Greetings everyone and welcome to the latest TLFG.
A bit late again this week as I had the audacity to go to another match on Sunday afternoon - I know, what a liberty!
This time it was the women's North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham at the Emirates.
With Actonians having the weekend off, I took my eldest daughter along as she'd never been to this stadium before and she is, at least nominally, an Arsenal women's fan.
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| There's now less than five weeks to go |
A whopping crowd of 56,000 were in attendance as the Gunners crushed their local rivals 5-0 and Chloe Kelly made her second debut in a red and white shirt.
It ended up being my second match of the week as I also went to watch Actonians play at Chesham United on Thursday night.
The A's lack of striking options was brutally exposed again as a side they'd thrashed 9-2 earlier in the season, ended up winning 1-0!
On a positive note, last season's star striker Tori St Clair appeared in the crowd and, after a disappointing summer move to Swindon Town, expressed an interest in coming back - whether it's possible remains to be seen.
This week I had planned to spend a few days in Liverpool with the family for half term but sadly my daughter is ill at present so it's looking highly unlikely.
If you've got children to entertain, there's lots of football on and there are some U21 games in the afternoon if you don't want to stay out late.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's National League and lots of other games featuring our local non-league and women's clubs.
As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.
Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
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 February
Professional Development League
Brentford v Ipswich Town @1pm - it's all about development football on Monday and we begin with this U21 game at lunchtime. The Bees play most of their games at this level at Staines Town's old ground of Wheatsheaf Park. When the Middlesex club, originally formed in Victorian times, stopped playing in 2022, the ground was left unused. Since then, Brentford have refurbished it and now use it for youth games. The London club will go top of Group South if they win this game. Tickets
Premier League 2
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa @7pm - with the match above under your belt, you'll have more than enough time to get down to Sutton United's ground for this other U21 match in the evening. The PL2 is for higher-level academy sides than the PDL above so the quality should be a bit better. The Eagles should start as strong favourites as Villa are second bottom of this 26-team division. Tickets
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Tuesday 18 February
Professional Development League
Charlton Athletic v Millwall @1pm - Tuesday also affords you the chance to see two games in a day as we have another U21 fixture at lunchtime. This time it's a London derby and it's being played at Dartford's ground. As it stands, it's first against third but Brentford could well have knocked the Addicks off top spot by the time this begins. Tickets would appear to be £3 on the gate
National League
Barnet v York City @745pm - one of the matches of the week takes place at The Hive where first plays second in the fifth tier. The title race has been a three-horse race between these two and Forest Green Rovers for a while now but FGR suffered a crucial defeat to Braintree on Saturday which left them five points adrift of the Bees. It's seven years since Barnet lost their EFL status and having made the play-offs for the last two years, things are looking good for them this time. York have been out of the EFL for a year longer than Barnet but have had a far more trying time as they've been down to the sixth tier and just beat relegation back there for the last two years - it's therefore somewhat of a surprise to see them challenging. York won the reverse fixture 3-1 so they know what it takes to beat the leaders. Tickets
National League South
Enfield Town v Eastbourne Borough @745pm - the Towners are enjoying a remarkable few weeks. Seemingly dead and buried and heading back to the Isthmian League, Gavin McPherson has galvanised his troops and sent them on a run which has seen them lose only one of their last eight matches. The 3-1 win at Chesham on Saturday finally lifted them out of the relegation zone in what must have been a huge moment for all involved. Now they just need to stay there. Next up are one of the promotion contenders who have lost two of their last three and need to win to make sure they stay in the leading group. Tickets
CCL Premier North
Egham Town v Harefield United @745pm - the Sarnies are neck-and-neck with Amersham Town in the title race in this ninth-tier division. Currently two points behind the Buckinghamshire club, they have two games in hand so a win here would be really handy. The Hare are also in promotion contention too. They're sixth, with only goal difference keeping them out of the play-off places behind North Greenford United who play tonight too. I'm not certain of admission prices but they shouldn't exceed £10
CCL Division 1
Belstone v Penn & Tylers Green @745pm - two of the top four in this 10th-tier division face off on Tuesday. Currently fourth and third, neither are likely to claim the one automatic promotion place as Windsor & Eton are so far out in front. It's now all about making sure of their place in the top five and with a 10-point cushion over the club in sixth, it's already looking pretty secure for the visitors. Tickets are £8 on the gate
Southern Counties Women's Cup
