TLFG: 29 January - 4 February 2024

Welcome to this week's TLFG, I hope you're well.

Sickness has been another big feature of the last few days in TLFG Towers and I've had to take the weekend off work to play nurse to my wife and kids, consequently there's been no live football.

For me, it's been mainly all about Non-League Day (NLD) preparations.

There have been more meetings with our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK and also our friends at Athletic Bilbao who are building up to their own event across the Basque Country again.

I've also been building the national match map for NLD and working on this blog while I can.

Spain will play Colombia at London Stadium on 22 March - tickets

NLD takes place on 23 March and it looks like being a fantastic weekend of football in London.

Kicking off on Friday night, it's been announced that Spain will play Colombia in a friendly at West Ham United's London Stadium home.

Then following the NLD festivities on Saturday afternoon, England will play Brazil at Wembley in the evening.

To top it all, it's also Women's Football Weekend so it's all go!

With my wife's health improving, hopefully I'll get to a game at some point this week but we'll see.

Have a great week and enjoy whatever you end up doing.

 THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League 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 29 January

Youth & Development matches

As far as I'm aware, it's all about U18 football on Monday. Hampton & Richmond Borough, Metropolitan Police, Tooting & Mitcham United and Walton & Hersham are all hosting games but please check all the details before travel, particularly the venues

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Tuesday 30 January

Premier League

Fulham v Everton @745pm - there are a couple of big games towards the wrong end of the table on Tuesday. Firstly at Craven Cottage, the hosts will be looking to recover from their FA Cup loss to Newcastle on Saturday. Although eight points clear of the relegation zone, wins have been hard to come by for Fulham in recent weeks so they really need to get something here. Everton also bowed out of the cup at the weekend and because of a points deduction sit just above the relegation zone so this could go either way. Also of note, Fulham are unbeaten in five against the Toffees. Tickets are available

Crystal Palace v Sheffield United @8pm - slightly later over in SE25, Roy Hodgson's side face an important game against the bottom club. Without a win in 2024, the pressure is starting to build on the Eagles' 76-year-old manager. A win against the Blades could push them eight points clear of the relegation zone and make things seem a lot brighter. Rarely for a first-team game at Selhurst Park, tickets are on general sale

League Two

Sutton United v Harrogate Town @745pm - since his appointment in early January, Steve Morison has presided over three draws which have lifted the U's off bottom spot. With two of those draws against sides in the top four, that marks a significant improvement. Next up they face midtable opponents Harrogate who won promotion from the National League the year before Sutton so they're both fairly new to this level. Since they first met in a fifth-tier game in 2018, Sutton have only lost one of the nine games they've played against the Yorkshire club. Tickets

National League

Wealdstone v Aldershot Town @745pm - David Noble's time as Stones manager started with a solid 2-0 win over FC Halifax Town on Saturday. On Tuesday, another top-seven side pay them a visit for what should be a challenging test. The Shots beat Rochdale 3-1 at the weekend and have lost only one of their last five. They also beat Wealdstone 3-1 in August and have never lost at Grosvenor Vale. Tickets

National League South

Welling United v Hampton & Richmond Borough @745pm - the Wings picked up a surprise away win at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday and promptly sacked manager Danny Bloor in a move that has angered fans. Whether the struggling team have a replacement in in time for this remains to be seen but they'll have to up their game again to beat this talented Hampton & Richmond side who are well in the hunt for promotion. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Enfield Town v Billericay Town @745pm - game of the day in the seventh tier is this top-four clash at Donkey Lane. Both sides suffered defeat on Saturday to lose ground on the top two. With only one team getting automatic promotion and leaders Hornchurch having a double-digit lead over both of them, securing a play-off place would seem to be the most realistic aim at this stage. Wingate & Finchley and Hastings United sit just behind them in the table and also have games on Tuesday which could see them catch the Towners so the stakes are high. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Chertsey Town v Leatherhead @745pm - there's another huge game at Alwyns Lane where the leaders welcome the side in third. The Curfews beat Ashford Town 2-1 on Saturday in front of a crowd of 661 and with title challengers Southall suffering a shock defeat at bottom club Binfield, they opened a three-point lead at the top. The Tanners won 2-0 at Thatcham Town to move above Marlow who had their game against Guernsey postponed. With Chertsey having played fewer games than their main title rivals, it's looking bright for the Surrey club. Tickets 

SCEFL Premier

Erith Town v Glebe @745pm - the visitors kept hold of top spot with a 2-0 win over Snodland Town on Saturday. It's just as well as main title rivals Faversham Town and Deal Town both won too. As for Erith, they sit six points behind Bearsted who occupy the last play-off place. Although they have a game in hand on them, the Bears are the form team of the division so catching them is going to be hard. Tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Division 1

British Airways v RB Kensington @745pm - the hosts are having a rather fine season. Currently fourth, if they win all their games in hand, second spot is achievable. Although back in eighth, RBK also have games in hand that could put them into the play-off places too. The name gives it away, but if you didn't know, BA play right next to Heathrow Airport. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Wednesday 31 January

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford @730pm - top of the bill on Wednesday is this derby at the THS. Since joining the Premier League in 2021, the Bees have only lost one of the five games they've played against Spurs. The last couple of months had been very underwhelming for Thomas Frank's side but then Ivan Toney returned from his betting ban and scored in a priceless 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest to renew their hopes of beating the drop. Spurs conceded a late goal on Friday to lose to Manchester City in the FA Cup and they'll believe they're quite capable of bouncing back here. Tickets are only on sale to members but hospitality packages are available from £199

Premier League International Cup

West Ham United v Dinamo Zagreb @7pm - unbeaten in the three games they've played in this U21 competition, the Hammers should start as favourites against their Croatian opponents who have yet to win. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge and tickets will be available on arrival

