With the Premier League and EFL seasons concluding this weekend, that's more or less it for the 2024/25 season here in London.
I've been pushed for time again, so apologies for this late publication and its rather rushed look.
The maps are below for you to have a look through but that could be it until July when pre-season starts all over again.
Last week I was lucky enough to get an invite once again to the Non-League Paper's National Game Awards and enjoyed meeting a number of luminaries.
These included Justin Edinburgh's son who now runs a cardiac charity in memory of his father who passed away suddenly in his 40s after winning promotion with Leyton Orient back to the EFL.
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| Plough Lane played host to the National Game Awards |
I was sat on a table with Andy Peaks who led Tamworth on a fantastic FA Cup run which culminated in them taking Spurs to extra-time back in January and also enjoyed the company of the three chairmen of the Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues plus the man in charge of league allocations at the FA - there was some fine chat and gossip I can tell you.
This weekend I'm looking forward to going to the Actonians end of season awards which are usually good fun too.
At the beginning of July I'll be heading off to Switzerland to see a game in the Women's Euros and then the friendlies will be getting back into full swing here.
If I don't do any more pieces between now and then, have a great break and I look forward to catching up with you soon.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week's highlights include the final round of games in the Premier League, the EFL play-offs and one or two other lower level matches.
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 19 May
Robert Rowan Invitational
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - the focus of today's action is this U21 game at the GTech. Robert Rowan was the club's technical director but he died suddenly of a heart condition at the age of just 28 back in 2018. This fixture is being used as fundraiser for the club's 'Heart of West London' initiative and tickets are £3 for adults
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Tuesday 20 May
Premier League
Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers @8pm - the Eagles dominated the headlines on Saturday when they won the FA Cup - their first ever major trophy. As a result of their trip to Wembley, they have this game in hand. Currently 12th, a top half-finish is the best they can hope for but with the cup in the bag and a Europa League place confirmed, they have very little to play for. Wolves are a couple of places back but can't catch them. Presumably the FA Cup will be paraded at some point and the atmosphere should be celebratory. Tickets are only available to members
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Wednesday 21 May
CCL U23 Division Cup Final
CB Hounslow & Abbots v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - these sides finished third and second respectively so we should get a well-matched contest. This match is being played at Ashford Town to the south of Heathrow Airport
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Thursday 22 May
CCL U18 Division Cup Final
Kingstonian v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - over at CB Hounlsow's ground, the top clubs in the east and west divisions of the CCL's U18's league meet for what should be a very interesting game
Suburban League Shield
Abbey Rangers v Metropolitan Police @745pm - this U23 game could also be a final but I haven't found any information to confirm that. Either way, it's being played at Abbey Rangers near Chertsey
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Friday 23 May
CCL U18 Division East
AFC Wisla Krakow v Horley Town @730pm - these sides will complete their league campaigns with this fixture at Colliers Wood United's ground. Krakow have already finished bottom, well adrift of everyone else. Horley will finish third if they win
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Saturday 24 May
Championship Play-Off Final
Sheffield United v Sunderland @3pm - with a place in the Premier League up for grabs, this is reportedly the richest game in football with at least £220m heading to the winners. The Blades have become a bit of a yo-yo club in recent seasons and will be looking to make an instant return after last season's relegation. The Mackems, however, have gone eight years since they last had a place at the top table of English football. The match is being played at Wembley as usual. Tickets are available from the clubs' websites
MCFL Finals Day
If you can't get into the game above or you prefer a non-league option, then the Middlesex County Football League is holding its two cup finals back-to-back at Uxbridge's ground. First up is the Division 1 Cup Final for 12th-tier teams between Harrow Bhoys and AFC Southall at 1pm. Next up is the Premier Division Cup Final at 530pm where Larkspur Rovers take on Indian Gymkhana Club. I'm not certain what the admission details are but it won't cost much
A bit further afield
CCL Premier South Play-Off Semi-Final
Redhill v Cobham @3pm - after what seems like an eternity, the play-offs in this ninth-tier division can finally go ahead. After Jersey Bulls and Redhill were both adjudged to have fielded ineligible players, AFC Whyteleafe were awarded the title and the other two have to go into the play-offs. Redhill is located just beyond the southern border of the M25 on the way to Gatwick so it's pretty easy to get to. The winners will play Fleet Town or Jersey in the final. Tickets are £9 on the gate and a sizeable crowd is expected so don't be late!
Friendly
Surrey International v Sutton HKR @3pm - just to the south of London, Surrey's representative team play this friendly at Dorking Wanderers' ground which is easy to reach by car or train from central London. It's £5 on the gate
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Sunday 25 May
Premier League
Fulham v Manchester City @4pm - we've reached the final day in the top flight and with the title going to Liverpool and the relegation battle already concluded, it's now all about the race for European places. Amazingly, half the teams in the Premier League could potentially be playing in a UEFA competition next season if results go the right way. However, despite their win at Brentford last weekend, the Cottagers are not one of that lucky 10 and could potentially end up just one place and one point adrift if they win here. For City though, they still need to make sure of their Champions League place and only a win will do that. Tickets
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion @4pm - it's a different story for Spurs and their fans who can really enjoy this one having won the Europa League in midweek. That victory booked their place in next season's Champions League despite their worst Premier League campaign for over 30 years. Brighton know a draw here will see them finish eighth which could be enough for a place in the Conference League, but they'll still need to rely on Chelsea beating Real Betis in this year's Conference League final next week. Tickets
League One Play-Off Final
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient @1pm - third tier play-off matches don't come much bigger than this with local London rivals meeting at Wembley. As I understand it, the Addicks have sold out their allocation and a tiny amount were still exclusively available to people on the O's database. Charlton finished fourth to the O's sixth but it was the latter who came into the play-offs in the best form and did really well to knock out Stockport County in the semi-finals. Nathan Jones' side will start as favourites but Richie Wellens' team boasts the division's top scorer in Charlie Kelman so this could go all the way to penalties
Craig Dundas Testimonial
Sutton United v FA Cup 2017 XI @3pm - the U's are honouring striker Craig Dundas with this testimonial at Gander Green Lane. He's played more 300 times for Sutton over three separate stints at the club and was part of the side that went on a famous FA Cup run in 2017, eventually losing to Arsenal in the Fifth Round. Tickets are £10
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Monday 26 May
League Two Play-Off Final
AFC Wimbledon v Walsall @3pm - there's more London interest in the last EFL play-off final of the year as the Dons look to get back to the third tier after three years away. Both themselves and the Saddlers stumbled into the play-offs so don't come into this in the best form. Walsall were well clear at the top at one point so if they don't go up it will be a particularly bitter for them if they lose. A few tickets are available from each club's website - AFC Wimbledon tickets or Walsall 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!
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