Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of the autumn!
It's certainly felt that way over the weekend with some very changeable weather which saw me soaked one minute, scorched the next and buffeted heavily by wind as well.
All of those conditions made an appearance at the game I went to on Sunday.
After beginning with incredibly tough fixtures against title contenders Norwich City and Fulham, Actonians made the trip to Bedfordshire to take on newly promoted Luton Town.
They'd enjoyed one win and one defeat but were viewed as one of those teams we could beat and certainly needed to avoid losing to.
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| The WSL makes its return this weekend - tickets |
Sadly the game wasn't played at Kenilworth Road so all three of the travelling Actonians Ultras took a cab the seven miles north to Barton Rovers' ground at Sharpenhoe Road.
As non-league grounds go, I liked it.
Well maintained, a decent amount of cover, a good tea bar and picturesque views of the nearby hills.
There was also a strong crosswind and a significant slope down the pitch.
Things were pretty tight in the first half with the Hatters possibly shading things, but they failed to take advantage and it ended goalless.
After the break, the game ebbed and flowed with the A's starting well but then the hosts re-asserted themselves, hit the bar and then missed another excellent chance from close range.
Then everything changed dramatically.
With Actonians winning a free-kick just inside Luton's half, captain Mara Bramwell fired the ball straight into the top corner - something she has a habit of doing.
This gave the visitors real momentum and 10 minutes later it was 4-0!
Despite finishing the game with 10 players after an injury occurred with all subs used, the West Londoners saw out the win to the delight of all associated with the team.
The tough fixtures return next week when Chelsea U21s pay a visit in the FAWNL Cup but with the league being far more important, it will be viewed as a bit of a free hit.
Sadly I'm working on Sunday so I'll be heading to the Emirates the day before to watch Arsenal's WSL opener against London City Lionesses who have been generating a lot of headlines over the summer following their promotion.
Before I go, many thanks to Nico B from Bochum, Germany for donating to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really appreciate it so thanks again.
THE WEEK AHEAD
It's the first international break of the season so all of London's biggest clubs in the Premier League and Championship have the week off.
The two biggest crowds of the week will almost certainly be found in the Women's Super League where Chelsea play Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Friday and Arsenal take on London City Lionesses on Saturday.
Aside from that we have games in League Two, the EFL Trophy, FA Cup, FA Youth Cup and loads of other games featuring our local non-league sides - so there's no reason to get bored.
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.
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 1 September
ECL Division 1 South
Newbury Forest v Dunmow Town @745pm - the hosts finished second bottom in this 10th-tier division last season but were given a reprieve and stayed up. So far this season, they're making the most of the opportunity to remain at this level and have only lost one of their six games. Up in third, they've made a great start. The visitors aren't tearing up any trees yet but it's early days and they've played two games less - I still expect Forest to come out on top though. Tickets are £5 on the gate
CCL Division 1
RB Kensington v Colliers Wood United @745pm - like Newbury Forest, RBK also finished second bottom in their 10th-tier division last season but also received a reprieve. This season they've moved their home games to Northwood, a significant distance from their inner London home, and their crowds are tiny as a result. Nonetheless, they're doing okay and are locked on nine points in midtable with CWU. With their X account now inactive, they have no online presence I know of so getting info on admission prices is hard but it should be in the £5-7 bracket
FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round
The country's most prestigious U18 competition gets underway this week with ties everyday between Monday and Friday. At this stage, only non-league sides enter the draw but they should play the ties at their main stadiums. On Monday, Dulwich Hamlet will probably draw the biggest crowd for their game against Rusthall whilst there's also a decent looking derby between Hanwell Town and Hayes & Yeading United
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Tuesday 2 September
EFL Trophy
This competition is for all clubs in League One and League Two plus U21 sides from 16 Premier League and Championship clubs. The group stage gets underway for most clubs this week. Since the academy sides joined the competition in 2016, a hugely controversial move, crowds for these games have become notoriously low. AFC Wimbledon were one of the biggest opponents of the change so don't expect many for their game against Stevenage (tickets). Elsewhere, Bromley entertain Crystal Palace U21 - it's a derby so there might be a few more for this (tickets)
