TLFG: 30 October - 5 November 2023

Greetings one and all.

This is going to be very brief for now as I'm about to take the kids to school.

So far I've got this week's match maps and previews up until Friday.

A quick mention and a big thank you to Kevin O from Croydon and Thomas G from Massachusetts, USA who donated some money to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really really appreciate it.

One really annoying thing to happen recently was the hacking of my personal Facebook account.

This means I can no longer access TLFG's page. Although recovery attempts and appeals are ongoing, I'm not hopeful so apologies if that page has gone quiet and remains that way.

This week I'm off to QPR U21s on Monday and hopefully Actonians on Sunday to try and celebrate my birthday. I say try as they're playing a very strong AFC Wimbledon side that will be incredibly tough to play against.

FA Cup ties don't get much more magical than this

If you want to visit a newish ground, Brentford reopen Staines Town's old ground Wheatsheaf Park on Tuesday.

They'll be using it primarily for development and youth team matches and they begin against an U21 side from Strasbourg on Tuesday - details on the match map below.

The FA Cup First Round is one of the highlights of the season and it takes place this weekend.

There are some really interesting ties, not least the local derby between Charlton Athletic and Cray Valley PM.

Have a great week and I'll hope to update things as we go.

THE WEEK AHEAD

We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with matches in the Premier League, EFL, FA Cup and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.

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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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 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 30 October

Professional Development League

QPR v Cardiff City @1pm - the week begins with some U21 action at Loftus Road. The R's youngsters are currently second in the southern section of this league. If leaders Millwall slip up against Bournemouth, they will go back to the top if they beat bottom club Cardiff. Entry is by donation - cash and cards are both accepted

Premier League 2

Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion @7pm - there's more U21 action this evening at Sutton United's ground where the struggling Eagles will look to get out of the bottom three with a win over the Baggies. Tickets are £5 for adults

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

Tuesday 31 October

Friendly

Brentford B v Strasbourg U21 @7pm - sadly in July last year, non-league club Staines Town folded. Today, Premier League club Brentford will reopen their old ground at Wheatsheaf Park. They plan to use the well-appointed venue primarily for B team, youth games and possibly women's games in future. There's has been some behind-closed-door action already but tonight will see the first game with spectators. Tickets are £5 but must be booked in advance

Premier League International Cup

There are two games in this U21 competition tonight with Chelsea entertaining Dinamo Zagreb at Kingsmeadow and Fulham playing Feyenoord at Motspur Park. Both games start at 7pm. Tickets will be available on arrival at both

FA Youth Cup First Round

The U18 sides from League One and League Two sides enter the draw at this stage. AFC Wimbledon host Cambridge United at Plough Lane whilst Leyton Orient welcome AFC Sudbury to Brisbane Road. Tickets will be available on arrival 

National League South

Dartford v Weston-super-Mare @745pm - the highest level non-league game takes place at Princes Park where two teams who are a point apart in midtable should put on a competitive match. A win for the hosts will take them into the top 10

Isthmian League Premier

Wingate & Finchley v Enfield Town @745pm - there's a north-London derby to be enjoyed at Summers Lane. W&F are one of the smallest clubs in the division but they're punching well above their weight so far this season. They were up in fourth at one point but are still in the top eight. The Towners are third and need to win if they want to close the gap on leaders Hornchurch who are already 11 points ahead of them

CCL Division 1

Bedfont v RB Kensington @745pm - two of the top four in this 10th-tier division do battle at The Orchard. Leaders Amersham are 12 points clear at the top and seemingly romping away with it. However, both these sides have games in hand which could make the title race a bit more competitive

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

Wednesday 1 November

EFL Cup Fourth Round

Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers @745pm - the Blues lost 2-0 at home to Brentford on Saturday as their woes continued. Next up they face Championship club Blackburn, a side they should really be beating. The Stamford Bridge club have made nine finals but haven't won this competition since 2015. Building a bit of momentum would seem to be a major priority for Mauricio Pochettino's side right now so I would hope to see them field a strong side if I were a Chelsea fan. Hospitality packages are available from £240

West Ham United v Arsenal @730pm - this competition would seem to be the perfect kind of thing the Hammers should be targeting to follow up on last season's Conference League triumph. They've made two finals before but never won it. It's a different story for Arsenal who've won it twice and been runners-up sixth further times. It has, however, been 30 years since they last took home this cup and will probably want to focus on bigger things. Tickets have sold out but there will probably be some hospitality packages available

FA Trophy First Round

Kingstonian v Whitehawk @745pm - after seeing the original tie postponed on Sunday, these two Isthmian Premier sides will have another go on Wednesday. The visitors are in better form so will start as favourites. The winners will host Lewes in the next round

ECL Division 1 South

Barkingside v Clapton CFC @745pm - the 'Side have had a tough start to the season and defeat here could leave them on level points with a team in the relegation zone. CCFC on the other hand, will go second with a win in this derby

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

Thursday 2 November

London Senior Cup First Round

Cray Valley PM v Balham @745pm - these two met in the 2018 final. That year Balham romped to a 4-1 win but they haven't been to the final since. CVPM have a huge FA Cup tie at Charlton on Sunday so you'd think they'll rest a few players ahead of that and probably hand the visitors the advantage

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

Friday 3 November

Premier League 2

There are two big games in this U21 competition on Friday night with Arsenal hosting Manchester City at Boreham Wood and a derby between Chelsea and Fulham at Kingsmeadow. Both kick-off at 7pm

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Athletic Newham @745pm - the hosts will look to extend their lead at the top to six points with a win here. The visitors could end up in the top six if they triumph

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

Saturday 4 November

Premier League

Fulham v Manchester United @1230pm - the Cottagers are winless in seven at home to the Red Devils with the last six ending in defeat. Never has that record looked more likely to end than now. Having bowed out of the EFL Cup with a whimper at home to Newcastle on Wednesday, United are in real trouble by their very high standards. The pressure is really on boss Erik ten Hag and defeat here could bring his reign to an end. Tickets and hospitality appear to have sold out

Brentford v West Ham United @3pm - both sides come into this match on the back of big derby wins. The Bees winning 2-0 at Chelsea on Saturday whilst the Hammers enjoyed a comfortable EFL Cup win over Arsenal on Wednesday. Since joining the Premier League, Brentford have won both of their home games against West Ham 2-0. In fact, the east London club haven't won a league game away at Brentford since 1953. Tickets are only available to members

Championship

Millwall v Southampton @3pm - these two haven't met in the league since 2012. On that occasion, the Saints won an entertaining game at The Den 3-2. After a brief rocky patch following their relegation from the Premier League, the Hampshire club have now put together a decent unbeaten run that has seen them climb to fourth. After coming close to securing a play-off spot last season, the Lions have struggled this year and parted company with boss Gary Rowett last month. Still with only a caretaker boss in charge, they're winless in four and will start as underdogs here. Tickets

