walk from Thames Ditton station
Harrow Borough v Gosport Borough @3pm -Boro are struggling at the moment but so are the visitors - this is a hugely important game for both. There are also numerous ticket deals including reduced entry for England v Ukraine ticket holders
Hanwell Town v Swindon Supermarine @3pm - with one member of the NLD team heavily involved at the Powerday Stadium, the Geordies were always going to do something to mark the occasion. You can read what they've got planned here
Hendon v Hartley Wintney @3pm - both fighting to avoid the drop, this is a big six-pointer. It's also only £5 to get in if you wear ANY football shirt

Isthmian League South Central
Chertsey Town v Sutton Common Rovers @3pm - the Curfews are only a point outside the play-off places whilst SCR are scrapping to avoid the drop, so there's plenty to play for here. If you hang around afterwards, the club are hosting a race night
Northwood v Westfield @3pm - former leaders Northwood are now fourth after losing to Thatcham on Saturday and are well out of the title race. The priority now is to preserve their place in the play-offs and they're up against a side who badly want to join them there
Uxbridge v Walton & Hersham @3pm - the hosts are pottering along nicely enough in midtable and won't do too much of note for the remainder of the season. The visitors, however, are second and in a ding dong battle with Basingstoke for the title

Essex Senior League
West Essex v Southend Manor @1230pm - the ESL groundhop resumes on Saturday with this early kick-off at Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow where it's Pay What You Want. A win here could well see West Essex end the day in the top five and it looks quite possible as the visitors are bottom. If you want to continue with the hop, your next destination looks like being Buckhurst Hill and their game against Saffron Walden Town at 3pm

CCL Premier South
Abbey Rangers v Badshot Lea @3pm - the other game which catches my eye in the ninth tier is this match between two of the current top four at Addlestone Moor. Although only four points separate them, Abbey have played three games more
Raynes Park Vale v Redhill @3pm - table topping RPV saw their 21 game unbeaten run come to an end in midweek so they'll want to get back to winning ways here against midtable opposition. In one of the most interesting deals of the day, you can get a free ticket by going to club sponsor Banquet Records in Kingston and simply asking for one

SCEFL Premier
Erith Town v Bearsted @3pm - the Dockers lost their big match against Phoenix Sports on Wednesday leaving them fourth and nine points behind the leaders Erith & Belvedere. Bearsted are in the bottom half but are unbeaten in four. Ticket prices have been cut for NLD

SSML Premier
Cockfosters v Dunstable Town @3pm - for those of you in north London, one of the deals of the day is to be found at Chalk Lane where it's essentially Pay What You Want. The match features two of the division's top eight too, so it should be a fine afternoon

SCEFL Division 1
Lewisham Borough v Snodland Town @3pm - as mentioned above, Lewisham are currently playing well and top the form table. Second in that table are leaders Snodland. They're seven points clear and will take some stopping. They're also offering entry, programme and a hot drink for just £5
Croydon v Faversham Strike Force @3pm - elsewhere in south London, the Trams take on the eye-catchingly named FSF. The hosts plan to hold a football book sale and will be selling beer and pastries from local suppliers

Other matches
There are two other games of note in London on Saturday which are not part of NLD. In League One, Charlton Athletic take on Wycombe Wanderers who are looking for a play-off place. Whilst in the women's game, it's derby day between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal which is being played at Leyton Orient's ground
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 26 March

UEFA Euro 2024 group stage
England v Ukraine @5pm - the biggest game in London over the weekend sees the Three Lions play their first home qualifier as they attempt to make it to next year's tournament in Germany. Their opening game is against Italy in Naples on Thursday. Tickets for this match at Wembley have sold out

FA Women's Championship
Charlton Athletic v Sunderland @12pm - Sunday's results mean the Addicks still have a slim chance of winning the title. Third and 10 points behind leaders Bristol City, they have two games in hand which if won could make things close. The Mackems are in the bottom four and should be beaten
Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers @12pm - currently sixth, the Eagles have a very realistic chance of finishing in the top four and could possibly challenge Charlton for third. Rovers are second from bottom but with only one team going down, the nine points between themselves and Coventry United makes them look pretty safe. The club are also giving away 1,000 tickets so apply now

Capital Women's Senior Cup Semi-Final
London Bees v Arsenal Academy @2pm - the hosts are in the bottom four in the women's third tier and they could find the Gunners' youngsters quite hard to handle. AFC Wimbledon await the winners in the final