National League
Wealdstone v Southend United @745pm - if you want a much more meaningful game, head to Ruislip in west London where the Stones welcome the Shrimpers for this fifth-tier contest. Sam Cox's side suffered their third straight defeat on Saturday but losing 3-1 to Rochdale, who went top, is no disgrace. Sadly, that run could extend to a fourth loss as Southend are among the early frontrunners too. Unbeaten in their opening six, it looks like another tough assignment. Tickets
National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Torquay United @745pm - Saturday's win over Ebbsfleet took the hosts into the top three as their great start to the season continued. On Tuesday they welcome the biggest club in the division who make the long midweek journey from Devon. The Gulls have lost two of their last three but are still in the play-off places. Tickets
Hornchurch v Dorking Wanderers @745pm - unbeaten in six, the Urchins are three points clear at the top. Here they welcome a side who were in title contention last season but who ultimately lost in the play-offs. Dorking have been a bit inconsistent so far but a win here could put them into the top six. Tickets
FA Cup First Round Replays
Dartford v Bracknell Town @745pm - the Darts found themselves 2-0 down in the 87th minute but somehow fought back for a 2-2 draw. Both playing in the seventh tier, these two should put on a good show again. Tickets
Hanwell Town v Cray Wanderers @745pm - another two seventh-tier clubs meet at Reynolds Field after they too played out a 2-2 draw in the original tie. Again, it was the visitors who needed a late equaliser to force a replay. Tickets
Wingate & Finchley v Carshalton Athletic @745pm - two Isthmian Premier sides will have to do it all again after they ground out a 0-0 draw in south London. Although a seventh-tier club, Wingate have never made it to the 'proper' rounds of the competition whereas the Robins last made it in 2019. Tickets
SCEFL Premier Division
Fisher v Sutton Athletic @745pm - the Fish made the play-offs in this ninth-tier division last season and sit a point outside the top five with games in hand coming into this. Sutton are a team that don't get that much coverage in TLFG as they sit right out on the south-eastern perimeter, in Kent, and often potter along in midtable without drawing too much attention. That's not the case now though as they're one point clear at the top. Tickets are £8 on the gate
SCEFL Division 1
AFC Greenwich Borough v SE Dons @745pm - long-time non-league watchers will remember the name Greenwich Borough but sadly they came to an end in 2020. In 2023, this new club appeared but they have no connection to the other one. Earlier this year, they took over all operations of Welling United's academy and decided to enter an adult team in this division. After five games, they're level on points with leaders SE Dons so it's fair to say it's going pretty well. This is being played at Holmesdale FC. I've never seen them publicise any info on ticket prices but expect something in the £5-7 region
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Wednesday 3 September
National League
Sutton United v Boreham Wood @745pm - the U's have made a disappointing start but almost out of nowhere they managed to pick up their first win on Saturday by beating title contenders Carlisle 2-1. That result should work wonders for Steve Morison's men as they prepare for this match. Sutton's matches against AFC Wimbledon are known as the Thameslink derby but this could be too as the Wood are located on the same train line but towards the northern part of London. Back in the division following promotion from the NLS, the Hertfordshire club have made a better start and are unbeaten in four. Tickets
Essex Senior League
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Saffron Walden Town @745pm - STH look like being a club to keep an eye on this season. Following their promotion to this level, they've begun confidently in the league but have done even better in the FA Cup. On Saturday they thrashed Ascot United 4-1, the second team from the level above that they've beaten on this run. Here they welcome second placed SWT who, like them, are unbeaten in the league so far. Tickets
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Thursday 4 September
FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round
Ties in this U18 competition are the main attraction on Thursday. There are four ties across the capital but the one which stands out most for me is the derby between Erith & Belvedere and Dartford which kicks-off at 745pm
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Friday 5 September
Women's Super League