FA Cup First Round

One of the most exciting weekends of the year for lower-league clubs has arrived. At this point of the competition, all the surviving non-league clubs are joined in the draw by the pros of League One and League Two. The winners of each tie receive a whopping £41,000 - a huge amount of money for most non-league sides if they can get through

Leyton Orient v Carlisle United @3pm - the only tie in London between two League One sides takes place at Brisbane Road. With Carlisle in the relegation zone, the O's should start as favourites. Tickets have been reduced to £15

AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town @3pm - these clubs seem to be going in opposite directions in terms of form at the moment. The Dons had a great start to their League Two campaign but they're now five without a win and sliding towards the bottom half. Cheltenham, on the other hand, are second from bottom in the division above but have picked up seven points from their last four. This is really tough to call. Top price tickets are also £15

Sutton United v AFC Fylde @3pm - the U's are bottom of League Two but managed a hugely important 2-1 win over Bradford City in their last game. The visitors have been down in the National League's relegation zone for most of the campaign but a three game unbeaten run has seen them start to climb the table. Again, this is a tough one to call but the hosts should start as marginal favourites. Tickets

Bromley v Blackpool @545pm - the day's final tie looks like being a bit of a cracker. The Ravens have surged up to third in the National League in recent weeks but face a club who were in the Championship last season. The Seasiders have responded well to the setback of relegation and are currently in the top eight of League One. It will take a special performance for Bromley to win. If they do pull it off, it will be the first time they've made the Second Round since 1945/46. If you do want to go, I'd strongly advise buying tickets in advance

National League South

Aveley v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - the Millers are probably pinching themselves. After winning promotion via the Isthmian League play-offs, they've taken to life in the NLS like ducks to water. Up to second after winning at St Albans on Saturday, they're now six points behind leaders Yeovil. With only one win from five, WSM are in the bottom half and should be beaten

Isthmian League Premier

Hornchurch v Enfield Town @3pm - undoubtedly the biggest game of the day in the seventh tier sees first host second in this massively important match. Even at this early stage, the Urchins are already eight points clear so the Towners really need to win to keep their title hopes going

Isthmian League North

Walthamstow v Gorleston @3pm - there aren't any games as blockbuster as the one above in the eighth tier, but the 'Stow look well worth having a look at. Up in fifth in this division, they could climb into the top three if they win here against the club in 12th UPDATE: MATCH OFF

SCEFL Premier

Glebe v Deal Town @3pm - based in Chislehurst, the hosts have got off to a flyer and are currently two points clear at the top with a game in hand on second placed Erith Town. However, third placed Faversham have two games in hand on them which if won would put them top. All in all, the title race is looking interesting and Glebe need to beat midtable Deal to keep with the pace

SCEFL Division 1

Forest Hill Park v Lewisham Borough @3pm - in the 10th tier look no further than the Catford Classico at the Ladywell Arena. Lewisham won the last meeting between the two at the beginning of September with a last-minute goal in front of a bumper crowd of nearly 200. These two groundshare and are both in the top five so there should be a good turnout again

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

Sunday 5 November

FA Cup First Round

Charlton Athletic v Cray Valley PM @530pm - unsurprisingly shifted to Sunday evening for live TV coverage, this is the kind of tie that the FA Cup is all about. Not only have eighth tier CVPM battled through five rounds and eight matches (including replays) to get this far but they've been drawn against their local pro club. Lying just three miles north of their own Artic Stadium in south-east London, The Valley will play host to the biggest match in the Isthmian League club's history. The Addicks should start as overwhelming favourites and will almost certainly win but if they don't, it will be the story of the weekend. Tickets are £10

Women's Super League

Arsenal v Manchester City @1230pm - there are some great women's games on Sunday with two of the WSL's best sides meeting at Boreham Wood's ground at lunchtime. The Gunners have made a disappointing start, winning only two of their four games. City, however, are top of the league and have already taken a point off reigning champions and co-leaders Chelsea. It looks like a mouthwatering prospect and it's sold out

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @2pm - after narrowly losing their opening game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Spurs have won all of their games since and are one point off top spot. With only one win from four, the Toffees are down near the bottom and should be beaten. This is being played at Leyton Orient and tickets are available

West Ham United v Bristol City @3pm - the Hammers' form from last season seems to have carried over to this one with a very mixed bag of results so far. They should have enough to beat newly promoted City though as they've lost all four games since coming up. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge and tickets are available

Women's Championship

Watford v Crystal Palace @2pm - with only one win from eight, the newly promoted Hornets are bottom and in desperate need of points. Although only one point from safety, every point is hard to get in this division if you're one of the weaker teams. Palace are fourth but could go second with a win. This match is being played at Wealdstone. Tickets

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Actonians v AFC Wimbledon @2pm - after only being able to muster a squad of 12 against AFC Sudbury last week, the A's will need to be as close to full strength as possible for the visit of the leaders. The Dons demolished fellow title contenders Worthing 5-0 on Sunday so anything less than a win here will be quite a shock. With it being my birthday that day, I'll be at Rectory Park and hoping for something special! 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 Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 23-29 October 2023

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

With some really awkward shift times this weekend, I'm having to keep things brief.

In terms of content, I've got both match maps as up-to-date as I can and there are previews for Monday to Friday.

I'm going to hold my hands up now and say there's a really great programme of matches on Tuesday night but I simply don't have time to write previews for anything other than the biggest games so apologies for that.

Crystal Palace entertain Monaco in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday

At the time of writing, I'm still in trying to pick myself up from Actonians' loss to Fulham in the Women's FA Cup earlier on Sunday afternoon

I didn't make the game but I heard it was closely fought and when the A's headed into injury time with a 1-0 lead, I thought the weekend was going to end very nicely indeed.

Sadly the Cottagers grabbed a late equaliser and then won it on penalties.

Last year Actonians' run to the Third Round brought them enough prize money to be able to start this season, such was the dearth of sponsorship over the summer, so going out at this early stage is a bit of a blow - especially when the win was so close.

Hopefully they'll bounce back in the league against AFC Sudbury on Sunday and things won't feel so bad.

Lastly this week, a big thank you to Wouter S from The Netherlands who donated some money to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really appreciate it.

As well as his donation, Wouter also wished me luck with our new cat Pickle and I'm pleased to say it's all going smoothly at the moment.

Three days in, he's now pretty settled and has a good feel for the layout of our home.

He's living up to his ragdoll traits with the kids, even my four-year-old, finding it very easy to handle him.

I also had to abandon preparing this piece on Saturday night when he insisted on sitting on the keyboard.

So that's about it from me. I'll aim to write the weekend previews nearer the time and then get to that Actonians match on Sunday.

Have a great week!

THE WEEK AHEAD

We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy and Women's National League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.