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Thursday 1 February

Premier League

West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth @730pm - the new month begins with some Thursday night football at the London Stadium. By their respective standards, both sides are having decent seasons. The Hammers are in the top six whilst the Cherries are more than holding their own in 12th. Although David Moyes' side are right up in the battle for European places, they haven't won a match in 2024. Results have included a loss to Championship club Bristol City in the FA Cup and a draw at bottom side Sheffield United last time out. Bournemouth are a couple without a win in the league but they've kept things ticking over with a couple of cup victories instead. West Ham are unbeaten in five against the Dorset club. Tickets

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Friday 2 February

Premier League Cup

Chelsea v Leeds United @7pm - as we approach the final games of this stage, the Blues and Lilywhites have already secured the top two spots in Group D to make this a dead rubber. Matches between these two are always worth a watch though. Being played at Kingsmeadow, tickets are available

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Sadly as a result of work and family commitments, I won't be publishing any previews for this weekend's games - apologies 

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, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 22-28 January 2024

Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.

How has your week been?

Aside from work, preparations for this year's Non-League Day on 23 March are well underway.

Over the last few days, there have been meetings with team members and our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK.

Our friends at Athletic (Bilbao) were also in touch as well and hopefully I'll have a meeting with them sometime in the next few days too.

As for live football, I went to Rectory Park on Sunday to watch Actonians play their first home game since 5 November.

Molly O'Reilly and captain Roschelle Shakes both scored for Actonians on Sunday

Having won their first two games of 2024 at Cambridge City and Ashford Town, the squad came into this cup match against Sutton United with some confidence.

The A's have made the Capital Senior Cup final twice since 2019, beating Leyton Orient in the first and losing on penalties to QPR in 2021.

Arsenal's youngsters won it last year but bowed out early in their defence, losing to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

With Sutton playing in the division below the hosts, they were expected to face a tough afternoon and so it transpired.

Despite some spirited goalkeeping, they found themselves 2-0 down at the interval.

With a strong wind behind them after the break, they might have hoped for a bit more joy but they barely had a sniff as Actonians raced away to record a resounding 8-0 win.

For the second week running, teenage striker Tori St Clair was named POTM as she bagged four goals.

With seven in her last three, she looks quite a prospect.

Having beaten Charlton Athletic U21s at Plough Lane on Sunday, AFC Wimbledon must surely be the favourites from this point.

As for Actonians, 2024 has begun very well indeed but they'll do well to get anything next week as they travel to title contenders Norwich City.

The Canaries won 5-1 at Rectory Park in September on what turned out to be a very dark afternoon for the west London club.

Things have stabilised somewhat since then so it should be closer but I'll be delighted with a point.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, EFL, National League, Women's Champions League and FA Youth Cup 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 22 January

Premier League Cup

The week begins with a couple of decent U21 games in south London. Chelsea entertain Colchester United at Kingsmeadow whilst Crystal Palace host Birmingham City at Sutton United. Both games start at 7pm and you should be able to pay on arrival with tickets no more than £5

FA Youth Cup Fourth Round

QPR v Burnley @7pm - after beating Wolves at Molineux in the last round, the R's U18s now face their counterparts from Turfmoor. The match is being played at Loftus Road and tickets can be bought in advance for £3 

Essex Senior League

Ilford v Tilbury @745pm - the best non-league option of the night takes place at Barking's ground where the struggling Foxes take on top club Tilbury. The Dockers will be looking to extend their lead at the summit to seven points as this is one of their games in hand

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Tuesday 23 January

EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg

Chelsea v Middlesbrough @8pm - despite facing Championship opposition in this semi-final, the Blues are 1-0 down after the first leg. Out of the race for the title and not in Europe, Chelsea's only chance of redemption this season are the domestic cups. In other words, winning this will be absolutely crucial for them. They've made nine finals, winning five but they haven't won since 2015. Boro have made the final three times, winning it once. One of those lost finals was against Chelsea in 1998. Although the London club are the poorest they've been for a while, victory for the visitors will still be a huge upset. Tickets have sold out but hospitality packages are available from £300

League One

Charlton Athletic v Northampton Town @745pm - winless in 11 games in all competitions, the Addicks are now only seven points above the relegation zone. Michael Appleton badly needs to see his side get something here or his position will surely come under more pressure. Tenth and with 10 points from their last five games, the Cobblers are no pushovers. Tickets

National League

Dagenham & Redbridge v Dorking Wanderers @745pm - sitting not far above the relegation zone, this is close to being a relegation six-pointer so there's plenty to play for. With wins over Gateshead and Oxford City in recent weeks, the visitors are in better form. Tickets

Wealdstone v Southend United @745pm - having seen manager Stuart Maynard headhunted by League Two club Notts County last week, the Stones will be looking to start life without him on a positive note. The Shrimpers sit just a point above them and have won three of their last five. However, given they suffered a 10-point deduction earlier in the season, their position is somewhat false. Tickets

London Senior Cup First Round

Corinthian Casuals v QPR U21 @745pm - this match has been postponed at least twice over the last couple of months and his holding up the rest of the draw. I don't think the R's have ever entered a side in this competition, they've certainly never won it, but they should start as favourites against a team who are struggling towards the bottom of the eighth tier Isthmian League South Central. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Wednesday 24 January

EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg

Fulham v Liverpool @8pm - the Cottagers played well in the first leg at Anfield but ultimately lost 2-1. Still, that's far from disastrous now that they have the all-important second leg at home. Fulham have never made the final whilst the Reds are the most successful club in the competition's history with nine wins. Jurgen Klopp's side are also top of the Premier League and will be big favourites to make it to Wembley. Tickets have sold out

