TLFG: 24-30 November 2025

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

I've been really busy this weekend with family and football stuff so it's just maps at this stage and some previews for the beginning of the week - I will add more later.

I had a fun start to my Monday, travelling up to Kings Cross to be interviewed about changing English football culture for a film being made by a student at Central St Martins art college.

It's quite a building with lots of very cool people hanging around and doing very creative things - it was an honour to be there.

Next up on Tuesday, we have a Non-League Day (NLD) planning meeting with the Premier League - this tends to shape a large part of where the event heads and usually goes a long way to deciding where the PL trophy ends up on NLD itself. 

Millwall will hope to get back into the top six this week 

I start some time off on Sunday so will hopefully head down to Champion Hill for the women's game between Dulwich Hamlet and Actonians. However, the weather is looking pretty iffy over the next few days and the pitch might not hold up - let's see.

Over the last few days, I also began planning a Bundesliga break in mid-January. I have an English friend in Dusseldorf who's offered to host me and an opportunity has finally come up. The game we look most likely to attend is a bit random and nowhere near where he lives but the adventure should be fun!

THE WEEK AHEAD

The Champions League tops the bill this week with two blockbuster fixtures between some of the cream of Europe's super clubs. There is a good selection of Premier League games and several EFL ones too.

It's a fairly standard week in non-league with the National League, Isthmian League, Southern League and all those in tiers nine and ten in action.

In the women's game, it's an international break and a big crowd is expected at Wembley where European champions England take on Asian champions China in a hotly anticipated fixture.

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 and development matches. 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 24 November

Premier League Cup

Brentford v Exeter City @7pm - the only fixture of the night is this U21 match at Wheatsheaf Park in Staines. We're coming up to the halfway point in the group stage and it's the Grecians who are top of Group E coming into this. The Bees lost the reverse fixture in Devon so they'll have to up their game here. Tickets

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Tuesday 25 November

UEFA Champions League

Chelsea v Barcelona @8pm - in years gone by, this would've been a  potential semi-final or final line-up but maybe not this year. After four games of the league phase, neither side is in the top eight after a mixed bag of results. These sides first played in the 1960s and the head-to-head record between them since has been very close. It's been nearly eight years since they met in a Champions League game and on that occasion Barca won comfortably. Both sides are second in their respective leagues but the Blues are in marginally better form - a draw looks to be the most likely outcome. Tickets have sold out but hospitality is available from £745

Championship

Watford v Preston North End @745pm - the Hornets' 3-2 win at Derby on Saturday saw them climb to 11th to put themselves just two points adrift of the play-off places. PNE suffered defeat in their big derby with Blackburn and missed the chance to go third in the process. The Lancashire club do quite well on their trips to Hertfordshire and have only lost one of their last five at Vicarage Road. Tickets

Professional Development League

Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City @1pm - we've got a lunchtime game in this U21 competition so it's possible to see two games on Tuesday. Being played at Dartford's Princes Park, the Addicks could go third with a win. Tickets are £5 on the gate

Premier League Cup

Leyton Orient v Coventry City @7pm - the O's welcome their U21 counterparts from the Midlands for what could be a crucial game for the visitors. The Sky Blues have yet to win and are bottom of the group. They have two matches this week and if they lose them both, then they'll be left on the verge of going out. Tickets are £5 on arrival

National League Cup

There are three games in this competition tonight. To re-cap, this sees fifth-tier clubs play U21 sides from Premier League and Championship clubs. The matches are not proving popular with supporters despite tickets being cheaper and kick-offs a bit earlier. Boreham Wood host Leicester City, Sutton United take on Southampton, and Wealdstone face West Bromwich Albion. All matches start a 7pm and you can pay on arrival

National League South

Dagenham & Redbridge v Chesham United @745pm - there are three games in this division on Tuesday but I've gone for this as the Daggers appear to be turning things around. After suffering relegation last season, the east London club are playing at the lowest level they've been at for 25 years. The opening months of this season were poor, even with former England striker Andy Carroll in their ranks, and they looked like contenders for the drop again. Thankfully their form has improved and they're now unbeaten in five and in midtable. Chesham joined this division last season and are more than holding their own despite being one of the smaller clubs. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Hanwell Town v Hungerford Town @745pm - neither of these sides are pulling up any trees in the seventh tier this season, but if you want to see another former Premier League striker in action at close quarters then Hungerford have recently signed former QPR and Southampton star Charlie Austin. He's now onto his third club in this division after playing for AFC Totton last year and Basingstoke Town at the start of this season. He also comes from Hungerford and played for them very early in his career before breaking into the pro ranks. Tickets

Update - Match off

Isthmian League South Central

Hayes & Yeading United v Leatherhead @745pm - the hosts lost their place in the top five on Saturday with a 3-0 loss at Hartley Wintney. Still sixth, they welcome the current leaders on Tuesday. The Tanners are unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions and but still only have a two-point lead at the top so could do with a win to increase their advantage. Tickets are £12 on the gate

CCL Premier North

Edgware & Kingsbury v Ardley United @745pm - in the ninth tier, another one of our local sides also welcomes a leading club. Sadly for E&K, they're winless and bottom of the division so a very tough night looks to be in store as they face a side who top of the league table and form table too. Tickets are £8 on the gate

CCL Division 1

Brook House v Colliers Wood United @745pm - the hosts are one of three TLFG clubs in the top five in this tenth-tier division. Currently fourth, they have games in hand on the leading three and will move up to third with victory here. CWU are in midtable but have their eyes on a place in the top eight. Tickets are £7 on the gate

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Wednesday 26 November

UEFA Champions League

Arsenal v Bayern Munich @8pm - for me, this is the match of the week. Taking place at the Emirates, this game sees the leaders in England host the top club in Germany. For good measure, they're also the top two in the Champions League coming into this round of games. The last time these sides met was in the quarter-finals of this competition two years ago and it was the Bavarians who won 3-2 on aggregate. Since they first met in the 2000-01 season, Bayern have dominated the head-to-head. In fact, whenever they've met in the knockout rounds, Arsenal have always lost. Will this be the year they get a rare positive result? Tickets are only available to members but hospitality is available from £995

