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.
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.
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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More previews for 19-23 November to follow
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.
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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