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 13 October
Isthmian League Premier
Carshalton Athletic v Burgess Hill Town @745pm - these two seventh-tier clubs last met just three weeks ago in the reverse fixture down in Sussex. On that occasion the Robins won 4-2. Currently 11th, just a point ahead of BHT, you'd like to think we'll have an equally competitive game here.
Tickets
Isthmian League North
Redbridge v Takeley @745pm - the Motormen recorded a tidy 3-1 win at Tilbury on Saturday to move into the top four in this eighth-tier division. Next up they face Takeley, who are playing at this level for the first time in their history following their promotion from the Essex Senior League. Based near Stansted Airport, they've found the step up a challenge and are in the bottom three. Tickets are £10 on the gate
CCL Division 1
RB Kensington v Bedfont @745pm - RBK have moved their home games to Northwood this year and it hasn't gone well, failing to win any of the seven games played there so far this season. Next up they face a side who are fourth and very much in the promotion race - it looks like being another tough evening. The hosts no longer have an online presence so I don't know how much they charge but it shouldn't be more than £7
FA Youth Cup Third Round Qualifying
Walton & Hersham v Chatham Town @745pm - the next round of the country's most prestigious U18 competition gets underway this week. The Swans beat local rivals Abbey Rangers 3-2 in the last round whilst the Chats scraped past Whitstable Town on penalties. Again I'm not sure about admission but it won't be much, it could even be free
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Tuesday 14 October
FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying Round Replay
Sutton United v Farnham Town @745pm - the fifth tier U's needed a 98th-minute equaliser to salvage a 3-3 draw and narrowly avoid a cupset to a side from two levels below them. To be fair, Surrey club Farnham are not a normal seventh-tier team and have spent a lot of money as they've moved rapidly up the divisions in recent seasons. Despite playing higher up the pyramid, Sutton are struggling this season and they'll have to up their game to avoid defeat here.
Tickets
Professional Development League
Brentford v QPR @7pm - these clubs' U21 sides met in last season's Premier League Cup Final which was played at Loftus Road and saw the R's win 3-1. It was quite an occasion which saw 8,000 tickets issued - way more than the few hundred which usually get sold for these sort of games. On Tuesday, the two meet in a league game and it seems as if the clubs are trying to build this rivalry. The match is being played at the GTech and an away allocation of nearly 2,000 tickets has been given to QPR although how many they've sold is unclear. Tickets are £5 for adults so it's now just a case of picking which end you want to go in -
Brentford or
QPR
Middlesex Senior Cup Second Round
Barnet v Southall @745pm - the Bees have entered a side into this competition again. How strong it is remains to be seen but this is apparently being played at The Hive. The 'All play in the eighth tier so the chance to play at a League Two ground is a great opportunity for them. Neither side have posted any ticket details yet but it will probably be around £10
Southern League Premier South
Walton & Hersham v Havant & Waterlooville @745pm - the Swans beat Wimborne 1-0 on Saturday to stay two points clear at the top of this seventh-tier division. Here they welcome a side who've spent most of the last decade in the divisions of the National League. They came down last year and finished sixth, to just miss the play-offs. They've made a slower start this time and are down in lower midtable but have two games in hand which if won would put them right back in promotion contention.