UEFA Youth League

Arsenal v Bayern Munich @1pm - earlier in the day, the clubs' U19 sides meet at Boreham Wood's ground. Unlike the senior teams, both sets of youngsters have made a stinking start to their campaigns in this competition. Arsenal have lost all four games whilst Bayern have managed only one win and are both in the elimination group as it stands. Unlike Chelsea, who play Barcelona behind closed doors on Tuesday, this game is open to the public and I'm pretty sure it's free entry too. Be prepared to pay a few quid just in case but it shouldn't be more than a fiver

Championship

Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday @745pm - the Lions are on a four-game winless run but are still sitting just outside the play-off places. If they had won all four of those matches then they'd be joint top. With one win all season, the Owls are bottom and provide Alex Neil's side with the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. Tickets

Premier League International Cup

Crystal Palace v Nordsjaelland @7pm - you can really fill your boots when it comes to European youth football on Wednesday. With the Arsenal game under your belt, you can have a bit of food and then head south to Sutton where the Eagles' youngsters face Danish opposition in this U21 competition. Palace won this cup in 2024 but began this year's campaign with a disappointing loss to Valencia before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Juventus. Tickets

London Senior Trophy Second Round

Clapton CFC v Sporting Hackney @745pm - my non-league pick of the night is this match at the Old Spotted Dog, which is London's oldest stadium. The areas of Clapton and Hackney are right next to each other so geographically this should be a big derby. However, clubs bearing the Clapton name have been at the OSD in Forest Gate, about 3.5 miles south-east, since 1888. CCFC play two divisions above the visitors so should start as strong favourites. Admission is £5 on the gate

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Thursday 27 November

Southern Counties Competition

Middlesex v Army @730pm - this four-team round robin women's tournament continues this week. Featuring players primarily from the likes of Actonians, Brentford, London Bees and QPR, Middlesex won their opening game against Kent 11-0. Since then, Essex have beaten Kent and the Army so if Middlesex win here, then it will be all set up for a title showdown in January. This is being played at Rectory Park in Northolt and it's free to get in

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Friday 28 November

Premier League Cup

QPR v Stockport County @7pm - the R's youngsters won this U21 competition last season and continue the defence of their title at Hanwell Town's ground on Friday. Top of Group F after three games, it's looking good for the west Londoners. They played Stockport at Edgeley Park in their opening game back in September and won 3-1 so they should be confident of another positive outcome here. Admission is usually £5 on the gate

CCL Premier North

Hilltop v Virginia Water @745pm - if results go their way earlier in the week, the hosts could come into this game as a high as second in this ninth-tier division. Although they've played more games than anyone else in the leading group, it's fair to say Hilltop have made a promising start. With their roots in London's Somali community, the north London club should strongly fancy their chances of a win here as the visitors are in the bottom two. Tickets should be no more than £10

ECL Division 1 South

Cannons Wood v Newbury Forest @745pm - sadly for the Cannons, their season has been one of struggle. With only four wins from 19 games, they're in the relegation zone. Not so Newbury Forest, who were handed a reprieve from relegation last season and now find themselves top of this tenth-tier division. Averaging almost three goals a game, they've been entertaining to watch but still can't shake off Essex club Hutton who are three points behind with a game in hand. This is being played at Aveley's ground and admission is £7

More previews for the 29-30 November to follow

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: 17-23 November 2025

Greetings one and all and thanks for taking the time to check out this week's TLFG.

I've actually managed to have something for you to peruse on a Monday morning but I've had to stay up until midnight on Sunday to make sure it gets done.

It's been great to receive a lot of positive correspondence this week from readers. I've particularly enjoyed receiving updates from Paul N from Yorkshire, who's been visiting a number of games this weekend and even managed to see three in one day on Friday (QPR U18s, Brentford U21s and Haringey Borough Reserves) as he really filled his boots! 

There were also nice words from Patrick S from Germany too who went with a friend to check out Leyton Orient and had a great time.

Charlton Athletic host their Community Day on Saturday - tickets

My hopes of getting to watch Actonians on Thursday night were dashed by bad weather but I had a virus most of last week which meant I probably wouldn't have gone anyway.

There's a chance I might see a game this weekend but with family commitments on Saturday, it will either be a women's Champions League game in midweek or possibly a Women's FA Cup game on Sunday for me.

Before that, we've got a big Non-League Day (NLD) planning meeting. On that subject, I've been invited to Central St Martins art college to do an interview for a short film about NLD the following week - I'm intrigued to see what comes of that.

I think that's about it from me - have a great week everyone!

THE WEEK AHEAD

The international break is over and it's crowned with the North London Derby between Arsenal and Spurs on Sunday. There are also a decent selection of EFL games too.

It's a fairly standard week in the non-league world with no major cup competitions but Robbie Savage's Forest Green Rovers visit Wealdstone for a National League game on Saturday.

In the women's game, there are two blockbuster Champions League games with Arsenal hosting Real Madrid on Wednesday and Chelsea taking on Barcelona the day after. It's also the next round of the Women's FA Cup on Sunday.

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 and development matches. 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 17 November

Premier League Cup

Bromley v Norwich City @7pm - the most eye-catching fixture of the night is probably this U21 match at Hayes Lane. We're still in the group stage at the moment but these two are in the bottom two of this four-team group. If Norwich lose, they won't go out but they'll be left in some difficulty. Tickets

Isthmian League Cup Third Round

Your best non-league options are a couple of Essex derbies in this cup competition. Seventh tier Aveley host Witham Town from the division below whilst Redbridge welcome Stanway Rovers who make the journey down from Colchester. Tickets will be available on the gate and won't exceed £10

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Tuesday 18 November

Premier League Cup

Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town @7pm - back in this U21 competition, the Addicks have made a perfect start to the group and are top after two games. The visitors have yet to win so should be beaten. This is being played at The Valley. Tickets

