Welcome to TLFG as the season takes another step towards its full launch.
The weekend just gone saw all clubs in the EFL take part in the Carabao Cup and all the remaining leagues below the fourth tier get underway.
Clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two play their first league games this weekend before the Premier League finally starts the week after - so we're nearly there.
On Saturday I headed back out to the suburbs of north-west London, where I spent my formative years, to watch my non-league favourites Harrow Borough.
In the closing weeks of last season, it was announced that the club was in serious financial trouble and could meet its end seven years short of its centenary, which would have been a great shame.
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| Harrow Borough began their season against Jersey Bulls |
A supporters' trust was set up, which I joined, but the narrative over the summer was generally very gloomy.
However, somehow the season has begun with manager Wayne Carter on a new contract and many of last season's players retained.
This is all very encouraging but equally mysterious as the situation portrayed was truly grim and no official announcement has been made to the contrary - not that I'm aware of anyway.
Still playing in the eighth tier Isthmian League South Central, their opening day opponents were newly promoted Jersey Bulls.
The long journey to and from the Channel Islands necessitated a 2pm kick-off presumably to fit in the return flight.
When I lived locally I'd be at pretty much every game but in recent years this has gone down to handful and last season I didn't go at all so it was good to get back to the place which had kindled my love of non-league.
The ground hadn't changed at all since my last visit but the pitch, like many other grass ones, was visibly suffering from the drought conditions we've been experiencing in the capital and the groundstaff had done really well to make it as good as it was.
Boro were competitive and there was nothing between the teams until late in the first half when a poor pass by debutant keeper Trent Carter-Rogers was intercepted allowing Lorne Bickley to score.
It was a real shame as he played well for the rest of the game but, despite a fair bit of Harrow pressure after the break, it proved to be the decisive moment and the Bulls went home with a 1-0 win.
So a disappointing start to the campaign for Harrow but at least there was a start and we can all be thankful for that.
It was also great to meet TLFG readers Stewart M who has just begun volunteering at the club and sports journalist Matt Nash who works on Leyton Orient's programme and plays a huge part in arranging International Surrey games towards the end of each season - a pleasure to meet you both.
As many of you know, Actonians have become the main focus of my football watching and following the recent investment in the club by the McCaffrey family, things have really changed.
Since Thursday, the side have been in Manchester at a pre-season training camp getting ready for the new campaign which starts this Sunday coming.
The thought of such a thing would have been unthinkable a few months ago as the budget required would've been way beyond our means.
Now the players are travelling in luxury coaches, staying in hotels for multiple nights, booking training pitches for several sessions, taking part in team-bonding activities away from the pitch and today they're set to play Tier 3 side Liverpool Feds.
It's no more than the girls deserve for the hard work they've put in but we need to start getting the fans in next season to make this even slightly sustainable.
The opening match is against one of the title favourites Chatham Town at their stadium in Kent.
I've never been before but have been told their facilities are pretty impressive and the photos look great.
I do intend to go and will probably make a bit of a trip of it, taking the family to see some of the sights of neighbouring Rochester while I'm at it.
Right, that's about it from me - have a great week.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Although only friendlies, a number of Premier League clubs are hosting matches at their main stadiums this week.
Arsenal get things underway with a game against Como at the Emirates on Wednesday.
West London will be a hive of activity on Saturday afternoon with Chelsea playing Real Sociedad at 2pm, Brentford entertaining Eintracht Frankfurt at 3pm and Fulham finishing things off at 4pm against VfB Stuttgart.
If you're nearer north London, Tottenham Hotspur welcome TSG Hoffenheim to the THS at 3pm.
The EFL starts in London on Saturday with the highest level game being the visit of Derby County to Charlton Athletic in the Championship.
A day later, Watford get things up and running against Southampton who will be looking to recover their reputation after last season's spying scandal which saw them thrown out of the play-offs.
Back on Saturday in League One, Leyton Orient will hope to build on their EFL Cup win over Oxford United when they take on Sheffield Wednesday - a game which should provide one of their biggest crowds of the season.
Barnet came close to a play-off spot in League Two last season and they're expected to do well again. On Saturday they play last season's play-off finalists Salford City for what should be a real test of their promotion credentials.
When it comes to non-league, Sutton United began their campaign with a 3-0 win at Woking and should do well against Altrincham who lost their opening game. In Ruislip, Wealdstone welcome early leaders Harrogate Town who thumped Solihull Moors 5-2 in their first game following relegation from the EFL.
On Friday night, there's an intriguing looking game between Dagenham & Redbridge and Farnham Town in the National League South. The Daggers are rebuilding with new investors having fallen from the third tier (at their peak) down to the sixth. Whilst Farnham are rapidly climbing the pyramid and are now at the highest level in their history.
Earlier in the week there are a few FA Cup replays with the all-eighth tier contest between Raynes Park Vale and Merstham probably topping the bill for me.
We're also lucky enough to have the opening rounds of the FA Trophy and FA Vase this weekend too.
In the former, I fancy the localish derby between Cobham and Egham Town and in the latter, it's got to be the very real derby between Romford and Ilford.
The two biggest games in women's football take place on Sunday in south London where it's opening day in the FAWNL.
AFC Wimbledon host AFC Bournemouth in the third tier, whilst newly promoted Fulham see Portsmouth head to Motspur Park fresh from their relegation from the WSL2.
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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Just a little correction. AFCW Women v AFCB Women on Sunday is seemingly at Tooting & Mitcham's Imperial Fields. Keep up the great work!
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