FAWNL Division 1 South East
Actonians v Norwich City @2pm - it'll probably come as very little surprise to find out that this is where I plan to spend my Women's Football Weekend. The top three look increasingly settled which means quite a battle is shaping up to finish fourth. Norwich won the reverse fixture 1-0 early in the season. Tickets
Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Hashtag United @2pm - the Tags have been top pretty much from the off and although they've had a wobble in the last few weeks, they'll probably just see it over the line. They demolished Cambridge City 8-0 on Sunday and should get the better of Ashford. However, the Tangerines have improved considerably in recent weeks and won at third placed London Seaward a couple of weeks ago - a point is a vague possibility
QPR v AFC Wimbledon @2pm - if Hashtag do slip up then it's the Dons who will seek to benefit the most. Having thrashed the leaders 4-0 on their own pitch a few weeks ago, the south London club are now firmly in contention to win the title. The R's are one of the teams in the race to finish fourth. They took a very creditable point off London Seaward on Sunday and won the away game against Wimbledon back in August but then got thrashed 7-1 by them in the FA Cup in October. With it being Women's Football Weekend, QPR have moved this game to Loftus Road. Tickets

GLWFL Division 1 North
Leyton Orient v Actonians 3rd XI @2pm - way down in the women's eighth tier, the O's welcome their first team to Brisbane Road less than 24 hours after the North London Derby between Spurs and Arsenal. It's a huge moment for the visitors too, who usually play most of their games on park pitches in front of very few spectators. To top it all, it's free entry MATCH OFF

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 12 March 2023

TLFG: 13-19 March 2023

Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.

I've been on early shifts this week and haven't been able to go to any live matches.

Most of my free time has been spent on Non-League Day (NLD) preparations which is now less than two weeks away.

With Athletic Bilbao sending a delegation to the match between Dulwich Hamlet and Oxford City on 25 March, that's where I'll be heading and tickets are available now.

This year's Non-League Day is fast approaching

We also had confirmation this week that the Premier League trophy will be heading to a game so that fans can have photos with it - the destination should be announced in the next few days.

One of the things I've always tried to do through NLD is build bridges between clubs, fans and football organisations at all levels.

I've always tried to accentuate the positives, find common ground and generally put on an event that celebrates football at this level.

In other words, it is not a protest movement.

Other organisations have taken a different tack with NLD-style events elsewhere in Europe and they've been crushed fairly swiftly.

Thankfully, other 'days' have sprung in their place with Vrai Foot Day in France and Tag der Amateure in Germany at the forefront.

There is a small event in the Netherlands, something similar in Russia and in September, Athletic hope to launch theirs in the Basque Country.

There are several designs in the Non-League Day t-shirt range and you can choose your own colours

There is still much to do in the remaining time - next weekend I'm going to have to try and produce a Non-League Day and Women's Football Weekend Special.

Yes, the women's event inspired by NLD (a person at the FA admitted that to me in a phone call) has been timed to coincide with my event.

It's annoying as we always tried to avoid each other with WFW usually getting the international break in November all to itself but for reasons best known to themselves, they went for the same weekend as us - we announced ours first.

Anyway, I love them both and will try give them both my support.

As you may have seen last week, we have a new pin badge and have relaunched our range of t-shirts which some of you, particularly of a groudhopping persuasion, might rather like.

A percentage of the proceeds goes to Prostate Cancer UK so you'll be helping a good cause too.

Lastly this week, many thanks to Christopher J from Germany who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really appreciate it. 

It's also been fun advising and chatting with readers Blaine W, Nick G, David V and Mauricio V - keep your messages coming.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League and many other games in our local non-league and women's competitions.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

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

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - 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 12 March

Premier League Cup Quarter-Final
Brentford v Arsenal @7pm - the week begins with this U21 derby. The Bees tend to move their development games around and this time, rather randomly, they've selected Sutton United's ground to hold this. Tickets are £5 on the gate

Essex Alliance League Senior Division Cup Quarter-Final
Jolof Sports v Sporting Hackney @8pm - the non-league alternative is this cup match between some 11th-tier teams which is being played at Barking's ground in east London. Both sides are in the league's top five so it should be competitive