Middlesex v Army @745pm - if women's football is more your thing or you want to support active service personnel then this could be for you. Joined by Essex, Kent and Jersey, these county FA representative sides take part in a round-robin competition. Middlesex are currently top with three wins from three and will retain the trophy if they win this game. The Middlesex side is made up of primarily of players from the women's fourth tier with clubs like Actonians, Ashford Town, London Bees and QPR providing the bulk of the squad. These games are usually played at Rectory Park but this time Harrow Borough play host and it's free to get in
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Wednesday 19 February
Isthmian League South Central
Kingstonian v Farnham Town @745pm - Grand Drive is the place to be for another one of our games of the week as the top two in this eighth-tier division do battle. With the K's only managing a draw with Hayes & Yeading on Saturday whilst top club Farnham were thrashing Southall, the gap between the two extended to six points. Although there are still 16 games to go, a defeat here for Kingstonian would make Farnham look pretty uncatchable. If they win then it's a very different story, especially when you consider the two will have to play again in April. Tickets are £10 on the gate
SCEFL Premier
Sutton Athletic v VCD Athletic @745pm - the hosts aren't getting much coverage on TLFG this season as they're just pottering along in midtable and look very unlikely to do anything or so I thought. Although way down in 14th, they're on an impressive eight game unbeaten run so maybe the 13-point gap they need to bridge to the play-offs isn't as impossible as it initially appeared. Anyway, this game is more about the visitors. Top for the opening weeks of the season, they saw themselves eventually caught by Faversham who remain leaders. However, the Vickers have two games in hand which if won would pull them level. Tickets are £8 on the gate
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Thursday 20 February
Development football
On Thursday there are a couple of U23 games in the Suburban League with Abbey Rangers and Molesey playing host - full details on the match map
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Friday 21 February
Premier League 2
Some more U21 football tops the bill on Friday night with Arsenal hosting Newcastle United at Boreham Wood, Chelsea entertaining Manchester United at Kingsmeadow and Fulham taking on Everton at Motspur Park. All kick-off at 7pm. Gunners games are usually free at this venue whilst the others will charge no more than £5
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Sawbridgeworth Town @745pm - the hosts are still second and in the hunt for the title. Four points behind Stanway and having played a game more, it's looking like a tough ask though. Here they face a side who sit one place above the relegation zone so they can't afford to drop any points here. Tickets are £7 on the gate
SCFL Premier
Lingfield v Haywards Heath Town @8pm - on Friday night we get another bit of bonus action in this ninth-tier division with the Lingers recently moving their home games to AFC Whyteleafe's stadium. Battling to avoid the drop, they need a win to stay ahead of the bottom clubs. HHT are second, though, and need the win to make sure they stay in the top five. Tickets are £8 on the gate
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Saturday 22 February
Premier League
Arsenal v West Ham United @3pm - with leaders Liverpool not playing until Sunday, the second-placed Gunners have the chance to cut the gap between them to five points. Given they're also second in the Premier League form table, then they should be expected to get the win here. The Hammers have only won one league game since new boss Graham Potter arrived last month and have conceded a total of 11 goals in their last two games against Arsenal, both of which were played at the London Stadium. They did, however, win 2-0 at the Emirates last season but they'll do well to get anything here. Tickets are only available to members
Fulham v Crystal Palace @3pm - back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have propelled the Cottagers into the top eight, with a place in Europe very much in sight. The Eagles are about as midtable as it's possible to be - 13 points adrift of the top six and 13 points clear of the relegation zone. The west London club have had the better of this derby in recent years and are unbeaten in six against the club from the south side of town. Tickets appear to have sold out but contact the club directly for the latest
League One
Charlton Athletic v Exeter City @3pm - the Addicks' fine six-game unbeaten run came to an end at leaders Birmingham City last Saturday but it was only 1-0 and they shouldn't lose too much heart. It did, however, cost them their place in the top six as London rivals Leyton Orient managed a win over Lincoln before moving three points clear with a superb away victory at Wrexham on Tuesday. The Grecians are on a terrible run at the moment with last weekend's narrow win over bottom club Cambridge being their first in nine games. Although the Devon club are six points clear of the relegation zone, you'd still expect the hosts to win here. Tickets
League Two
Bromley v Harrogate Town @3pm - the Ravens' form has been undulating this season. After a bright start, they couldn't buy a win, then they really picked up, slumped again and now they've won two in a row. For a club who are totally new to this level after winning the National League play-off final on penalties, they're probably pretty happy to be 12th as we approach March. Yorkshire side Harrogate are a similar club in some ways, having only joined the fourth tier for the first time in 2020 after also coming through the play-offs. They have found this season far more of a struggle but crucially won their last game against Swindon to end a worrying run and leave them seven points clear of the relegation zone. Bromley won the reverse fixture 2-0 and have only lost to Harrogate once in their history. Tickets