FA Youth Cup Second Round

Barnet v Colchester United @730pm - it's also the next round of the country's most prestigious U18 competition. A trip to Crewe or Halifax awaits the winners. This is being played at The Hive. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dulwich Hamlet v Cray Wanderers @745pm - the biggest crowd of the night could well be found at Champion Hill where two south-east London clubs look to get their seasons back on track. Currently seventh, the Hamlet could move back into the play-off places with a win here. CVPM, on the other hand, are having an uncharacteristically bad season and are in the bottom four so a win would be hugely valuable to them too. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Chertsey Town v Hanwell Town @745pm - on the far south-west side of town, matches between the Curfews and Geordies often produce a lively occasion. A bit of a rivalry has grown between these two since they met in the Isthmian League South Central play-offs in 2022. Hanwell won that day but Chertsey have since joined them at this level. The visitors are in marginally better form but this is tough to call. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Harrow Borough v Hanworth Villa @745pm - Boro pulled off arguably the shock of the round in the FA Trophy on Saturday. After a long journey up to Norfolk, the eighth-tier side came from 2-0 down to beat sixth tier King's Lynn Town on penalties following a 2-2 draw. Who they get in the next round will be revealed on Monday but there are some big teams with EFL histories entering the draw so it's an exciting time to be a Harrow fan. Aside from that, they face a tough fixture against promotion-chasing Hanworth here. Comfortably beaten in the same game last season and stuffed 4-1 in the reverse fixture in September, they face a challenging evening. Tickets are £12 on the gate

CCL Premier South

Tooting & Mitcham United v Knaphill @745pm - locked on level points in the top four, either side will go second in this ninth-tier division with a win at Imperial Fields. The Terrors have lost three fewer games than the visitors but they've played a game less. This is another one where the margins should be incredibly tight and a draw looks most likely. Tickets are £8

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Wednesday 19 November

UEFA Women's Champions League

Arsenal v Real Madrid @8pm - after winning last season's Champions League title, the Gunners' defence of their crown has begun in underwhelming fashion. With two defeats from three, they're going to have to start winning soon. Real Madrid made the quarter-finals last season but lost 3-2 to Arsenal over two legs. In their respective leagues, neither look like winning the title already so this could well be a draw. This is being played at Boreham Wood. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Southall v Hendon @745pm - the pick of the non-league action is this six-pointer at Hayes & Yeading United's ground. Both sides are in the bottom six, with only goal difference keeping them out of the relegation zone. Tickets are £12 on the gate

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Thursday 20 November

UEFA Women's Champions League

Chelsea v Barcelona @8pm - one of the biggest games of the week takes place at Stamford Bridge on Thursday where the most successful club in England welcomes arguably the best in Europe, let alone Spain. Despite their dominance of the WSL in recent years, the Blues just can't crack the Champions League - usually coming unstuck against Barca. The Catalan giants surprisingly lost to Arsenal in last year's final but they're looking really strong again winning 13 of their 14 games so far this season. Tickets

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Friday 21 November

CCL Premier North

Hilltop v Edgware & Kingsbury @745pm - there's a good selection of non-league games on Friday with this groundshare derby in north-west London the first on offer. Hilltop, who have their roots in the capital's Somali community, sit just outside the play-off places and could go third with a big enough win. After struggling last season, E&K are in big trouble again and after 17 games are still searching for their first league win (info correct prior to Tuesday's game against Milton United). Tickets should be no more than £10 on the gate

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Saffron Walden Town @745pm - what appears to be a decent three-way battle for the title seems to be developing in this ninth-tier division. Mile End based club SOUL Tower Hamlets are in pole position but Woodford can't be shaken off and are still second. I'm pretty sure Saffron Walden were right up there earlier in the season but three wins from 10 has seen them slip down to ninth. They're now 10 points off championship pace but a win here could get them dreaming again. Tickets are £7 on the gate

ECL Division 1 South

Lymore Gardens v Basildon Town @745pm - the hosts have fallen nine points behind fellow groundsharers Newbury Forest. However, they have three games in hand so are still very much in the title race, especially if they win here. Basildon are 11th and have games in hand on most of those above them so a play-off push is on. This is being played at Redbridge's ground next to Barkingside station. Tickets are usually £6-7

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Saturday 22 November

Premier League

Fulham v Sunderland @3pm - the only top-division game in the capital on Saturday is to be found at Craven Cottage. Ahead of the season, it would've surprised no-one if this was shaping up to be a relegation six-pointer and while the Cottagers have struggled more than some would've expected, the newly promoted Mackems have shocked pretty much everyone with their impressive displays which have taken them into the top four. With the sides moving up and down the divisions in recent seasons, this is the first league meeting between the pair at this venue since 2018. On that occasion, Fulham won 2-1 but they'll do really well to replicate that here. The match appears to have sold out

Championship

Charlton Athletic v Southampton @1230pm - the Addicks are hosting their community day at this fixture and are looking to get their highest crowd of the season so far. As of Tuesday, they'd sold over 20,000 tickets so they look well on course for hitting their minimum target of 23,294. As for the actual football, Nathan Jones' side suffered a rare defeat in their last game to lose their place in the top six but a win here could put them back in the mix. The Saints were having a dreadful season until they sacked manager Will Still and they've won the two games since. Still way down in 17th, a third consecutive win will get their fans believing again. Tickets

QPR v Hull City @3pm - the R's are having another spectacularly inconsistent season, flirting with the play-offs one week, then losing to one of the strugglers the next. Last week's draw at struggling Sheffield United wasn't particularly encouraging but a brought a three-game losing streak to an end. The Tigers, however, are in much better shape. With one defeat in six, they're in the top five and look well capable of repeating the 3-1 win they picked up on their last visit to Loftus Road. Tickets

League One

AFC Wimbledon v Wigan Athletic @3pm - back-to-back defeats have seen the Dons slip out of the play-off places but a win here against a side in the bottom eight will see them back in the leading group. The Latics look light years away from the Premier League club they once were, but with only one defeat in five, things are looking promising. These sides have only played six times since 'AFC' came into being and Wigan have only lost once, making them a bit of a bogey team for the south Londoners. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Blackpool @3pm - the O's have been a shadow of the side which made the play-offs last season but with three wins from five, green shoots of positivity are appearing. Despite their struggles, support for the east London club has been superb with home areas frequently selling out or getting close to it. The visitors are in the bottom three so this is a big game for both. Tickets

League Two

Bromley v Salford City - I have to admit to having taken my off the ball somewhat in this division in recent weeks so it's a very pleasant surprise to find the Ravens in the top five. With four wins from their last five, they're now only three points behind leaders Swindon in what is an incredibly tight title race - five points separate first from tenth. Salford are also in this top group so we could have quite a battle on our hands at Hayes Lane. Tickets