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

Tuesday 13 March

Championship
Millwall v Swansea City @745pm - after a midweek loss to Norwich, the Lions returned to winning ways on Saturday with a win at Reading. The result kept them in the play-off spots as we move towards the business end of the season. The Swans are now five without a win and should be beaten. Tickets
Watford v Birmingham City @745pm - Chris Wilder's reign asHornets manager got off to an underwhelming start as his side lost 1-0 at struggling QPR. Winless in three, they're now six points adrift of the top six. Birmingham picked up their first win in a while beating a much improved Rotherham on Saturday, to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Tickets

League Two
Sutton United v Grimsby Town @745pm - the U's extended their unbeaten run to nine matches with a draw against Barrow on Saturday but missed the chance to move into the play-off places by failing to win. Still only a point adrift, a win against midtable Grimsby could well propel them into the top seven. Tickets

National League
Barnet v Yeovil Town @745pm - the Bees' fine season continued on Saturday when they beat Maidstone United on penalties to make the FA Trophy semi-finals. In the league they're in the play-off places and potentially on for a memorable double. Former Championship club Yeovil are only four points above the relegation zone and will start as underdogs
Boreham Wood v Southend United @745pm - arguably the biggest game in the fifth tier on Tuesday is this match between the sides in seventh and ninth. The Wood have won their last four but had this weekend off so should be well rested. The Shrimpers were up among the contenders but four defeats from five have seen them slide
Wealdstone v Chesterfield @745pm - three consecutive wins and only one defeat in five have lifted the Stones up to eighth and back into play-off contention. If they beat fourth-placed Chesterfield, then all associated with the club should really start to believe something big is possible

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Cheshunt @745pm - after worrying starts to their campaigns, both sides seem to be mounting a fightback. The Beavers managed an impressive 2-1 win over Chelmsford on Saturday whilst Cheshunt picked up a point against Taunton to extend their unbeaten run to four. The reverse fixture took place on the opening day and Cheshunt won 3-2 so hopefully we'll get another load of goals here

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Enfield Town v Harrow Borough @745pm - one of my favourite memories as a Harrow Borough fan was going to watch them in the 1993 MSC Final at Southbury Road, the now demolished home of Enfield (who also no longer exist). That glorious sunny day in London will always make me think fondly of this part of town. On Tuesday, Harrow travel to play a team born out of the ashes of the old Enfield at a different stadium a few hundred metres to the north. They play in parallel seventh-tier leagues but the Towners are pushing for promotion while Boro are fighting the drop. The hosts should win but will they have other priorities on their mind? The winners will play Brentford B or Hayes & Yeading United in the final

CCL Premier North
Egham Town v Hilltop @745pm - game of the day in the ninth tier sees the Sarnies welcome Hilltop. With their roots primarily in London's Somali community, the visitors have been climbing the divisions fairly swiftly and this is the first season they've spent at this level. They come into this week in the top six, a superb achievement, and that's realistically about as high as they will finish given there's a 10-point gap between themselves and Burnham in fifth. Egham are in the top four and trail leaders Ascot by 11 points with 10 games to go - the title looks unlikely but the runners-up spot is definitely within their grasp
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 15 March

FA Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @745pm - there's a huge relegation six-pointer in the WSL where Spurs, the division's most out-of-form team, simply have to avoid defeat. The Foxes have been bottom pretty much all season but seven points from their last five games mean they're just a win away from moving above Brighton and Tottenham

Premier League International Cup Quarter-Final
Fulham v Sparta Prague @7pm - the Cottagers' U21 side have made it through to the knockout stages of this European competition played entirely on British soil over the course of the season. If you're interested, Crystal Palace and Liverpool play each other in the other remaining quarter-final whilst PSV and Valencia have already gone through. This match will be played at Motspur Park and tickets are available on the gate for no more than £5

CCL Premier North
Balham v Jersey Bulls @745pm - friend of the blog Emil Kot is a coach at Balham and it's been interesting to follow his tweets as his side have gone on a 14-game unbeaten run in the league. Sadly six of the games have been draws meaning they're still in midtable but they've become incredibly tough to beat. Jersey are the biggest club in the league, although Farnham Town are pushing them close, and a visit from them is always a big occasion. Often pushing for the title, they're in the top four and by no means out of it
--------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 16 March

Europa League
Arsenal v Sporting Lisbon @8pm - after drawing the first leg 2-2 in Portugal last week, the Gunners have a great chance of making it into the quarter-finals. They warmed up for it by brushing Fulham aside with a very impressive performance at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Sporting are fourth in their league and can't be written off but it looks like being a tough night for them. Tickets are not available