National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Oldham Athletic @3pm - of the three games taking place in the fifth tier, this is probably the biggest. It features a former League One club and one of the founder members of the Premier League. The Daggers' form has utterly deserted them over the last few weeks, with their last league win coming against bottom club Ebbsfleet United on New Year's Day. Now just four points above the relegation zone, the east London club badly need a victory soon. The Latics are one of the biggest clubs in this division and arrive in fourth. They were threatening to force their way into the three-horse race for the title but only one win from four has almost certainly ended their hopes of automatic promotion. Ten points clear of eighth, a play-off spot looks equally certain. Interestingly, Oldham have never lost a league game to Dagenham & Redbridge so it doesn't look great for the hosts. Tickets
National League South
Enfield Town v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - the Towners' recent purple patch came to a crashing end in midweek when they got thrashed 5-0 at home by promotion-chasing Eastbourne. Luckily for them, Welling lost to Dorking so they remain above the relegation zone. Midtable Tonbridge are in dreadful form and present a fantastic chance for Enfield to get back on track. Tickets
Southern League Premier South
Walton & Hersham v Tiverton Town @3pm - the Swans are the highest ranked seventh tier team in our area who are playing at home on Saturday. Fourth in this division, they're in cracking form and have a game in hand on Gloucester City who are just above them. Devon club Tiverton are in the relegation zone but with two wins from four, they're fighting back and are now only two points adrift of safety. They also won the reverse fixture 1-0 in November. Tickets
Isthmian League North
Walthamstow v Felixstowe & Walton United @3pm - of the four London clubs in this division, the 'Stow are making the most headway. Sixth and with games in hand on all of those above them, it's looking promising for the north-east London club. However, Tilbury and Witham Town are snapping at their heels so they can't afford many slip-ups if they want to secure a play-off place. On Saturday they welcome the leaders who are ahead of Bury Town only on goal difference so they badly need the points too - remember, only one team goes up automatically. Tickets are £10 on the gate
SCEFL Premier
Erith & Belvedere v Faversham Town @3pm - my MOTD in the ninth tier takes place at Park View Road. The Deres are down in 10th but that's partly down to the fact that they're having a great run in the FA Vase and have made it to the quarter-finals. With games in hand on most of the top five, they've still got a chance of making the post-season. They'll definitely be contenders if they win here as Faversham are top. Tickets are £8 on the gate
SCEFL Division 1
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Forest Hill Park @3pm - in the 10th tier, it's seventh versus second at the Mile End Stadium. With only five points separating fifth to 10th, the race for the last play-off place is looking really exciting. FHP have become transformed since their merger with SE Dons and the title looks like theirs to lose as they're level with leaders Canterbury but have five games in hand. Tickets are £7 on the gate
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Sunday 23 February
Championship
Watford v Luton Town @12pm - although several London clubs are geographically closer to Vicarage Road, the Hatters are the Hornets' biggest derby rivals. Both sides are in stinking form at the moment with Watford the only one of the two to manage a win in the last six games. Luckily for them, the rest of the season has been pretty damn good so they're only three points shy of the play-off places. Luton, however, are rock bottom and well on course for a second consecutive relegation following their fall from the Premier League. Tickets are not available
FAWNL Division 1 South East
Actonians v London Bees @2pm - apart from the game above, it's all about women's football in the fourth tier and below on Sunday as it's an international break. At Rectory Park the teams in fifth and fourth will contest a match which will probably decide whether or not the A's can finish in the top four. Actonians had a superb start to the season and were top in November but AFC Wimbledon poached their star striker Dior Knorr and she hasn't been replaced. The goals have completely dried up and the Bees are one side to have benefited, moving past them for the first time in recent days. Dan McKimm's side will start as favourites having drawn with and beaten the A's in League and Cup in two previous meetings this season. Tickets are £5
QPR v Chatham Town @2pm - if Actonians and London Bees slip up at any point, then the R's look well positioned to nip in and grab a top-four place themselves. Currently sixth, they have two games in hand on these two. Here they take on title contenders Chatham who appear to be the team most likely to be able to stop Real Bedford from coming out on top. This is being played at Hayes & Yeading United and tickets are £5 on the gate
L&SE Women's League Premier
Fulham v Dartford @230pm - there's a huge game in the fifth tier which could go a long way to deciding who wins the title and gets the one promotion place. The Darts are currently 13 points ahead of the third-placed Cottagers but they have six games in hand. These two were pipped to the title by Dulwich Hamlet last season so they'll both want to make up for that disappointment. If Dartford win, the chances of them finishing first will improve significantly. This is being played at Motspur Park and tickets are £5
L&SE Women's League D1 North
Bromley v Clapton CFC @1pm - in the sixth tier, CCFC should take a sizeable following to Hayes Lane to cheer on their women against the current leaders. The Ravens might be top of the table for now but Brentford are only a point behind with two games in hand. Tickets are £7 on the gate or £5 if bought online 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!
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