National League

Wealdstone v Forest Green Rovers @3pm - there's only one game in the fifth tier in London but it's a big one. The Stones are surpassing most expectations by being in the top eight in the latter stages of November. One of the smallest clubs in the division, they narrowly escaped relegation last season so for them to be competing for a play-off spot is some achievement. On Saturday they welcome leaders and former EFL side FGR now managed by former Premier League player Robbie Savage. A colourful character who divides opinion, he should get an interesting reception from the home fans who are not exactly shy at the best of times. Tickets

National League South

Hornchurch v AFC Totton @3pm - my game of the day in the sixth tier sees the leaders welcome a newly promoted side who are also in the promotion mix. The Urchins have been having a great campaign and are three points clear after 17 games. Hampshire club Totton are well backed and get decent crowds for their home games. Although only eighth at the moment, the table is tight and they have a game in hand on most of those above them. With this in mind, they're probably more of a top-four side so there's a lot riding on this. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Aveley v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - there will definitely be bigger crowds in the seventh tier on Saturday but in terms of form, there aren't many better than these two at the moment. With 14 points from their last six games, the Millers have moved up to fourth to become the highest ranked TLFG club in this division. Wingate are up to eighth but are top of the form table with 16 points from six games. This achievement is even more remarkable when you consider their ground was closed for most of the last couple of months while repairs took place, meaning most of these points were accumulated away from home. Tickets are £14 on the gate

Isthmian League South East

AFC Whyteleafe v Herne Bay @3pm - game of the day in the eighth tier takes place at Church Road where the team in second host the team in fifth. The Leafe are top of the form table and have cut the gap on leaders Three Bridges to four points. The visitors are 10 points off the leaders so their main aim would seem to be keeping hold of their play-off spot. Tickets

Essex Senior League

SOUL Tower Hamlets v Little Oakley @3pm - in the ninth tier, it's all about this big clash at the top end of the ESL. If Woodford win on Friday then they'll go onto level points with leaders SOUL Tower Hamlets but will have played two games more. STH will then take a really commanding lead if they beat Little Oakley who are third. The visitors, who play near Harwich, have a game in hand on STH so if they win, things will get very tight indeed. All you really need to know is this is a big one. Tickets 

SSML Division 1

Everett Rovers v Cranfield United @3pm - in the 10th tier the focus is once again on Everett and whether their unbeaten record will finally end here. To re-cap, the Watford based club are playing at this level for the first time in their history following promotion. Now 16 games into the season, they're seven points clear at the top and unbeaten. Cranfield are third so should provide a decent test. Will they be the first to beat them? I've never seen them publish admission prices but it shouldn't be more than £8 

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Sunday 23 November

Premier League

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @430pm - the week ends with one of the biggest games of the season. The North London Derby is one of the highlights of the football calendar. With the Gunners top and Spurs fifth, it seems to have more riding on it than other years so the atmosphere should be even more special than normal. Arsenal are unbeaten in six against Tottenham and haven't lost at home to them in a league game since 2010 so the visitors will have to do something pretty remarkable to get a result here. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £1,595 per person

Women's FA Cup Second Round

For those on a more normal budget, matches in this competition are your best bet for live action on Sunday. At this stage of the competition, no new clubs enter the draw so it's the surviving clubs from the third to seventh tiers taking part. The winners of each tie receive £8,000 and the losers £2,000. There are four ties in our local area:

Dartford v Keynsham Town @1pm - the Darts have made a fantastic start to the season. Firmly in the hunt for the title in the fifth-tier division they play in, they've made great progress in this competition too. Two rounds ago they beat fourth tier QPR to claim a notable scalp. Here they host another fourth-tier side but arguably a far weaker one than the R's so a cupset is definitely on the cards here. Tickets should be around £5 on the gate

Leyton Orient v AFC Bournemouth @1pm - arguably the tie of the round is being played at Brisbane Road. Seasoned women's football watchers will be well aware that the O's play way down in the seventh tier and they are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. However, they spent the close season recruiting a team well capable of challenging for the title in the third tier. Consequently they've won most of their games by double figures. Here they play a Cherries side who really are title contenders in the third tier so who knows what's going to happen? Have exchanged messages with O's supremo Steph McCaffrey, she tells me it will be a 'street fight' but they're ready! Admission is free

London Bees v Portishead Town @1pm - Dan McKimm's side enjoyed a fine run to the Fourth Round last season and they look well placed to have a good go again. One of the top teams in the fourth-tier division they play in, the Bees should start as strong favourites against a Portishead team struggling near the bottom of the parallel fourth-tier division they're in. Tickets

Watford v Saltdean United @1pm - this game was scheduled to take place outside TLFG's catchment area but at fairly short notice it's been moved to Wealdstone's ground. The Hornets are currently top of the third tier division they play in so are arguably the best side in the draw at this stage. In the last round they won 5-0 at fourth tier Actonians and they now have home advantage against a fifth-tier side albeit a pretty good one. 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: 10-16 November 2025

Welcome one and all to this week's TLFG.

Again I'm pushed for time so at this stage it's just match maps and Monday's previews.

The last week has been pretty eventful.

I managed to get to my first QPR game of the season against Southampton on Wednesday night.

Although the R's lost 2-1, it was a very entertaining second half and I was sat behind the right goal for most of the action.

On Wednesday I went to QPR v Southampton

It was also my birthday that day and I thought that result would see me end things on a low but I then received an email from the Football Supporters Association to say Non-League Day had been shortlisted for the non-league award at their glittering do in London next month - what an honour.

The week ahead will hopefully see me get a game at some point but I'm working at the weekend.

Have a great one!

THE WEEK AHEAD

We've got another international break this week but don't despair, there's still plenty on. Aside from England's game against Serbia, we also have the bonus of Brazil playing Senegal at the Emirates. Other highlights include matches in the EFL, National League and FA Trophy.

In the women's game, we've got the North London Derby in the WSL and also some midweek games in the Women's League Cup.