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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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 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 23 October

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham @8pm - the week begins with a juicy derby in N17. After a brilliant start to the season, Ange Postecoglu's side will go two points clear at the top if they win this. On paper, this midtable Fulham side should be beaten. When you consider they're also unbeaten against the Cottagers since 2013, a win for Spurs looks even more likely. Tickets are only available to members or hospitality packages are available from £299

Professional Development League

QPR v Ipswich Town @1pm - earlier in the day, the R's U21 side welcome the Tractor Boys to Loftus Road. The hosts could go back to the top of the table with a win here but Ipswich are fifth so should present a tough challenge. Admission is by donation on the gate - cash and cards are accepted

Isthmian League Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic v Lewes @745pm - the only non-league game of the night should be well worth a watch as it sees two of the Isthmian League's top six meet at Colston Avenue. After getting knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy by lower division Cray Valley PM in consecutive games, the Robins' confidence seems to have taken an understandable hit. Since then, they've failed to win any of the three league games they've played and they're now 11 points behind the leaders. Lewes, on the other hand, broke into the top six on Saturday after thrashing promotion hopefuls Enfield Town 4-0 so the momentum would seem to be with them

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

Tuesday 24 October

Championship

Millwall v Blackburn Rovers @745pm - locked together on 16 points in the middle of the table, there's nothing particularly outstanding about this fixture. However, the Championship is really tight and with only six points separating sixth from 20th, a win here could put either of them back up among the play-off contenders. The other thing to note is that Rovers won 4-3 here on the final day of last season which stopped Millwall getting into the top six - I doubt the Lions' fans have forgotten. Tickets 

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley @745pm - the Dons' draw at Barrow on Saturday made it three games without a win and saw them slip to eighth in the process. They were replaced in the play-off zone by Accrington after their win over MK Dons. Therefore this game has a reasonable amount at stake. A look through the records shows that Stanley are a bit of a bogey team for the Dons. In the 10 away games they've played against their south London opponents, Accrington have only lost twice. Tickets are available

National League

Barnet v Solihull Moors @745pm - there's a full programme of fixtures in the fifth tier but as I'm pushed for time, I've only got the ability to recommend one and it's not hard to decide which one. The Bees moved level on points with top club Chesterfield on Saturday and play the team in third here. Last season saw Wrexham and Notts County pull away from the rest in a two-horse title race. If Barnet win here, then we could see a similar scenario begin to develop as Solihull are already eight points behind. Tickets are available

Premier League International Cup

Crystal Palace v Monaco @7pm - still in the group stage, this U21 competition played entirely on English soil sees its next batch of games take place this week. After being held to a 1-1 draw in their opening game by Athletic Bilbao, Palace next entertain Monaco who began with an impressive 2-1 win over Liverpool last month. The match is being played at Sutton United and adult tickets are £5

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

Wednesday 25 October

Isthmian League Premier Division

Kingstonian v Horsham @745pm - after two exciting yet ultimately disappointing 3-2 defeats to Dulwich and Enfield, the K's got a well needed 3-0 win over Folkestone on Saturday to move up to 17th. At Horsham, the focus must surely be on their great FA Cup run and the impending First Round trip to League One giants Barnsley at the start of next month. As a result of that, they have two games in hand on most of the teams in the top five and could find themselves right up there with a win here

Essex Senior League

West Essex v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm - a win by two goals or more will see the hosts go top of the ESL until at least Friday when current leaders Woodford Town return to action. GWR are down in ninth so should be beaten

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

Thursday 26 October

Youth and Development football

There are a handful of U23 and U18 matches around London tonight, largely on the north and west side of town

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

Friday 27 October

Premier League

Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur @8pm - with only one win from their last five, the Eagles could do with another three points. Despite that lack of victories, Roy Hodgson's side are still 11th and would move level on points with Manchester United if they win here. However, it's a massive if as Spurs will head to Selhurst Park as league leaders having beaten Fulham 2-0 on Monday night. Tickets are only available to members and hospitality packages seem to have sold out too

Premier League 2

There are three fine U21 games to keep you entertained on Friday night if you can't get a ticket for the Palace game above. Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham United are all playing at home - admission is never more than £5

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v FC Clacton @745pm - as mentioned above, current leaders Woodford could find themselves needing to win this if West Essex triumph on Wednesday night. Clacton are still very much in the running for a play-off place so this shouldn't be the easiest of games for the hosts

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

Saturday 28 October

Premier League

Chelsea v Brentford @1230pm - it's derby day in west London as the Bees travel to Stamford Bridge. Since joining the Premier League in 2021, Thomas Frank's side have won both of their games in SW6 beating the Blues 4-1 and 2-0. With the Blues improving but still somewhat out of sorts, can they do the unthinkable and win for a third time in a row? Tickets have sold out but hospitality packages are available from £360

Arsenal v Sheffield United @3pm - in the later game, the Gunners will look to keep themselves in the title race by winning here. With the Blades rock bottom and without a victory, anything less than three points will be a disaster. If the Yorkshire club do manage to finally get a win, it will be their first at Arsenal since 1971. Tickets are only available to members. Hospitality packages are available from £280

Championship

QPR v Leicester City @3pm - if the matches above are out of your price range, then the next best thing is probably a visit to Loftus Road where you'll get to watch what might as well be a Premier League team. Leicester, the 2015/16 Premier League champions and 2020/21 FA Cup winners, are top of the table and seem set for an immediate return to the top flight.The R's, on the other hand, are having a terrible season and find themselves stuck in the relegation zone after their midweek defeat at West Brom. It looks like a foregone conclusion but an equally poor QPR did the unthinkable last season by winning at eventual champions Burnley to delay them winning the title. Tickets are available

Watford v Millwall @3pm - if you'd rather watch a match which, on paper, should be far more competitive then head to Vicarage Road. Now unbeaten in three, the Hornets leapfrogged the Lions with their win at Swansea on Tuesday to climb to 15th. Millwall are still without a manager following the departure of Gary Rowett. The current favourite to replace him is former Rangers and QPR manager Michael Beale who incidentally hails from south-east London so it looks like a good fit. Tickets are available

League One

Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - after a seven game unbeaten run, the Addicks suffered their first defeat of the Michael Appleton era on Tuesday when they lost 3-1 at Lincoln City. The result leaves them five points adrift of the play-off places, one of which is currently filled by Bolton. Wanderers have a great record against Charlton in recent years, winning their last four against them and they're unbeaten at The Valley since 2014. If the London club are to be seen as serious promotion contenders then this is the kind of opponent they need to be able to beat. Tickets are available

League Two

Sutton United v Bradford City @3pm - the U's, who are bottom, looked like pulling off a memorable draw at big-spending Wrexham on Tuesday night but conceded in the 89th minute to lose 2-1. Still only three points adrift of safety, there's still plenty of time to turn things around. Bradford made the play-offs last season but have struggled to get going this time round and boss Mark Hughes got sacked as a result. With seven points from their last four games, results have improved a bit under player-manager Kevin McDonald. They're also unbeaten in all four matches they've played against Sutton since the London club joined the EFL in 2021. Tickets are available 