Chelsea v Manchester City @730pm - after England's victorious performance in the Women's Euros in July, the WSL is back with this big game opening proceedings. Being played at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are going in search of their seventh consecutive WSL title. City have been runners-up three times in the last six years and should push Chelsea hard again. I think I'm right in saying that these teams currently have 11 of the Lionesses who were part of the squad which played in Switzerland so it should be a good chance to see several of them in action. Tickets
Professional Development League
If you want to see two games on Friday then there are two men's U21 games at lunchtime. QPR host Hull City at Loftus Road at 1pm (entry by donation to the club's trust) whilst Watford take on Sheffield United at Vicarage Road at 2pm (tickets)
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Romford @745pm - at the time of writing, Woodford are in sensational form winning all four of their league games and also making it through three rounds of the FA Cup. They face a midweek trip to White Ensign before this so that could change but they look like winners here as Romford are down in 14th. Tickets are £7
ECL Division 1 South
Lymore Gardens v FC Romania @745pm - in the 10th tier, the hosts have made a blistering start after their promotion from the Essex Alliance League. With five wins from six, they're top of the division and they also managed to knock Woodford Town (above) out of the FA Vase. FC Romania play just outside the M25 and are primarily made up of ex-pats from the south-eastern European nation. Sadly they've had funding issues in recent years and have suffered two relegations in three seasons. It hasn't begun well this time either. Tickets are £7 on the gate
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Saturday 6 September
Women's Super League
Arsenal v London City Lionesses @130pm - the biggest crowd of the weekend will be found at the Emirates Stadium where European champions Arsenal will begin their WSL season with a hugely intriguing game. The Gunners, like their male counterparts, are expected to challenge for the title again but they haven't won it since 2019. Coming up against them are newly promoted LCL. The first independent women's football club to play in the WSL have invested millions in new talent with former Arsenal players Danielle van de Donk and Nikita Parris probably being the most recognisable. Their intention is to finish in the top four which would be some achievement. Tickets
League Two
Barnet v Shrewsbury Town @3pm - the highest level men's game you'll be able to get a ticket for will be this one at The Hive. The Bees struggled in the opening games of the season following their promotion but are now unbeaten in three and climbing the table. This game against the struggling Shrews presents them with a great chance to extend that run. Tickets
Bromley v Gillingham @530pm - this later kick-off looks like being a cracker and sadly for you, it's sold out already. Not only does it see the team in third host the leaders but it's also effectively a derby with the Gills coming from just outside London, a 30-minute train ride away
National League
Boreham Wood v Morecambe @3pm - with only one defeat from six, The Wood have made a fine start to life back in the fifth tier. Sitting just outside the play-off places, they have a great opportunity to pick up three points here. After their well documented off-field issues, the fact the Shrimps are even in a position to fulfil this fixture is something to celebrate. However, aside from a win in their first game, they've lost the rest. Tickets
National League South
Dagenham & Redbridge v Worthing @3pm - the Daggers suffered relegation last season and find themselves down in the sixth tier for the first time since 2000. With one win from seven, the new campaign has not begun well and they're sitting just above the relegation zone again. Sussex club Worthing are only one win and three points ahead of them so they should fancy their chances of getting something here. Tickets
Enfield Town v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - the Towners fought a long and ultimately successful battle against relegation last season to preserve their sixth-tier status. Like Dagenham, the early signs aren't encouraging with just a solitary win from their opening seven games too. It's not going to get any easier here with WSM in a position to go top if they win and Hornchurch lose to Ebbsfleet. Tickets
Isthmian League Premier
Dulwich Hamlet v Welling United @3pm - the biggest game of the day in the seventh tier is this south-east London derby. After a few seasons of pretty underwhelming football which saw them relegated in 2023, the Hamlet have begun really strongly. One point behind leaders Brentwood Town, they could be top by the end of the day. The Wings have just dropped down from the sixth tier and have not landed well. With three points from five, they're in the bottom four already. With average crowds of over 2,000, Dulwich are the best supported club in the division and you're always well advised to buy tickets in advance
FA Trophy First Round Qualifying