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 and development matches. 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 10 November

Isthmian League Premier

Aveley v Welling United @745pm - the week begins with a game of equal importance at either end of the table. The Millers got relegated from the NLS last season but are making a decent go of trying to get back up with a win here taking them up to third. The Wings came down with them but sadly things have not improved and they're second bottom. Tickets are £14 on the gate MATCH OFF - Aveley are now at home to ninth tier Benfleet in an Essex Senior Cup tie instead - tickets are £10 on the gate

CCL Premier South

Sutton Common Rovers v Knaphill @745pm - SCR also suffered relegation last season, dropping down to the eighth tier for this campaign. They're in lower midtable and in need of another win but they won't find it easy here as the visitors could go third with victory. Tickets should be in the £8-10 category

CCL Division 1

RB Kensington v Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) @745pm - in the 10th tier there's a big relegation six-pointer with the two clubs sitting either side of the dividing line in 20th and 21st meeting at Northwood's ground. RBK are two points ahead with a game in hand. To my knowledge, the hosts are the only team in TLFG's catchment area with no online presence at all but I'd guess you'd be paying no more than £8 to get in

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Tuesday 11 November

Professional Development League

If you want to see two games on Tuesday then there are a couple of games at lunchtime in this U21 competition. Millwall host AFC Bournemouth at The Den at 1pm (tickets) while QPR entertain Bristol City at their training ground at 130pm - you can get in for free but you have to fill in a registration form first. All the details can be found on this page

EFL Trophy

Bromley v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - the most high-profile game of the night is this London derby at Hayes Lane. We're still in the group stage at the moment and the top two from each four-team group progress. Stevenage have already claimed top spot, so the winner of this will go through. Weirdly, if this ends in a draw, Wimbledon who have one more point at present, could still go out. When a match is tied, it goes straight to penalties with the winner receiving two points and the loser just one. If Bromley win on penalties then they'll go through on goal difference. Tickets

National League South

Enfield Town v Salisbury @745pm - there's another early season relegation six-pointer at Donkey Lane on Tuesday. Like RBK and Staines & Lammas above, these sides sit either side of the dividing line in the battle to beat the drop. The visitors are just above it and there's a three-point gap between them. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dulwich Hamlet v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - the best supported team in the division take on almost its least supported one at Champion Hill in a real Goliath v David contest. Both teams are in unusual form at the moment. The Hamlet have drawn their last six league matches to keep their place in the top five whilst Wingate have lost only one of their last nine matches, in all competitions, despite playing all of them away. After the terrible incident which led to the death of a Chichester player earlier in the season, the ground has been closed while alterations are made. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

AFC Croydon Athletic v Merstham @745pm - in the eighth tier, these two top-six clubs meet at the Mayfield Stadium. If you're new to London and/or the non-league scene, the Rams are backed by Stromzy and Wilfiried Zaha and are pushing for a second promotion on their watch. The visitors play a short train ride away just to the south of the M25 so there's a bit of a derby feel to this too. Admission should be around £10

London Senior Cup Second Round

Tooting & Mitcham United v Balham @745pm - I don't often highlight county cup games in the early rounds but this is a groundshare derby between two ninth-tier clubs which should be well worth a watch. With the Terrors pushing for promotion and the visitors battling the drop, T&MU should start as favourites. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Middlesex Premier Cup Quarter-Final

Civil Service v Spartans Youth @730pm - Tuesday affords us a rare chance to watch one of London's top amateur clubs, who I don't normally cover, take part in this county cup. Without going into too much detail, amateur football exists in an almost parallel universe to the pro and semi-pro clubs who usually feature here. I don't include these clubs as they play primarily at sports grounds with little in the way of spectator facilities but the standard can be just as good. Civil Service were founded in 1863, were founder members of the FA and are one of the oldest clubs in the world. In recent seasons they've started entering competitions like this against semi-pros and they've done pretty well. With their own ground not having the facilities to host matches like this, this is being played at Colliers Wood United. As for Spartans Youth, they're playing only their fourth season in senior football and have never finished higher than 15th in the CCL Division 1. They're in the bottom five at the moment and could well come unstuck here. I haven't seen anything about admission prices but it shouldn't exceed £8

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Wednesday 12 November

Women's League Cup

West Ham United v Southampton @7pm - the biggest crowd of the night will probably be found at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground for this women's match. The Hammers have had a pretty torrid start to their WSL season, having yet to win a game. However, they've won all their group games so far in this competition. The Saints play a level below and should be beaten. Tickets

Premier League International Cup

Crystal Palace v Juventus @7pm - there should also be a pretty healthy crowd at Sutton United too as the Eagles' youngsters welcome their counterparts from Juve for a match in this growing men's U21 competition. I think it's the first year the Italian giants have entered a side and they haven't had it all their own way, beating Leicester City but losing to West Bromwich Albion. Palace have great pedigree in this competition, winning it two seasons ago and getting to the final the year before. Tickets are £5 

Isthmian League South Central

Southall v Hanworth Villa @745pm - the top level non-league game of the night is this match in the eighth tier. Although the 'All are in the bottom five, they've been greatly improved in recent weeks and are alongside promotion chasing Hanworth in the current form table. I think it's fair to say this has a west London derby vibe to it too. Tickets are £12 on the gate 

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Thursday 13 November

World Cup qualifier

England v Serbia @745pm - the biggest match of the week takes place at Wembley on Thursday evening. With a 100% record after six games, Thomas Tuchel's side have already won the group and qualified for next year's World Cup. Serbia, however, have it all do if they want to take the one play-off spot on offer. Currently third, one point behind arch-rivals Albania, they could get knocked out if they lose here so the stakes are about as high as they can get for the visitors. Tickets

CCL Women's Cup Second Round

CB Hounslow & Abbots v Actonians @745pm - the only other game I'm aware of is this match in west London  and I plan to be there (health permitting - feeling a bit ropey at the moment). On paper, this is a huge mismatch. The hosts play in the women's eighth tier alongside the A's 3rd XI so if the visitors play a strong team, they could score double figures. Personally I think there'll be quite a bit of rotation but we'll see. I don't know if there'll be a charge but it won't be much MATCH OFF