National League

Boreham Wood v Southend United @3pm - after a solid 3-1 midweek win at Dagenham & Redbridge, the Wood are now five points clear of the relegation zone. Although that result was pleasing, they're still way off the standards they set last season as they reached the play-offs. With all the off-pitch turmoil seemingly now over, the Shrimpers fans can focus solely on what's going on on the pitch and recently it's been very good. A 3-0 home victory over Ebbsfleet on Tuesday made it four wins in a row and they're now 14th. They would be actually be fifth if it wasn't for the 10-point deduction they received earlier in the season so it looks like being a tough afternoon for the hosts. Tickets are cheaper if bought in advance

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Torquay United @3pm - the hosts are currently second only to leaders Yeovil when it comes to being in good form. With four wins on the spin, the Middlesex club are climbing the table fast and are now only a point adrift of the play-off places. The Gulls are only a point above them so if they win, they will almost certainly break into the top seven. Given the big crowd that's likely to be generated by the visit of a former EFL club, you're strongly advised to buy tickets in advance, it's also cheaper than paying on the day too

FA Trophy First Round

The FA Trophy is a national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to the eighth tiers with its final at Wembley. At this stage, the 64 seventh and eighth tier teams who have made it through the qualifying rounds do battle. There are several ties in London, here are my pick:

Dulwich Hamlet v Lewes @3pm - the biggest crowd will be found at Champion Hill where two Isthmian Premier clubs go head-to-head. The Hamlet have an average attendance of 2,308 despite having made a disappointing start following their relegation from the National League South. They are  currently the best supported non-league side in London, the second best supported club in the seventh tier and get higher crowds than 16 National League sides and even two in League Two. Lewes are a former fifth-tier club who hold similarly inclusive values to Dulwich and with only four points separating them in the league, it should be a fun afternoon. You are strongly advised to buy tickets in advance as games often sell out

Cray Wanderers v Chesham United @3pm - the hosts, who are London's oldest club, are in the Isthmian Premier's bottom three and having a season to forget. They'll be hoping to kick-start their season here with what would be a shock win over the Generals who are pushing hard for the Southern League Premier South title

Hendon v Walton & Hersham @3pm - the Greens also welcome one of the best sides in the Southern League. Just a point behind Chesham, W&H have enjoyed three consecutive promotions as they've surged up to the seventh tier. Hendon have been playing at this level for decades and are coasting along in midtable. A lot will come down to who wants it more and with the visitors perhaps more concerned with getting another promotion, this might give the hosts the edge

Isthmian League South Central

Chertsey Town v Chipstead @3pm - match of the day in the eighth tier would appear to be this game between two of the top seven in this division. Third but only a point behind leaders Raynes Park Vale, the Curfews could go top with a win here

CCL Premier North

Rayners Lane v Ardley United @3pm - for me there aren't any standout fixtures in the ninth tier so I'd suggest going to give Rayners Lane a watch. The north-west London club finally won promotion from the 10th tier last season and despite a lot of upheaval off the pitch over the summer, have managed to very successfully regroup. Currently top of this division, they welcome ninth-placed Ardley who are playing in this league because they agreed a swap from the SSML with London Lions

SCFL Division 1

Chessington & Hook United v Seaford Town @3pm - again there's not a stellar selection of games in the 10th tier so it gives me a chance to recommend a game in the SCFL where two of the division's form teams meet at Chalky Lane. With 10 points from their last five, they're in seventh just behind Seaford on goal difference

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

Sunday 29 October

Premier League

West Ham United v Everton @1pm - with only one win from five in the league and having suffered defeat to Olympiakos in the Europa League on Thursday, the Hammers come into this on a rare low after a very successful few months. The Toffees are three points above the relegation zone but with two wins from their last five, are showing some signs of improvement. West Ham have won three of their last four against the Merseyside club and you'd expect them to extend that run here. Tickets

Premier League 2

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm - there's also a bit of U21 action on Sunday afternoon. At the time of writing, these clubs are fourth and sixth in the PL2 so it should be well worth a watch. This match is being played at Boreham Wood's ground. Admission is often free but never more than £5

FA Trophy First Round

Kingstonian v Whitehawk @3pm - there's also a tie between two Isthmian Premier clubs at Imperial Fields. With three wins from their last six matches, the K's are picking up a bit of form after a poor start. Whitehawk, with only one league defeat, are in the division's top four and will start as favourites

FAWNL Cup Second Round

Hashtag United v Rugby Borough @2pm - in the women's game it's an international break, so the highest level of football you'll be able to see will be this all third-tier team cup match. Being played at Aveley, the Tags are currently top of the Southern Premier whilst Rugby are fourth so this should be well worth a watch

London Bees v Norwich City @2pm - elsewhere in north London, there's a great chance of a cupset as the Canaries travel to The Hive. Currently fighting hard for the title in their fourth-tier division, they should have the talent and momentum to get the better of the Bees who are bottom of the Southern Premier without a league win

FAWNL Division 1 South East

AFC Wimbledon v Worthing @2pm - the big game in the fourth tier sees the leaders host the side three points behind them in third. The sides played on the south coast in the FA Cup last weekend with the Dons winning an entertaining game 3-2. Given how crucial every point is at this end of the table, another loss for Worthing could pretty much end their title ambitions. This match is being played at Plough Lane. Tickets are £5 on the door and, just so you know, there's a Halloween fancy dress competition taking place for fans

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 Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 16-22 October 2023

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

At this point I have produced full match maps for the week ahead but have only written previews for Monday to Friday as I've run out of time.

To be honest, I don't think it's a bad thing as things often change in midweek which make my previews inaccurate by the weekend.

There are some great matches to look forward to too.

El Claptico is finally here!

If you can't make it to England v Italy on Tuesday, we've got a random international friendly at Brentford between Australia and New Zealand which should be fun.

Elsewhere that night it's also the first El Claptico between Clapton CFC and Clapton at the Old Spotted Dog and there's a big FA Cup replay between Barnet and Aveley with a place in the First Round up for grabs.

Last week I did manage to get to the derby between QPR and Actonians at Hanwell Town which took place on Wednesday.

It was a tight game which the R's had the better of and they took the lead 20 minutes from time.

However, the A's rallied superbly to score twice in the last 10 minutes and nick a hugely important 2-1 win. 

Next up, they face a very tricky FA Cup tie against Fulham to make it two west London derbies in a row.

Back to this week and the big event in TLFG Towers should be the arrival of a new cat.

My wife and kids have been lobbying for one for years but I've always strongly resisted as we live in a flat with no direct access to the outside world.

However, a parent at my daughters' school breeds ragdolls which are apparently specialist house cats so we're going for it. Wish me luck!