Tickets
Isthmian League South Central
Egham Town v Raynes Park Vale @745pm - in the eighth tier I like the look of this game at the Runnymede Stadium. Right out on the far western border of TLFG's catchment area, the Sarnies have made a good start to life back at this level after promotion from the Combined Counties League. Up to seventh, following a 2-1 win at Fareham Town on Saturday, things are going well. On Tuesday they welcome RPV who held on to second with a 3-0 win over AFC Portchester this weekend. Tickets are £10 on the gate
ECL Division 1 South
Clapton CFC v Rayleigh Town @745pm - nothing really grabs me in the ninth tier but in the tenth, this one does. Being played at the Old Spotted Dog, London's oldest ground, the hosts always draw fantastic crowds for the level they play at (a whopping 1,057 on Saturday) and should get 200-300 for this midweek match. Sitting sixth, just outside the play-off places, they face a Rayleigh side who are seventh so there's plenty to play for. Tickets are £5 on the gate
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Wednesday 15 October
UEFA Women's Champions League
Chelsea v Paris FC @8pm - the Blues have looked less than their best over the last couple of weeks but a narrow 1-0 win over Spurs on Sunday kept them top of the WSL. Their first match in the Champions League saw them draw 1-1 in the Netherlands with FC Twente whilst Paris only managed a 2-2 draw with Belgian side OH Leuven. On paper, this should be a home win but whether it will be a convincing one remains to be seen. This is being played at Stamford Bridge and
tickets are available
Middlesex Senior Cup Second Round
QPR U21 v Hendon @745pm - the R's academy will be putting a side out two nights running as they've committed to competing in this competition too. Being played at Hanwell Town, I've heard talk that this might be more of an U18 side which takes on the Greens. As a matter of note, Hendon are the most successful club in this competition's long history with 15 titles. The last came in 2018 when they beat Staines Town on penalties. Tickets are £5 on the gate
Southern League Division 1 Central
London Lions v Aylesbury United @745pm - aside from Hadley, most TLFG clubs in this eighth-tier division are really struggling this season. The Lions, who are the capital's top club for Jewish players, sit just above the relegation zone on goal difference. The visiting Ducks are two points above them so getting something here is crucial. Admission details have been difficult to find but expect something in the region of £10
London Senior Cup Second Round
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Leyton Orient @745pm - there's a bit of a buzz developing around STH. They had a great run in the FA Cup and now they've also moved to the top of the Essex Senior League following their promotion to ninth tier last season. Here they go back into cup mode as they welcome a squad from on of their local EFL sides. Although the O's could put out a full-strength team, this is much more likely to be a development side. This match is being played at Mile End Stadium, a short walk from the Tube.
Tickets
CCL Division 1
PFC Victoria London v Chalfont St Peter @745pm - another side to have made a great start are PFCVL. This club, with its roots in the capital's Polish community, have been on a steady upward trajectory over the last decade and are one point clear at the top of this 10th-tier division. I remember first hearing about them in 2017 when their coach Emil Kot got in touch with me wanting help promoting their Non-League Day game against North Acton whilst still at 12th-tier team. I went along and they had 350 people turn up. Since then, they've enjoyed two promotions and are now among the frontrunners for a move up again. Chalfont St Peter seem to be going in the opposite direction, having suffered relegations in 2022 and 2024 and they're in trouble again. This is being played at Ashford Town near Heathrow. Tickets shouldn't be more than £8 but I'm not certain as the club never reply to any of my messages
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Friday 17 October
Isthmian League North
Redbridge v Mildenhall Town @745pm - if they win earlier in the week, the Motormen could be third by the time this kicks off. Suffolk club Mildenhall are trying to stay in the play-off race and have a midweek game too - if they win it, they could be a top-eight side themselves. Tickets are £10 on the gate
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Athletic Newham @745pm - the hosts made a blistering start to the season. Going far in the FA Cup and top of this league, their form has suddenly left them. Winless in three and with only two wins in their last six, they've slipped to fifth after only managing a 2-2 draw at bottom club Frenford. Next up they play the second bottom club who've only recorded one league win all season. Tickets are £7 on the gate
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Saturday 18 October
Premier League
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - all the city's top clubs return from their international break this weekend. Not many would've predicted these two being in the top six by the middle of October but they are. Both have only one suffered one league defeat so far this season so we should be on for a good game. Interestingly, the Cherries are unbeaten in four against the Eagles. Tickets are only available to members but
hospitality packages are available from £486
Fulham v Arsenal @530pm - after back-to-back defeats, the Cottagers are down to 14th. Next up they take on the leaders. The Gunners have only lost once and are one point ahead of Liverpool at the top. However, they've only won one of the last four against Fulham. Tickets are only available to people with a previous purchasing history but
hospitality packages are available form £418.80
Championship
QPR v Millwall @1230pm - this tasty derby gets the day's action underway at lunchtime. Always lively affairs, these two come into this one as top-eight clubs so there's quite a bit to play for too. The Lions usually always sell out their away allocation and this year is no different. Despite creating a great atmosphere for their team, Millwall rarely win at Loftus Road with only one victory from their last 15 visits. As for the R's, they're unbeaten since August and in the best form they've been in for a while.
