Welcome to this week's TLFG.
It's been another busy few days on the Non-League Day (NLD) preparation front with things looking very positive in several areas.
On Wednesday I headed down to Corinthian Casuals in Tolworth to film some promotional material with the press team from South Western Railway (SWR) who are partnering us for the first time this year.
I'm sure you'll see bits of that appear on social media at various points over the next couple of weeks.
Probably one of the most fun things about that was a huge rail ticket they'd had been produced with 'Non-League Day 2024' printed on it.
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| This year's Non-League Day is now less than two weeks away |
Initially it went back to head office but my wife and kids were adamant that I should bring it home so I picked it up on Friday.
With some protective cardboard wrapping around it, it was even bigger!
As I made my way to the nearest Tube station, the wind got up and I struggled to keep control - I think I even got pinned to a building by it at one stage.
Sheltering down an alleyway, I gave in and booked a taxi - it was the only way home in one piece.
The sale of our merchandise received a boost on Thursday when comedian Charlie Baker invited Paul, our merch man, onto his show on Talksport and gave it a great plug - thanks to all for that.
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| Get NLD merchandise in your club's colours now! |
Aside from all that, I managed to get out on Tuesday night to watch Actonians.
With their normal home at Rectory Park booked up, they switched their match against Chesham United to Bedfont Sports which I think most of us in attendance prefer because it's a proper non-league ground.
Located a 10-minute walk from Hatton Cross Tube station, on the edge of Heathrow Airport, it's also pretty simple to get to if you live in the Acton, Ealing or Hammersmith area which most A's fans do.
The A's were expected to triumph after winning the away game 5-0 but the Generals were more spirited than I remember.
Although going 2-0 down fairly quickly, they kept pushing, pulled one back and it took a goal-line clearance to stop them equalising right on the stroke of half-time.
The second half began evenly with goals exchanged to make it 3-2 to Actonians but with a number of first-choice players coming off the bench, following a bit of initial squad rotation, the goals started to flow.
Eventually it finished 6-2 with young striker Tori St Clair scoring another hat-trick - you can see her third goal which I caught from a particularly good angle on TLFG's YouTube channel.
Right that's it - I'm about to go an address SWR's board and lots of other managers about NLD on the company's weekly video call. Wish me luck!
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.
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
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 11 March
Premier League
Chelsea v Newcastle United @8pm - a late goal saw the Blues salvage a 2-2 draw in last weekend's derby with Brentford. It means the big spenders are now unbeaten in three league games but they remain stuck in the midtable doldrums. The Magpies are also having an underwhelming season after enjoying a top-four finish last year and are now just a place above Chelsea after slipping below Brighton and Wolves in recent days. Eddie Howe's side have gone four without defeat against the Stamford Bridge club and won the reverse fixture 4-1 in November. As a sign of the malaise that has set in among Chelsea fans, tickets for this match are on general sale
U21 Matches
There are also three games at this level over the course of the day. The action begins at Dartford's ground at 1pm where Charlton Athletic host QPR. If you fancy something a bit more central then Millwall take on Watford at The Den at 2pm. Finally, in the evening, Crystal Palace entertain Aston Villa at Sutton United's ground at 7pm. Tickets for all should be available on the gate and be no more than £5
National League South
Aveley v Tonbridge Angels @745pm - just when the Millers seem to be getting firmly back into the play-off race, they go on a poor run again. Saturday's loss to Weymouth made it three without a win. However, all is not lost as they're still just a point outside the top seven. The visitors are about as midtable as it's possible to be with little chance of getting promoted or relegated. Tickets
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Tuesday 12 March
Champions League
Arsenal v Porto @8pm - the Gunners have been virtually untouchable in 2024, winning all eight of their Premier League games since late January. There has been one fly in the ointment during that time though, a 1-0 loss in the first leg of this Champions League knockout tie last month. The visitors are currently third in the Portuguese league and are on a four-game unbeaten run which saw them thrash old rivals Benfica 5-0 at the beginning of the month. Tickets are only available to members
League One