THE WEEK AHEAD

We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with international football at the start of the week and Premier League and a full programme of EFL football returning at the end of it.

Aside from that there are also games in the FA Vase, Women's Super League, Women's FA Cup and all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.

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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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 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 16 October

Professional Development League

Charlton Athletic v Millwall @1pm - the week begins with this U21 derby at Dartford's ground. Millwall are one of the best teams at this level and are currently vying for top spot with QPR. Entry to these matches should be no more than £5

Middlesex Premier Cup First Round

PFC Victoria London v Civil Service @745pm - the only senior match of the day takes place at Ashford Town's ground near Heathrow (update - this is now being played at Colliers Wood United). PFC are a club founded in 2016 by Polish ex-pats and they're currently in the 11th tier MCFL Premier Division. On Monday they take on one of the oldest clubs in the world. Civil Service began life in 1863 and were one of the original members of the FA. As an amateur team, I don't usually cover them as they play outside the football pyramid but the Chiswick-based club are definitely worth a watch

FA Youth Cup Third Round Qualifying

The next round of the country's most prestigious U18 competition takes place this week, with ties taking place between Monday and Thursday. On Monday the home teams include New Salamis and Uxbridge but the biggest tie is probably Walton & Hersham against Maidstone United. All games kick-off at 745pm

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

Tuesday 17 October

UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier

England v Italy @745pm - the biggest game of the week sees two of the titans of world football meet at Wembley. The last time that happened was in the Euros final of 2021 when the Azzurri broke English hearts by beating them on penalties. Since then there have been three further matches - a 0-0 draw at Molineux, a 1-0 win for Italy in Milan (both in the Nations League) and a 2-1 win for England in Naples. That last result means Gareth Southgate's team are currently top of Group C and a win here will pretty much seal their ticket to Germany for next year's competition. Tickets have sold out

International friendly

Australia v New Zealand @745pm - if you can't get into the above but still want to watch some international football then head west to Brentford's GTech Stadium where these two old rivals, who are more famous for playing rugby or cricket, do battle.Top price tickets appear to be £20 but there are cheaper ones available 

FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying Replay

Barnet v Aveley @745pm - one of the stories of the day on Saturday was the Millers' ability to grab a late equaliser for a 2-2 draw against one of the top sides in the fifth tier. That fact alone would've been impressive enough but they did it with nine men too! Having now lost home advantage, you'd think the Essex club's run will now end but this is the FA Cup and magic does happen. The winners will travel to Manchester to play Curzon Ashton in the First Round. Tickets

ECL Division 1 South

Clapton CFC v Clapton @745pm - the first El Claptico is finally here. Ever since the sides were allocated the same division, this match has been eagerly awaited by fans and neutrals alike. CCFC was founded in 2018 by supporters of Clapton who had become disillusioned with the club's ownership. After two promotions CCFC are now in the same division as the Tons and this game at the Old Spotted Dog, which is London's oldest ground, should draw a big crowd for the level. Given the limit on capacity, you're strongly advised to buy tickets in advance

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

Wednesday 18 October

Isthmian League Premier Division

Kingstonian v Enfield Town @745pm - the K's lost 3-2 at Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday in front of over 3,000 fans. It left them in the bottom three as their tough start to the season continued. Enfield travelled to eighth tier Cray Valley PM in the FA Cup and got humbled 5-2 by the lower-ranked team. The defeat saw them miss out on what would've been a memorable trip to The Valley to play Charlton Athletic in the First Round. Now they can re-focus on the league where they are firmly involved in the promotion race. An away win looks likely

SSML Premier

London Lions v Cockfosters @8pm - a point apart in midtable, these two are way off title pace but with a bit of momentum, one of them could make it to the play-offs. The hosts play near Boreham Wood, just to the west of Cockfosters, so this is also a derby

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Barking @745pm - Woodford have made a superb start and could've gone six points clear at the top but suffered their first defeat of the season on Friday night. Not only did they lose but they lost big, going down 4-0 at home to Tilbury who strongly reinforced their promotion credentials in the process. The Blues, on the other hand, are down in lower midtable and should be beaten

L&SE Women's Regional League D1 South

Bromley v Welling United @745pm - if you fancy some women's football, there's a south-east London derby at Hayes Lane. The hosts are currently second with games in hand so should start as favourites

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

Thursday 19 October

FA Youth Cup Third Round Qualifying

There are two matches in this U18 competition on Thursday with Barnet hosting Ware at The Hive and Welling United welcoming Dorking Wanderers to Park View Road

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

Friday 20 October

EAL Senior Division

Woodford East v Frenford Reserves @8pm - there are three games in this 11th-tier division on Friday. Woodford East, in third, are the highest-ranked team in action and they badly need to win to try and cut the nine-point gap on leaders FC Baresi. The match is being played at Barking's ground

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

Saturday 21 October

Premier League

Brentford v Burnley @3pm - a lot has been made of the Bees' success in the top flight over the last couple of years and rightly so. They have this aura about them that they're well organised and tough to beat and they have been but this season it hasn't gone so well. With Ivan Toney banned for betting offences, they've only won one of their eight games and sit just three points above Burnley who are in the relegation zone. To say this is an important game for both would be an understatement. Tickets are only available to members

Chelsea v Arsenal @530pm - the biggest club match of the week takes place at Stamford Bridge at teatime where two of England's football heavyweights meet in this derby. In years gone by, this match would've settled title battles but with the Blues down in midtable and nine points off the pace, they're unlikely to challenge this season. Just before the international break, the Gunners firmly reinforced their credentials by beating Manchester City to leapfrog them in the table. Arsenal are also unbeaten in their last four at Stamford Bridge and on current form, should be able to extend that run. Apart from some very expensive hospitality packages (£600+), this match is sold out

Championship

Watford v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - our local second-tier clubs are not having a great campaign. Millwall are 15th, QPR are in the bottom three and the Hornets could end up in the relegation zone if they lose here and results elsewhere go against them. Wednesday are rock bottom following their promotion so losing to them would be disastrous. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Reading @3pm - two former Premier League clubs meet at The Valley for one of the biggest games of the day in the third tier. The Addicks are putting together a decent unbeaten run and with two games in hand on some of the clubs above them, they'll surely be up among the play-off contenders soon. The Royals suffered relegation to this level last season after suffering a points deduction for financial reasons and a further deduction since the start of the season means they're in the relegation zone again. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Barnsley @3pm - with only one defeat in five, the O's are just three points off the all-important top six. If they are to be considered as serious promotion candidates then they'll need to beat the likes of Barnsley who made the play-off final last season and are third coming into this. Tickets

League Two

Sutton United v Morecambe @3pm - the U's have had a miserable season but when they thrashed Walsall 4-0 two weeks ago, it looked as if they might have turned a corner. Sadly, they promptly went and lost their next game 4-1 at Doncaster who were only four places above them in the table. Lancashire club Morecambe could find themselves just outside the play-off places with a win here so it could be another tough afternoon for the south London club. Tickets