Tickets Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - this season will probably be all about consolidation for the Addicks following their promotion. With three wins, three draws and three defeats, they are the very definition of a midtable team and they'll probably be satisfied with that. The Owls are in terrible trouble off the pitch so it's no surprise to find them in the relegation zone. However, with only one defeat in four, they're giving it their best shot.
Tickets
League Two
Barnet v Notts County @3pm - after an unsure start to life back in the fourth tier, the Bees are really finding their feet. Now unbeaten in five, they're up to seventh and in the play-off places. Although the visitors are down in 13th, they're in good form too and could put up quite a fight.
Tickets
Premier League International Cup
Chelsea v Dinamo Zagreb @2pm - if you need a 2pm kick-off or want to scout some of Europe's top talent, then head to Kingsmeadow for this U21 game. This is the Blues' first group stage game this year whilst Dinamo opened their campaign with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last month. Forest won this competition last season so that was a decent result.
Tickets
National League
Boreham Wood v Eastleigh @3pm - the hosts are in cracking form. With only one league defeat, they're fifth and last weekend's win at Eastbourne Borough put them in the FA Cup First Round for the sixth year running. After parting with boss Kelvin Davis, the Spitfires have gone on a four-game unbeaten run under new manager Scott Bartlett who came in from Weston-super-Mare. The last time these sides met at Meadow Park, they produced a 4-4 draw so hopefully there'll be plenty of goals on this occasion too.
Tickets Sutton United v Hartlepool United @530pm - in the day's late game, the struggling U's will go in search of only their second league win of the season. Their spirits will hopefully have been boosted by Tuesday's FA Cup replay win over Farnham Town but top-half opposition like Hartlepool should provide a sterner test. This can easily be combined with the Isthmian League game at Carshalton Athletic if you want to see two matches on Saturday.
Tickets
National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - although TLFG club Hornchurch are top of this division, the game of the day in the sixth tier sees two of the sides in the play-off places meet at The Beveree. The hosts are just about hanging on to their place in the top seven after failing to win any of their last four. WSM, on the other hand, are second and still getting used to life without their manager following his move to Eastleigh (the side who beat Hampton in the FA Cup last week). Scott Rogers has taken over and, aside from defeat to a decent Totton side, has carried on their winning run.
Tickets
Isthmian League Premier
Dartford v Potters Bar Town @3pm - there's a spectacular lack of games in the seventh tier on Saturday and the ones we do have are all pretty unremarkable. The Darts are the highest ranked team who are playing at home. Seventh, they could move into the play-off places with a win over struggling PBT who are in the bottom three.
Tickets
Southern League Division 1 Central
London Lions v Leighton Town @3pm - it's a similar story in the eighth tier but in Leighton we get to see a table-topping side in action. One point clear at the top with a game or two in hand on all the teams below them, they've made a great start. They head to Rowley Lane unbeaten and should start as strong favourites against the Lions who have only just pulled themselves out of the relegation zone. Tickets are £10 on the gate
SCEFL Premier
Erith & Belvedere v Whitstable Town @3pm - the pick of the action in the ninth tier sees the Deres, who currently top this division, take on the reigning FA Vase champions. Although Whitstable are down in ninth, five points behind the hosts, they have five games in hand after a fabulous run in the FA Cup. If the Oystermen don't come through and challenge hard for the title, something will have gone seriously wrong. Tickets are £8 on the gate
FA Vase First Round
With the qualifying rounds out of the way, this competition reaches its 'proper' stage. Contested by teams in the ninth and tenth tiers, the survivors from qualifying are joined by the 23 teams who lost in the Third Round last year and didn't get promoted to the eighth tier. The draw is regionalised until the Fourth Round. There are several ties in London, here are my selection:
Fisher v Steyning Town @3pm - the Fish are only 12th in the ninth tier SCEFL Premier but they have games in hand on most of those above them, which if won would put them comfortably in the top five. They've only made it to the Second Round twice and they shouldn't find it easy against a Steyning side who are third in the parallel SCFL Premier. Tickets are £8 on the gate
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Letchworth Garden City Eagles @3pm - STH are top of the ninth tier Essex Senior League which should make them among the clubs expected to go deep into this competition. On Saturday they face a team who are struggling in a division a level below them so they should make smooth progress.