UEFA Women's Champions League

Chelsea v Real Madrid @8pm - the Blues, who are top, will take a huge stride towards winning this group if they beat their Spanish opponents. Although a huge name in the men's game, the women's team aren't quite at that level and are bottom with just one point from four games and will go out if they lose. That point actually came against Chelsea in Madrid so they know something about containing the London club. This is being played at Stamford Bridge and tickets are available

National League

Boreham Wood v Eastleigh @745pm - unbeaten in four, the Wood have moved six points clear of the relegation zone. However, most of that unbeaten run has been draws so they could definitely do with another win. Eastleigh are only four points shy of the play-off places but they're three games without a victory and this could be a good time to play them. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Kingstonian v Concord Rangers @745pm - in the seventh tier there's a huge relegation six-pointer between the division's bottom two. The K's are without a home of their own and this can't have helped their ability to operate at the high levels they used to enjoy. The visitors, who hail from Canvey Island, got relegated from the NLS last season and look set to go down again. Locked together on 12 points, they're both 10 points adrift of safety so it's looking bleak 

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Athletic Newham @745pm - two sides who sit just outside the play-off places meet at Ashton Stadium on Wednesday. Just a point behind fifth placed Great Wakering Rovers, the hosts could get back into the top five with a win here

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Thursday 25 January

Middlesex Premier Cup Quarter-Final

CB Hounslow United v RB Kensington @745pm - there's one senior game on Thursday and it's this cup tie at Green Lane. This competition is for teams in the 10th and 11th tiers. The hosts were in the 10th tier last season alongside RBK but got relegated. On paper, the visitors should start as favourites

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Friday 26 January

FA Cup Fourth Round

Chelsea v Aston Villa @745pm - the country's favourite cup competition is now down to its last 32 and there are two big ties in the capital on Friday night. With 15 wins between them, these are two of the most successful clubs in FA Cup history. For most of the last 20 years, you'd expect the Blues to start as strong favourites but not any more. Under Unai Emery, Villa have become the top-four club who are challenging for honours on several fronts, the role Chelsea have held for most of the 21st century. Now stuck in the midtable doldrums, they've also lost their last two against the Birmingham club at Stamford Bridge. To me, EFL Cup glory looks far more likely for Chelsea. Tickets are currently on sale to members only but check with the club to see if that changes. Hospitality packages are available from £300

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @8pm - in north London there's another fascinating looking game between two more sides with 15 wins between them. At the time of writing, only three points separate the clubs in the league as City have failed to win seven of their 20 games so far this season. Pep Guardiola's side are the reigning champions but you have to go all the way back to 1991 to find Spurs' last win, something that I still find hard to believe. Tickets are on sale to members and hospitality packages are available from £349

Premier League 2

West Ham United v Stoke City @7pm - if you can't get a ticket for either of the above, you could go to this U21 game at the Hammers' Rush Green training facility in Romford. The hosts are second in this 26-team division so will start as favourites. Tickets should be available on the gate but check all the details with the club before you travel

CCL Premier South

Epsom & Ewell v Cobham @745pm - there are some reasonable non-league alternatives too including this groundshare derby in leafy Surrey. On this occasion it's tenants versus landlords and with both in the bottom four, there's plenty to play for. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Saturday 27 January

FA Cup Fourth Round

Fulham v Newcastle United @7pm - the biggest game of the day takes place at the end of it, much to the delight of the away fans I'm sure! The Cottagers come into this on the back of losing to Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-finals on Wednesday so this competition represents their only chance of silverware this season. Fulham have never won the FA Cup and although Newcastle have enjoyed six triumphs, it's 69 years since the last one. Both sides are in poor league form coming into this with only one win in the last five so it's a pretty tough one to call. Tickets were on general sale but seem to now only be available to members

Championship

Millwall v Preston North End @3pm - this is the only second-tier game in London on Saturday and it's quite hard for me to sell. Neither team are doing particularly well and there isn't any great rivalry that I'm aware of. However, what seems clear from the stats is that Millwall are a bogey team for PNE - they're unbeaten in nine against the Lancashire club which is pretty unusual at this level. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Mansfield Town @3pm - the hosts suffered the ignominy of losing 3-1 to arch rivals MK Dons on Tuesday to slip to 10th. Of the five games they've played in January, they've only managed to win the EFL Trophy match against Oxford United so they're not in the best form. The Stags are third in the table but are three without a win in the league and only managed a draw against struggling Sutton United on Tuesday. Tickets

Premier League 2

Chelsea v Reading @2pm - if you're on a tight budget then this U21 match at Kingsmeadow could be a good option for you. When it comes to first-team football, these two are light years apart with the Royals struggling badly in League One. However, in this competition, it's Reading who are in the top six and the Blues down in midtable. Tickets

National League

Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town @3pm - there are three games in the fifth tier on Saturday but if I were to pick one to recommend it would be this. Last week, the Stones lost manager Stuart Maynard to Notts County. This will be the first game under new boss David Noble who has joined from St Albans City. As a player, Noble played first-team games for the likes of Watford and West Ham before establishing himself at Bristol City and Exeter City. He's joined by Neil Banfield who was second in command at QPR under Michael Beale last season so the Ruislip-based club clearly have some ambition. His first match will be a tough one against Halifax who won the FA Trophy last season and will probably move into the play-off places if they win here. Tickets