National League

Barnet v Maidenhead United @3pm - with the hosts fighting for the title and the visitors desperate to get out of the relegation zone, this is an important game at either end of the table. The Bees made smooth progress in the FA Cup in midweek and should be confident of getting the points which could put them top if leaders Chesterfield lose. Tickets

Bromley v Oxford City @3pm - the Ravens also made it through to the First Round of the FA Cup last week and they'll want to take that winning form into the league. Two matches without a victory has seen them slip to fifth. Oxford are just above the relegation zone so should be beaten. Tickets

Dagenham & Redbridge v Woking @3pm - of the five local sides we have in the fifth tier, the Daggers are struggling the most. In the relegation zone and knocked out of the FA Cup by a team from two divisions below them, it's not been great for the east London club. Woking are having a disappointing season by their recent standards. The Surrey club made the play-offs last season but with four defeats from five, are well off the pace this time round. Tickets

Wealdstone v Boreham Wood @530pm - there's a local derby in the live televised game later in the day. Two of the smaller clubs in the division, they've done really well to simply be competitive at this level with neither facing much threat of relegation since they came up. Indeed, Boreham Wood have made the play-offs on more than one occasion so it's a bit of a surprise to see them struggling a bit. Only a point apart in the table, this should be close. If you've got a car, then this can be combined with the matches at Hilltop or Northwood which are taking place nearby. Tickets

National League South

Aveley v Truro City @3pm - after all their heroics against Barnet on Saturday in the FA Cup, the Millers lost the replay on Tuesday night. They'll quickly want to refocus on their league form which has been really impressive for a newly promoted club and a win here against midtable opposition from Cornwall could see them climb back into the top three

Isthmian League Premier Division

Hornchurch v Bognor Regis Town @3pm - there aren't any standout games in the seventh tier on Saturday so I've gone for this as it gives you a chance to run the rule over the Urchins who narrowly missed promotion last season and are six points clear at the top as things stand. Beneath them, the table is pretty tightly congested with only six points separating second from 13th. Bognor are in this group so could well be in the play-off shake up at the end of the year

Isthmian League South Central

Metropolitan Police v Raynes Park Vale @3pm - it's a similar story in the eighth tier where there aren't any obvious crackers but one of our local table-toppers are in action. RPV won promotion to this level last season and have made a great start. One point clear of Southall at the top, they're involved in what looks like a being a very competitive title race with all of the top five firmly in contention. Therefore a win at struggling Met Police is vital. It's a real shame to see the hosts where they are. After numerous seasons in the seventh tier, where they often made it to the play-offs and had some good runs in the FA Cup, they took voluntary relegation last season for financial reasons and look set to go down again

FA Vase First Round

Bedfont Sports v Hassocks @3pm - there are numerous ties around London in this competition on Saturday but they're all much of a muchness in my opinion. This one is my pick of the ties as it features sides from the top six of the CCL Premier North and SCFL Premier so it should be competitive

Essex Senior League

There's a very unusual doubleheader taking place at Mayesbrook Park on Saturday with Ilford having to switch their derby against Barking to the Blues' ground as their own stadium is hosting Barkingside's FA Vase match. This match will kick-off at 1230pm before Romford play Takeley at 4pm. Both matches will require you to pay separate admission

SCEFL Division 1

AFC Whyteleafe v Bridon Ropes @3pm - the Leafe are another local side to be top of their division. Currently level on points with Rochester United, they have the lead by virtue of scoring one more goal than the Kent club. On Saturday they welcome Bridon Ropes who sit just two points above the relegation zone

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

Sunday 22 October

Women's Super League

Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm - Sunday is all about women's football and there's a great selection of matches taking place. Reigning WSL champions Chelsea continue their title defence with this home match against the Seagulls. Now under the management of American coach Melissa Phillips, who did really well at London City Lionesses, the Sussex club look like being a tougher proposition this season. Emma Hayes' side have been steady but unspectacular in their opening games and Brighton should make Chelsea work hard for the points. Tickets

West Ham United v Liverpool @3pm - the Reds travel to east London having blown the chance of going top of the WSL last Sunday. After a 100% start to the season, they lost to Everton at Anfield and ended the weekend in fifth. With one win from three, Rehanne Skinner will want to see her Hammers side get at least a point here. Tickets

Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @2pm - with it being a derby and with both sides doing well, this match is being played at The Valley. With only one defeat from seven, the Addicks are fourth and only three points behind leaders Southampton. Palace are doing even better - they're third, a point behind the leaders and they have a game in hand. This one has real potential. Tickets

London City Lionesses v Southampton @1pm - if you want to see the current leaders in action, then head to Princes Park where the Saints are in town. LCL narrowly missed out on the title last season but it looks like they'll be in a relegation battle this time round. Tickets

FAWNL Southern Premier

Hashtag United v Plymouth Argyle @2pm - the Tags finally lost their 100% record at home to MK Dons a couple of weeks ago but recovered to beat Billericay three days later. Three points clear of Portsmouth at the top, the Essex club should be expected to beat this struggling Argyle side

London Bees v Oxford United @2pm - having shipped 27 goals in their first seven games, bottom club Bees managed a welcome 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers Chatham in their last game. In desperate need of a win, they'll do really well to get anything against Oxford

Women's FA Cup Third Round Qualifying

At this stage of the competition, all the fourth-tier clubs enter the draw. There are numerous ties around the capital, here are my pick:

Actonians v Fulham @2pm - after beating QPR in the league in their last match, the A's face another local derby against the Cottagers. On paper, the hosts should win as they play a level above the visitors but it will probably be really close. Fulham are second in the division below and scored eight in their last match. If they do win, it won't be the biggest surprise of the day. This is being played at the Middlesex FA's HQ at Rectory Park in Northolt

London Seaward v Norwich City @2pm - the hosts have been gloriously inconsistent this season, beating the likes of promotion contenders Worthing one week and getting thrashed by strugglers Chesham the next. On Sunday they welcome another one of the top teams in the fourth tier. In theory they should lose but with this team, who knows??? This is being played at Redbridge's ground which is next to Barkingside Tube station

Watford Ladies v Brentford @2pm - the hosts, who are not connected to the men's team, play in the sixth tier and welcome another club who play at the same level but in a parallel league. Being played on one of the outside pitches at The Hive (at the same time as London Bees), the visitors should start as favourites

Headstone Manor v Dulwich Hamlet @2pm - playing in the seventh tier on what is little more than a park pitch in Hatch End in north-west London, Headstone Manor face one of the biggest matches in their history. Fifth-tier club Dulwich are the opponents and they should be expected to bring a few fans

Richmond & Kew v Maidenhead United @2pm - the hosts, who are also in the seventh tier, play close to the Thames in shadow of National Trust stately home Ham House. Having caused a bit of an upset by beating local rivals Richmond Park in the previous round, they face an incredibly tough match against fourth-tier opposition 

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 Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 9-15 October 2023

After a month of missing deadlines and not completing guides at all, this week's piece is up on time and in its entirety.