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Friday 14 November

U18 Professional Development League

QPR v Watford @11am - if you've got a car or can afford a taxi, I'd say there's a good chance of a treble on Friday thanks to this early kick-off near Heathrow. I rarely include U18 games in this blog as they're often behind closed doors or require a number of hoops to be jumped through. This is being played at the R's training ground and provided you pre-register you should be fine - details can be found on the following page

U21 Professional Development League

Brentford v AFC Bournemouth @2pm - game two takes place just over six miles to the south-west in Staines so an hour should be enough if you have access to a car or taxi. A point apart in the top five of this division of 20 teams, these two should put on a competitive display. Tickets

ECL Division 1 South

Cannons Wood v Clapton CFC @745pm - there are several options in the evening but this is the most high level one. The hosts, who groundshare at Aveley, are in their fourth season in this division after promotion. They've always finished in the top 10 so it's a bit of a surprise to find them just above the relegation zone and having played a load more games than most of the sides below them. It's not likely to get any easier here as CCFC are in the top five and could go third with a win. Tickets should be no more than £7-8

Sadly illness has got the better of me this week so there won't be any weekend previews - 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: 3-9 November 2025

Welcome one and all to this week's guide and apologies for being a day late.

I think it's fair to say my Actonians commitments might be taking up more time than I anticipated!

Work on this blog used to account for about eight hours of my week but it's become a bit more comprehensive since I made that estimation so it could easily be 10 hours by now.

On top of that, I'm now producing a match programme and a podcast for the club.

After a run of home games, it's now five weeks until the next one so hopefully things will calm down a bit.

This season's NLD is just over four months away

However, Non-League Day preparations are now starting to pick up with meetings scheduled with various partners including the Premier League and Prostate Cancer UK.

I know Athletic Bilbao are planning to take part again and there are very promising signs that we could get some co-operation from Italy for the first time this year - hopefully we'll know more by the end of the month.

Anyway, it's match maps only from me for now but I will try and add at least a weekend preview as I've got a couple of days off.

It's actually my birthday on Wednesday and I'm marking it by popping round the corner to watch QPR v Southampton in a Championship game. 

Have a great week everyone.

THE WEEK AHEAD 

This week's highlights include matches in the Premier League, EFL and it's also the Second Round proper of the FA Vase. 

In the women's game, the WSL returns with the highlight being the big derby between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

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 and development matches. 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

    

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United @1230pm - earlier in the week, I was offered a ticket to this so it was disappointing to check my schedule and find I'm working. Anyway, I digress. In my head, Spurs have made a pretty good start to the season and United not so much but they're actually level on points, just below the top five - a considerable improvement on last season. United always used to dominate games between these two but Spurs are currently unbeaten in seven in all competitions against them. Tickets are only available to members

West Ham United v Burnley @3pm - in east London there's a big relegation six-pointer between the Hammers and Clarets. The recently promoted visitors are three points and one place above the bottom three and with two wins from three, they're in reasonable form. Nuno Espirito Santo got his first win as West Ham boss on Sunday as they came from behind to beat Newcastle 3-1 and they'll expect to get something here too. Tickets

Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers @8pm - the day ends with this game at Stamford Bridge where the Blues start as strong favourites against bottom club Wolves. With three wins from four, Chelsea are level on points with Spurs and Man Utd so if they win here and results go their way, they could end the day in second. Hospitality packages are available from £250

Championship

Millwall v Preston North End @1230pm - we're three months into the season and these two are a point apart in the top five. The Lions haven't played in the top flight since 1990 and you have to go all the way back to 1961 for PNE. If either of them were to make it to the Premier League this year, it would be some achievement. Tickets

League Two

Barnet v MK Dons @3pm - the table in this division is ridiculously tight with only five points between the leaders Walsall and Cambridge United in 13th. The Bees and Dons are both in the middle of this group so the result of this could see a significant change in position. Tickets

Women's Super League

Arsenal v Chelsea @12pm - arguably the biggest game in the WSL calendar takes place at the Emirates at lunch time. These two often push each other hard for the title but the Gunners have made a disappointing start following their Champions League win and they're already five points behind leaders Chelsea in fifth. Given the incredible importance of every point in this division, defeat for Arsenal will almost certainly kill their title ambitions for another year. Tickets

National League

Wealdstone v Braintree Town @3pm - topping the non-league bill is this game at Grosvenor Vale in Ruislip. The Stones beat divisional rivals Southend in the FA Cup last weekend and should be confident of another win here against struggling Braintree. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dartford v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - the Darts are the highest ranked TLFG side in this division. Coming into this game in fourth, a win here could push them into the top three. Wingate are one of the smallest clubs in the seventh tier but caused a significant upset by winning 5-0 at leaders Brentwood Town last Saturday so shouldn't be too daunted by this trip. Tickets

Isthmian League North

Walthamstow v Felixstowe & Walton United @3pm - in the eighth tier, get yourself to Wadham Lodge so you can have a look at the leaders. Felixstowe finished as runners-up last year but lost in the play-offs. Currently four points clear at the top, they need to keep winning as their nearest challengers have games in hand. As for the 'Stow, they ended up 10th last year but are down in 16th coming into this. They are usually well supported, and even though crowds are down, they are a good club to experience. Tickets are £10 on the gate

FA Vase Second Round

This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers, reaches a crucial point this weekend. With the qualifying rounds now well behind us, the last group of exempted teams enter the draw. To be part of this exempted group, you had to have made at least the Fourth Round last season so reigning champions Whitstable Town begin their defence here. Clubs from the south-east have started doing really well in this in recent seasons but most of them have been drawn away. Here are the two ties we do have on Saturday:

Fisher v Balham @3pm - first up is this all ninth-tier clash in Rotherhithe. Midtable in the SCEFL Premier, the Fish have a good chance to progress as they face a team towards the wrong end of the CCL Premier South. This run to the Second Round equals their best ever performance in the competition so they'll be making club history if they win here. As for the visitors, this is the best they've ever done. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Haringey Borough v Eynesbury Rovers @3pm - after 11 years playing at a higher level, the hosts return to the FA Vase. Back in the ninth tier and doing well in the SSML Premier, they should start as favourites against Cambridgeshire club Eynesbury. They're also in the ninth tier UCL Premier South but only 12th. Both sides have gone well beyond this round in the past so they have a bit of pedigree in the competition. Tickets are £10 on the gate and the club is cordially inviting anyone from the Spurs v Man Utd game to come along afterwards as Coles Park is on White Hart Lane