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chelmsford City @3pm - game of the day in the sixth tier was an easy pick as two of the top five meet at The Beveree. H&RB's lengthy unbeaten run finally came to an end at Braintree on 6 January but they haven't played since as the weather has wiped out their fixtures. In that time, Chelmsford have stormed up the table winning six in a row and they're now third. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Enfield Town v Hornchurch @3pm - the Urchins arrive at Donkey Lane in top spot. It's a position they've held for a while but their lead is being reduced after three straight draws. The last two of those have come after the departure of manager Steve Morison to Sutton United so it will be interesting to see how his loss will affect them for the remainder of the season. The Towners are fourth. One time title contenders, they're 10 points behind the visitors at the moment so they really have to win this to keep any hopes of automatic promotion alive. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Harrow Borough v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm - elsewhere in the seventh tier there's a derby at Earlsmead. To top it all it's a relegation six-pointer so there's a lot riding on it. As a fan of the Boro, it was sad to see them slip to the bottom following Didcot's midweek win. Now eight points adrift of safety, it's looking like last-chance saloon time already. Surprisingly, H&YU are in a mess too. Third from bottom but only two points adrift, they could deal a real hammer blow to their local rivals with a win here. Tickets will be available on the gate

Isthmian League South Central

Chertsey Town v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @3pm - the battle for the title in this division is tight. The hosts are currently top, separated from Southall by goal difference alone. Regularly drawing crowds of over 700, which is exceptional for this level, the Curfews are well worth a watch. Ashford are fifth from bottom and don't play a million miles away from Alwyns Lane so there's a bit of a derby element to this too. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Cray Valley PM v Ashford United @3pm - over on the south-east side of town, CVPM play the other Ashford who come from Kent. As someone who works on the railway, I've lost count of the times passengers get their Ashford's muddled up and arrive in the Middlesex one looking for a Eurostar to Paris. Anyway, I digress. CVPM are second and still have three games in hand on top club Ramsgate who are 11 points ahead. With only one team going up automatically, it's still a tough ask for Steve McKimm's side but a win here against the team in 11th will keep them firmly on course for at least a play-off place. Tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Premier North

Bedfont Sports v Burnham @3pm - if you're not far from Heathrow or fancy doing a bit of plane spotting then this top-six clash could be for you. With Rayners Lane and Flackwell Heath pulling well clear of the rest, it now seems to be all about who will finish third. The hosts are the current incumbents whilst Burnham are five points behind them but with two games in hand. The fight for play-off places in this division should be worth keeping an eye on. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Premier

Glebe v Snodland Town @3pm - having won their big top-of-the-table clash at Faversham Town last weekend, Glebe are now four points clear in first. With three consecutive wins, their form is good but not as good as third placed Corinthian who are six points behind but have a worrying four games in hand. In other words, the hosts simply have to keep winning to keep their rivals at bay - there is very little margin for error. Snodland won the First Division title last year and are well placed for a play-off push this season so they should provide a stern test. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

Croydon v Staplehurst Monarchs @3pm - with almost 400,000 inhabitants, Croydon is the biggest London borough in terms of population. However, it's two main non-league clubs play way down the pyramid and struggle to get big crowds as Premier League Crystal Palace dominate the local football scene. The Trams are in the 10th tier and have a chance of making the play-offs. Although sixth, they're seven points shy of that all-important fifth place which will get them into the post-season. On Saturday, the team in fourth pay them a visit so a win is pretty much essential. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Sunday 28 January

Championship

QPR v Huddersfield Town @130pm - there's a bonus bit of second-tier action in Shepherds Bush on Sunday and it's a hugely important game. After beating London rivals Millwall 2-0 in their big game last weekend, the R's have put themselves in a position where a win here against their fellow strugglers will finally take them out of the bottom three. Huddersfield are four without a win and sit just above QPR in the table, so defeat will see them drop into the relegation places instead. Tickets

FA Cup Fourth Round

Watford v Southampton @2pm - if you fancy some cup football instead then head to Vicarage Road where two Championship clubs will be battling it out for a place in the last 16. The visiting Saints will start as favourites and they won't want to lose. Last weekend's win over Swansea saw them set a new club record of 21 games without defeat and I'm sure they'll want to keep that run going. Tickets

Women's Super League

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @2pm - with three consecutive wins in the league and cup, Spurs are now establishing themselves as part of the top six. On Sunday they welcome the division's form team to Brisbane Road for a huge test of their credentials. Unbeaten in eight matches and up to second in the WSL, City demolished Spurs 7-0 when they last played at the end of November. Tickets are not available online - whether this means it's sold out or just too short notice I'm not quite sure but check with the club on the day for the latest

Women's Championship

Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic @2pm - there's a huge game in the second tier where these south London rivals meet at Sutton United's ground. The Addicks are one point clear at the top but third place Palace are just two points behind with a game in hand. With only three points separating the top five and only one promotion place available, this title race looks like being one of the most thrilling around. 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, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 15-21 January 2024

Welcome one and all to the latest TLFG.

Firstly apologies for the late publication - I really fancied myself to get it finished on Sunday night but with the end in sight, one of my kids had a meltdown and wrote off the rest of the evening.

Thankfully I had an early finish at work today so I've got something available for you to read.

Sadly I couldn't publish in time for Charlton's lunchtime U21 game but you've got a few hours to check your options for Monday night.

At the moment, I've only had time to write previews for Monday but I'll add more when I get the chance - the match maps are there in full though.

Have a great week and I'll try and flesh this out with more info as soon as I can. 