Europa Conference League
West Ham United v AEK Larnaca @8pm - after winning last week's away leg 2-0, a place in the quarter-finals is West Ham's for the taking. David Moyes' side extended their unbeaten run against Aston Villa to 10 games with their draw against them on Sunday and they should make smooth progress here. Tickets

Professional Development League
QPR v Charlton Athletic @7pm - if you're on a bit of a tight budget, then the glamorous European ties above might be out of your reach at the moment. Instead, you could watch this U21 game at Hanwell Town's ground for a fiver

Middlesex Senior Youth Cup Final
Uxbridge v Cockfosters @730pm - I discovered this U18 match by accident the other day when I was browsing the Middlesex FA's website. The most prestigious county cup at this age group is taking place at Bedfont Sports near Heathrow
---------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 17 March

Premier League 2
Chelsea v Everton @7pm - seemingly one of the busiest stadia in London with a grass pitch, Kingsmeadow hosts this U21 game on Friday. Having seen off Liverpool 3-1 on Saturday lunchtime to go top of PL2, they'll hope to do something similar to the Toffees. Tickets are £5

Essex Senior League
Ilford v Romford @745pm - in the ninth tier there's an east London derby at Cricklefields. Both sides are in lower midtable but the hosts will probably just about start as favourites
-------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 18 March

Premier League
Brentford v Leicester City @3pm - the Bees suffered their first defeat in a while on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park. Despite this, they remain ninth and are 14 points clear of the relegation zone. Currently on the legendary 38 points usually required to avoid the drop, grabbing a place in Europe is still a realistic target. Sadly the same can't be said for Leicester who just can't break free from the relegation dogfight. Saturday's loss at home to Chelsea saw them end the day with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three. Tickets are only available to members
Chelsea v Everton @530pm - after picking up precious wins on Saturday, both these sides should come into this with renewed confidence. Unlike Brentford, the Blues have still to reach the 38-point mark after a great week which also saw them knock Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League. The Toffees have a lot more about them since the appointment of Sean Dyche and seven points from their last five has seen them climb to 15th. Tickets are not available

Championship
Millwall v Huddersfield Town @3pm - after winning his first match in charge, veteran boss Neil Warnock has now seen his Terriers side go four without a victory. Joint bottom and six points adrift of safety, it's not looking good for the Yorkshire club. The Lions, in need of points to continue their promotion push, are unlikely to show them any charity either. Tickets
QPR v Birmingham City @3pm - the R's finally brought their lengthy winless run to an end on Saturday when they beat local rivals Watford 1-0 at Loftus Road. It was a huge moment for new boss Gareth Ainsworth who'd overseen consecutive 3-1 defeats to Blackburn and Rotherham in his first two games. On Tuesday they have a long trip to struggling Blackpool before coming back home to play another side who are also having a season to forget. Led by former QPR coach John Eustace, the Blues are on level points with them and won the reverse fixture 2-0 in October. Tickets
Watford v Wigan Athletic @3pm - as mentioned above, the Hornets are looking to start impressing under new manager Chris Wilder. After the loss at QPR, they have consecutive home games against two of the division's strugglers. If they don't pick up any points here, the latest man in the Vicarage Road hotseat could suffer an even quicker exit than most of his predecessors. Tickets

League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Crawley Town @3pm - the Dons can't buy a win at the moment, with Saturday's loss at Doncaster their fourth on the bounce. Thankfully they have a 13-point cushion to rest on above the relegation zone so in effect, their season is over. Crawley have had a dreadful season but gave themselves a chance of avoiding the drop by beating Harrogate on Saturday. Tickets
Leyton Orient v Colchester United @3pm - the O's had their match at Mansfield postponed on Saturday, allowing second placed Carlisle to cut the gap to eight points. The top three go up automatically and the gap between Richie Wellens' side and fourth place Northampton is 12 points so they can still afford a few bad results. Colchester were having an horrific season, seemed to turn things round but have now lost four in a row and are coming into the sights of the bottom two again. Tickets 