It's been another busy week and I even had to go to a funeral at one point - a friend's mother.

The only positive about that sad day was arriving in the area early and getting to check out the local non-league ground, as you do.

After many years writing about the goings on there, I finally got the chance to have a stroll around the outside of the Ladywell Arena which plays host to Lewisham Borough and Forest Hill Park.

The biggest match of the week takes place at Wembley on Friday 

It is primarily an athletics facility and a pretty good one by the looks of it and I could probably have just walked in but I opted to do a lap around it on the path that goes around the outside. 

Lewisham Borough have been a club on the up for a year or so now and they're well placed for a tilt at promotion from the SCEFL Division 1.

With crowds growing significantly, they're a club to definitely keep an eye on this season.

That was about as close as I got to any action this week. In the days ahead, I hope to get to Hanwell Town on Wednesday to watch the derby between QPR and Actonians in the Women's National League.

The games are often quite dramatic and in my time following the A's, QPR have tended to shade things.

I always feel particularly strange on these days. As someone who's followed the R's men's team for 40 years (it was the anniversary of my first game last Wednesday), I'm totally committed to supporting Actonians in the women's game and want to win these matches more than any other.

Anyway, that's enough from me. Enjoy your week.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Despite it being an international break, there are matches taking place every day this week - the often barren day of Thursday has been filled out with some youth games.

Aside from that there are games in the EFL, FA Cup, Women's Super League and all the other non-league and women's matches involving local clubs.

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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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 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 9 October

Premier League Cup

Charlton Athletic v Norwich City @7pm - the week begins with some U21 action at Dartford's ground. This competition is currently in its group stage and didn't begin well for the Addicks when they lost their opener to Bournemouth 4-0. Norwich drew their first game against Wolves 2-2 so you'd have to make them marginal favourites here

Isthmian League Premier

Carshalton Athletic v Canvey Island @745pm - the Robins come into this on the back of a week where they got knocked out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy by Cray Valley PM who play a level below them. Although CVPM are a decent side eighth-tier side, Carshalton are one of the title contenders at this level so it was a shock to see them lose. They'll be hoping their league form returns swiftly against midtable Canvey - a win will put them on level points with leaders Hornchurch

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

Tuesday 10 September

EFL Trophy Group J

Two of our local sides have been drawn in this group and they both play on Tuesday. Charlton Athletic lost their opening game 4-3 at Crawley Town last month whilst Sutton United lost on penalties to Aston Villa U21s after drawing 2-2. Today the match-ups switch around with the Addicks hosting Villa and Sutton entertaining Crawley Town

Isthmian League Premier

Hornchurch v Hastings United @745pm - top at the time of writing, the Urchins had a similar week to title rivals Carshalton as they went out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy. With those two competitions out of the way, they can concentrate on the league. With Hastings in the top five too, this is one of the non-league games of the week

Isthmian League South Central

Corinthian Casuals v Raynes Park Vale @745pm - my pick of the games in the eighth tier is this local derby. Sadly, CCs have made another poor start and could be headed for back-to-back relegations. It's the opposite case for newly promoted RPV who could go top with a win

Essex Senior League

West Essex v Romford @745pm - another one of the non-league games of the week takes place at Wadham Lodge on Tuesday where the teams in second and third will look to cut the gap on leaders Woodford Town 

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

Wednesday 11 October

Women's League Cup

Tottenham Hotspur v Reading @730pm - although there are a smattering of men's non-league games on Wednesday, the biggest matches are all in the women's game. Also known as the Continental Cup, Spurs made it to the quarter-finals last season. They drew the Royals in the group stage last season too and beat them 2-1, a result which contributed to the Berkshire club failing to make the knockout stage. Since then, Reading have suffered relegation and lost a number of key players so you'd expect another Spurs win. This is being played at Leyton Orient

West Ham United v Charlton Athletic @730pm - the Hammers got all the way to the semis last season before being demolished 7-0 by Chelsea. They'll hope for another good run this season and they start at home to the Addicks who play a division below them. Karen Hills' side have only lost one of their opening six games and will be hopeful of causing an upset. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge

London City Lionesses v Watford @7pm - the other tie of the night sees two Championship sides meet at Dartford's ground. LCL narrowly missed out on the title last season but with only win from six this season, it's not going well. The Hornets won promotion to this division last season and they're struggling too. A lot could depend on which side rotates their squad the most

FAWNL Division 1 South East

QPR v Actonians @745pm - as far as these two teams are concerned, this is as close as it gets to a West London Clasico. Hailing from the neighbouring districts of Shepherds Bush and Acton, this is a proper local derby. As with most derbies, the form book usually goes out the window with the team which finishes higher in the league, often disappointing in these games. Last season saw the A's enjoy their best season ever but they drew at home and got thumped 5-3 away. Both sides look unlikely to challenge the leading group this season with fifth probably the best either can achieve. Both lost on Sunday - QPR had their goalkeeper sent off and apparently don't have a replacement whilst Actonians were pretty toothless against Worthing so it's really tough to call. It is being played at Hanwell Town

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

Thursday 12 October

FAWNL Division 1 South East

London Seaward v Cambridge United @745pm - the other two sides who will probably challenge for fifth meet at Redbridge's ground the day after. Seaward beat a depleted Actonians side on the opening day but then lost comfortably at home to QPR a few weeks later. They then recovered to inflict title contenders Worthing's only defeat of the season before getting thrashed at struggling Chesham on Sunday, demonstrating just how unpredictable a side they are. In recent weeks, Cambridge have enjoyed two wins over Actonians in the league and cup and picked up a stunning win at previously unbeaten Ashford Town on Sunday. However, in the middle of all that, they conceded eight at home to AFC Wimbledon showing once again how crazy this league looks like being this season. Prior to Sunday I would have Seaward as favourites but now I'm not so sure

Youth football

There are seven U18 matches on Thursday. All the details are on the match map but please doublecheck everything with the hosting clubs on the day as venues and kick-off times can be subject to change

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

Friday 13 October

International friendly

England v Australia @745pm - if you didn't already know, another international break is taking place this week. The first of the Three Lions' games sees them host the Socceroos at Wembley in this friendly. The last time these two played was in 2016 at the Stadium of Light where goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney saw England win 2-1. The previous game to that in 2003 saw Australia's only win in the fixture as a side full of Premier League players recorded a memorable 3-1 success at Upton Park. The last few tickets sold out on Sunday

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Tilbury @745pm - if that game's not for you, then this is your next best option. The hosts have made a blistering start to the season. Unbeaten after 12 league games, they're five points clear at the time of writing, although that could change in midweek. Tilbury suffered relegation from the Isthmian League last season and have adjusted pretty well. If midweek results go their way, they could go fourth