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, 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 15 January

Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round

Aveley v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - the week begins with this derby at Parkside. It pits a sixth-tier club against one in the fifth but there's likely to be some squad rotation to make things a bit harder to call. The Millers have been to the final four times but never won whilst the Daggers have two titles, the last of which came way back in 2001 

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Frenford @745pm - the hosts were among the early pacesetters in the league but they've now dropped to sixth and need to recover some form to stay in contention for a play-off spot. Newly promoted Frenford, who are based near Gants Hill, have struggled this season and are in the bottom three

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Tuesday 16 January

Friendly

Walton & Hersham v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @745pm - with most of tonight's fixtures falling foul of the cold weather, these two sides have arranged a friendly at short notice. The hosts play a level above the visitors so should start as favourites on paper. It's £5 to get in

CCL Premier North

Bedfont Sports v Hilltop @745pm - the hosts are having a good season and come into this match in fourth. On Tuesday they welcome the team who are currently bottom of the division. However, their position is false thanks in part to their great run in the FA Vase which has seen them make the last 16. Having played only 14 games, eight less than some teams, they're a point adrift at the foot of the table

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Wednesday 17 January

Premier League International Cup

There's another couple of games in this U21 competition with a strong European flavour. On Wednesday, Crystal Palace host Dutch club Feyenoord at Sutton United whilst Fulham play Monaco at their training ground in Motspur Park. Both matches start at 7pm and you can pay on the gate. Update - Crystal Palace match now behind closed doors 

Essex Senior League

Athletic Newham v Barking @745pm - if it beats the frost, this should be the non-league game of the night. These two local rivals are just two points apart in the top eight and pushing for a place in the play-offs

CCL Division 1

Langley v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - one game that should beat the cold is this one at Honeycroft where they have an artificial pitch. The hosts are sixth and well placed for a play-off push but they have played more than everyone else. The visitors are currently bottom but have games in hand on all those above them

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Thursday 18 January

Youth & Development matches

Tonight is all about U23 and U18 matches at our local non-league clubs. The pick of the action would seem to be the U23 game between Abbey Rangers and Aldershot Town

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Friday 19 January

Premier League International Cup

West Ham United v Dinamo Zagreb @7pm - the weekend begins with another bit of European U21 action. The Hammers are second in Group B whilst their Croatian opponents are second bottom of the eight-team group and without a win. This match is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge

Essex Senior League

Ilford v Frenford @745pm - elsewhere in east London, there's an Ilford derby being played at Barking's ground. Both are in the bottom three so it's a relegation six-pointer too

Woodford Town v Buckhurst Hill @745pm - a little to the north-west of Mayesbrook Park we've got another derby - the Roding Valley Derby to be precise. With the hosts pushing for a play-off place and the visitors drifting in midtable, there's not quite as much riding on it as the game above but the crowd and atmosphere should be considerably bigger

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Saturday 20 January

Premier League

Arsenal v Crystal Palace @1230pm - with only one win in the last five games, the Gunners have slipped to fourth and badly need the three points here if they want to stay in the title race. Palace ended their own poor run of league results just after Christmas with a hugely important win over Brentford but they bowed out of the FA Cup in midweek at Everton. The Eagles last won at the Emirates in 2019 but it was a very rare occurrence as the previous time was in 1994. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from  £325

Brentford v Nottingham Forest @530pm - talking of bad league form, the Bees' is the worst in the Premier League. Now only three points above the relegation zone, this match against Forest who are just above them is absolutely huge. Thomas Frank's side are unbeaten in five against the East Midlands club and this match marks the long-awaited return of star striker Ivan Toney after a betting ban. Can he save them??? Tickets are only available to members

Championship

QPR v Millwall @3pm - if you can't get into either of the above, then this spicy London derby at Loftus Road should be well worth some of your time. Less than four weeks since they last played, these two will do it all again in west London. On that occasion, the Lions virtually strolled to a 2-0 win at The Den which helped them begin a run that's pulled them well clear of the relegation zone. The same can't be said of the R's who can't buy a win at the moment. Five points adrift of safety, they simply have to start winning soon. If you haven't been to one of these games, they can be very lively off and on the pitch so beware. Tickets

League One

Leyton Orient v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - with 10 points from their last four games, the O's have hit a bit of a purple patch. Last time out they inflicted a 3-0 defeat on leaders Portsmouth who are wobbling badly. Next up they play one of the sides looking to replace them at the top so it's going to be tough again. When they last played in December, Bolton edged to a 3-2 win. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Crawley Town @3pm - on level points just outside the play-off places, this should be close. With Crawley a short journey to the south of London, the visitors should bring a decent following for what might as well be a derby. The Dons won the reverse fixture 2-1 last month. Tickets

MATCH OFF

Women's Super League

Arsenal v Everton @2pm - after beating Watford in the FA Cup last weekend, the Gunners return to WSL action on Saturday. They'll be looking to recover from losing the derby to Spurs before Christmas and putting pressure back on leaders Chelsea. Everton got a great 3-0 win at Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday but they'll do well to get anything here. Tickets have sold out

National League

Barnet v Chesterfield @530pm - the game of the day in the fifth tier is this blockbuster between the former leaders and the current top team. The Bees' form dipped badly towards the end of the year but it's recovered well and they're still third. However, the Spireites are 12 points clear at the top and will take some stopping. Tickets MATCH OFF

Bromley v Boreham Wood @3pm - sandwiched in between them in second are the Ravens. Only a point ahead of Barnet, they can't afford to slip up in this derby. The Wood are in midtable and having a slightly disappointing season by their recent high standards but with only one defeat in five and having drawn at Hayes Lane earlier in the season, they can't be taken lightly. This is on an artificial pitch so should go ahead. Tickets

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Eastbourne Borough @3pm - the pick of the games in the sixth tier will affect proceedings at either end of the table. With Yeovil Town 13 points clear at the top, it seems to now be all about who can finish second. Worthing, Hampton & Richmond and Maidstone United are all level on 46 points in second to fourth. The Beavers have a game in hand on both of them so things are looking good. With The Sports in the bottom four, the hosts really should win. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Wingate & Finchley v Chatham Town @3pm - if you're in north London and not going to one of the other games in the area, then this seventh-tier match at Summers Lane looks good. W&F are having the season of their lives. With an average attendance of 176, they are the smallest club in the division but they've been in the top five for quite a while now. On Saturday they welcome second placed Chatham for a real test of their promotion credentials. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Raynes Park Vale v Marlow @3pm - the best game in the eighth tier would appear to be this one between two of the top five. RPV lost their big match at Chertsey Town last week which kept the Curfews top. Still in the play-off places, they face a strong Marlow side who sit just a point and a place above them in the table. Tickets are available on the gate