Tickets Lymore Gardens v Framlingham Town @3pm - the hosts, who groundshare with Redbridge, are playing in the FA Vase for the first time and have already made it this far. Top of the tenth tier ECL Division 1 South, they are having a season to savour. Having already beaten Woodford Town, one of the top teams in the division above them, this game against another tenth-tier side from Suffolk shouldn't faze them. Tickets are £7 on the gate
Molesey v Haywards Heath Town @3pm - the Moles are a midtable tenth-tier team so the chances of them beating HHT are slim. The visitors are currently top of the ninth tier SCFL Premier so, like SOUL Tower Hamlets, they should be expected to go far. Tickets are £7
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Sunday 19 October
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa @2pm - with only one league defeat this season, Spurs are third in the top flight. They're also unbeaten in the Champions League and through to the last 16 in the EFL Cup - you could say it's going quite well for new boss Thomas Frank. The same can't be said for Villa, who've started slowly in the league, but their fortunes appear to be on the up. Now four without defeat in the league and with a 100% record in the Europa League, the Birmingham club seem to be building some momentum. Villa have also won on two of their last three visits to N17 so the north London club should approach this with caution. Tickets are only available to members but
hospitality packages are available from £149
Women's League Cup
The WSL and WSL2 take a week off but the clubs involved in those divisions play group stage games in this competition instead. Like the men's EFL Cup, many clubs use these matches to give a few squad players a run-out so don't expect to see all the normal stars in action especially ahead of next week's women's international break
Group C
Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth @12pm - if you need an early kick-off then this game between two teams in the second tier could be for you. In theory, the hosts should win as they're top of WSL2 whilst Pompey are bottom. However, in this group, they're both without a win. This is being played at The Valley.
Tickets UPDATE - MATCH OFF
Group D
London City Lionesses v Leicester City @2pm - the only all-WSL game takes place at Bromley's ground. If you're not a follower of the women's game, LCL are the first independent women's club to make it to the WSL. With three wins from six games, they're holding their own. The Foxes were expected to struggle this season but to be ninth after five games isn't too bad. Both teams won their opening Group D games, so this could go a long way towards deciding who finishes first and second.
Tickets Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town @2pm - in the other game we have two WSL2 sides who lost their opening group games to the pair above. On league form, the Eagles should start as favourites. This is being played at Sutton United.
Tickets
Group E
Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City @2pm - Spurs have had a much better than expected start to their WSL season. After narrowly losing to leaders Chelsea 1-0 on Sunday, they're in fourth after six games. In this competition, they drew 0-0 with Aston Villa in their opening game but beat them on penalties to receive two points. It was the same for Birmingham who enjoyed a penalty win over Bristol City. The Blues are second in WSL2 so should be capable of giving a rotated Tottenham XI a good game. This is being played at Leyton Orient.
Tickets
FAWNL Cup First Round
This competition is the nearest female equivalent to the men's EFL Trophy as it's open to third and fourth tier teams plus academy sides from clubs in the top two divisions. After a group stage, we're now at the knockout stage consisting of 32 teams. The following ties are taking place in TLFG's area:
Hashtag United v Lewes @3pm - first up is this all-third tier contest. The Tags were one of the strongest teams at this level last season but their finances and squad have changed dramatically and they'll do well to avoid relegation. Here they face a Rooks side who sit in midtable and, for me, start as favourites. This is being played at Aveley and tickets are £5 on the gate
Dulwich Hamlet v Chatham Town @2pm - one of the bigger crowds of the day at this level should be found at Champion Hill where the Hamlet always pull in a few hundred. These sides play in the same fourth-tier division and on current form, the visitors should win.
Tickets QPR v AFC Bournemouth @2pm - the R's are fourth in their fourth tier division and looking pretty solid for the level. However, the Cherries are second in the division above and looking strong. In the group stage, they won all three games, scored 11 goals and conceded none. If a strong Bournemouth side make the trip, it'll take a huge performance to beat them. This is being played at Hanwell Town. Tickets are £5 on the gate