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

Saturday 14 October

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City @3pm - the aforementioned international break means the highest level match you'll be able to see is this fourth tier one at Plough Lane. A fine return of 11 points from their last five games means the Dons are up to the heady heights of the top four. The Bantams made the play-offs last season but with only four wins from 12, they're languishing in midtable. The last three games between the two have ended in a draw 

FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying

One of the most exciting days of the non-league calendar is here again. This round of the cup sees all the fifth tier National League clubs enter the draw alongside the smaller clubs who have survived the previous five rounds. The winners of each tie receive £9,375 to go with any winnings from previous rounds but more importantly they go into the prestigious First Round draw with all the League One and Two clubs. This could see one of the minnows take on a former Premier League club like Bolton, Charlton, Derby or Portsmouth. My own club Harrow Borough did this two years ago, pushing Pompey hard and only losing 1-0 at Fratton Park - a fantastic experience. There are several ties taking place in the London area:

Aveley v Barnet @3pm - the Millers won promotion to the National League South last season and have begun well. With six wins from 11, they're in the top six. After beating local rivals Hornchurch in a replay last week, they've landed a very tough draw. The Bees came from behind to win 3-2 at Dorking Wanderers on Saturday, to stay second in the National League and they'll start as favourites here. Given how big a game this is for Aveley, I'd advise buying tickets in advance

Boreham Wood v Welling United @3pm - there's another all-TLFG area tie at Meadow Park. The Wood have had some great runs in the FA Cup in recent seasons, most notably getting to take on Everton at Goodison Park in the Fifth Round in 2022. They'll do very well to repeat that as they're not in the greatest of form but neither are the Wings who play a division below them. A home win looks like the most likely outcome

Bromley v Wealdstone @3pm - two of our local fifth-tier sides have also been drawn together at Hayes Lane in what is arguably the tie of the day locally. The Ravens have made the Second Round on three occasions but not since 1945 so as one of the National League's top clubs, it's about time they at least matched that. In my head, I had the Stones as being a decent FA Cup side and although they did make the Third Round in 1978, they haven't been to the First Round since 2015. With only one win in five in the league, their chances of progress this time don't seem great

Cray Valley PM v Enfield Town @3pm - London's lowest ranked remaining team are CVPM and they've got a great chance of joining the big boys in the First Round. After beating Carshalton in the last round, the Towners don't present any bigger threat so a cupset is definitely possible. Despite their relatively lowly status, Cray Valley also made the First Round in 2020 and the FA Vase Final in 2019 so they know a thing or two about playing in cups. Let's not completely forget about Enfield Town though as it's a huge moment for them too. Since their formation in 2001, the Isthmian Premier club have never been beyond this round 

Isthmian League Premier

Dulwich Hamlet v Kingstonian @3pm - the Hamlet suffered relegation from the NLS last season and have struggled on their return to the seventh tier. Just a point above the bottom three after eight games, this season is threating to be another huge disappointment. On Saturday they play another one of the division's strugglers in what already looks like a crucial game. Without a ground of their own for several years now, the K's are finding life tough and their fortunes haven't improved since moving to Imperial Fields. Playing over six miles from central Kingston, retaining and building a fanbase at this level is going to be tough

Isthmian League South Central

Uxbridge v Leatherhead @3pm - in other news, Uxbridge play their first game at the refurbished Honeycroft. The new 3G pitch will see leaders Leatherhead provide very challenging opposition but with the Red Army in promotion contention too, this could be well worth a watch. It's also 'Pay What You Want'

Essex Senior League

Sporting Bengal United v FC Clacton @3pm - if they both win in midweek then they'll start this game as fourth and fifth. SBU won promotion back to this level last season and have started impressively well again. Playing at the Mile End Stadium, they are one of the most centrally located clubs in London

CCL Division 1

Molesey v Bedfont @3pm - game of the day in the 10th tier sees second play third in this division. The visitors have two games in hand on the top two. If won, it would put them second, two points behind leaders Amersham Town

AFC Premier Division

Honourable Artillery Company v Old Salvatorians @130pm - having just come to my attention on Thursday night, there's a real treat in store for groundhoppers as HAC are playing a match at their historic HQ off City Road. Located half way between Old Street and Moorgate stations, it's the only ground in the City of London and not to be missed. It's free entry but you need to DM the club via one of its social media channels to reserve a spot

Women's Super League

Chelsea v West Ham United @530pm - there's a rare bit of Saturday night football in the WSL as champions Chelsea welcome the Hammers. On paper this has home win written all over it but the Blues made heavy weather of beating Spurs at Stamford Bridge in their opening game and needed an injury-time equaliser to get a 1-1 draw against the nine players of Manchester City on Sunday, so it will be interesting to see how they do back at Kingsmeadow. These games often reach capacity so I'd advise buying tickets in advance. The late kick-off means you can probably combine it with one of the nearby non-league matches

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

Sunday 15 October

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Wanderers v Hornchurch @3pm - there's one men's game on Sunday and it sees London's oldest club host the current Isthmian League leaders. Being played at Bromley's ground, Cray need some points to start pulling away from from the bottom six 

Women's Super League

Arsenal v Aston Villa @2pm - after setting a WSL attendance record of 54,115 for their season opener against Liverpool, the Gunners will have another go at beating it as they welcome Villa to the Emirates Stadium. They suffered a shock 1-0 loss to the Reds in that game and will have to up their game against Villa who are in theory a stronger side although they too lost to Liverpool on Sunday. Tickets for men's games at the Emirates are very hard to get without membership and incredibly expensive. If you simply want to see a game at this venue, this gives a great chance at a good price. Tickets

Women's Championship

Crystal Palace v London City Lionesses @2pm - there's a south London derby in the second tier. Palace are the top-ranked London side in this division after thrashing leaders Blackburn 4-0 on Sunday. The result leaves them one point off top spot. As mentioned above, LCL are struggling so they'll do well to win this match which is being played at Sutton United's ground

Watford v Lewes @2pm - the Hornets face a huge game against fellow strugglers. With only one team going down, beating bottom club Lewes will give them a great chance of staying up. This match is being played at Wealdstone

FAWNL Division 1 South East

QPR v Haywards Heath Town @2pm - formerly known as Crawley Wasps, HHT have struggled following their relegation from the third tier and have won only one match this season. The R's should win. Interestingly, the sides will play again next week in the next round of the FA Cup

L&SE Women's Regional League Premier

Dartford v Sutton United @3pm - the Darts finished seventh last season but showed a few signs of putting a good side together in the closing weeks of the campaign. This campaign has begun really well with them winning all seven of their opening games, putting them top with a five-point lead over Fulham. The U's slipped to fifth after losing 4-1 at Fulham 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!

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

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