tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86735153738403319242024-03-18T19:28:46.456+00:00The London Football GuideJames Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.comBlogger546125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-82991968369600093822024-03-18T14:47:00.000+00:002024-03-18T14:47:05.937+00:00TLFG: 18-24 March 2024<p>Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG's <b><a href="https://nonleagueday.co.uk/">Non-League Day</a></b> Special.</p><p>I can't quite believe it's that time of year again, the weeks fly by so fast but here we are with just five days to go.</p><p>Every year I wonder how much further myself and the team can take the event but something new keeps cropping up to move things to another level.</p><p>Last year it was La Liga giants <b><a href="https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2024/03/16/athletic-club-collaboration-with-past-english-opponents-for-non-league-day-2024/">Athletic Bilbao</a></b> getting involved, something which is very much continuing this weekend too.</p><p>This time round it has been my employer <b><a href="https://www.southwesternrailway.com/non-league-day">South Western Railway</a></b> committing to do more or less whatever they can to help raise awareness.</p><p>The last few days have seen <b><a href="https://x.com/NickDuGard1/status/1767623292821635259?s=20">signs promoting NLD on screens</a></b> at London's Waterloo station and many others around their network. </p><p>Yesterday I started receiving reports of <b><a href="https://x.com/nonleaguedayuk/status/1769379480693256433?s=20">posters appearing</a></b> too - both things we could have only dreamed about in the early years.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/s400/nld2024.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/w400-h400/nld2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This year's Non-League Day is on Saturday</div><p>Then there's all the work that's being done around the 10-year anniversary celebrations of our partnership with <b><a href="https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2024/02/10-years-of-non-league-day">Prostate Cancer UK</a></b>.</p><p>There will be 10 showpiece games around the country and many more smaller events at other clubs.</p><p>In fact, at the end of last week, the National League came out and said every one of its clubs would be getting involved to give the partnership some publicity on the day so the overall number is now much higher.</p><p>The sale of our <a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3"><b>merchandise</b></a> will also be generating funds for the charity too.</p><p>The t-shirt below is just one of a range of many designs that are available so have a look, there are hoodies and badges too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMA4yfFguvK_PHFbDM9RFlLaI15AEoCG6Yyr2N7zqNb93y3gm_gq1WrnmB8x7CYrV9ja5852nOfhrAvdfmalGfSi1ir7i9XUlCnAMzC42KnN7LbyqMgs53o5O18vaDsFe8IQ8udfH5cWqeVmPdB-lnKuNXN8QtkzuVIDi5YPGFG0sqRBaduIywqtHW-3z/s500/Non-Leaguer%20(2).webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMA4yfFguvK_PHFbDM9RFlLaI15AEoCG6Yyr2N7zqNb93y3gm_gq1WrnmB8x7CYrV9ja5852nOfhrAvdfmalGfSi1ir7i9XUlCnAMzC42KnN7LbyqMgs53o5O18vaDsFe8IQ8udfH5cWqeVmPdB-lnKuNXN8QtkzuVIDi5YPGFG0sqRBaduIywqtHW-3z/w400-h400/Non-Leaguer%20(2).webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get NLD <a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3"><b>merchandise</b></a> in your club's colours now!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Apart from all the prep, I managed to squeeze two games in this week and both required lengthy trips up to north London.</p><p>On Saturday I took my youngest daughter and TLFG readers Christoph and Liam up to Donkey Lane to watch the Isthmian League match between <b>Enfield Town</b> and Horsham who had travelled up from Sussex.</p><p>An important fixture in the battle for a play-off spot, the hosts won a tight game 2-1.</p><p>Everyone had a good time and my five-year-old accumulated a fantastic collection of sticks which kept her well entertained.</p><p>What impresses many people is the way the club have adapted superbly to having a running track around the pitch.</p><p>Instead of the stands being miles away from the action, they've built terraces within the track right behind each goal and gates swing across the track forming a neat fence around the pitch - we were stood right next to a corner flag within touching distance of the players for most of it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfZtn4kl5wguTnsFpyNSEJmHjsx6VSzROk0ub3siSzyzpaCKw5yOtzXfamQzRo4Jq_7FBqYqC9pKOM4lgjO4_eNWgo8dPG0dYW18kmGviAypIzteTx9rqlNJ8KCrAZ7kh8J1Pdq3_wn0TQUKh1MQYGpqa3Ua5va2pOjaqlitP_uYnV0Tzq7pe8sJRuEI6/s1440/enfieldhorsham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1440" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfZtn4kl5wguTnsFpyNSEJmHjsx6VSzROk0ub3siSzyzpaCKw5yOtzXfamQzRo4Jq_7FBqYqC9pKOM4lgjO4_eNWgo8dPG0dYW18kmGviAypIzteTx9rqlNJ8KCrAZ7kh8J1Pdq3_wn0TQUKh1MQYGpqa3Ua5va2pOjaqlitP_uYnV0Tzq7pe8sJRuEI6/w400-h308/enfieldhorsham.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun for all at Enfield Town</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On Sunday I then made my way up to Wood Green to watch <b>Haringey Borough</b> host <b>Actonians</b> in the semi-finals of the Capital Senior Cup.</p><p>Despite falling behind after only 18 seconds, the Boro fought back well and eventually won the game 3-2 bringing the A's cup run to a disappointing end.</p><p>So back to this week's NLD Special - the format is different.</p><p>All the matches are on the maps as normal but rather than have a weekend map, there's now one for Saturday (NLD) and one for Sunday.</p><p>The other significant difference is that there is no 'Daily Digest', it's all about what you can see on NLD and this will probably get added to as clubs announce their plans once their midweek games are out of the way.</p><p>It's also quite possible I could miss a deal or event here or there so please let me know.</p><p>Anyway, I'm all set to go to Eastleigh v Hartlepool United on the day as there is a lot going on there that I really should be present for.</p><p>I really hope you can make it to a game - I look forward to catching up again next week.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got international friendlies, a game in League Two and some Women's Super League but for me the focus is Non-League Day on Saturday. </p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1D1JXtPyaPaFzT7KEBvgyzelNsYhGbNk&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NON-LEAGUE DAY MATCH MAP</u></b><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1WqiVzF_5jRNhzUXtNWncDvhI61bbuYI&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>SUNDAY MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1o4N55Axpzn06y6xpAVIP-hQkFLY9R_4&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>NON-LEAGUE DAY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the day and give some brief reasons for my choice. Updates will follow as the week progresses. Check the maps above for kick-off times, club info and directions.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Saturday 23 March</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v Dorking Wanderers @3pm </b>- the Bees are second in the fifth tier and currently London's highest ranked non-league club. On Saturday, we'll almost certainly see leaders Chesterfield clinch the title as they're 24 points ahead. This means that for Barnet it's now all about making sure they finish second or third as these positions get a bye through the first round of the play-offs. This is by no means certain as the chasing pack are all closing in. The battle to avoid relegation is still wide open with only seven points separating the clubs in 12th to 23rd. Dorking are currently second bottom but they thrashed Chesterfield recently and took a point off Solihull Moors, another top side, on Saturday. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bromley v York City @3pm </b>- it's a very similar story at Hayes Lane where the Ravens sit just behind Barnet in third. Only two points ahead of Solihull Moors they need to keep winning to stay in the top three. York, like Dorking, are in the relegation zone but could get out of it with a win here. <b><a href="https://www.bromleyfc.co.uk/news/celebrate-non-league-day-at-bromley-fc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Oldham Athletic @3pm</b> - the Daggers thrashed Maidenhead 4-1 on Saturday to pull themselves into the top half but they're still only six points above the relegation zone. The Latics blew a two-goal lead in their big match with leaders Chesterfield but still earned a creditable 2-2 draw which leaves them one point adrift of the play-off places. Apparently, the hosts have never beaten Oldham - could it be an historic NLD for them? <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/event/dag2324h21/daggers-v-oldham-athletic">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wealdstone v Kidderminster Harriers @3pm </b>- seven points from their last three games has made things look a lot more promising for the Stones. Still only three points above the relegation zone, it will be absolutely massive for them if they can beat Kiddy who are in the bottom three. Wealdstone were the first ever club to offer an <b>NLD Special Deal</b> back in 2010 and they've come up trumps again slashing prices for everyone and offering a concessionary rate of £5 to fans heading to Wembley for England v Brazil and all Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders - however these prices only apply if <b><a href="https://www.wealdstone-fc.com/post/wealdstone-fc-slashes-prices-for-non-league-day-and-england-fans">booked online</a></b> in advance so don't miss out</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v St Albans City @3pm</b> - the game of the day in the sixth tier takes place at Parkside where two of the top eight continue their quest for a play-off place. Non-League Day is celebrating 10 years of its partnership with Prostate Cancer UK and this is one of 10 feature games taking place around the country. The Millers have lots of fun stuff planned including local stalls, a raffle, face painting and a penalty shoot-out. I've even heard rumour of a race between the two clubs' mascots but I can't confirm that just yet. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/ChooseQuantity?ticketId=590&fixtureId=3281">Tickets</a></b> </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dartford v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm</b> - the other game in the division doesn't have a huge amount going for it as it features the two teams at the foot of the form table. With the Darts losing five of their last six and Hemel eight of their last nine, it's hard to know who will win here. Dartford are in the relegation zone so have a more immediate need for a win. <b><a href="https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/event/dar2324h21/dartford-v-hemel-hempstead-town-">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><i>In a quirk of the fixtures there are no Isthmian Premier games in London on Saturday so all the action in the seventh tier is in the Southern League where every club is offering a great deal to get you in</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Harrow Borough v Hungerford Town @3pm</b> - after being reprieved from relegation last season, the Boro were always likely to struggle in this campaign. With a tiny budget (leaders Chesham are reportedly paying one player as much as the whole Harrow squad), it's no surprise to find them second from bottom. However, Jordan Berry's side have battled hard and have often only lost games by narrow margins and to very late goals. They're eight points adrift of safety with eight games to go so the task is not impossible. The visitors are eighth and still have an outside chance of the play-offs. <b><a href="https://harrowboroughfc.ktckts.com/event/har2324nonld/harrow-borough-v-hungerford-town-non-league-day">NLD Special Deal</a></b> - free entry to NHS & Emergency Services, half price for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders and those going to England v Brazil. Again, these <b>discounts only apply if booked online</b> in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Hayes & Yeading United v Swindon Supermarine @3pm </b>- there's a relegation six-pointer at the SkyEx which looks well worth your time if you're in west London. I spent the initial NLD in 2010 at Hayes & Yeading's old ground watching them play Histon in a National League game - things have changed quite radically for those clubs since then. <b>NLD Special Deal </b>- "Pay What You Want", simply turn up and make a donation. The usual rate is £12 for adults and I'd encourage you to get as close to that as possible</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Hendon v Winchester City @3pm </b>- eleventh at the time of writing, the Greens are coasting along nicely in midtable with promotion and relegation both looking unlikely. Hampshire club Winchester are a couple of places above them but have the games in hand which could put them back in play-off contention. Hendon won the reverse fixture 2-0 so they should be capable of getting something here. <b>NLD Special Deal </b>- it's "Pay What You Want" here too and again the usual adult price is £12</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Corinthian Casuals v Badshot Lea @3pm</b> - CCs have played a big part in this year's NLD campaign. Not only were they kind enough to host myself and the media team from SWR to film our <b><a href="https://twitter.com/SW_Help/status/1767521076236419471">promotional video</a></b>, they're also teaming up with <b><a href="https://www.athletic-club.eus/en/news/2024/03/16/athletic-club-collaboration-with-past-english-opponents-for-non-league-day-2024/">Athletic Bilbao to promote the day</a></b> here and in the Basque Country. The club who gave rise to Corinthians in Brazil, have had a disappointing season and will hope for a bit of NLD magic against midtable opposition. Adult tickets are £12 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sutton Common Rovers v Chipstead @3pm </b>- there's a Surrey derby to be enjoyed at Whyteleafe's ground. Although both sides are in the bottom six, they have decent gaps between themselves and the two at the foot of the table who will go down. <b>NLD Special Deal </b> - £5 for Premier League or EFL season-ticket holders. There will also be lots of extra activities for kids</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Uxbridge v Guernsey @130pm</b> - if you need an early kick-off then head to the far west where the recently overhauled Honeycroft could be an ideal place to spend the afternoon and it's always fun to watch a bit of 'international' football. <b>NLD Special Deal </b>- free entry for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders. It's also worth noting that there's a second game here in the evening as Hilltop take on Bedfont Sports in the Combined Counties League at 745pm so you will definitely be able to see two games in London on NLD</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Hythe Town @3pm</b> - if you're in south-east London then think about a visit to the Artic Stadium. CVPM made headlines earlier in the season when they took local EFL club Charlton Athletic to a replay in the FA Cup. Since then, their good form has continued and they're locked in an exciting title battle with Ramsgate. The visitors are ninth but have the games in hand to put them up among the frontrunners so there's plenty to play for for both. Adult tickets are £10 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Rayners Lane v North Greenford United @3pm </b>- in the ninth tier there's an enticing looking derby between the leaders and a side who made the FA Vase quarter-finals. The hosts had a commanding lead but are now only top on goal difference and, with only one going up automatically, badly need to win. As a result of their great cup run, NGU have games in hand on all of those above them so their current fifth place could conceivably become third. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Hilltop v Bedfont Sports @745pm </b>- as mentioned above, this game is worth a second mention because of its late start time. This means you can see a match pretty much anywhere else in London and have the best part of three hours to make your way to Uxbridge's ground (nearest station West Drayton) for this. As for the sides - Hilltop are notable for having their roots in the capital's Somali community and although in the bottom three, they've got lots of games in hand after also enjoying a good run in the FA Vase. Bedfont Sports are third which is as high as they're likely to get given how far ahead the leading pair are. Tickets will be available on the gate, £7 adults</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Erith Town v Whitstable Town @3pm </b>- the Dockers are having a fine season. Currently fifth in the league and through to two cup finals, it's a great time to be watching the south-east London club. With only five points separating the sides in fifth and tenth, the battle for the last play-off place is intense. Whitstable are also in that group so there's a lot riding on this match. <b>NLD Special Deal</b> - in an effort to get a crowd of 300+, the club are offering £5 admission to Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>British Airways v Amersham Town @3pm </b>- there's a mouthwatering game in the 10th tier where the top two meet at Bedfont. The visitors have been out in front for ages and with a 17-point lead over BA, this could effectively be a title decider. If the hosts somehow win, then they'll have nine games left to close a 14-point gap. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b>FC Deportivo Galicia v Oxhey Jets @3pm </b>- just over the fence at Bedfont Sports, a club with connections to northern Spain would like to welcome you through the door. FCDG play a good brand of football and they're always one of the highest scoring teams in the division. On Saturday they take on Oxhey who sit just below them in the table. I'm assured pin badges and limited edition wristbands will be available. Tickets are usually £5 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Lewisham Borough v Meridian VP @3pm </b>- the hosts ended their losing run with a fine draw against promotion rivals Staplehurst Monarchs. Still fifth, it's all to play for for the south-east London club and they'll start as favourites against a side in the bottom three. <b>NLD Special Deal </b>- free alcoholic or soft drink if you arrive before 230pm</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>MCFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Shepherds Bush v Pitshanger Dynamo @3pm </b>- in the 11th tier there's a top-of-the-table clash at Harefield United's ground which is home to the Bushmen this season. Although the hosts are three points clear at the top, Pitshanger have three games in hand. When you look a bit further down the table, you realise there's only three points between the top four! </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>KCFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Peckham Town v Cuxton 1991 @245pm</b> - there's nothing particularly remarkable about this midtable game but as 11th-tier clubs go, Peckham are well run and you could believe you were watching at a higher level. They are also well known for having former England Lioness Mary Phillip as manager. With neighbouring Dulwich Hamlet playing away at Bognor there's a reasonable chance a few of their fans could head here. This match also provides you with an opportunity to check out the <b><a href="https://twitter.com/PeckhamTownFC/status/1493553157254914058">World's Smallest Stand</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-23696788348997824022024-03-11T11:54:00.014+00:002024-03-15T12:01:15.228+00:00TLFG: 11-17 March 2024<p>Welcome to this week's TLFG.</p><p>It's been another busy few days on the <b><a href="https://nonleagueday.co.uk/">Non-League Day</a></b> (NLD) preparation front with things looking very positive in several areas.</p><p>On Wednesday I headed down to <b>Corinthian Casuals</b> in Tolworth to film some promotional material with the press team from<b><a href="https://www.southwesternrailway.com/"> South Western Railway</a></b> (SWR) who are partnering us for the first time this year.</p><p>I'm sure you'll see bits of that appear on social media at various points over the next couple of weeks.</p><p>Probably one of the most fun things about that was a huge rail ticket they'd had been produced with 'Non-League Day 2024' printed on it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/s400/nld2024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/w400-h400/nld2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's Non-League Day is now less than two weeks away</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Initially it went back to head office but my wife and kids were adamant that I should bring it home so I picked it up on Friday.</p><p>With some protective cardboard wrapping around it, it was even bigger!</p><p>As I made my way to the nearest Tube station, the wind got up and I struggled to keep control - I think I even got pinned to a building by it at one stage.</p><p>Sheltering down an alleyway, I gave in and booked a taxi - it was the only way home in one piece.</p><p>The sale of our <a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3"><b>merchandise</b></a> received a boost on Thursday when comedian Charlie Baker invited Paul, our merch man, onto his show on Talksport and gave it a great plug - thanks to all for that.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMA4yfFguvK_PHFbDM9RFlLaI15AEoCG6Yyr2N7zqNb93y3gm_gq1WrnmB8x7CYrV9ja5852nOfhrAvdfmalGfSi1ir7i9XUlCnAMzC42KnN7LbyqMgs53o5O18vaDsFe8IQ8udfH5cWqeVmPdB-lnKuNXN8QtkzuVIDi5YPGFG0sqRBaduIywqtHW-3z/s500/Non-Leaguer%20(2).webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMA4yfFguvK_PHFbDM9RFlLaI15AEoCG6Yyr2N7zqNb93y3gm_gq1WrnmB8x7CYrV9ja5852nOfhrAvdfmalGfSi1ir7i9XUlCnAMzC42KnN7LbyqMgs53o5O18vaDsFe8IQ8udfH5cWqeVmPdB-lnKuNXN8QtkzuVIDi5YPGFG0sqRBaduIywqtHW-3z/w400-h400/Non-Leaguer%20(2).webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get NLD <a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3"><b>merchandise</b></a> in your club's colours now!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Aside from all that, I managed to get out on Tuesday night to watch <b>Actonians</b>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With their normal home at Rectory Park booked up, they switched their match against Chesham United to Bedfont Sports which I think most of us in attendance prefer because it's a proper non-league ground.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Located a 10-minute walk from Hatton Cross Tube station, on the edge of Heathrow Airport, it's also pretty simple to get to if you live in the Acton, Ealing or Hammersmith area which most A's fans do.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The A's were expected to triumph after winning the away game 5-0 but the Generals were more spirited than I remember.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Although going 2-0 down fairly quickly, they kept pushing, pulled one back and it took a goal-line clearance to stop them equalising right on the stroke of half-time. </p><p style="text-align: left;">The second half began evenly with goals exchanged to make it 3-2 to Actonians but with a number of first-choice players coming off the bench, following a bit of initial squad rotation, the goals started to flow.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Eventually it finished 6-2 with young striker Tori St Clair scoring another hat-trick - you can see her third goal which I caught from a particularly good angle on <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/vDXP43hekJw?feature=share" style="font-weight: bold;">TLFG's YouTube channel</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Right that's it - I'm about to go an address SWR's board and lots of other managers about NLD on the company's weekly video call. Wish me luck!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1e0-IJSBwkDU_O-jU5QNCod-IAqkJJA8&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1QE3lKQRvwnoIlmaaZxrL5KC0vJihx9A&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 11 March</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Newcastle United @8pm </b>- a late goal saw the Blues salvage a 2-2 draw in last weekend's derby with Brentford. It means the big spenders are now unbeaten in three league games but they remain stuck in the midtable doldrums. The Magpies are also having an underwhelming season after enjoying a top-four finish last year and are now just a place above Chelsea after slipping below Brighton and Wolves in recent days. Eddie Howe's side have gone four without defeat against the Stamford Bridge club and won the reverse fixture 4-1 in November. As a sign of the malaise that has set in among Chelsea fans, <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269#/?view=list&includePackages=true">tickets</a></b> for this match are on general sale</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>U21 Matches</u></i></b></div><div>There are also three games at this level over the course of the day. The action begins at Dartford's ground at 1pm where <b>Charlton Athletic</b> host QPR. If you fancy something a bit more central then <b>Millwall</b> take on Watford at The Den at 2pm. Finally, in the evening, <b>Crystal Palace</b> entertain Aston Villa at Sutton United's ground at 7pm. Tickets for all should be available on the gate and be no more than £5 </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Tonbridge Angels @745pm </b>- just when the Millers seem to be getting firmly back into the play-off race, they go on a poor run again. Saturday's loss to Weymouth made it three without a win. However, all is not lost as they're still just a point outside the top seven. The visitors are about as midtable as it's possible to be with little chance of getting promoted or relegated. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=131">Tickets</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 12 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Champions League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Porto @8pm </b>- the Gunners have been virtually untouchable in 2024, winning all eight of their Premier League games since late January. There has been one fly in the ointment during that time though, a 1-0 loss in the first leg of this Champions League knockout tie last month. The visitors are currently third in the Portuguese league and are on a four-game unbeaten run which saw them thrash old rivals Benfica 5-0 at the beginning of the month. Tickets are only available to members </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><b>Leyton Orient v Port Vale @745pm </b>- a fantastic run of results made it look like the O's were heading for the top six but back-to-back defeats to Bristol Rovers and Wigan Athletic have left them seven points adrift. The visitors are second from bottom and in poor form so should be beaten. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/EDP/Event/Index/151">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham @745pm </b>- there's a really important game at Plough Lane where the teams in seventh and sixth do battle over the last play-off place. With the Gills based in Kent, pretty much every game against London opposition is a derby for them so they should travel in reasonable numbers. Having taking seven points from three games, the Dons come into this in good form. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barnet v Eastleigh @745pm </b>- having lost their big FA Trophy match to Bromley on Saturday, the Bees can now refocus on getting promoted. Currently second and a whopping 20 points behind leaders Chesterfield, the runners-up spot is the best they or anyone else can hope for. Hampshire club Eastleigh recently took on former Southampton player Kelvin Davis as manager as they look to make sure of staying in the division. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Bromley @745pm</b> - there's an all-London affair at Grosvenor Vale where teams with very contrasting fortunes go head-to-head. The Stones were going along nicely in midtable until manager Stuart Maynard got headhunted by Notts County. After a reasonable start, new boss David Noble has found things a struggle and they're now only two points above the relegation zone. The Ravens, on the other hand, are flying. Third in the league and through to the FA Trophy semi-finals, they'll start as strong favourites here. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Welling United @745pm </b>- the hosts went on a lengthy unbeaten run through the autumn and winter which turned them into title contenders but then their form dipped and they fell away. Wonderfully for them, it seems to have come back and Saturday's win over Chippenham put them back in the top four. The Wings are a proper Lazarus story. Seemingly destined for relegation, Rod Stringer came in at the end of January and has pulled off a number of fantastic results including a 1-0 triumph at leaders Yeovil Town at the weekend. Now three points clear of the bottom four, they've still got work to do but they have a fighting chance. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hanwell Town v Plymouth Parkway @745pm</b> - although it might not immediately look like it, this is kind of a relegation six-pointer. The Geordies are currently six points clear of the visitors, who are the team at the top of the drop zone but the Devon club have SEVEN games in hand on most of the clubs above them, nine in one case. If they just win a couple of them, then they're back where they need to be and Hanwell and the teams below them are back in real trouble. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=4570">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthminan League North</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Walthamstow v Heybridge Swifts @745pm </b>- both in the top eight and locked together on 45 points, these sides need to make up a gap of seven points to get into the play-off places. A win for either would keep them in the hunt but a defeat could effectively end their hopes. Tickets will be available on the gate for £10</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Erith Town v Snodland Town @745pm</b> - the Dockers have gone a bit under my radar over the last couple of months but they're very much back on it thanks to a five game winning run which has lifted them back into the top five. With games in hand on most of those above them, they've got an outside shot at the title although Deal Town have even more games in hand than them. Snodland won the Division 1 title last season and have a chance of breaking into the top five themselves so there's plenty to play for here. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 13 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Potters Bar Town @745pm</b> - the highest level match of the night is this one at Bromley's ground. Cray are London's oldest club and have successfully banished any fears of relegation with an eight game unbeaten run which came to an end against Whitehawk in their last match. PBT are six points behind them but have games in hand so this could be close. <b><a href="https://www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Little Oakley @745pm</b> - the hosts are leading the charge for London-based clubs in this division. Currently second on level points with Romford, who now play outside the capital, catching leaders Tilbury looks unlikely. If they are to win the title, they'll probably need to win all nine of their remaining games so they can't slip up here against midtable opposition. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Southern Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hashtag United v Billericay Town @745pm</b> - there are some really key games on the women's side of things on Wednesday. The Tags have had a brilliant debut season in the third tier but it looks as if they will come up short and miss out on a second consecutive promotion. Currently second, if they beat bottom-four club Billericay, they'll end the day six points behind leaders Portsmouth with five games to go. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b>London Bees v Chatham Town @745pm </b>- two go down from this division and these are the sides currently filling those positions. To be fair, they've been there pretty much all season, neither team have won a game and they will both go down whatever happens here. What we do know for sure though is that London Bees will get relegated if they lose this. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Haywards Heath Town @745pm </b>- it's looking increasingly likely that the Dons will be the side coming up to replace them. With title rivals Norwich City only managing a 1-1 draw with Worthing on Sunday, Wimbledon will go eight points clear if they beat bottom club HHT. This is being played at Carshalton Athletic and tickets will be available on the gate</div></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 14 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Europa League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Freiburg @545pm </b>- after fighting back from 2-0 down to draw with Burnley on Sunday, David Moyes' side will head into this tie in better spirits than looked likely. Weirdly, West Ham played German club Freiburg in the group stage so it's strange to see them paired with them again in this knockout tie. The Hammers lost the first leg 1-0 so this is very delicately poised. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 15 March</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Arsenal @7pm</b> - games don't come much bigger than this and consequently it's being played at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have seemingly won everything for years and with boss Emma Hayes off at the end of the season, they could still win the quadruple. They are top coming into this but only on goal difference from Manchester City. If they lose to the Gunners, as they did in the reverse fixture, then all three teams will go level on points to set up an even more thrilling title race with six games to go. <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269#/?view=list&includePackages=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Nottingham Forest @7pm </b>- the Blues men's U21 team are also in action on Friday night. Being played at Kingsmeadow, the hosts will move into the top four if they win. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 16 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur @530pm </b>- the only top-flight match on Saturday takes place in the early evening at Craven Cottage. Spurs have totally dominated the recent history of this derby, currently unbeaten in 11 against the west London club. In fact Fulham's record against Tottenham at home is worse than it is in N17 with their last win coming way back in 2011 when they thrashed them 4-0 in an FA Cup match.You have to go back to 2008 for their last league win at the Cottage. With Ange Postecoglu's side recording a hugely impressive 4-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend, they look highly likely to extend that unbeaten record. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Newport County @3pm </b>- there are slim pickings in the Premier League and there's even less in the EFL with this match at Plough Lane being your only option. The Dons beat Gillingham on Tuesday to break back into the play-off zone. Welsh club Newport enjoyed a thrilling 5-3 win over one of Wimbledon's promotion rivals Morecambe on Tuesday and are now five points off a top-seven place. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Kidderminster Harriers @3pm</b> - there are three games in the fifth tier but this one shades it for me. In this division, the teams who finish second and third get a bye through the first round of play-off games. The Ravens are currently third but Solihull Moors could jump above them if they don't win here. Kidderminster are fighting the drop but they're much improved under former Hull City boss Phil Brown. The sides drew 0-0 when they last met. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Maidstone United @3pm </b>- in the sixth tier, this all-Kent affair should generate a decent crowd at the well-appointed Princes Park. After finishing second last season, the Darts are having a shocker in 2023/24. Defeat on Tuesday saw them slip into the relegation zone and this game should be tough again. Maidstone famously beat Ipswich Town in the FA Cup in January and beat second placed Chelmsford in midweek. <b><a href="https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/event/dar2324h20/dartford-v-maidstone">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hornchurch v Billericay Town @3pm</b> - there are some great options in the seventh tier ILP. First up at Bridge Avenue, the leaders welcome fourth placed Ricay who make the short journey from Essex. The Urchins are nine points clear with three games in hand over nearest rivals Chatham Town so they're going to take some stopping. With four points separating the clubs in third to seventh, the play-off race is looking far more interesting. <b><a href="https://hornchurchfc.ktckts.com/event/hch2324ilp18/hornchurch-vs-billericay-town">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Horsham @3pm</b> - in the far north of the city, two of those play-off contenders meet at Donkey Lane. The Towners have been doing London proud in the <b><a href="https://fenixtrophy.eu/">FENIX Trophy</a></b> this season and picked up a fine 4-1 win over BK Skjold in Denmark last week. They followed it up with a league win over Lewes which kept them in the hunt for a top-five spot. The Hornets are currently fifth and made headlines earlier in the season when they took League One club Barnsley to a replay in the FA Cup. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/match19a/enfield-town-vs-horsham">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Raynes Park Vale v Southall @3pm</b> - in the eighth tier, Grand Drive would appear to be the place to be where two of the top five look to strengthen their grip on a play-off place. I'm pretty sure both of these sides were top at one point this season but with current leaders Chertsey Town now well clear of them with nine games to go, neither are likely to get back there. RPV's place in the top five is looking far more perilous than that of the 'All and they need the win more as a result. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Erith Town v Faversham Town @3pm </b>- after seeing their midweek match against Snodland postponed, you've got another chance to see the Dockers on Saturday. Still fifth, despite the postponement, they take on former leaders Faversham who are just above them in the table. The London club won the reverse fixture 4-3 back in November, let's hope for some more of the same. Tickets will be available on the gate </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Lewisham Borough v Staplehurst Monarchs @3pm</b> - the hosts' form has nosedived at a terrible point in the season. Pushing AFC Whyteleafe for the title at one stage, they've now lost four on the bounce and have slipped to fifth. Teams like FC Elmstead and Canterbury City are just a win away from knocking them out of the play-off places so this match against the team in second is very important and incredibly tough. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 17 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Cup Quarter-Final</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Leicester City @1245pm </b>- we're down to the last eight in the FA Cup and the Blues are the only London club left in the competition. This will be the first time they've played the Foxes in this competition since they lost to them 1-0 in the 2021 final. Things have a changed a lot for both sides since then, with Chelsea no longer the top-four power they once were and Leicester in the Championship. Although the visitors are top of the second tier, their form has been iffy of late and if they were to win, it would still represent a big upset. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Aston Villa @2pm </b>- both these sides enjoyed resounding wins in European games on Thursday with the Hammers smashing five past Freiburg and Villa four against Ajax as English clubs enjoyed a great night. Both sides are also in the top eight in the Premier League and yet the jury is still out for many fans on whether David Moyes is the right man to take West Ham forward - something which boggles the mind of supporters of pretty much every other club. Villa have been playing some great stuff under Unai Emery and are fourth at the time of writing. However, they got thrashed 4-0 by Spurs in their last league game and will want to avoid that happening again at all costs. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @2pm</b> - Spurs caused the upset of the round in last weekend's FA Cup games, beating Manchester City on penalties to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history. They've since drawn Leicester in that last-four tie and will enjoy a dress rehearsal for that big game here. That's not to say this isn't important too. Tottenham have broken into the top six this season but a poor run of four without a win means the Foxes will go above them if they win. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Tickets should be available on arrival</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Sunderland @2pm </b>- LCL gave their hopes of staying up a boost by winning at Reading in their last game. Still only three points above the relegation zone, they've got a lot of work still to do. The Mackems are having their turn at the top of what is incredibly tight table with only four points separating the top four, two of whom have games in hand on the leaders. In essence, both sides really need to win! This is being played at Dartford. <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Capital Senior Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Haringey Borough v Actonians @2pm </b>- playing in the fifth tier, the hosts are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and they did superbly well to beat an academy side from near neighbours Spurs in the last round. The A's also claimed the scalp of a big local rival in Fulham to set up this tie. Although Haringey play a level below Actonians, they're second and clearly a decent side. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Capital Senior Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ashford Town (Middlesex) v London Seaward @2pm </b>- if you can't get to north London, then this much postponed match near Heathrow could be for you. Having seen this held up by bad weather, these two fourth-tier sides will look to finally sort out who will make the last four. The hosts are above Seaward in the table so should start as favourites. The winners will play AFC Wimbledon in the semis. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-74053210204586459442024-03-04T00:39:00.010+00:002024-03-08T21:20:33.189+00:00TLFG: 4-10 March 2024<p>Welcome to TLFG for the first full week of March - spring is finally here, well at least it's been quite sunny today.</p><p>It's been another busy few days on the <b><a href="https://nonleagueday.co.uk/">Non-League Day</a></b> (NLD) preparation front with things looking very positive in several areas.</p><p>Our showpiece game, which several of our partners will be focusing on, looks like being the National League fixture between Eastleigh and Hartlepool United down near Southampton.</p><p>It's one of 10 games around the country which our charity partners <b><a href="https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2024/02/10-years-of-non-league-day">Prostate Cancer UK</a></b> will be having a presence at.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/s400/nld2024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/w400-h400/nld2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's Non-League Day is now less than three weeks away</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As anyone browsing the NLD website may have noticed this week, a major corporate partner has appeared on our website for the first time.</p><p>The press team at <b><a href="https://www.southwesternrailway.com/">South Western Railway</a></b> (SWR), my employer, contacted me about a month ago saying how the company wanted to get involved.</p><p>Having had a couple of meetings, their plans are pretty exciting with a decent amount of resource being thrown behind the campaign in a way I could only dream of.</p><p>A few things have still to be signed off so I won't go into further details but their big launch will be on 11 March.</p><p>As part of the preparations, I'm off <b>Corinthian Casuals</b> on Wednesday to record a short promotional film as part of the SWR build-up.</p><p>We picked them as they're on the train company's network and the line passes right next to the ground offering a great photographic opportunity.</p><p>Anyway, that's all for the future.</p><p>Earlier today, Sunday, I went to the Emirates with TLFG reader <b>Liam B</b> to watch the derby between <b>Arsenal</b> and <b>Tottenham Hotspur</b> in the WSL.</p><p>Despite being a regular watcher of women's football, I'd never been to a top-flight game before so with a seat on the Clock End going for £15 I couldn't say no.</p><p>We travelled up on the Piccadilly Line from Hammersmith and ended up missing the first 10 minutes.</p><p>So many people were using Arsenal station that trains were backed up all the way to Holborn where we sat for several minutes. </p><p>Whilst waiting at Caledonian Road, we were told the two trains in front of us hadn't even been allowed to stop at Arsenal because the crowds were too large.</p><p>Thankfully ours was but the queues to actually get into the sold out game were immense so that slowed us down even more.</p><p>It was my first visit to the Emirates for a match since 2012 when I went in the away end to watch <b>QPR</b> lose 1-0 in a Premier League game.</p><p>The match itself wasn't exactly thrilling as underdogs Spurs set up to defend and did a pretty good job, making it to half-time without conceding a goal.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsq88qfYwSgWxO8-hKqSM_lkfFE-XwmZoU23dJNAxmtzRqwxtwbXazMa80sLeuDhVVkUQuUIdPaafQMZLFxQB9Mw92p3unHhDuKoc1RIHDO7Q8xOJrpHC3f_fAd8bFkVSf5ZGSUzRro1JDbeFXA-BrZE9lpun1iJoazivxz3gByO68XIGljMyC4oSaq1n/s2048/arsenalspurs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsq88qfYwSgWxO8-hKqSM_lkfFE-XwmZoU23dJNAxmtzRqwxtwbXazMa80sLeuDhVVkUQuUIdPaafQMZLFxQB9Mw92p3unHhDuKoc1RIHDO7Q8xOJrpHC3f_fAd8bFkVSf5ZGSUzRro1JDbeFXA-BrZE9lpun1iJoazivxz3gByO68XIGljMyC4oSaq1n/w400-h300/arsenalspurs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam and I (left) at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sadly for them, Alessio Russo found a way through soon after the break and that was about it - I can't remember either keeper having to make any stunning saves at any point.</p><p>The overall experience is so different to a men's game, the atmosphere is much flatter than a men's North London Derby but far less threatening with fans of both teams sitting together - we had a couple next to us who were supporting opposing teams but there were no issues whatsoever.</p><p>The seats we had were superb - in the upper tier directly behind the goal.</p><p>For £15 the view was fantastic, the legroom was great and the seat was padded - the same seat for the men's game against Tottenham is about £100!</p><p>The rest of the afternoon saw us pop into a local mosque, grab a coffee and walk a circuit of Finsbury Park and finish with a meal in a <b><a href="https://dilarauyghurrestaurant.co.uk/">Uyghur restaurant</a></b> which went down very well indeed.</p><p>Aside from the continuing NLD preparations, I'm hoping to get down to <b>Bedfont Sports</b> on Tuesday night to see <b>Actonians</b> play Chesham United in their next Women's National League game.</p><p>Lastly, if you want to help the NLD cause, check out our full range of <a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3"><b>merchandise</b></a> which can be customised to your club's colours, an example of which can be found below:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMA4yfFguvK_PHFbDM9RFlLaI15AEoCG6Yyr2N7zqNb93y3gm_gq1WrnmB8x7CYrV9ja5852nOfhrAvdfmalGfSi1ir7i9XUlCnAMzC42KnN7LbyqMgs53o5O18vaDsFe8IQ8udfH5cWqeVmPdB-lnKuNXN8QtkzuVIDi5YPGFG0sqRBaduIywqtHW-3z/s500/Non-Leaguer%20(2).webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMA4yfFguvK_PHFbDM9RFlLaI15AEoCG6Yyr2N7zqNb93y3gm_gq1WrnmB8x7CYrV9ja5852nOfhrAvdfmalGfSi1ir7i9XUlCnAMzC42KnN7LbyqMgs53o5O18vaDsFe8IQ8udfH5cWqeVmPdB-lnKuNXN8QtkzuVIDi5YPGFG0sqRBaduIywqtHW-3z/w400-h400/Non-Leaguer%20(2).webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get NLD <a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3"><b>merchandise</b></a> in your club's colours now!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, FA Vase and Women's FA Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1cYy9YJzI02teIdwqb-RfAMsmGAb8g9w&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1XXAUVeLWXBwhQZzudZcY8K6suJkqSAw&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 4 March</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Yeovil Town @745pm </b>- the Millers are having a very tough few days. On Saturday they played second placed Chelmsford City and lost 2-0 to fall out of the play-off places. Just over 48 hours later they're back in action against the leaders. The Glovers were a Championship side as recently as 2014 so it's fair to say the last 10 years have been pretty traumatic for them. However, it looks like the sixth tier is as far as they're going to fall as they've dominated for large parts of this campaign. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=3245">Tickets</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 5 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Grimsby Town @745pm </b>- there were wild scenes at Plough Lane on Saturday when a last-minute goal saw Wimbledon beat their bitter rivals MK Dons for the first time since 2017. The result lifted Johnnie Jackson's side into the top 10, four points shy of the play-off places. On Tuesday, they have a great chance to pick up some more points as the visitors are in the bottom four. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><b>QPR v Millwall @7pm </b>- most U21 games don't mean a huge amount but this one has quite a bit riding on it. The Lions were crowned PDL champions last season and look very well placed to do it again as they went back to the top of Group South last week. They replaced the R's at the summit so this is a top-two clash. Being played at Hanwell Town, tickets are £5 on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Eastbourne Borough @745pm </b>- the Beavers kept their place in the top seven despite seeing their game at St Albans City postponed. On Tuesday they face an Eastbourne side who are fighting to avoid the drop. Of the sides in the bottom four, they're in the best form but that's not saying much. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>London Senior Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Charlton Athletic U23 v Barking @745pm </b>- with wins over Cockfosters and Welling United in the opening two rounds, the Addicks' development team are through to the last eight of this county cup. With AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Leyton Orient and QPR already out, Charlton are the only pro club with a squad left in the competition. Barking are among the frontrunners in the Essex Senior League and claimed the scalp of Orient in the opening round so this could be close. This match is being played at Dartford - tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>North Greenford United v Rayners Lane @745pm </b>- with virtually the whole programme of games washed out in this division on Saturday, there wasn't much change in the table. Both of these local rivals are having a fine season. NGU are fifth but because of their great run in the FA Vase (they play in the quarter-finals on Saturday), they have games in hand on all of those above them. Rayners Lane are top but only by virtue of having a slightly better goal difference than Flackwell Heath. It's a big game and hopefully the pitch will be ok. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>British Airways v Berks County @745pm </b>- with leaders Amersham Town 15 points clear at the top, the battle to see who finishes second looks far more interesting. As it stands, these two are second and third with just a point between them. This match is being played at Bedfont and tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Actonians v Chesham United @745pm </b>- literally just over the fence at Bedfont Sports, we've got this fourth-tier women's match. With their usual home at Rectory Park presumably booked up, the A's have moved this game to the Heathrow area. Actonians have been a club in transition this season after seeing Danny Harrigan, their most successful ever manager, move on in the summer. After a rocky start to the current campaign, new boss Kieran Beesley has steadied the ship and a top-six finish is a very realistic goal. Chesham are in the bottom four and lost the reverse fixture 5-0 back in September. Tickets will be available on the gate for £5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 6 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v West Bromwich Albion @8pm</b> - the R's recorded one of the results of the weekend by beating leaders Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium. It extended their winning run to three games and kept them out of the relegation zone. However, it was generally a good weekend for all the strugglers so only goal difference is keeping them out of the bottom three. The Baggies are another one of the division's top clubs and they've only beaten them twice in the last 10 attempts so it looks like being a challenging evening at Loftus Road. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Swansea City @745pm </b>- with the form of teams towards the bottom improving significantly, teams in midtable are starting to look over their shoulders with some anxiety. Although 15th, Swansea are now only four points above the relegation zone and even the Hornets in 12th are now much closer to the drop zone than the play-off places. Watford won 1-0 when they last played in October. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's League Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Aston Villa @715pm </b>- after beating Spurs in the WSL at the Emirates on Sunday, the Gunners head back to Boreham Wood to continue the defence of the trophy they won last season. With the top two of Manchester City and Chelsea meeting in the other tie, it's far to say Arsenal got the best draw they could have. Villa have been really inconsistent this season and got stuffed 4-1 at home by Liverpool on Sunday - a home win looks highly likely. <b><a href="https://www.arsenal.com/tickets?field_arsenal_team_target_id=5&revision_information=">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Lewisham Borough v Croydon @745pm </b>- the best non-league option of the night, for me, is this 10th-tier match between clubs from neighbouring boroughs in south London. Now four without a win, the hosts' title hopes seem to be over but a play-off place is very much there for the taking. The Trams are in eighth but are still 10 points adrift of the top five so to have any chance of going up, they must win games like this. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 7 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Youth & Development matches</u></i></b></div><div>Thursday is, once again, all about the youngsters. The highest level matches are a trio of U23 games at <b>Abbey Rangers</b>, <b>Erith Town</b> and <b>Molesey</b></div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 8 March</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm </b>- there are a couple of games in this U21 competition on Friday but this one clearly stands out. Currently third and first respectively, it should be a great game. It's being played at Boreham Wood but, at the time of writing, I'm unaware of any admission details so check the club's website as the week progresses. Elsewhere, West Ham are playing Fulham at Rush Green</div><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 9 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Luton Town @3pm </b>- with four points from their last three games, Palace have moved eight points clear of the relegation zone but they still probably need another three or four wins to make sure of staying up. Despite being a club in the bottom three, a match against the Hatters always seems to be a tricky one. They give it their all against whoever they play and only tend to lose games when they run out of steam in the closing stages. Worryingly for the hosts, Luton didn't tire enough in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road and won 2-1. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><b>Arsenal v Brentford @530pm </b>- in the day's late game we've got a derby at the Emirates. The Bees famously beat the Gunners in one of their first ever Premier League games back in 2021 but have failed to win any of the five matches between them since. Mikel Arteta's side are third in the league and top of the form table after winning seven games in a row, scoring a staggering 31 goals in the process! Brentford's star striker Ivan Toney has been regularly linked with a move to north London so he should be looking to impress. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Birmingham City @3pm</b> - all our local second-tier teams are at home on Saturday with this big relegation six-pointer topping the bill. With struggling clubs like QPR and Sheffield Wednesday really hitting form at this crucial point of the season, sides like Millwall and Birmingham have been pulled right back into the relegation dog fight. Only six points separate the teams in 14th-23rd so who will go down, other than Rotherham, is anyone's guess! <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>QPR v Middlesbrough @3pm</b> - the R's have a had a good few days, winning 2-1 at league leaders Leicester on Saturday and coming from behind to draw 2-2 with West Brom on Wednesday, picking up four points from two games many would've predicted them to lose. Boro have lost three of their last five to put a big dent in their play-off hopes. The hosts won 2-0 at the Riverside earlier in the season and they should be confident of getting at least another point here. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Coventry City @3pm </b>- the Hornets sit 13th just below Boro in the table and are actually significantly closer to the relegation zone than the top six. In recent months, their target was definitely promotion, but now avoiding the drop has become the most immediate priority. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Carlisle United @3pm</b> - after dropping like stones under former manager Michael Appleton, new boss Nathan Jones has steadied the ship. Losing only one of the seven games he's presided over, they've moved up to 14th and are seven points clear of the relegation zone. Carlisle are bottom and seemed doomed to go down, so there should be some more points for the Addicks. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20carlisle%20united/2024-3-9_15.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Grimsby Town @3pm </b>- despite netting four points from three games, the U's are still bottom and six points adrift of safety. If they're to have any chance of staying up, they simply have to win this game against another one of the bottom four. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy Quarter-Finals</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers, which has its final at Wembley, is down to its last eight. We're lucky enough to have two of the four ties in the capital:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Bromley v Barnet @3pm</b> - these two London clubs are third and second respectively in the fifth tier so it's the biggest tie of the round by far. Only two points separate them in the league and their recent FA Trophy pedigree is impressive with the Ravens winning it in 2022 and the Bees making it to the semi-finals last year. The visitors are unbeaten in three against Bromley and won 2-0 at Hayes Lane in August which makes them marginal favourites in my book. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Wealdstone v Solihull Moors @3pm </b>- things were starting to look worrying for the Stones but four points from two games has made sure they've stayed outside the relegation zone. Solihull, on the other hand, are fourth and pushing for promotion so it looks tough for the hosts who last won the Trophy in 1985. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and 10th tiers, which has its final at Wembley, is down to its last eight. We've got one of the four ties in the capital:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>North Greenford United v Romford @3pm</b> - if I wasn't working then this is probably where I'd be spending my Saturday afternoon. NGU are having a great season, pushing for a play-off place in the CCL Premier North and 90 minutes away from a place in the Vase semis. They've gone a whole three rounds further in the competition than they ever have before and impressively won at Essex Senior League leaders Tilbury in the last round. Next up they face another side from the ESL who've also never been this far before. Currently second to Tilbury, they should pose a very similar challenge to the one offered by the Dockers in the last round. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Sunday 10 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Burnley @2pm</b> - David Moyes' tenure as Hammers manager looked like it was coming to an end but the board stuck with him and they enjoyed back-to-back wins over Brentford and Everton. However, this was followed by a 1-0 loss to Freiburg in Germany in the first leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday. The doubters at the London Stadium are still many in number and nothing less than a win against relegation certainties Burnley will do. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @3pm </b>- featuring two of the WSL's top six, this would appear to be the tie of the round. Unlike the men's side, Spurs women have very little pedigree in this competition with investment into the side being a relatively new thing. Having already lost to them in the WSL and League Cup, City were probably the last team Robert Vilahamn's side wanted to see come out of the hat. However, after defending well against Arsenal at the Emirates and only losing 1-0, they should be able to give the visitors, who played in midweek, a good game. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Tickets should be available on arrival</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Sheffield United @12pm </b>- the Eagles are second but only on goal difference from Southampton and local rivals Charlton Athletic. They have two games in hand on leaders Sunderland who are four points clear. The Blades are eighth and still need some wins to guarantee staying up. This match is notable for being played at Selhurst Park. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/307?PublishLoginDataLayer=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Cambridge United @2pm </b>- why not celebrate Mothers' Day at Loftus Road where the R's are throwing open the turnstiles and letting everyone in for free. The match itself should be closely contested with the sides three points apart in the top six</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Normally I would write more previews for the weekend's games but I've simply run out of time - apologies</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-16996091121976890772024-02-25T20:41:00.019+00:002024-03-01T23:38:12.589+00:00TLFG: 26 February - 3 March 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings and welcome to the Leap Year edition of TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Yes, the quadrennial occurrence that is 29 February takes place on Thursday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">And does it bring us anything special I hear you ask? </p><p style="text-align: left;">Well, not really - unless you're into youth and development football in which case there's a few things going on.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After having last week off and getting to see a few games, this week has seen me at work every day and I'm here right now at Waterloo station writing this.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/s400/nld2024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OQnAqbWzkG4lxEM_jAEU6nMoCDb49_69rWlhsopcyhyphenhyphenFeXadXuyf1rE6BC0B34H-_LZx3hg5-hMf9h9Aneye71a1Le-cqIPqGdYY6pqipHN0Mvmts65cwNiDwyRGa5FQ1uIyZu7aDhw6_jimBXJI1eGSKmTAIjv8PEAwXcoKn03Jv1Bz1vl8fffbTVW/w400-h400/nld2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year's Non-League Day is now less than a month away</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">The most interesting work-related thing I did was get trained on the new trains which South Western Railway are bringing in and which have caused quite a bit of controversy over the last few years.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I won't go into that here as I'll probably say something inappropriate and get sacked but it was an eye-opening day and my current role will change considerably.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyway, enough of the railway chat.</p><p style="text-align: left;">How has your football week been? </p><p style="text-align: left;">With all the work, I saw nothing live but <b><a href="https://nonleagueday.co.uk/">Non-League Day</a></b> preparations have continued - it's now less than a month away!</p><p style="text-align: left;">There's still plenty to do and hopefully some big announcements to make but things seem to be shaping up well.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The celebrations of our <b><a href="https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2024/02/10-years-of-non-league-day">10-year partnership with Prostate Cancer UK</a></b> officially launched on Friday and we're really hoping we can add to the £250,000 we've raised over that time.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Our <b><a href="https://www2.cultzeros.co.uk/?ref=3">merchandise is now back online</a></b> with all the classic designs and some new ones - we've got t-shirts, hoodies and badges so please take a look and see if there's anything you fancy.</p><p style="text-align: left;">One other thing I did this week was buy tickets for my first ever Women's Super League game - yes, you read that right.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Despite going on and on about women's football on here and having been to England matches, European Championship, FA Cup and League Cup Finals, I've never seen a top-flight game.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLalExUG5FymOzyCT1XCzj_jNE9k2-13w9wCtf4DyMWfmKZnFhLpG9ifCkFnMfSh3oZTdol2PKP15t29FZ7QNIkBUGPxV_WCnS6x5QmdLgX1OgaUK86oMtjXR1_-UySH3YWk1FlUId7n9x0trkIaJo2mtC4qC1x9eKew3cEsqtjL3SloosdmeM-e9uBM3b/s1045/nlderby.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1045" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLalExUG5FymOzyCT1XCzj_jNE9k2-13w9wCtf4DyMWfmKZnFhLpG9ifCkFnMfSh3oZTdol2PKP15t29FZ7QNIkBUGPxV_WCnS6x5QmdLgX1OgaUK86oMtjXR1_-UySH3YWk1FlUId7n9x0trkIaJo2mtC4qC1x9eKew3cEsqtjL3SloosdmeM-e9uBM3b/w400-h225/nlderby.