Leyton Orient v Port Vale @745pm - a fantastic run of results made it look like the O's were heading for the top six but back-to-back defeats to Bristol Rovers and Wigan Athletic have left them seven points adrift. The visitors are second from bottom and in poor form so should be beaten. TicketsLeague Two
AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham @745pm - there's a really important game at Plough Lane where the teams in seventh and sixth do battle over the last play-off place. With the Gills based in Kent, pretty much every game against London opposition is a derby for them so they should travel in reasonable numbers. Having taking seven points from three games, the Dons come into this in good form. Tickets
National League
Barnet v Eastleigh @745pm - having lost their big FA Trophy match to Bromley on Saturday, the Bees can now refocus on getting promoted. Currently second and a whopping 20 points behind leaders Chesterfield, the runners-up spot is the best they or anyone else can hope for. Hampshire club Eastleigh recently took on former Southampton player Kelvin Davis as manager as they look to make sure of staying in the division. Tickets
Wealdstone v Bromley @745pm - there's an all-London affair at Grosvenor Vale where teams with very contrasting fortunes go head-to-head. The Stones were going along nicely in midtable until manager Stuart Maynard got headhunted by Notts County. After a reasonable start, new boss David Noble has found things a struggle and they're now only two points above the relegation zone. The Ravens, on the other hand, are flying. Third in the league and through to the FA Trophy semi-finals, they'll start as strong favourites here. Tickets
National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Welling United @745pm - the hosts went on a lengthy unbeaten run through the autumn and winter which turned them into title contenders but then their form dipped and they fell away. Wonderfully for them, it seems to have come back and Saturday's win over Chippenham put them back in the top four. The Wings are a proper Lazarus story. Seemingly destined for relegation, Rod Stringer came in at the end of January and has pulled off a number of fantastic results including a 1-0 triumph at leaders Yeovil Town at the weekend. Now three points clear of the bottom four, they've still got work to do but they have a fighting chance. Tickets
Southern League Premier South
Hanwell Town v Plymouth Parkway @745pm - although it might not immediately look like it, this is kind of a relegation six-pointer. The Geordies are currently six points clear of the visitors, who are the team at the top of the drop zone but the Devon club have SEVEN games in hand on most of the clubs above them, nine in one case. If they just win a couple of them, then they're back where they need to be and Hanwell and the teams below them are back in real trouble. Tickets
Isthminan League North
Walthamstow v Heybridge Swifts @745pm - both in the top eight and locked together on 45 points, these sides need to make up a gap of seven points to get into the play-off places. A win for either would keep them in the hunt but a defeat could effectively end their hopes. Tickets will be available on the gate for £10
SCEFL Premier
Erith Town v Snodland Town @745pm - the Dockers have gone a bit under my radar over the last couple of months but they're very much back on it thanks to a five game winning run which has lifted them back into the top five. With games in hand on most of those above them, they've got an outside shot at the title although Deal Town have even more games in hand than them. Snodland won the Division 1 title last season and have a chance of breaking into the top five themselves so there's plenty to play for here. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Wednesday 13 March
Isthmian League Premier
Cray Wanderers v Potters Bar Town @745pm - the highest level match of the night is this one at Bromley's ground. Cray are London's oldest club and have successfully banished any fears of relegation with an eight game unbeaten run which came to an end against Whitehawk in their last match. PBT are six points behind them but have games in hand so this could be close. Tickets
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Little Oakley @745pm - the hosts are leading the charge for London-based clubs in this division. Currently second on level points with Romford, who now play outside the capital, catching leaders Tilbury looks unlikely. If they are to win the title, they'll probably need to win all nine of their remaining games so they can't slip up here against midtable opposition. Tickets will be available on the gate
FAWNL Southern Premier
Hashtag United v Billericay Town @745pm - there are some really key games on the women's side of things on Wednesday. The Tags have had a brilliant debut season in the third tier but it looks as if they will come up short and miss out on a second consecutive promotion. Currently second, if they beat bottom-four club Billericay, they'll end the day six points behind leaders Portsmouth with five games to go. Tickets will be available on the gate