CCL Premier South

AFC Croydon Athletic v Farnham Town @3pm - before the season started, the Rams created a lot of headlines when they were taken over by a consortium which featured Crystal Palace legend Wilfried Zaha and musician Stormzy. Things started well enough but by mid-September results had dipped and co-managers Lee Roots and Kevin Rayner were asked to leave. In mid-October former pro-player Jermaine McGlashan took charge and they're now back in the top six and pushing for a play-off place. On Saturday they welcome leaders Farnham who are an ambitious club who can draw crowds in excess of 1,000 for big games - quite something for a ninth-tier club. They'll have to be at their best to beat them. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

AFC Whyteleafe v Rochester United @3pm - there's only one place to be if you want a cracking 10th-tier game on Saturday and that's Church Road where the division's top two do battle. The Leafe are currently seven points clear so a win will be absolutely massive for them. Tickets will be available on the gate and with it being played on an artificial pitch, it should go ahead

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Sunday 21 January

Women's Super League

Chelsea v Manchester United @1230pm - Sunday is all about women's football and there are some great games to choose from. Top of the bill is this eye-catching fixture at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are top and are the reigning league champions. Despite this, there is a vulnerability to their game that hasn't been on show in recent seasons. Thrashed by Arsenal in the league in December, they needed extra-time to get past West Ham in the FA Cup last weekend. The visitors finished second last season but are only fourth at the time of writing. Both sides are packed with international stars so this should be well worth a watch. Tickets

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur @645pm - if you want to do a 'double' then you've got the perfect opportunity as this London derby, at Dagenham & Redbridge, doesn't start until the evening so you can combine it with pretty much any other game earlier in the day. The Hammers might be right down near the bottom but they've made some big January signings and should see their results pick up. Spurs are in the top six and much improved on last season but they made heavy weather of beating Championship side Sheffield United in the cup so this could be pretty close. Tickets

Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @12pm - if they'd won rather than drawn their last two league games then the Addicks would be four points clear at the top. Sadly they did only manage draws so they find themselves on level points with Birmingham City and only just ahead of Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Southampton in what is an incredibly tight title race. Rovers are seventh and eight points off the pace but they have two games in hand so could get right into the fight for top spot too. However, if the Lancashire club lose here then their chances of going up will become very slim indeed. This match is being played at VCD Athletic. Tickets

London City Lionesses v Crystal Palace @2pm - in the later game, we've got a derby featuring another one of those sides who are going for the title. Currently two points behind the leaders, the Eagles have a game in hand so they're in a strong position. LCL have had a disappointing season and will probably struggle to get out of midtable but they are still in the FA Cup and could potentially get something here. This is being played at Dartford. Tickets

FAWNL Southern Premier

London Bees v Ipswich Town @130pm - originally scheduled to be played in the main stadium that Barnet use at The Hive, the match has now been moved to the new 'Bees Stadium' right next to it which has a 5G pitch (I didn't know there was such a thing). The hosts have had a dreadful season and have yet to win a league game. Ipswich are fifth but have games in hand on all above them so it looks like being another tough afternoon for the London club. Tickets

Capital Senior Cup Second Round

AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic U21 @2pm - most clubs in the third tier and below will be playing in various county cups on Sunday afternoon. The pick of the ties would appear to be this one at Plough Lane. The Dons made the final last season but narrowly lost to a young side from Arsenal. Arguably a stronger outfit than last season, Wimbledon are top of their fourth-tier division and have former WSL striker Ashlee Hincks banging in goals for fun (29 so far). I watched the Addicks' youngsters play a depleted Actonians side in pre-season and they won by a five-goal margin but they weren't that special. Personally I fancy the Dons to win here. 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, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 8-14 January 2024

Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of 2024.

I hope the festive period went well for you and you got to a few games.

Sadly my very persistent cough (a virus) and work commitments meant I didn't get to a match until this afternoon (Sunday).

It will come as no surprise that I went to watch an Actonians side, this time the reserves who were playing Crawley AFC from the division above in a cup match.

My afternoon at the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub was like none I can remember as I witnessed two truly strange footballing occurrences.

To set the scene, there are two 3G pitches at this facility and both had women's games taking place on them - the aforementioned cup match and a friendly hosted by Hammersmith.

TLFG reader Stephen Hall has begun his tuk tuk challenge - find out more

The so-called friendly became quite a testy affair with the referee booking various players and coaching staff and it came to a head when he sent off one of the managers during the second half.

For whatever reason, he didn't like the way things were going and abandoned the game - presumably for excessive dissent.

Amazingly as he walked off, the offending manager took out a whistle and took his place with both sides very happy to carry on without the official.

From the little I saw, the man in the middle did seem to enjoy his authority quite a lot so the fact that the rival teams were content to carry on without him says a lot!

Anyway, in the match I was actually watching, Actonians came from behind to force a 1-1 draw.

With a penalty shootout well underway, it was pointed out by someone that extra-time should have been played before penalties and duly the shootout was abandoned, the players warmed up and extra-time commenced. Bonkers!

The A's totally dominated the following 30 minutes but with time almost up, a Crawley player scored from 30 yards with a speculative shot which no keeper at this level would've saved and it ended 2-1.

Thankfully, the first team won their game at Cambridge City by the same scoreline to make sure my weekend ended on a high after the disappointment of seeing QPR and Harrow Borough lose on Saturday.