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arsenal play Spurs in the WSL at the Emirates on Sunday - <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3303/">tickets</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">With <b>Actonians</b> having a break this weekend, I've taken the plunge and bought some tickets for the North London Derby between <b>Arsenal</b> and <b>Tottenham Hotspur</b> at the Emirates Stadium.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Gunners sold out when they played Manchester United there in their last game earlier this month and I seem to have got some of the few remaining ones for this.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In a sign of the times, I'm going on a lads' trip to the game without any women or children joining me.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My eldest daughter, who is otherwise engaged, is an Arsenal fan and isn't overly impressed that I'm going without her as she's never been to the stadium.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At £15 a ticket, I wasn't going to pass up the chance to sit on the Clock End and enjoy one of the biggest games of the year.</p><p style="text-align: left;">PS - if you read the blog last week, the mystery WSL manager who's volunteered to help out with some junior coaching at Actonians will be involved in this match. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I've also got a couple of days off during the week so I'm hoping I'll be able to use the impending Non-League Day as an excuse to get to a game or two.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Before I sign off, it would be remiss of me as a QPR fan not to mention the passing of arguably the club's greatest ever player Stan Bowles.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A legend of '70s football in England, the maverick attacking player thrilled the Loftus Road crowd for seven years and was part of the team that fell just a point short of winning the league title during that time - something that seems unthinkable now.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Although I did exist during most of those years, I never saw him play so I've always experienced a bit of a detachment compared to some of my slightly older friends who utterly revere him.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sadly Alzheimer's caught up with him on Saturday, just after the R's had won their huge game against Rotherham.</p><p style="text-align: left;">He was 75.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly this week, many thanks to <b>Ge W</b> from <b>Deptford</b> for donating to <b><a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tlfg">TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a></b> - it's really appreciated.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL, National League and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=13isy7mWetuU2dbWgSakmTdb8ZLdx-RI&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1Y397SBNgsQOgrKwfbyzKC1cRZ1Nd7Iw&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 26 February</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Brentford @8pm </b>- the Hammers ended 2023 with back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Arsenal but they haven't won in any competition since and fans are calling for manager David Moyes to go. The last three games have seen them score none and concede 11 - it's looking pretty grim. Next up they face a tricky derby against the Bees who have won all five of the league games they've played against the east London club since joining the top flight in 2021. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers @7pm </b>- the Eagles made it to the final of this U21 competition last season and they're well on course to do it again. They lost to PSV Eindhoven in that final and the Dutch side have already made it through to the last four this year, beating Chelsea in the process. Wolves finished top of Group A ahead of PSV so they clearly mean business. This match is being played at Sutton United. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Norwich City @7pm </b>- they might be out of the competition above but the Blues are still in contention for this other U21 trophy. Having come top of their group ahead of Leeds, Colchester and Luton, they're now into the knockout stage. The Canaries were runners-up in their group and finished ahead of Wolves and Charlton. This is being played at Kingsmeadow and tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barkingside v May & Baker @745pm </b>- the only non-league option I'm aware of is this match in Ilford between two east London clubs. Both are out of promotion contention in midtable but could do with a win or two to get well clear of the relegation zone. Tickets will be available on the gate</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 27 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Ipswich Town @2pm</b> - get your day of football watching underway with a lunchtime trip to The Den for this U21 game. The Lions won the PDL last season, beating Sheffield United in the final. Currently just a point behind leaders QPR but with a game in hand, they're very well placed to top Group South again. Ipswich are fifth so should be no pushovers. <b><a href="https://tickets.millwallfc.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/productevent.aspx?productsubtype=UN21">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><b>Leyton Orient v Blackpool @745pm </b>- the O's closed the gap on the play-off places to six points with a hugely important 2-1 win at Oxford United on Saturday. Next up they face another crucial game against the side just above them in the table. If they beat the Seasiders, then they'll have to be classed as promotion contenders. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/EDP/Event/Index/145">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barnet v Chesterfield @745pm</b> - the big games seem to be coming thick and fast in the fifth tier right now. Last week, Bromley were second when they took on leaders Chesterfield. Since then, they've been replaced by the Bees so this has become a top-of-the-table clash. The Spireites dropped some more points on Saturday with their draw against Rochdale but their lead is still a massive 20 points. Barnet's record against the visitors is also poor - they lost 4-2 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season and have only won two of their last 10 games against them. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/login.asp?selectHomeAway=true&eventID={74B66588-A70E-4565-AA5D-A573481C263F}">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Welling United v Truro City @745pm </b>- there are three games in the sixth tier on Tuesday but I'm going for this one as my pick of the night. The Wings remain unbeaten since new boss Rod Stringer took over with their draw against promotion-chasing St Albans leaving them just one point adrift of safety. Cornish club Truro are two points above them so if the London club win, they will finally break free of the relegation zone. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/EOMCXP/welling-united-vs-truro-city">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm</b> - these two local rivals meet at Silver Jubilee Park for a place in the county cup final. Both play in the seventh tier Southern League Premier South and are in midtable so it should be close. Interestingly, the hosts are the most successful club in the competition's long history, winning it 15 times since it began in 1888. H&YU, on the other hand, are the reigning champions. Rayners Lane await the winners in the final. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Redbridge v Maldon & Tiptree @745pm </b>- two clubs from the eighth tier Isthmian League North contest the other county cup semi-final of the night. Neither side have won this title before and on this season's performance, you'd expect the visitors to progress. Whoever makes it through will play Colchester United in the final. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>SCEFL Challenge Cup Semi-Final Second Legs</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Erith Town v Deal Town @745pm </b>- sitting just outside the play-off places with a couple of games in hand, the Dockers are well placed for a promotion tilt. One of their main rivals for promotion are Deal who are in great form. The Kent seaside club are having a season to remember. Not only are they in the semi-finals of this competition with a 2-1 lead from the first leg, they're also in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase and have eight games in hand on the leaders which if won would put them 13 points clear at the top. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>AFC Whyteleafe v Corinthian @745pm </b>- in the other tie, First Division leaders Whyteleafe entertain another one of the league's top clubs. Their chances of progressing look slim though as they lost the first leg 3-0. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 28 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Leeds United @730pm </b>- after suffering the disappointment of an extra-time defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup Final on Sunday, the Blues have to quickly pick themselves up for this. The FA Cup now represents their only chance of winning some silverware and salvaging their otherwise poor season. In recent years, you'd expect the Stamford Bridge club to get through a tie like this but Leeds are in fantastic form as they push hard for the Championship title and could well cause an upset. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><b>Kingstonian v Cheshunt @745pm </b>- the top non-league match of the night is this relegation six-pointer in the seventh tier. The bottom four go down in this division and both are in the bottom four. The visitors are only two points from safety whilst the K's are propping everyone else up and really can't afford to lose many more games. Tickets will be available on the gate<br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sporting Bengal United v Athletic Newham @745pm </b>- in the ninth tier, two of the division's top six meet at Mile End Stadium which is one of the capital's most centrally located grounds. The teams in second to fifth make the play-offs so there's plenty to play for. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b>Woodford Town v Buckhurst Hill @745pm </b>- we've also got the Roding Valley Derby to look forward to on Wednesday. This is quite a new rivalry but it still generates quite a bit of interest and should draw a decent crowd. The hosts are second and will start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate for £7. <b><i>UPDATE - the club have now decided to make it free entry for everyone so don't miss out!</i></b></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 29 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Youth & Development matches</u></i></b></div><div>It's a leap year but nothing particularly special is happening today. The two highest level matches are a couple of U23 games in the Suburban League at <b>Abbey Rangers</b> and <b>Molesey</b>. At U18 level, the Middlesex Youth Cup Semi-Final between <b>Northwood</b> and <b>Bedfont Sports</b> tops the bill</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 1 March</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Arsenal @7pm </b>- there are a trio of games in this U21 competition on Friday but this one clearly stands out. Currently fourth and third respectively, it should be a great game. FYI - Tottenham and West Ham are the top two with Spurs seven points ahead of the third-place Gunners. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Frenford @745pm</b> - there are also some non-league games too with our friends at Ashtons swiftly back in action after their Wednesday night derby. With the visitors in the bottom five, the smart money would appear to be on a home win. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 2 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Brentford v Chelsea @3pm </b>- since joining the top flight in 2021, the Bees have made a habit of humiliating the Blues in derbies between the two. The smaller club have won all three of their away games at Stamford Bridge including the one earlier this season. A lot has been made of Chelsea's poor from this season but it's currently significantly better than Brentford's so they should still start as favourites here. Tickets are not available</div><div><b>Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm </b>- the Cottagers recorded their first win at Old Trafford since 2003 last weekend, a result which should go a long way towards securing a comfortable midtable finish - a fine achievement for a club more used to yo-yoing between the top two divisions. Here they face a tricky Brighton side who haven't dazzled quite as much as last season but are still in the top seven. Talking of seven, that's how long Fulham's unbeaten record is against the Seagulls with their last loss to them coming in 2017. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace @3pm</b> - there's another derby at the THS too. When Spurs opened their new ground five years ago, they played the Eagles in the first competitive match and won 2-0. Since then they've won all four of the following games between them at the venue and most of the matches at Selhurst Park too. New Palace boss Oliver Glasner won his first match in charge against Burnley last week so he'll be looking for another positive performance here. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Watford @3pm</b> - the Lions appeared to be sinking like stones prior to last week's incredibly tough looking trip Southampton. However, they pulled off a fine 2-1 win to keep themselves out of the bottom three. Next up they face a derby of sorts against the Hornets. The Hertfordshire club are in the top half but have lost four of their last five games so there's definitely the potential for some more points here. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers @3pm</b> - whether the O's make it into the play-offs or not, Richie Wellens' side have given their fans some special moments this season. With wins over leaders Portsmouth and promotion contenders Bolton and draws against several of the other leading clubs, they've more than proved themselves in this division following promotion. Over the last week they've enjoyed back-to-back wins over Oxford and Blackpool who were both above them. Now they find themselves in eighth, five points adrift of the play-off places and another promotion is starting to appear feasible. Rovers are eight points behind them in midtable and it ended 1-1 in the reverse fixture. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/EDP/Event/Index/150">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons @1230pm </b>- one of the games of the day in London is this huge grudge match at Plough Lane. I won't go into the full history of the rivalry, as most of you know it, but the visitors came into being after Wimbledon's highly controversial move to Milton Keynes. This was driven by Pete Winkelman who is still MK Dons' chairman to this day. The League Two table is tight so even though a four game winless run has seen the hosts slip to 13th, they're still only four points shy of a play-off place. The visitors are fifth and are still very much in the hunt for automatic promotion. They are also unbeaten in nine against AFC Wimbledon, so if the hosts do win the celebrations could be notable. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Boreham Wood v Gateshead @3pm</b> - the Wood's fine run to the play-offs last season and has felt like a distant dream for much of this campaign. Hovering around the lower reaches of the table for most of it, they've enjoyed an uplift in form recently with three wins from five pushing them up to 14th. However, one of the most notable things about this division is how congested the bottom half is with the club in 11th only six points clear of the relegation zone. The pressure on clubs is massive with a couple of bad results potentially landing them in real trouble. Gateshead, on the other hand, are fifth and are having a good year. Although the race to go up isn't quite as tight, clubs like Halifax are starting to emerge from the chasing pack and could break into the play-off places very soon. <b><a href="https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/visiting-meadow-park/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Bromley v FC Halifax Town @3pm</b> - with the Ravens in second and the Shaymen on a great run, this is my pick of the action in the fifth tier in London on Saturday. The hosts went back up to second in midweek, despite not playing, because Barnet used up their game in hand with defeat to leaders Chesterfield which made their goal difference worse than Bromley's. As mentioned above, last season's FA Trophy winners Halifax are on the verge of breaking into the play-off places after winning four on the bounce. They also beat Bromley 2-0 back in August when they met at The Shay so this should be some game. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Altrincham @3pm</b> - the Daggers are a point behind Boreham Wood in 15th so could really do with a win or two to relieve their own relegation fears. Altrincham were right up in the top four earlier in the season but four straight defeats have seen them slip to ninth. The hosts are capable of beating pretty much anyone in this division on their day and I've got a feeling they could do well here. <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Worthing @3pm </b>- the Darts appointed former Bournemouth player Adrian Pennock as their new manager on Friday. His first game in charge is a very tough one as third placed Worthing pay a visit to Princes Park. Only four points above the relegation zone, local rivals Welling United are catching up and could leapfrog them depending on Saturday's results. <b><a href="https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Braintree Town @3pm </b>- if the Wings are to move above Dartford, they'll also have to pull off an impressive win as they're entertaining one of the division's top clubs too. Since new boss Rod Stringer took over in January, Welling have gone six games unbeaten in the league to climb out of the bottom four which looked unlikely before his arrival. Braintree are the division's most in-form club with seven straight wins so it's going to be tough. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/EVOULJ/welling-united-vs-braintree-town-2">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Wingate & Finchley v Hastings United @3pm</b> - despite drawing three games in a row, minnows W&F have kept their place in the top four as their amazing season continues. On Saturday they welcome one of the biggest clubs in the division who should bring a sizeable following to Summers Lane. The Sussex club missed a play-off spot by three points last season and could move into the top five with a win here. <b><a href="https://www.wingatefinchley.com/events/1st-team-v-hastings-united-h">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hendon v Chesham United @3pm </b>- the Greens suffered the disappointment of losing their Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final to Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday and next up they face a visit from league leaders Chesham. The Buckinghamshire club are now 12 points clear at the top and increasingly looking like champions. The hosts are nine points from the play-offs and 10 points clear of the relegation zone so they're about as midtable as it's possible to be. The reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 win for the Generals. As a showbiz side note, <b><a href="https://theathletic.com/5295398/2024/02/28/taskmaster-alex-horne-chesham/">Taskmaster's Alex Horne</a></b> is a director of Chesham, a big fan of non-league and will quite possibly be found somewhere in the crowd. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chertsey Town v Marlow @3pm </b>- in the eighth tier it doesn't get much bigger than this top-two clash at Alwyns Lane. The hosts are eight points clear with a game in hand so if Marlow lose, it looks very close to being game over for everyone else as far as the title's concerned. A pitch inspection has been scheduled for 1000. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=3603">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barking v Romford @3pm </b>- in the ninth tier, two of the top four go head-to-head. These clubs were groundsharing earlier in the season but following the sad demise of East Thurrock United in September, Romford moved into Rookery Hill and took themselves out of TLFG's catchment area in the process. With Woodford Town seeing their Friday night game postponed, the visitors only need to draw to go second. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Whyteleafe v K Sports @3pm</b> - there aren't really any standout fixtures in the tenth tier - no top of the table clashes, derbies or big relegation six-pointers so my default position is always to recommend going to watch the best. The Leafe are currently 12 points clear at the top of the division and have won their last four. The rest of the top five have games in hand on them but they'll still be six points clear in the worst-case scenario. K Sports are winless in five, in midtable and should be beaten. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 3 March</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Women's Super League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @1230pm </b>- one of the biggest crowds of the weekend will be at the Emirates Stadium which looks to have pretty much sold out for the second WSL game in a row. Last time out, the Gunners comfortably beat Manchester United 3-1 to leave themselves just three points behind co-leaders Chelsea and Manchester City. Spurs are sixth and are the type of side Arsenal would normally beat but under new boss Robert Vilahamn, they did the unthinkable and won the North London Derby for the first time just before Christmas. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Event/Index/3303/">Tickets</a></b> are almost gone but there are a few left so don't delay</div><div><b>West Ham United v Manchester United @3pm </b>- having pushed Chelsea close in the FA Cup and beaten Arsenal in the league, this new improved Hammers side are capable of giving anyone in this division a game on their day. Still a disappointing 10th out of 12, they could do with a win to push them well clear of bottom club Bristol City. Manchester United are in very unconvincing form and are now playing simply to hold on to fourth - this could go either way. This match is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/womens-team-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Birmingham City @2pm </b>- with only five points separating the leaders from the club in fifth and with some clubs in that group having a game in hand, the title race in this division is wide open. Both of these sides are in the leading pack but the Blues could effectively drop out if they lose here as it could leave them eight points adrift of top spot. The Eagles will go top if they win and Sunderland drop any points against Southampton. This match is being played at Sutton United. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/137">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Charlton Athletic @2pm </b>- there's a match affecting both ends of the table at Wealdstone's ground where an improving Hornets side are now just a draw away from moving out of the relegation zone. The Addicks are going in the other direction and are another side who could potentially go top with a win. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Capital Senior Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ashford Town (Middlesex) v London Seaward @2pm</b> - having seen the original tie postponed, these two midtable fourth-tier clubs meet at the Robert Parker Stadium with a semi-final place against favourites AFC Wimbledon up for grabs. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-232190887908323772024-02-18T23:54:00.019+00:002024-02-23T11:20:59.236+00:00TLFG: 19-25 February 2024<p style="text-align: left;">You join me at the end of a weekend which has left me in a very good mood indeed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As regular readers know I have an interest in three teams - <b>QPR</b> in men's pro football, <b>Harrow Borough</b> in non-league and <b>Actonians</b> in women's football.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm pleased to report that all had important games and all of them won!</p><p style="text-align: left;">QPR are fighting relegation from the Championship and won 1-0 at Bristol City to leave them just one point adrift of safety.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Harrow Borough were 12 points adrift of safety the last time I looked but Saturday's 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Swindon Supermarine cut the gap to six points.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly, Actonians were up against west London rivals <b>Fulham</b> who had knocked them out of the FA Cup on penalties in October.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Once again this was a cup tie, this time a quarter-final of the Capital Senior Cup.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ72EmJAYAsLWqs0jIJBHKvno1IANDSoodqCgc3wjBT9H0qP56YWW7wSjvqLSViX2_IrVzCQ6ojE_HoU9YY9TereKZcN0Jwt-G0hQL-R4zmGcZNngRI1QKVGtU9jcRcQzcdI5uWF41bGx5VUa-1X1ag-iykyCphgv6qLmhEjjUrEFDOaq4HncFNaxU6Mwi/s678/olivaclement.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="678" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ72EmJAYAsLWqs0jIJBHKvno1IANDSoodqCgc3wjBT9H0qP56YWW7wSjvqLSViX2_IrVzCQ6ojE_HoU9YY9TereKZcN0Jwt-G0hQL-R4zmGcZNngRI1QKVGtU9jcRcQzcdI5uWF41bGx5VUa-1X1ag-iykyCphgv6qLmhEjjUrEFDOaq4HncFNaxU6Mwi/w400-h400/olivaclement.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young defender Olivia Clement (left) has really impressed for Actonians this season</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">A good crowd were treated to a pretty even and open game with good chances falling to both teams throughout the game but thankfully it was the A's who were far more clinical.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Teenage striker Tori St Clair scored twice and captain Roschelle Shakes also chipped in as they won 3-1.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A shout of recognition should also go out to Olivia Clement, Mara Bramwell and Isi Meade who played as a defensive three and soaked up most of what came their way.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sadly for Fulham's goalkeeper, the third was a bit of a shocker from her point of view.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Whether she completely misjudged it or wasn't expecting it, it was incredibly soft and <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JCBuJb__cTI">you can see it here on TLFG's rarely used YouTube page</a></b>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It takes them into the semis were they'll meet either <b>AFC Wimbledon</b>, <b>Haringey Borough</b> or <b>Ashford Town/London Seaward</b> whose tie was postponed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Also from Actonians HQ was the exciting news that the manager of a Women's Super League club has volunteered to join the coaching staff at junior level as their daughter has joined one of the sides.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I don't know how secret that information is so I'm not going to name them but we're all hoping it might also help the club get some decent players in on loan in the time ahead.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It was also great to meet a couple of TLFG readers at the game - <b>Liam</b> who I used to regularly run with before he broke his ankle was there in a Fulham-fan capacity. Also <b>Martin B </b>(apologies if I've got that wrong) who'd travelled all the way up from Dorset - it was a real pleasure to meet you and thanks a lot for coming.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Aside from going to Actonians, I also made it to <b>Hanwell Town</b> earlier in the week to see the U21 game between QPR and <b>Watford</b>.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It was a very competitive game which was played at a high tempo.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Despite having the better of things and seeing one of the opposition sent off early in the second half, the R's somehow lost 1-0.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Well I think that's about it from me. I'm back to work on Tuesday after over a week off and am going onto late shifts so I don't think there's going to be any live football for me.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Check back at the end of the week for my weekend previews, hopefully I'll have something up by Thursday or Friday at the latest.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">This week we've got the EFL Cup Final and matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's National League and Premier League International Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1GTPr1e-X3_Zx9a2owDvn0lWijg3d570&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1nrFOybM4FjevLI1Uo-lAMQkWqIRVFKI&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 19 February</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Maidstone United @745pm </b>- the Millers picked up an important win over Hampton & Richmond on Saturday to stay in play-off contention. Another side in the leading group are fourth placed Maidstone. The Kent club have generated plenty of headlines this season for their sensational run in the FA Cup which will see them play Coventry City in the Fifth Round next week. When the clubs last played in September, it was Aveley who won 1-0 at the Gallagher Stadium. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=131">Tickets</a></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 20 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Crawley Town @745pm </b>- the Dons drew with promotion rivals Morecambe on Saturday to move up to eighth, just one point outside the play-off places. Competition for a spot in the top seven is fierce with only two points separating the clubs in seventh to fourteenth. In fifteenth, Crawley represent the best of the rest so can't be taken lightly. With the opposition located close to Gatwick airport to the south of London, there's also a bit of a derby feel to this one too. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><b>Bromley v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm </b>- the Ravens kept their very slender title hopes alive with a sensational 4-3 win over leaders Chesterfield on Saturday. Trailing with four minutes to go, they somehow turned it round and now find themselves <i>just</i> 20 points behind the Spireites in second with 13 games to go. With only one defeat in five, the Daggers have hauled themselves into the top half. However, they're still only six points clear of the relegation zone in what is an incredibly congested lower half of the table. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Trophy Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Hendon @745pm </b>- with this tie postponed twice, these two local rivals will give it another go on Tuesday. As members of the National League, the Stones play two levels above the Greens and will be big favourites to win. However, the north-west London club caused one of the upsets of the competition so far by beating Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in the last round and defeated sides from higher divisions in the two rounds before that. The club who play within sight of the Wembley arch, should travel to Grosvenor Vale with little to fear. It should be noted that a pitch inspection will be held on Monday and if it looks doubtful, the tie will be switched to Hendon's ground instead so check with the clubs for the latest information. <b><i>UPDATE - this has been moved to Hendon</i></b> <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/fa_trophy_5th_round_wealdstone_v_hendon">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bishop's Stortford v Coalville Town @745pm</b> - poor pitch conditions mean this tie from outside our normal catchment area has been moved to Aveley's ground. Stortford, who are located close to London's Stansted airport, had the misfortune of being allocated a place in the National League North after winning the Isthmian League last season. This means they face journeys to clubs near Newcastle, Liverpool and even have to go west to Gloucester too which is costing them thousands. This has seen their really successful squad fall apart and they're bottom of the division as a result. However, they've had a great run in this competition and could make it to the quarter-finals as Coalville play a level below them. A trip to Macclesfield awaits the winners. Tickets will be available on the gate </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Welling United v Worthing @745pm </b>- the Wings remain in the relegation zone but are building an unbeaten run under new boss Rod Stringer which is giving them hope. Four points behind Taunton Town, 20th is now within their grasp. The visitors, on the other hand, have won four in a row to climb to second. Still 10 points behind leaders Yeovil, they've got a five-point advantage over third placed Chelmsford. When the sides met in Sussex in September, Worthing won 2-0. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/o/692994228/welling-united-fc/events">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Fulham v Middlesbrough @7pm </b>- if you're looking for an option on the south-west side of town, then this U21 match is probably your best bet. Having topped Group G ahead of Leicester, Brentford and Burnley, the Cottagers have got Boro in the last 16. The visitors made it out of their group as runners-up at the expense of Ipswich and Birmingham. This is being played the club's training ground in Motspur Park and you can usually pay on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hanwell Town v Plymouth Parkway @745pm </b>- the Geordies looked to have pulled away from the relegation zone but following Saturday's draw at Winchester, they find themselves only three points above the bottom four. The visitors, who have to travel all the way up from Devon, are a couple of places below them but have a whopping six games in hand - a big game for both. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=4570">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Middlesex Premier Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Brook House v British Airways @745pm </b>- two CCL Division 1 clubs from broadly the same part of west London meet at Farm Park in this important cup match. With BA in the top four and having one of their best seasons, they should start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><i><u>Middlesex Premier Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>RB Kensington v Kensington Dragons @745pm</b> - it's derby day in one of London's poshest boroughs. Sadly though, neither actually play their home games within the hallowed postcodes of the area which is home to a royal palace. RBK are spending this season groundsharing with North Greenford United which is a far more normal place out in the western suburbs. It is they who should be expected to progress as they play a level above their 11th-tier opponents. Tickets will be available on the gate. <b><i>UPDATE - at the time of writing there is confusion about whether this game is on Tuesday or Wednesday with RBK and the host ground saying different things</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 21 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Chelsea @7pm </b>- the Lions' youngsters have made it to the quarter-finals of the country's most prestigious U18 competition. Having beaten Barking, Grimsby and Coventry, it's fair to say they've had a pretty good draw. The Blues, who have won it nine times, have had to do things the hard way defeating Leicester, Everton and Crystal Palace on their way to the last eight. The match is being played at The Den and <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2024/february/13/tickets---millwall-under-18s-v-chelsea/">tickets</a></b> are £5</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Canvey Island @745pm</b> - both sides look to have done enough to avoid the drop so it's now all about playing for pride and positions. The visitors are two points and two places above Cray who are London's oldest club and always worth a watch just for that. <b><a href="https://www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Romford @745pm</b> - I'm pretty sure both of these sides have been top at some point, the hosts definitely were. Over the last couple of months, Woodford appeared to have lost their way a bit and were drifting towards midtable but four straight wins have hoisted them back up to second, three points ahead of Wednesday's visitors who are third - it could be a cracker. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ashford Town (Middlesex) v AFC Wimbledon @745pm </b>- the Dons travel to fifth-placed Ashford hoping for a win that will put them nine points clear at the top. If they do achieve that it won't be quite as dominant a position as it might first appear as their main rivals Norwich City will have three games in hand</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 21 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Colchester United @7pm </b>- the R's welcome opposition from Essex for this U21 game at Hanwell Town. QPR have been top of the Group South of this competition for most of the season but now have three teams just a point behind them. Colchester are bottom of the 10-team division so should be beaten. Tickets are £5 on the gate<b></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>London Senior Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Balham v Metropolitan Police @745pm </b>- with the last-eight ties spread over several weeks, this is the first. It sees a ninth-tier side hosting one from the eighth. Balham won this cup back in 2018 beating Cray Valley PM 4-1. The Met, on the other hand, have made five finals and last won it in 2010. With the hosts pushing for promotion and the visitors looking to avoid relegation from the level above, it should be close. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 23 February</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion @7pm</b> - we're also down to the last eight in this U21 competition with a European flavour. I say last eight but it's actually now seven as Chelsea lost to PSV Eindhoven in the first quarter-final last week. It's kind of good that they did as PSV are the only non-English club left in the competition so it wouldn't have been very international if they'd gone out. As for this tie, both clubs are in the top six of the Premier League 2 so this is another match that should be competitive. This is being played at the Hammers' Rush Green training facility and tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div><b>New Salamis v Ipswich Wanderers @745pm </b>- the highest level non-league match of the night sees two teams in the bottom seven of this division meet at Haringey Borough's ground. With the bottom two going down and being well adrift of everyone else, there isn't a huge amount riding on this. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Little Oakley @745pm</b> - although a level below New Salamis, there could well be a more lively crowd and better atmosphere at Ashtons. Remember, the hosts still have a chance of winning the title and the visitors are the type of midtable team that must be beaten if they are to be taken seriously. Tickets will be available on the gate </div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 24 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Burnley @3pm</b> - Austrian Oliver Glasner takes charge of his first match at Selhurst Park after replacing Roy Hodgson earlier in the week. Winless in three, the Eagles sit five points above the relegation zone so there's work to be done. The visitors have only won three games all season and look doomed to go down. Palace won at Turfmoor earlier in the campaign and really need to complete a double here. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><b>Arsenal v Newcastle United @8pm</b> - the Gunners' great winning run in the league has taken them to third but despite this great form, they suffered a slightly surprising 1-0 loss at Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Magpies had a great season last year and finished in the top four. This time round they've won less than half their games and have only made it to eighth and will do well to get into the Conference League. Despite this, Eddie Howe's team did manage to beat Arsenal at St James' Park in November so it's not a foregone conclusion by any means. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Rotherham United @3pm</b> - there's a huge game at the wrong end of the second tier as two of the bottom three meet at Loftus Road. With only one defeat in five, the R's are now just a point adrift of safety. Millwall are the team they're trying to catch and their form has plummeted in recent weeks, leading to the sacking of young head coach Joe Edwards. Rotherham's cause looks pretty hopeless but they haven't given up the fight - it took a 95th-minute goal for high-flying Ipswich to beat them 4-3 on Tuesday. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/qpr/EDP/Event/Index/3554">Tickets</a></b> </div><div><b>Watford v Huddersfield Town @3pm</b> - a run of three straight defeats earlier in the month pretty much ended the Hornets' promotion charge but on Saturday they could play a big part in who goes down. The Terriers sit just above aforementioned strugglers Millwall so if they lose here and QPR get three points, they could find themselves in the relegation zone. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth @3pm</b> - three games into his new reign, Nathan Jones is still looking for his first win as Addicks boss. If he gets it here, it will be quite something as Pompey are six points clear at the top of the division. Something to give Charlton fans a bit of hope - they drew 2-2 at Fratton Park in November and are unbeaten in five against the Hampshire club. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Colchester United @3pm</b> - it's a big day for teams battling the drop. Sutton have been at the foot of the fourth tier for sometime now and still haven't won under new manager Steve Morison. Seven points from safety, their escape isn't impossible but they've got to start winning soon. Colchester are fourth from bottom but are seven points clear of the drop zone - a win would do wonders for them to. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Fleetwood Town @1pm</b> - if you've not been to the impressive Tottenham Hostpur Stadium then now's your chance to do it on the cheap. Spurs' have made it to the last 16 of this U21 competition and <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/EDP/Event/Index/9416">tickets</a></b> are £10 </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v York City @3pm</b> - in the fifth tier, there's a match of some significance affecting either end of the table. The Bees are third but have a game in hand which could put them second. Although York are 16th out of 24 teams, only four points separate the clubs between 11th and 21st so virtually anyone in the bottom half could go down in what must be one of the tightest relegation battles in the country. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/login.asp?selectHomeAway=true&eventID={5973BD5B-9833-49FA-AB27-9CA2411A8F0C}">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Taunton Town @3pm</b> - avoiding relegation is still a concern for both these teams too. Although both sit outside the drop zone at present, Welling United are picking up points fast under new manager Rod Stringer and they could be caught. <b><a href="https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Wingate & Finchley @3pm</b> - away from all the doom and gloom of relegation, we've got a north London derby featuring two sides who are going for promotion. The Towners are often there or thereabouts in the race for the play-offs and they're currently occupying fifth, the last spot. W&F on the other hand are one of the smallest clubs in the division and do well just to survive at this level. So it's quite something for them to be up in fourth. When the sides met at Summers Lane on Halloween, Wingate had a horror show of a game losing 4-1 and they'll be hoping to avoid that at all costs. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Raynes Park Vale v Leatherhead @3pm </b>- although there are a couple of relegation six-pointers elsewhere, I've gone for this as the match of the day in the eighth tier. The sides in second to fifth make the play-offs in this division and both clubs are in there at the moment. In fifth, RPV have a five-point cushion over Westfield who are leading the chase so they could do with the points slightly more than the Tanners. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=204">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Rayners Lane v Flackwell Heath @3pm</b> - there's no doubt about the big game in the ninth tier where the top two in this division go head-to-head at Tithe Farm. The hosts have been top for a long time but the Heathens are now in a position to usurp them. Three points behind and with a game in hand, this game is absolutely huge for both as only one team goes up automatically. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Clapton v Clapton CFC @3pm</b> - in the 10th tier, El Claptico is definitely the most interesting match for your consideration. However, the attendance is likely to be a lot lower than it could be as most supporters of the away team are likely to boycott the game. CCFC were formed by supporters of the Tons who had become disillusioned with the way it was being run. On paper, CCFC are third so should start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 25 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>EFL Cup Final</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Liverpool @3pm - </b>tenth in the Premier League, the Blues are having a season to forget so this match represents a huge moment of potential redemption for them. They last won this cup in 2022 to take their tally of wins to five. If they do win at Wembley on Sunday, it will be quite an achievement as the Reds are currently top of the Premier League and have won this cup more times than anyone else. Also, when the sides last met at the end of January, Jurgen Klopp's side strolled to a 4-1 win at Anfield so they're big favourites again. Tickets are not available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Chesham United @2pm </b>- there's an international break in the women's game this weekend so this is the highest level game you can go to. The Tangerines will jump above Cambridge United into the top five if they beat the Generals who have probably done enough to avoid the drop. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Friendly</u></i></b></div><div><b>Actonians v Maidenhead United @2pm</b> - with the amount of rain we've had and with further more forecast, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the game at Ashford got postponed. That's highly unlikely to happen here where teams from parallel fourth-tier divisions meet for a friendly on the 3G at Gunnersbury Park. Admission is free</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>L&SE Women's League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Dartford @2pm</b> - six points separate the top three as we approach the final weeks of the season. The visitors are currently four points clear at the top and should fancy themselves to take the points at Gander Green Lane. However, former Actonians defender Justine Buckmire has recently signed for the U's and will look to anchor the defence as they attempt to shut out the leaders. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>L&SE Women's League D1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>SL Benfica v Dulwich Hamlet Reserves @2pm - </b>in the sixth tier there's a top-two clash at Rectory Park in Northolt. Benfica have had a huge upturn in form this season and have been among the frontrunners for the whole campaign. With Brentford also in the division and apparently throwing quite a bit of resource at their team to get promoted, the club with its roots in London's Portuguese community are doing superbly well to be out in front at this stage. Although Dulwich's second string are just two points behind, they've played three games more so really have to win to stay in contention</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-66636134518040627762024-02-11T22:37:00.267+00:002024-02-16T11:57:08.036+00:00TLFG: 12-18 February 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Welcome to TLFG Valentine's Week Special - not really, I don't have time for any of that!</p><p style="text-align: left;">What's the most eventful Valentine's Day (VD) you've ever had? Mine saw me have my appendix removed when I was 14.</p><p style="text-align: left;">There was also a time at university, when myself and a colleague who ran the hall of residence sports and social committee spent ages writing homemade cards to every woman in the building to make sure no-one missed out - make of that what you will.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With VD falling on a Wednesday this year, some clubs have games. Have you seen any great offers from the clubs for that 'special person in your life'? There's usually one or two.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZsolgUnBKKBBJqeQNaQhUnbYSe4uZIv3beZUEaHJRRn_uXTRjqPI8mjOyao1VXUUnn_MPcTz1H5Py3toT55jRNEs_1aDHGnHKvS5Onr3V4wbxcgALp3y1BhnReca2gK1TvArzJYNB19r-QR84N082oC9P-jKW6ZZDfNxz6ors1Zmy8avGX1MnPOtlWR_/s1506/cos.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1506" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZsolgUnBKKBBJqeQNaQhUnbYSe4uZIv3beZUEaHJRRn_uXTRjqPI8mjOyao1VXUUnn_MPcTz1H5Py3toT55jRNEs_1aDHGnHKvS5Onr3V4wbxcgALp3y1BhnReca2gK1TvArzJYNB19r-QR84N082oC9P-jKW6ZZDfNxz6ors1Zmy8avGX1MnPOtlWR_/w400-h300/cos.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midfielder Camila Orozco Saenz was in the thick of the action for Actonians</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Anyway, enough of all the VD chat, my football week has seen preparations for <b>Non-League Day</b> continue.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The most exciting thing relating to this was a meeting with a corporate sponsor who are offering opportunities I could only ever have previously dreamed of.