SCEFL Division 1

Tooting Bec v AFC Greenwich Borough @3pm - my game of the day in the 10th tier sees two of the top five in this division meet at Chipstead's ground in the far south of TLFG's catchment area. The visitors are playing senior football for the first time this season and could go top with a win. Tickets should be no more than £8 on the gate

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Sunday 9 November

Premier League

Brentford v Newcastle United @2pm - with three wins from five, the Bees are in pretty good shape and are doing better than many predicted. They actually come into this one point and place above the Magpies who are, arguably, underperforming. Newcastle arrive in London on the back of a 2-0 Champions League win over Athletic Bilbao which they desperately needed after losing to West Ham last weekend. Tickets are only available to members

Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm - the Seagulls have become Palace's biggest rivals and consequently this match is very hard to get tickets for. A point apart in midtable, this should be one of the closest matches between the sides for a while. The south London club did the double over Brighton last season and haven't lost to them at Selhurst Park since 2019.

SCEFL Division 1

Halls AFC v Lydd Town @3pm - there's also a random bit of non-league action in the 10th tier where two teams on level points in the bottom six meet at Dartford's Princes Park. If results go against them on Saturday, they could both start this in the relegation zone. Tickets are £8 on the gate

Women's Super League

London City Lionesses v Tottenham Hotspur @1155am - if you hadn't already noticed, the vast majority of WSL games are starting on or around midday this season. It seems a strange thing to do but it does allow groundhoppers a better chance of doing a double on Sundays. This match sees LCL, the country's highest ranked independent women's club, go after their fourth win of the season to try and cement their place in the top six. Spurs are possibly having the best start to a campaign they've ever had. They could break back into the top three if they win this match which is being played at Bromley's ground. Tickets

West Ham United v Leicester City @12pm - in Dagenham, the Hammers will be going after their first point of the season against fellow strugglers Leicester. Already five points adrift of safety and bottom of the table, the east London club cannot afford to lose. Tickets

Women's Super League 2

Charlton Athletic v Southampton @2pm - the Addicks are top and took a big step towards a place in the WSL by beating title rivals Birmingham City 1-0 in the Midlands last weekend. Now four points clear, it's looking pretty good for Karen Hills' team. Here they face a Saints side who slipped to fifth on Sunday after losing 3-2 at home to newly promoted Nottingham Forest. This is being played at The Valley and tickets are available online

Crystal Palace v Sheffield United @2pm - with only one win from seven, it's fair to say that the Eagles' return from the WSL isn't going too well. Only three points above bottom club Ipswich, they need to pick up some points soon. The Blades have taken seven points from their last three which has seen them surge up the table after a terrible start. This is being played at Sutton United and tickets are available in advance

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: 27 October - 2 November 2025

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

I actually had a whole weekend off and was able to pack it with sport - a rarity for me!

On Saturday morning I did my first parkrun in ages, taking part in the 14th anniversary edition of the event at Gunnersbury Park alongside some of Actonians' 3rd XI players.

Although I'm way off the fitness I used to have, I was very pleased with my time of 25.49 so onwards and upwards.

My brother was supposed to be visiting from Bristol in the afternoon but his car broke down and I took up the invitation to watch my first ever women's rugby match instead.

Defender Jennie Brereton was Actonians' star player against Watford 

A friend of mine is a rugby coach and ref and has been asking me along to Ealing Trailfinders for a long time and with the women's team playing Exeter Chiefs, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I actually held my wedding reception there over 20 years ago and hadn't been back since.

To say the place had changed would be an understatement!

We had a marquee on what is now the first-team pitch which has stands at either end and a TV commentary/broadcast tower on one side.

For £10 I got to watch two teams packed with international stars from the recent Women's World Cup and I got ridiculously close to the action.

The food and drink options were great and there were loads of activities for kids.

Sadly Trailfinders lost 24-12 but it was still a great way to spend an afternoon.

Sunday saw normal service resume as I headed out to Greenford to watch Actonians take on Watford in the Women's FA Cup.

The A's started as significant underdogs and when they fell behind after only three minutes, the predicted defeat looked a certainty.

Although they competed well throughout and forced a number of chances in the second half, the Hornets were clinical, took their chances and won 5-0.

Next up, the team face back-to-back derbies against London Bees and QPR on Sunday.

As it stands, I can't attend either but I'm hopeful for a shift change on Thursday which could help me out.

It's half term for my kids, so I haven't got time to do a 'Daily Digest' just yet but you've got the match maps.

That's it for now, so have a great week.

UPDATE - my Saturday preview is now available below

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include matches in the Premier League, EFL and it's also the First Round proper of the FA Cup. 

In the women's game, the WSL returns after an international break and there's a full programme of games in the lower divisions with games in midweek and on Sunday.

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 and development matches. 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 WEEKEND DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the weekend and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Saturday 1 November

Premier League

Crystal Palace v Brentford @3pm - fresh from their EFL Cup win at Liverpool on Wednesday, the Eagles will look to end their three game winless run in the league. However, they're going to have to do it against a Bees side who are in good form. The west London club arrive at Selhurst Park on the back of three straight wins in all competitions so it could be quite a scrap. Tickets are only available to members whilst hospitality starts at £450+

Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm - talking of form, these two are in desperately short supply of the stuff at the moment. The Cottagers have lost four on the bounce to sit just above the relegation zone whilst Wolves are rock bottom. On paper, it's definitely not the sexiest fixture in town and consequently there are tickets available

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea @530pm - the biggest match of the weekend kicks off at teatime as these two fierce London rivals meet for what is always a hotly anticipated contest. It's not often that Spurs find themselves several places above the Blues in the table but that's the way things stand at the moment. A win for the hosts could see them go second. Tickets are only available to members but you can get hospitality for £399

Championship

Charlton Athletic v Swansea City @3pm - with only three defeats from their first 12, the newly promoted Addicks are in the top six and making a fine start to life back in the division. Here they play midtable opposition from Wales who are making their first trip to The Valley since 2019. On that occasion they won 2-1 and will no doubt hope for something similar to happen this time. Tickets