London Bees v Chatham Town @745pm - two go down from this division and these are the sides currently filling those positions. To be fair, they've been there pretty much all season, neither team have won a game and they will both go down whatever happens here. What we do know for sure though is that London Bees will get relegated if they lose this. Tickets will be available on the gate
FAWNL Division 1 South East
AFC Wimbledon v Haywards Heath Town @745pm - it's looking increasingly likely that the Dons will be the side coming up to replace them. With title rivals Norwich City only managing a 1-1 draw with Worthing on Sunday, Wimbledon will go eight points clear if they beat bottom club HHT. This is being played at Carshalton Athletic and tickets will be available on the gate
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Thursday 14 March
Europa League
West Ham United v Freiburg @545pm - after fighting back from 2-0 down to draw with Burnley on Sunday, David Moyes' side will head into this tie in better spirits than looked likely. Weirdly, West Ham played German club Freiburg in the group stage so it's strange to see them paired with them again in this knockout tie. The Hammers lost the first leg 1-0 so this is very delicately poised. Tickets
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Friday 15 March
Women's Super League
Chelsea v Arsenal @7pm - games don't come much bigger than this and consequently it's being played at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have seemingly won everything for years and with boss Emma Hayes off at the end of the season, they could still win the quadruple. They are top coming into this but only on goal difference from Manchester City. If they lose to the Gunners, as they did in the reverse fixture, then all three teams will go level on points to set up an even more thrilling title race with six games to go. Tickets
Premier League 2
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest @7pm - the Blues men's U21 team are also in action on Friday night. Being played at Kingsmeadow, the hosts will move into the top four if they win. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Saturday 16 March
Premier League
Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur @530pm - the only top-flight match on Saturday takes place in the early evening at Craven Cottage. Spurs have totally dominated the recent history of this derby, currently unbeaten in 11 against the west London club. In fact Fulham's record against Tottenham at home is worse than it is in N17 with their last win coming way back in 2011 when they thrashed them 4-0 in an FA Cup match.You have to go back to 2008 for their last league win at the Cottage. With Ange Postecoglu's side recording a hugely impressive 4-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend, they look highly likely to extend that unbeaten record. Tickets are only available to members
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Newport County @3pm - there are slim pickings in the Premier League and there's even less in the EFL with this match at Plough Lane being your only option. The Dons beat Gillingham on Tuesday to break back into the play-off zone. Welsh club Newport enjoyed a thrilling 5-3 win over one of Wimbledon's promotion rivals Morecambe on Tuesday and are now five points off a top-seven place. Tickets
National League
Bromley v Kidderminster Harriers @3pm - there are three games in the fifth tier but this one shades it for me. In this division, the teams who finish second and third get a bye through the first round of play-off games. The Ravens are currently third but Solihull Moors could jump above them if they don't win here. Kidderminster are fighting the drop but they're much improved under former Hull City boss Phil Brown. The sides drew 0-0 when they last met. Tickets
National League South
Dartford v Maidstone United @3pm - in the sixth tier, this all-Kent affair should generate a decent crowd at the well-appointed Princes Park. After finishing second last season, the Darts are having a shocker in 2023/24. Defeat on Tuesday saw them slip into the relegation zone and this game should be tough again. Maidstone famously beat Ipswich Town in the FA Cup in January and beat second placed Chelmsford in midweek. Tickets
Isthmian League Premier
Hornchurch v Billericay Town @3pm - there are some great options in the seventh tier ILP. First up at Bridge Avenue, the leaders welcome fourth placed Ricay who make the short journey from Essex. The Urchins are nine points clear with three games in hand over nearest rivals Chatham Town so they're going to take some stopping. With four points separating the clubs in third to seventh, the play-off race is looking far more interesting. Tickets
Enfield Town v Horsham @3pm - in the far north of the city, two of those play-off contenders meet at Donkey Lane. The Towners have been doing London proud in the FENIX Trophy this season and picked up a fine 4-1 win over BK Skjold in Denmark last week. They followed it up with a league win over Lewes which kept them in the hunt for a top-five spot. The Hornets are currently fifth and made headlines earlier in the season when they took League One club Barnsley to a replay in the FA Cup. Tickets