Lastly this week, many thanks to Stephen H, Glen B and Tim G from London and Charles J from Atlanta, USA who all donated to TLFG's coffee drinking fund - I really appreciate it.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's FA Cup and FA Youth Cup 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 8 January

Premier League International Cup

Fulham v Benfica @7pm - the week begins with a very tasty bit of European U21 action as Portuguese giants Benfica send a side to London to play the Cottagers at their training ground in Motspur Park. Both sides have played two group games so far with Fulham winning both and Benfica only managing a draw and a loss. Tickets are usually around £3 and available on the gate but check all the details with the club before you set off

Professional Development League

Charlton Athletic v Colchester United @1pm - earlier in the day there's another U21 match at Dartford's Princes Park. These two are in the bottom four of the South group of teams in this league so could both do with a win. Again, tickets should be available on the door and cost no more than £5

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Tuesday 9 January

EFL Trophy Third Round

AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United @745pm - after bowing out of the FA Cup to Championship side Ipswich Town on Saturday, the Dons return to action in this competition. After a fine 5-2 win at Fratton Park against League One leaders Portsmouth in the last round, they should fancy themselves at home against another decent side from that division. Tickets

Premier League International Cup

Chelsea v Valencia @7pm - there's another eye-catching European U21 game at Kingsmeadow where the Blues are looking to make up ground on group leaders Brighton who have won all their games. Spanish club Valencia have lost two of their three games so need to be beaten again. Tickets are available in advance but should also be available on the night

National League

Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - the Bees suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss at promotion rivals Altrincham on Saturday. Although still third, their lead over fourth-placed Solihull is down to six points. The Daggers are badly in need of a win too but for the opposite reason as they sit just three points above the relegation zone. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Division

Enfield Town v Haringey Borough @745pm - the postponement of Saturday's game at Concord Rangers saw the Towners slip out of the top three for the first time in a while. Now down in fifth, they have Hastings United breathing down their necks in the battle for the last play-off place. On Tuesday they play local rivals Haringey who recorded a hugely important 2-1 win over Canvey Island on Saturday to give their hopes of beating the drop a big boost. Tickets

Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round

Walthamstow v Colchester United @745pm - after beating Billericay on penalties in the last round, the 'Stow next face a side from League Two club Colchester. How strong a side the fourth-tier club send out remains to be seen but they comprehensively beat Heybridge Swifts, who are above Walthamstow in the league, in the last round. Tickets are £10 on the gate

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Wednesday 10 January

Isthmian League Cup Fourth Round

Kingstonian v Whitehawk @745pm - the K's are having a terrible season in the Isthmian Premier. Currently second from bottom, they're looking increasingly likely to go down. However, in the League Cup they're doing okay. After beating Dulwich Hamlet in the last round, they face another midtable team. A lot of clubs rotate players in this competition so a lot will come down to who picks their strongest eleven. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Essex Senior League

Athletic Newham v West Essex @745pm - in the ninth tier we have a match between two sides who started pretty well but have drifted in recent weeks leaving them in midtable. The visitors are five points adrift of the play-off places but have games in hand which could put them back in contention. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Thursday 11 January

Youth & Development games

All today's action features some of our local non-league sides' U23 and U18 teams. If you want to see a game which has a bit riding on it then Abbey Rangers have a Surrey Premier Cup game against Nottsborough which kicks-off at 745pm

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Friday 12 January

Premier League 2

The weekend gets underway with a trio of U21 games in north and south-west London. Arsenal and Fulham both have home games but top billing goes to Chelsea who host Manchester United at Kingsmeadow - tickets are available in advance for this. All games start at 7pm

FA Youth Cup Fourth Round

West Ham United v Manchester City @7pm - there's also a great tie in the country's most prestigious U18 competition where the holders take on a talented City side. At the time of writing the Hammers are top of the U18 Premier League South whilst City are second in the north. Sadly, it's only being played at Rush Green rather than London Stadium. I haven't found any ticket details yet so check with the club nearer the time

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Saturday 13 January

Premier League

Chelsea v Fulham @1230pm - the biggest game of the week is this West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime. With just over a mile between their stadiums, these teams really are local rivals. However, over the course of time it's been a very one-sided relationship with the Cottagers winning only one of their last 24 games against the Blues. That took place on the same weekend last year so maybe they could be in luck again, especially given how beatable the current Chelsea team are. Tickets are only available to members and hospitality packages are available from £300

Championship

Millwall v Middlesbrough @3pm - three league wins on the bounce have pulled the Lions 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Next up they face a Boro side who created headlines in midweek by beating Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. Only four points ahead of Millwall in the table, they lost 1-0 at home to the London club in the reverse fixture in August so this looks like being a pretty tight game. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Peterborough United @3pm - the Addicks are now nine games without a win in all competitions. Although still 13th, they are much closer to the relegation zone than the play-off places. On Saturday they welcome perennial promotion contenders Peterborough. Currently third, Posh have the longest unbeaten league record in the division (9 games), with Wigan being the last side to beat them at the beginning of November. When these two last played in August, Peterborough won 1-0 and they should be fairly confident of repeating that here. Tickets

League Two

Sutton United v Barrow @3pm - bottom of the table Sutton begin life under new boss Steve Morison. The former Millwall striker was manager of Isthmian League leaders Hornchurch prior to his appointment which represents quite a promotion (a leap of three divisions) for the young manager. With four points from their last three games, the U's aren't in terrible form but they are still six points adrift of safety. Barrow are fourth and should provide a formidable test for the new boss and his team. Tickets

FA Trophy Fourth Round

This knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 teams. The winners of each tie receive £5,250 and the losers £1,500. There are three ties in London:

Bromley v Chippenham Town @3pm - the Ravens are currently London's top ranked non-league club. Second in the National League, they've got a good recent record in this competition too. Making two of the last six finals, they won it in 2022 beating the mighty Wrexham 1-0 at Wembley in front of 46,111 fans. Chippenham are in the lower reaches of the division below them, have never made the final and should be beaten. Tickets

Aveley v AFC Fylde @3pm - after a worrying slump in form, the Millers have won their last two games to move back into the NLS play-off places. On Saturday they welcome one of the strugglers from the division above who make the long journey down from Lancashire. Although the Essex club should fancy their chances, Fylde did win it in 2019 so have some pedigree in the competition. Tickets

Welling United v Chesterfield @3pm - although they're only a division apart, this really is a David v Goliath tie. Whilst the Wings are struggling towards the bottom of the NLS, the Spireites are nine points clear at the top of the National League. Last weekend, it took a 95th-minute goal for Watford to beat them in an FA Cup tie at Vicarage Road. All I can say is good luck Welling, you're going to need it! Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Division

Carshalton Athletic v Hornchurch @3pm - in the seventh tier the Robins are eighth but still seven points shy of the play-off places. Here they welcome the league leaders who, as mentioned above, have just lost their manager to Sutton so it will be interesting to see how they respond. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Chertsey Town v Raynes Park Vale @3pm - for most of the season these two have been in the top two in their eighth-tier division but over the last week things have changed and they're now second and fourth respectively. The hosts have the games in hand to reclaim top spot from Southall whilst RPV could get back up to third if they win theirs. One way or another, I'd say the visitors probably have slightly more to lose here as defeat will seriously dent their automatic promotion ambitions. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Cray Valley PM v Sheppey United @3pm - elsewhere in the eighth tier there's a match between two of the top six. Both sides enjoyed great runs in the FA Cup bowing out to Charlton Athletic and Walsall respectively. CVPM had a great run in the FA Trophy too so they have three games in hand on leaders Ramsgate. Currently second, they'll be only two points behind them if they win them all. Tickets will be available on the gate for £10 but it's only £6 if you have a season ticket for a Premier League, EFL or National League club

FA Vase Fourth Round

This knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 teams. The winners of each tie receive £1,875 and the losers £600. There are two ties in London:

Holmesdale v Highworth Town @3pm - the hosts have been playing in this competition since 2008 and have never previously been beyond the First Round so this run has smashed all club records. Given they're 13th in the ninth tier SCEFL Premier, they've done really well to get this far. On Saturday they face a club from Wiltshire who are currently sixth in the parallel Hellenic League Premier. Ties go straight to penalties if they're level after 90 minutes. Tickets will be available on the gate

North Greenford United v Brixham @3pm - although they've been to the Third Round twice in recent years, getting to the Fourth Round is a best for NGU as well. They face quite a test on Saturday as Devon club Brixham made the Fifth Round last season. Intriguingly they're both currently sixth in their respective ninth-tier divisions so this could be pretty epic. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Sunday 14 January

Championship

QPR v Watford @12pm - there's a random bit of EFL action in London on Sunday lunchtime and it's a decent derby between two sides who play about 15 miles apart - I know this as I walked to the away game at Vicarage Road once. These sides last met on the opening day when the Hornets crushed Gareth Ainsworth's side 4-0. In the following weeks, the R's actually rallied to briefly climb above Watford in the table but it's been downhill ever since for the west London club. Now with Marti Cifuentes in charge, performances have improved but a very disappointing festive period has left them firmly in the relegation zone and seen them knocked out of the FA Cup. Watford are just four points from the top six and still in the cup - they look the more likely to win. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Erith & Belvedere v Lancing @3pm - there's also a non-league option too. With Welling United playing in the FA Trophy on Saturday, the Deres' match has moved to Sunday. It's an important game which affects both ends of the table. The hosts are second bottom and fighting the drop whilst Lancing are fourth and going for promotion

Women's FA Cup Fourth Round

This country's most prestigious cup for women with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 teams. At this stage the Women's Super League teams enter the draw. The winners of each tie receive £54,000 and the losers £13,000. There are five ties in London:

Arsenal v Watford @1pm - like their men's team, the Gunners have won the FA Cup more times than anyone else - with 14 wins they're well ahead of everyone else. However, they haven't won it since 2016 so it would seem about time they did it again. The draw has pretty kind as the Hornets are bottom of the Championship with only one league win all season and will have to pull off a minor miracle to keep the scoreline respectable. This match has sold out

Chelsea v West Ham United @1pm - the Blues are the holders and have actually won it for the last three years. Top of the WSL, they'll start this match against the struggling Hammers as huge favourites. All is not lost for the east London club though as they've signed three big name international players during the transfer window. With Kristie Mewis (USA), Shelina Zadorsky (Canada) and Katrina Gorry (Australia) all joining, they've got a chance. Also, possibly more critically, Chelsea lost star striker Sam Kerr to a dreaded ACL injury during a winter training camp in Morocco to rock their preparations. Tickets

Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers @1pm - also at 1pm there's an all-Championship tie at Sutton United's ground. The race for the second-tier title is incredibly tight with two points separating the top five and Palace are in this group. Although Rovers are seventh, they have games in hand which would put them right back in contention if they won them. When the sides met in the league in October, the Eagles won 4-0 so you'd expect them to win here too. Tickets

Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United @2pm - like the three ties above, a home win looks highly likely here too. Spurs are sixth in the WSL and come into this on the back of their first ever derby win over Arsenal. With the Blades midtable in the Championship, it looks like a very tough ask for the Yorkshire club. Tickets

London City Lionesses v Moneyfields @3pm - LCL nearly won the Championship last season but didn't quite make it. In the bottom four, this season has been very disappointing by comparison. The visitors are a fourth-tier side and hence one of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition. Scoring an average of six goals in their league games so far, they could make things difficult for the hosts. Tickets

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