After a preliminary round a couple of weeks ago to get the numbers in order, this national competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley gets properly underway this weekend. At this stage, it's just eighth-tier teams who take part. There are ties all over London, here are my pick:
Kingstonian v Merstham @3pm - for me, the best tie on Saturday will be this one at Grand Drive. Both sides are in the top five of their respective divisions of the Isthmian League so are in good form. The K's also won the FA Trophy twice in 1999 and 2000 but those glorious days are sadly becoming a distant memory. The Moatsiders, on the other hand, have never gone beyond the second qualifying round. Tickets are £10 on the gate
Harrow Borough v Eastbourne Town @3pm - the Boro are third in the Isthmian South Central which makes them the highest ranked London club in the eighth tier to be at home on Saturday. Aside from a superb run to the Fourth Round in 2023, Harrow have rarely got beyond the qualifying rounds in the last 20 years. The visitors, who hail from Sussex, are towards the wrong end of the Isthmian South East and have never been beyond the qualifying rounds. Tickets are £12 on the gate
Redbridge v Waltham Abbey @3pm - of the remaining ties, I'd say this is marginally the next best and that's primarily because it has a bit of a derby feel to it. Both sides play in the Isthmian North and whilst the Motormen haven't started so well, the visitors are up in fifth. Tickets are £10 on the gate
CCL Premier North
Broadfields United v Windsor & Eton @3pm - my game of the day in the ninth tier sees two of the top three in this division meet at Tithe Farm. The hosts, who groundshare with Rayners Lane, are currently top but their position is inflated by the fact that they've played more games than everyone else. W&E won promotion to this level last season and will move above Broadfields if they win. Tickets are £8 on the gate
SSML Division 1
Everett Rovers v Huntingdon Town @3pm - we've got some local teams doing really well in the 10th tier so far this season, with three of the five divisions being topped by a club from within the M25. Bedfont in the CCL and AFC Greenwich Borough in the SCEFL are doing superbly. However, I've highlighted Everett Rovers as not only are they new to this level but their unbeaten record after seven games has also seen them score 20 goals. Based in Watford, they're likely to score a load more as Huntingdon are bottom and conceding over four goals a game. I'm not sure of ticket prices but it should be in the £5-8 bracket
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Sunday 7 September
FA Trophy First Round Qualifying
Southall v AFC Whyteleafe @3pm - with the 'All now groundsharing with Hayes & Yeading United, this match has been moved to Sunday. Sadly, with three defeats from three, they're bottom of the Isthmian South Central. The Leafe are new to this level following promotion and also made it to Wembley for the FA Vase Final last season - for me, they start as favourites. Tickets are £12 on the gate
Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @12pm - earlier in the day, these two big London rivals meet for their opening fixture of the WSL season. Strangely, Spurs women play at Leyton Orient which is in a part of London which is more traditionally associated with West Ham fans but we won't go into all that again here. Last season, Tottenham had a stinker and finished just above the relegation zone which cost boss Robert Vilahamn his job. With Martin Ho now in place, they'll hope to be much more competitive. The Hammers, often used to fighting relegation, had an improved season under Rehanne Skinner and finished ninth. It'll be really interesting to see how this one goes. Apparently tickets are sold out
Women's Super League 2
Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @2pm - if you can't get into the match above, this derby in the renamed women's second tier looks like a great alternative. Being played at The Valley, the Addicks are usually in the running for promotion whilst the Eagles have just been relegated from the WSL. Tickets
FAWNL Cup
Actonians v Chelsea U21 @2pm - there are matches all over London in what can best be described as the women's version of the EFL Trophy - it features teams in the third and fourth tier plus academy teams from the top two divisions. We're still at the group stage at the moment and my very own A's have landed this incredibly challenging tie against the Blues' youngsters. Having seen the squad list, no big names are set to play for Chelsea. However, three of the youngsters were in the squad which beat AC Milan in a friendly last weekend so you should see some stars of the future. The hosts have two or three key players missing and in many ways this will be seen as a free hit so it could be quite fun. It is being played at North Greenford United and a printed programme will be available. 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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Me encontré con https://calculadoradehoras.io/ intentando organizar mis horas de ocio frente a las de estudio y me ayudó a tener una visión clara de mi tiempo.
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