Isthmian League South Central
Raynes Park Vale v Southall @3pm - in the eighth tier, Grand Drive would appear to be the place to be where two of the top five look to strengthen their grip on a play-off place. I'm pretty sure both of these sides were top at one point this season but with current leaders Chertsey Town now well clear of them with nine games to go, neither are likely to get back there. RPV's place in the top five is looking far more perilous than that of the 'All and they need the win more as a result. Tickets will be available on the gate
SCEFL Premier
Erith Town v Faversham Town @3pm - after seeing their midweek match against Snodland postponed, you've got another chance to see the Dockers on Saturday. Still fifth, despite the postponement, they take on former leaders Faversham who are just above them in the table. The London club won the reverse fixture 4-3 back in November, let's hope for some more of the same. Tickets will be available on the gate
SCEFL Division 1
Lewisham Borough v Staplehurst Monarchs @3pm - the hosts' form has nosedived at a terrible point in the season. Pushing AFC Whyteleafe for the title at one stage, they've now lost four on the bounce and have slipped to fifth. Teams like FC Elmstead and Canterbury City are just a win away from knocking them out of the play-off places so this match against the team in second is very important and incredibly tough. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Sunday 17 March
FA Cup Quarter-Final
Chelsea v Leicester City @1245pm - we're down to the last eight in the FA Cup and the Blues are the only London club left in the competition. This will be the first time they've played the Foxes in this competition since they lost to them 1-0 in the 2021 final. Things have a changed a lot for both sides since then, with Chelsea no longer the top-four power they once were and Leicester in the Championship. Although the visitors are top of the second tier, their form has been iffy of late and if they were to win, it would still represent a big upset. Tickets are only available to members
Premier League
West Ham United v Aston Villa @2pm - both these sides enjoyed resounding wins in European games on Thursday with the Hammers smashing five past Freiburg and Villa four against Ajax as English clubs enjoyed a great night. Both sides are also in the top eight in the Premier League and yet the jury is still out for many fans on whether David Moyes is the right man to take West Ham forward - something which boggles the mind of supporters of pretty much every other club. Villa have been playing some great stuff under Unai Emery and are fourth at the time of writing. However, they got thrashed 4-0 by Spurs in their last league game and will want to avoid that happening again at all costs. Tickets
Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @2pm - Spurs caused the upset of the round in last weekend's FA Cup games, beating Manchester City on penalties to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history. They've since drawn Leicester in that last-four tie and will enjoy a dress rehearsal for that big game here. That's not to say this isn't important too. Tottenham have broken into the top six this season but a poor run of four without a win means the Foxes will go above them if they win. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Tickets should be available on arrival
Women's Championship
London City Lionesses v Sunderland @2pm - LCL gave their hopes of staying up a boost by winning at Reading in their last game. Still only three points above the relegation zone, they've got a lot of work still to do. The Mackems are having their turn at the top of what is incredibly tight table with only four points separating the top four, two of whom have games in hand on the leaders. In essence, both sides really need to win! This is being played at Dartford. Tickets
Capital Senior Cup Semi-Final
Haringey Borough v Actonians @2pm - playing in the fifth tier, the hosts are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and they did superbly well to beat an academy side from near neighbours Spurs in the last round. The A's also claimed the scalp of a big local rival in Fulham to set up this tie. Although Haringey play a level below Actonians, they're second and clearly a decent side. Tickets will be available on the gate
Capital Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Ashford Town (Middlesex) v London Seaward @2pm - if you can't get to north London, then this much postponed match near Heathrow could be for you. Having seen this held up by bad weather, these two fourth-tier sides will look to finally sort out who will make the last four. The hosts are above Seaward in the table so should start as favourites. The winners will play AFC Wimbledon in the semis. Tickets will be available on the gate
GET INVOLVED
If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.
NEED HELP?
Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!
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