Greetings and welcome to TLFG as we begin to reach the end of the season.
With most leagues now concluded, the amount of football on offer has fallen sharply.
What we do have should be good though, with play-offs and cup finals and semi-finals topping the bill.
 |
| Non-League Finals Day takes place on Sunday |
I'm dashing this out before work so I haven't quite finished the previews for the weekend but I could well finish them later today.
First up is an U21 game at QPR on Tuesday lunchtime which I might get out of work for - maybe see you there.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, Conference League, EFL, FA Trophy, FA Vase and Women's Super League.
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
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.
Tuesday 6 May
Professional Development League
QPR v Peterborough United @1pm - both sides finish their fixtures in this U21 competition at Loftus Road on Tuesday lunchtime. Whatever happens here, the R's will finish second bottom in 'Group South' but there's no relegation. Posh are in 'Group North' and haven't pulled up any trees either. These matches are free entry although a donation to the club's trust on arrival is appreciated - cash and card accepted
CCL Challenge Cup Semi-Final
Cobham v Horley Town @745pm - ineligible players have held up the CCL Premier South play-offs and now the CCL Challenge Cup too. Cobham are still awaiting their play-off opponents but now they've found themselves reinstated into the cup as well. They came back in with Epsom & Ewell but the Salts were then also found to have played an ineligible player so went out again! As a result, the Hammers now find themselves in the last four. The winners will play North Greenford United or Windsor & Eton in the final. Tickets are £8 on the gate
Invitational Charity Cup Final
SC Thamesmead v FC Elmstead @730pm - I'm not sure who does the inviting or who organises this cup but it's for clubs in south-east London and Kent. These two play in the tenth tier SCEFL Division 1. They finished two points apart in lower midtable so it should be a well-matched contest. The game is being played at Thamesmead's ground and tickets are £5 on the gate
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 7 May
Middlesex Charity Cup Final
Broadfields United v Southall @745pm - running since 1901, interest in this cup has fluctuated over the years. Several of Middlesex's biggest clubs have taken part and I remember some big crowds for Harrow Borough's ties against Chelsea and Spurs back in the late '80s and early '90s. The 1988 final was even played at Wembley Stadium thanks to sponsorship from TV astrologer Russel Grant. In more recent times, it's become more of a thing for clubs in the eight and ninth tiers from which Wednesday's finalists come. Broadfields play a level below the 'All so they'll cause something of an upset if they win. This is being played at Bedfont Sports and tickets are available in advance for £12
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 8 April
UEFA Conference League Semi-Final Second Leg
Chelsea v Djurgarden @8pm - the Blues won last week's first leg in Sweden 4-1 to all-but secure their place in the final. The London club have pretty much had one hand on the cup since they entered it and they've lived up to their favourites tag as they've breezed through the competition. Given their big lead, progress should be a formality but the level of opponent will increase significantly in the final where they'll face either Fiorentina or Real Betis in the Polish city of Wroclaw. Tickets
SPCFL Premier Division
Wimbledon Casuals v Dial Square @730pm - two of the top three in this 11th-tier division meet in their final games of the season. It could have been a blockbuster conclusion to the campaign but Casuals wrapped up the league title over the Bank Holiday to seal their third title success on the bounce. Sadly the club haven't applied for promotion so they'll be back to defend their crown next year. Dial Square will finish second if they win and that could see them go up as they did put in an application. This is being played at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground by Chiswick Bridge and should be free to watch
EAL Premier Division Cup Final
Inter Newbury v Sporting Bengal United Reserves @730pm - this cup final is for 12th-tier teams I don't normally cover but it's being played at Dagenham & Redbridge which I know some of you might want to visit. SBU Reserves won the Premier Division West so they'll start as favourites as they look to do a league and cup double. I haven't seen any ticket prices advertised but it won't be much
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 9 May
CCL Division 1 Cup Final
Holmer Green v Langley @745pm - there's just one game on Friday but it's this cup final for tenth-tier clubs. Being played at Abbey Rangers in the Addlestone/Chertsey area, Holmer Green should start as favourites as they finished seventh, seven places and 23 points above Langley in the league. Again, I haven't seen any ticket details but it shouldn't exceed £10
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 10 May
Premier League
Fulham v Everton @3pm - with three defeats from their last four, the Cottagers' season is in danger of petering out after showing so much promise. If they win their remaining three, then an eighth-place finish is still possible but there's also a danger that they could finish in the bottom half which would be disappointing. The Toffees were in real trouble before David Moyes took over but he steadied the ship and secured their place in the top flight for another year. They don't play particularly thrilling stuff and have become the division's draw specialists but they're still above Man Utd and Spurs. Tickets
League One Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg
Leyton Orient v Stockport County @1230pm - the O's and fellow Londoners Charlton Athletic have both made it to the League One play-offs after fine campaigns. Orient secured their place on the final day with a resounding 4-1 win at Huddersfield Town as they pipped Reading to the final spot. That result put them top of the division's form table as it was their sixth win in a row. Stockport are a formidable side though and with eight wins from their last 10 and home advantage in the second leg, they're going to be really tough to beat. I think I'm also right in saying that if Leyton Orient do make it through and win promotion, it will be their first time in the second tier since 1982. General sale of tickets will begin on Wednesday 7 May but don't expect them to hang around for long