National League
Barnet v Notts County @3pm - there's a monster programme of action in the fifth tier on Saturday with this match between two of the top six topping the bill. Both former EFL sides would dearly love a return to League Two but with leaders Wrexham looking increasingly likely to claim the only automatic promotion place, only one of these sides will have any chance of joining them. Neck-and-neck with the Welsh club until a couple of weeks ago, a loss to Dagenham & Redbridge and draw with Bromley has seen Notts County fall four points behind in what is a two-horse race (third place Woking are 19 points behind). They'll be hoping for some good news from Hayes Lane...
Bromley v Wrexham @3pm - having taken a point off Notts County last week, the Ravens will hope to do something similar here. Famous for their Hollywood owners, the visitors are looking pretty formidable right now and are second only to Boreham Wood in the form table. Bromley are losing their form at a bad time and now two without a win, they're down tenth at the time of writing
Dagenham & Redbridge v Oldham Athletic @3pm - last but not least, the Daggers welcome former Premier League opposition to the Chigwell Construction Stadium. Both have become models of inconsistency in recent weeks and unless something can be done to correct that, then midtable mediocrity beckons

Isthmian League Premier
Haringey Borough v Hornchurch @3pm - the hosts haven't had many mentions this season because they haven't really done very much. They're certainly not pushing for promotion and they look to have done enough to avoid the drop. This game is more about you getting the chance to take a look at the Urchins who look more and more like this season's champions. A comfortable 4-1 win over Brightlingsea on Saturday saw them go two points clear at the top with two games in hand

Isthmian League South Central
Tooting & Mitcham United v Sutton Common Rovers @3pm - after advising you to go and watch two of the top three play last week, this time I'm asking you to head to Imperial Fields to see the bottom two have a good old scrap - it's a derby too

CCL Premier South
Raynes Park Vale v Abbey Rangers @3pm - the hosts have been leading the way for a while but, at the time of writing, are still only three points clear of Badshot Lea. Also still in contention are third placed Abbey Rangers who hail from the Addlestone/Chertsey area. The visitors are six points behind and have played more games so they really have to win to stay in the race

SCEFL Division 1
Tooting Bec v Faversham Strike Force - two go up in this division but only the champions enjoy automatic promotion. The teams who finish second to fifth fight it out in the play-offs. The hosts are currently three points adrift of fifth but have two games in hand. The eye-catchingly named visitors are fourth so winning here would be hugely important for both
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 19 March

Premier League
Arsenal v Crystal Palace @2pm - as a result of a Europa League game on Thursday, the Gunners are playing Sunday football again. Their incredibly impressive win at Fulham saw them end the week five points clear at the top after Palace narrowly lost 1-0 to their main title rivals Manchester City. Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira manages the Eagles and although they're still 12th despite a lengthy winless run, the bottom half of the table is ridiculously tight with only five points separating the bottom nine clubs. Has it ever been that tight so late in the season? Tickets are not available

FA Women's Championship
London City Lionesses v Bristol City @2pm - it's Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final weekend meaning there are no WSL games and all four ties are being played outside London. As a result, the biggest women's game of the day in the capital is this massive match between the top two in the second tier. With only the eventual champions getting promoted, the stakes are high. It was incredibly close until about a month ago but LCL lost the reverse fixture in Bristol 3-1 and then lost at home to Sheffield United last weekend. Consequently, Bristol City are six points clear - a win here will put them nine points ahead and effectively end the title race

FAWNL Southern Premier Division
Watford v Oxford United @2pm - fourth and third, at the time of writing, both these sides have the games in hand to go top if won. Both have one of those games in hand in midweek and if won, this will be a battle of fourth and first

Capital Women's Senior Cup Semi-Final
AFC Wimbledon v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @3pm - with Hashtag United seeing their match at QPR postponed on Sunday, the Dons took full advantage with their hardfought win at Cambridge United putting them top of the FAWNL Division 1 South East for possibly the first time this season. With only one team going up, promotion is everything to a club like Wimbledon so how strong a team they'll put out for this match is unclear. Ashford will coast to a midtable finish so picking up a nice bit of silverware must surely be their priority. They also won this competition last season so will want to defend their title

ERWFL Premier Division
Haringey Borough v Luton Town @2pm - for some reason, Haringey have ended up in a fifth-tier division that's not really for London clubs and consequently I haven't mentioned them much this season. However, they're currently fourth with some games in hand and have an outside chance of the title. Although back in fifth, Luton are looking like the team to beat. This is because they have five games in hand which, if won, would put them well clear at the top. If the hosts can win this, it will keep their promotion hopes alive

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