QPR v Ipswich Town @3pm - the R's were storming up the table but two defeats from their last three have tempered expectations. Next up they face an Ipswich side just down from the Premier League and struggling to find their feet. Two points below QPR in midtable, they don't have a great record at Loftus Road. Aside from a win on their last visit in 2023, they lost every game prior to that going back to 2010. Tickets

Watford v Middlesbrough @3pm - the Hornets have been models of inconsistency this season so it's no surprise to find them in 14th. Saturday's opponents are second in the table so should be very tough to beat but they have only won two of their last six so there's a chance. Tickets 

FA Cup First Round

One of the major moments of the English football calendar is here. This is the point in the competition where League One and League Two sides enter the draw alongside all the remaining non-league teams who made it through the qualifying rounds. The prize money starts getting really serious too with the winners of each tie receiving £47,750 and the losers £15,800. The draw is also no longer regionalised so clubs can end up going anywhere. The following ties are being played in London:

AFC Wimbledon v Gateshead @3pm - to highlight the openness of the draw we have this tie which sees non-league Gateshead have to travel all the way down from the north-east to the south London suburbs. The Dons are in the top six in League One so should start as strong favourites. Tickets

Boreham Wood v Crawley Town @3pm - there's a very real chance of an upset at Meadow Park where the non-league Wood, who have a decent FA Cup pedigree, welcome one of League Two's strugglers. Tickets

Bromley v Bristol Rovers @3pm - there's an all League Two contest at Hayes Lane where the Ravens should start as marginal favourites. Five points above the Gas in midtable, the hosts will be looking to replicate last season's run to the Third Round which was the best in their history. Tickets

Sutton United v AFC Telford United @3pm - the U's have one of the most famous FA Cup histories of any non-league club with numerous scalps of much higher-ranked teams claimed over the years. This time they're the ones in danger of suffering a humiliation. Currently bottom of the fifth tier and in real trouble, they welcome a side from the division below. Tickets

Wealdstone v Southend United @3pm - although both these non-league sides would've probably been disappointed to draw each other (they're in the same division), they know the chances of getting to the next round and banking the prize money are pretty high. When they last played in September, the Stones won a thrilling game 3-2 in front of their biggest crowd of the season. An even bigger crowd should be expected here (the away allocation has sold out) so I'd advise buying tickets in advance as the ground is small 

Women's Super League

Chelsea v London City Lionesses @12pm - if you want an early game then head to Stamford Bridge to see the reigning champions take on the new upstarts who head over from south-east London. After some time off for the international break, it will be interesting to see how these teams perform. If you're a groundhopper, this can easily be combined with a number of games including the ones at Fulham and QPR. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dartford v Welling United @3pm - I'm a bit short on time this week so when it comes to non-league I'm just going to pick out some games which really leap out at me. This seventh-tier match is a big derby between two local rivals. Both sides are used to playing at a higher level but have hit a bad patch over the last few years and are both now in the seventh tier. The Darts are fifth and pushing to get back up but the Wings are struggling and on course for a second consecutive relegation. Dartford won their other derby at Cray Wanderers last week in front of over 1,000 fans so I'd expect to see another bumper crowd here. Tickets

Southern League Division 1 Central

Hadley v Enfield @3pm - in the eighth tier we've got a north London derby at Brickfield Lane. The hosts have been in play-off contention but they've slipped outside the top five and need to win here to stay in touch. Enfield used to be one of the biggest names in non-league football but around 20 years ago it all went wrong and the club became defunct. Two clubs now exist - Enfield Town who play in the sixth tier and remain in the town and Enfield who don't have their own ground and play home games outside London. They're down in the relegation zone and will do well to get anything here. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Essex Senior League

Barking v Romford @3pm - in east London we've got a groundshare derby at Mayesbrook Park. The Blues, who are the landlords, are having the better season. Currently third, they could go top with a win. Romford won the FA Vase in 2024 but haven't been able to push on from that great day and are in the bottom five. Tickets are £10 on the gate

SSML Division 1

Everett Rovers v Ampthill Town @3pm - the hosts' amazing unbeaten run is still ongoing. Remember, this club are playing in the 10th tier for the first time after promotion. After 15 games they've yet to lose and are nine points clear at the top. Here they face the team in fourth who have a couple of games in hand so the record could be strongly tested. Tickets should be around £7 on the gate

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Sunday 2 November

Premier League

West Ham United v Newcastle United @2pm - it's fair to say that both these sides have made disappointing starts to the season. Already on to the second manager of the campaign, the Hammers are second bottom with only one win from nine games. New boss Nuno Espirito Santo is still looking for his first victory since leaving Nottingham Forest. As for the Magpies, after qualifying for the Champions League last season, they've become the archetypal midtable club with three wins, three draws and three defeats and are in the bottom half. An away win looks the more likely as Newcastle seem to enjoy their trips to London Stadium - they won there last season and are unbeaten on their last six visits. Tickets

Women's Super League

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @2pm - just a mile and a half to the north at the same time, we have the pick of the day's women's action. Brisbane Road plays host to Spurs as they look to get back into the top three. Their chances look good as the Reds are second bottom and have lost every game. Online ticket sales have ended but you can purchase on arrival for £10

FAWNL Southern Premier

AFC Wimbledon v AFC Bournemouth @2pm - the Dons return to Imperial Fields for a very challenging fixture. This season has been a struggle and last weekend saw them bow out of the FA Cup at home to Chatham Town who play a level below them. However, they responded brilliantly to win 3-0 at Lewes in the league on Wednesday to keep themselves out of the bottom two. Here they face the leaders who retook top spot from Watford in midweek with a 2-1 win over Oxford United. The Cherries are unbeaten this season and the hosts will do really well to get anything here. Tickets

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Actonians v QPR @2pm - game of the day in the fourth tier is this west London derby at North Greenford United's ground. After three straight defeats in all competitions, the A's picked up an impressive 2-1 away win at London Bees on Thursday to cut the gap on the top six to four points. The R's also did well, becoming the first team to take a point of leaders Fulham with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. Not only do these teams come from neighbouring areas of London but QPR have Actonians' most successful management duo in the dugout and one of their former players. On paper, the visitors should be marginal favourites but strange things happen in these matches. Tickets

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