SCEFL Division 1 Cup Final
Clapton CFC v Forest Hill Park @2pm - over in east London we've got this tenth-tier cup final at Barking's ground. CCFC finished seventh to miss out on a play-off place by six points. For FHP, the closing months of the season have been disappointing if not worrying. They were seemingly cruising to the title but won only one of their last 10 to finish third. At the weekend, they lost to SOUL Tower Hamlets in the play-off final. They also made the League Cup Final but lost to Premier Division strugglers Snodland Town. With all that disappointment behind them, they're going to have to raise their game again against the best supported side in the league who drew with them on the final day of the season. Tickets are £8 and must be bought online in advance - there will be no sales on the day
Women's Super League
Arsenal v Manchester United @1230pm - it's the final day of the WSL season and this is the biggest match that's taking place. With Chelsea having already won the league, this match will decide who finishes second. Both sides have already qualified for the Champions League but the runners-up in the WSL get to enter at a later stage. Arsenal are currently second but since sensationally making it to this season's Champions League Final, they've been blown away in the two league games that have followed, conceding nine goals to midtable opposition. This is being played at the Emirates Stadium so if you haven't been, now's your chance as tickets are available and it's way cheaper than watching a men's game
Chelsea v Liverpool @1230pm - as mentioned above, the Blues have won the league already - their sixth title in a row. The main reason to go to this match will presumably be to see them parade the trophy in front of their fans. For them it's now all about winning next weekend's FA Cup Final to complete a domestic treble. The Reds are sixth, and given their inferior goal difference, that's as high as they're likely to finish even if they pull off a shock win. This is being played at Stamford Bridge and tickets are available
CCL Women's Cup Final
Watford U23 v Chatham Town @230pm - if you're on the far north side of town then this cup final at the Hornets' training ground could be the game for you. The hosts' U23 side have been in superb form this season, winning their division of the WNL Reserve League with a 100% record. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the first team of a strong FAWNL team. Chatham finished third in the FAWNL Division 1 South East (fourth tier) and have already won the Isthmian League Women's Cup and Kent Women's Cup. To put things in some context, Actonians played Chatham three times this season beating them twice and drawing the other. However, when they played this Watford side in an earlier round, they lost 4-0 so who knows how this will go? I haven't seen any ticket prices mentioned but it wouldn't surprise me if it's free
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday 11 May
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace @215pm - despite having one of the worst seasons in the last 30 years, Spurs made it through to the Europa League Final on Thursday night with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate win over Bodo/Glimt. Next up they face another set of cup finalists in Palace who play Manchester City in next weekend's FA Cup Final. Neither side is in great form in the league and a draw is probably the most likely outcome. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £149
Non-League Finals Day
The big showpiece of the non-league calendar takes place at Wembley on Sunday. It sees the finals of the FA Vase and FA Trophy played back-to-back and one £30 ticket gets you into both. This year we have four sides who've never been to their respective finals before so it'll be a huge occasion for all of them. It's a great day out but beware, once you're in you're there for the day - you can't pop out for a cigarette and expect to get back in.
AFC Whyteleafe v Whitstable Town @1215pm - first up we have the Vase final which is a competition for sides in the ninth and tenth tiers. The Leafe made the play-offs in the CCL Premier South and are still waiting to play in the them. The Oystermen play in the parallel SCEFL Premier and also made the play-offs but lost out to Fisher. In essence, we have two very similar teams from the ninth tier who hail from the south-east - it's an incredibly tough one to call
Aldershot Town v Spennymoor Town @415pm - given we could have extra-time and penalties in the first game, this one doesn't start until four hours later. The FA Trophy is for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers. The Shots are the biggest team in action on Sunday and are said to be bringing nearly 20,000 fans. Playing in the fifth tier, a level above their opponents, they should start as favourites. I say should because Spennymoor have beaten not one, not two but three National League clubs on their way to the final - a quite spectacular effort
Friendly
Surrey International v Wanderers @115pm - this Surrey representative team made up of players from around the county play their third game of the spring/summer. After wins over London Japanese and London Thai, they'll be looking to extend their winning run against one of the oldest clubs in the world. With five FA Cup wins to their name between 1872-1878, Wanderers have a glittering past. This match is being played at Farleigh Rovers just up the road from Whyteleafe. Tickets are £5 on the gate
L&SE Women's League D1 North
Bromley v Brentford @1pm - the top two in this sixth-tier division meet at Hayes Lane. Sadly, there's nothing riding on it. Brentford have already won the title and claimed the only promotion spot whilst the hosts will finish second whatever happens here. Tickets are £5
GLWFL Finals Day
Like NLFD at Wembley, this women's league for clubs in the seventh to ninth tiers has its two cup finals on Sunday. Played back-to-back at Bedfont Sports near Heathrow, the action gets underway at 1115am with ninth-tier clubs Civil Service and Tooting Bec Reserves meeting in the GLWFL Trophy Final. Following this at 230pm, the top two in the Premier Division will contest the GLWFL Cup Final. Camden Town have already won the league so they'll be wanting to complete the double against Hammersmith. Tickets will be available on the gate for just £3
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!
Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here
No comments:
Post a Comment