Hello and welcome to TLFG for what is the fifth week of pre-season for some and the first week of competition for others.
I come into this on the back of a weekend where I watched not one but two games - a rare treat indeed given my normal schedule and commitments!
As indicated last week, I was able to go to QPR's entertaining 3-2 win over Fiorentina on Saturday before travelling east to watch Actonians' 4-0 win at Barking on Sunday.
The match at Loftus Road was pretty typical pre-season fare with a half-full stadium enjoying five goals and one or two notable players turning out for a reasonably illustrious opponent - former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea being the standout name for me.
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| Jimmy Dunne sends a header goalwards for QPR |
As someone who has had a soft spot for the Viola since the days of Gabriel Batistuta on Football Italia in the '90s (I've been to see them play twice in Italy), this was a fixture I didn't want to miss and swapped a shift at work to make sure of it.
Many thanks to TLFG reader and running partner Liam for coming up trumps with some NHS staff tickets, meaning entry came to a grand total of £6 for myself and my daughter.
The following day, I made a long overdue first visit to Mayesbrook Park the home of Barking FC.
From Shepherds Bush, it takes about 90 minutes on public transport with a one-mile walk from Upney Tube station if you go via the District Line. It took me about as long to get the bus from outside the ground to Chadwell Heath and the Elizabeth Line on the way back.
The Blues installed a 3G pitch in 2020 which has no doubt transformed their fortunes with fixtures no longer falling foul of the weather and clubs, like Romford, able to groundshare with them.
With a row of trees down one side of the pitch, ample covered areas to shade from the hot sun and, very importantly, some friendly staff in the refreshment area, I was impressed with the experience.
On arrival I met up with TLFG reader Balham and we enjoyed the game together.
Fourth tier Actonians play a level above Barking and after their resounding 4-0 win over Fulham last week, it looked like being a tough afternoon for the hosts.
With the A's sporting a very colourful new away kit, it was the Blues who arguably made the brighter start but they failed to capitalise and fell behind in the 34th minute when 'trialist' Steph McCaffrey (who now owns a majority shareholding in the team) won a penalty which another trialist converted.
She the scored a goal of her own five minutes later with a very composed finish, before last season's top scorer Abi Kargbo rattled in another to give the visitors a 3-0 half-time lead.
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| Actonians showed off a new away kit at Barking |
Many changes happened in the second half, disrupting the flow of play, but there was a further goal for an impressive young striker from Oxford who had apparently only turned 16 the day before.
Next Sunday, pre-season continues with a tough trip to old sparring partners Norwich City but I believe it's behind closed doors so I won't be going.
I'm not sure of my plans yet but I hope to get to a game somewhere on Saturday and possibly Sunday again too but we'll see.
One general point about the blog - to save time and make things more manageable for me, I've decided to end the 'Daily Digest' and will expand 'The Week Ahead' section instead, flagging up noteworthy games without going into the preview detail I did before - it was great but has just become too time consuming.
Right, I think that's it from me - have a great week.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Probably the most eye-catching fixture of the week takes place in Hertfordshire on Wednesday where where Watford entertain Italian club Fiorentina. The Hornets welcomed over 6,000 Hansa Rostock fans to Vicarage Road on Saturday but I expect only a few hundred to be backing the Viola.
Continuing the international theme, Belgian club Royal Antwerp are playing at Millwall on Saturday and Leyton Orient on Sunday.
Prior to all this, the Lions head to Bromley for a derby on Tuesday before the League One side entertain QPR on Friday.
The R's then complete their pre-season programme with a trip to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. Johnnie Jackson's side also travel to west London to play Wealdstone on Tuesday.
League Two club Barnet play another two home friendlies this week with MK Dons heading to The Hive on Tuesday and Bromley on Saturday.
That's the pick of the friendlies but if you want some competitive football then there's plenty of action in the ninth and tenth tiers.
Belstone thrashed Spartans Youth 4-0 on Saturday to become the first leaders of the CCL Division 1 and they're at home to Edgware & Kingsbury on Tuesday.
There was a similarly impressive 4-0 win for May & Baker over Hertford Heath in the ECL Division 1 South which put them joint top and they host Cannons Wood at Parsloes Park the same night.
In same division on Wednesday, Lymore Gardens host Athletic Newham at Aveley. These sides also won their opening games and it will be interesting to see if LG can mount another play-off challenge this season.
Friday night sees the opening games of the season in the CCL Premier North, Essex Senior League and SCEFL Premier with Hilltop, West Essex and Erith & Belvedere all at home.
On Saturday, the pick of the competitive games for me and the one which could well get the biggest crowd takes place at the Old Spotted Dog, London's oldest ground.
After winning the ECL Division 1 South play-offs last season, Clapton CFC are up to the ninth tier Essex Senior League for the first time in their short history and they face an intriguing derby against SOUL Tower Hamlets who finished as runners-up in this division in 2025/26.
When it comes to women's football, London Bees host Sutton United at Barnet's Hive complex in what is the only game taking place on Thursday.
On Sunday, fresh off the back of a 4-1 win at local rivals Brentford, an impressive looking QPR head to Barkingside to play Tier 3 Hashtag United in what should be a good test of their Tier 4 title credentials.
Newly promoted to Tier 4, Dartford host big spending Farnham Town who look set to take Tier 5 by storm this season.
London Bees are back in action again on Sunday with an Arsenal development side heading their way whilst Brentford take on Tier 3 Lewes at their new home in Uxbridge.
Lastly, there's also a derby between Millwall Lionesses and Dulwich Hamlet at St Paul's in Rotherhithe which should be worth a watch.
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.
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