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A few things need to fall into place for the full potential of such a relationship to be realised but it's really close and hopefully I'll be able to update you with more news on this soon.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As for live action, I was back at Rectory Park today (Sunday) for the Women's National League game between <b>Actonians</b> and Cambridge United.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Aside from the football, I also made my debut as the gate man after a late call up from the chair in the morning. </p><p style="text-align: left;">To be honest, I was a bit unsure about doing it but I grew into it and managed to make the club a few quid even though I wasn't provided with a float.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I also managed a bit of chat with some of the punters who included a player's uncle who had travelled from Edinburgh, a player's boyfriend who thought it was free to get in but was happy enough to pay, the Cambridge keeper's boyfriend who lived locally and some of the Cambridge media team.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With the sides neck-and-neck in the table, it was expected to be tight and so it began.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Watching the game with one of Actonians' management team from last season, I enjoyed some great insight into what was going on.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Chances were few and far between as the interval approached but then another well taken goal from Amber Dredge gave the A's a 1-0 lead.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After the break, things continued to be competitive but then the referee made two decisions which changed the course of the game.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2G2xN5vsstj0By5Wzo2v4cdCFuY39b3okK0q6xEAyfJCG0b3MuTJdxRs68Rhy5uH-RMsgMRp_RwcLzlDrwlv5B0_bxfM1zuRBu9tefZPAgIbCp0BZvtUHIYoYEgygKNXRuHF44DhNHZ3DJICSRxF5Vt04tZAsf0ywYDdSGy5XisWc6k5Ud3-VdiUOo93/s1200/stamfordbridge.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2G2xN5vsstj0By5Wzo2v4cdCFuY39b3okK0q6xEAyfJCG0b3MuTJdxRs68Rhy5uH-RMsgMRp_RwcLzlDrwlv5B0_bxfM1zuRBu9tefZPAgIbCp0BZvtUHIYoYEgygKNXRuHF44DhNHZ3DJICSRxF5Vt04tZAsf0ywYDdSGy5XisWc6k5Ud3-VdiUOo93/w400-h300/stamfordbridge.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stamford Bridge plays host to Chelsea's U21 side on Thursday</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Firstly, a fierce shot from the A's American midfielder Camila Orozco Saenz crashed against the underside of the bar and appeared to cross the line but the officials didn't agree and waved play on.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Then almost immediately, one of the most blatant handballs I've ever seen and heard (the slap was audible from the other end of the pitch) was also missed and the player slammed home an equaliser.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Still smarting from this, the A's defence got opened up again and defender Jennie Brereton stuck out a hand to stop a goal and got sent off - correctly.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The resulting penalty was smoothly converted and, although Actonians hit the woodwork twice in the last half hour, Cambridge rattled off another three goals to win 5-1.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With both sides realistically out of the promotion and relegation battles, this was close to being a dead rubber so it's not the end of the world.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Much more important is Actonians' Capital Senior Cup Quarter-Final against <b>Fulham</b> this Sunday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Cottagers beat the A's in the FA Cup on penalties earlier in the season so it would be nice to get some revenge and a cup semi-final place.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's Super League and Premier League International Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1_WimUsppyZRC8wCTguDHKJxCPtfVoME&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1iYEyp5SKUd7zRJLHUJcVkdKEUwrWA4E&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 12 February</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Chelsea @8pm</b> - the week begins with this London derby. The Blues have had a very poor season by their standards with two consecutive defeats leaving them 11th in the Premier League. However, Palace are even further down the table and Chelsea seem to well and truly have their number, beating them on the last 13 occasions in all competitions. Tickets are only available to members</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 13 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Lincoln City @745pm </b>- the Addicks brought in former Luton and Southampton manager Nathan Jones as their new boss last week and he began with a 2-0 loss at fellow strugglers Reading. Things are looking pretty dire for the new man with his side being kept out of the relegation zone by goal difference alone. On top of that, the two teams below them both have games in hand. The Imps are next to visit and they're building a decent unbeaten run to keep their faint play-off hopes alive. Lincoln won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in October. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20lincoln%20city/2024-2-13_19.45/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Northampton Town @745pm </b>- the O's have had a great few weeks but their unbeaten run came to an end at Barnsley on Saturday. Up in ninth, they're still eight points adrift of the play-off places so they can't afford to lose too many more games if they want to stay in contention. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/EDP/Event/Index/148">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><b>Sutton United v Wrexham @745pm </b>- the U's have improved a lot under new boss Steve Morison but they still haven't won any of the six games he's presided over. On Tuesday night they face one of the toughest games of the season when Phil Parkinson's promotion contenders head down from Wales. Despite being one of the favourites for promotion, they've lost three in a row so this could be a good time to play them. <b>Tickets have sold out but a waiting list has been opened </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>QPR v Watford @7pm - </b>if you're into U21 football or simply want a slightly earlier kick-off then this derby at Hanwell Town could be for you. The R's youngsters are having a fine season and currently top Group South whilst the Hornets are down in eighth with nearly half the points. Entry is usually £5 on the gate but check all the details with QPR on the day</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Trophy Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Hendon @745pm </b>- with the original tie postponed on Saturday, these two local rivals will give it another go on Tuesday. As members of the National League, the Stones play two levels above the Greens and will be big favourites to win. However, the north-west London club caused one of the upsets of the competition so far by beating Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in the last round and defeating sides from higher divisions in the two rounds before that. The club who play within sight of the Wembley arch, should travel to Grosvenor Vale with little to fear. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/fa_trophy_5th_round_wealdstone_v_hendon">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Rayners Lane v North Greenford United @745pm </b>- there's a lot of great stuff going on in west London on Tuesday with this all-CCL derby in the county cup. Rayners Lane are top of the ninth-tier division both clubs are in whilst NGU are sixth and well in with a chance of getting a play-off spot. The visitors also pulled off a fantastic win at Essex Senior League leaders Tilbury in the FA Vase on Saturday to take them into the last eight of that competition. The winners will play Hayes & Yeading United or Hendon in the final. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 14 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u style="font-style: italic;">Championship</u></b></div><b>Millwall v Ipswich Town @745pm </b>- after a great festive period which seemed to pull them well clear of the bottom three, the Lions are now sliding back into the mire. Saturday's loss at Coventry means they're now only four points above a relegation zone which is topped by a QPR side who are unbeaten in four and growing in confidence. Since sensationally losing to non-league Maidstone in the FA Cup, Ipswich have failed to win their next two league games meaning they're now down to fourth. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b> <br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Phoenix Sports v Beckenham Town @745pm </b>- the best non-league option of the night would appear to be this relegation six-pointer in south-east London. Both clubs are in the bottom three and fighting for every point so there's plenty to play for. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 15 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v PSV Eindhoven @7pm </b>- if there's a youngster in your life who likes Chelsea or would just enjoy a visit to Stamford Bridge then this U21 match could make for a great half-term excursion. The Blues have never been beyond the semi-finals in this competition whilst PSV are the reigning champions, made the final on one other occasion and are the only non-English club remaining in this year's competition. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/academy-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 16 February</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Manchester City @715pm </b>- there's an absolutely huge game in the WSL on Friday night, which might as well be a title decider given how precious points are in this division. The Blues are currently three points ahead of City at the top but the visitors are in better form. On Sunday, Gareth Taylor's side notched an impressive 2-0 win at Arsenal in the FA Cup whilst Chelsea huffed and puffed to a 1-0 win over Championship club Crystal Palace. For the good of the league, if nothing else, I'm really hoping for a City win. Given its importance, it's kind of weird that this match is at Kingsmeadow whilst the U21s are at Stamford Bridge the night before - as a result it's sold out</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Southampton @7pm</b> - back in the men's game, we've got some more U21 football. The Gunners are third in the 26 team PL2 but some way behind leaders Spurs. The Saints are way down in 18th and should be beaten. This is being played at Boreham Wood - entrance is often free for these games but shouldn't be more than £5</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Brentford v Liverpool @1230pm </b>- having missed the first half of the season with a betting ban, Ivan Toney is back in the Bees' side and making a huge impact. With three goals in four games, Thomas Frank's side are a different proposition with him in the team and they should beat the drop. Whether they get any points against the league leaders is another matter although they are unbeaten in the two games against them at the GTech and they scored three in each. Tickets are not available</div><div><b>Fulham v Aston Villa @3pm </b>- four and half miles along the Thames path, you come to Craven Cottage which plays host to this match. With only one defeat in five, the Cottagers have put 10 points between themselves and the relegation zone so things are looking pretty promising. Villa, on the other hand, are up in fifth and looking for a Champions League place. Although losing to Manchester United last weekend, most reports said they were very unlucky and should've got something. With four wins from five against the west London club, Unai Emery's side should start as favourites. Tickets are unavailable but <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228548207141&productId=10228547852314&lang=en">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £400+</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm </b>- building a nice unbeaten run, Spurs are back in the top four and looking to cement their place there. Getting another three points against Wolves though, won't be easy. Although down in 11th, a Europa Conference League place is starting to come into view for the Midlands club. Gary O'Neil has done a superb job at Molineux and must be in the running for at least a place on the shortlist for manager of the season. They've also only lost one of their last five against Tottenham and won the reverse fixture 2-1 in November. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Manchester United @1230pm</b> - the roads and public transport network in north London look set to be very busy on Saturday. With around 60,000 heading to Spurs, a similar amount of people have bought tickets for this women's game at the Emirates - the first time a WSL match at this venue has sold out. The Gunners have had a very difficult couple of weeks, losing to struggling West Ham in the league and getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City. Trophy-wise, the League Cup is all they realistically look capable of winning now. Aside from that, keeping hold of third place and qualifying for Europe is also a top priority and the only team likely to nick it off them are United. When they last met in October, it ended 2-2. Tickets are not available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm</b> - with all of the above sold out, the highest level game the casual fan or groundhopper can get a ticket for on Saturday is this one. It looks like a potential cracker too with both battling to avoid the drop. With Birmingham, Stoke and Huddersfield all winning in midweek, the Lions are now just above the relegation zone. Although they have a four-point cushion between themselves and QPR, their form is poor and it's a worrying time for their fans. Wednesday are seven points adrift of safety so losing this would make staying up very difficult indeed. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Burton Albion @3pm </b>- with only one defeat in 10, the O's are up in eighth but still seven points off the all-important top six. The visitors are down in 18th but with seven points from four games, they've got a bit of momentum and are staying just ahead of the strugglers. The last match between them ended goalless, so hopefully there'll be a few more goals this time. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe @3pm</b> - locked together on 46 points and only a point shy of the play-off places, this is a big game for both sides. With four wins from five, the Shrimps are in better form than the Dons and they thrashed them 4-1 in October. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Chesterfield @3pm</b> - the match of the day in the fifth tier sees the top two meet at Hayes Lane. With the Spireites way out in front at the top, a win here could potentially leave them 26 points clear with 13 games to go and make this effectively a title decider ,if it wasn't a foregone conclusion already. Although the title might be beyond them, finishing second makes things easier in the play-offs and the Ravens are also still doing well in the FA Trophy so they still have plenty to play for. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Aveley @3pm </b>- my pick of the day in the sixth tier sees two of the play-off hopefuls meet at the Beveree. The hosts are currently just about holding on to seventh, the last play-off spot, whilst former leaders Aveley are four points behind in 10th. With only six points separating the clubs in 6th-13th, it's shaping up to be quite a battle. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hornchurch v Haringey Borough @3pm - </b>there's a game of some significance at either end of the table in the seventh tier. The Urchins seem to be permanently nine points clear at the top, with second-placed Chatham refusing to let them go. On Saturday you'd expect them to get another win against a Haringey side who are battling the drop. It was tight when they played at Coles Park with Hornchurch winning 2-1. <b><a href="https://hornchurchfc.ktckts.com/event/hch2324ilp16/hornchurch-vs-haringey-borough">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chipstead v Chertsey Town @3pm</b> - it's a similar story at High Road where the struggling Chips welcome the division-leading Curfews. The hosts are currently in the bottom four but, with only two going down, will probably just about keep their heads above water. Chertsey, on the other hand, are six points clear with two games in hand on their nearest rivals - it's looking really good for them. Tickets are £10 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Athletic Newham v Sporting Bengal United @3pm</b> - in the ninth tier, why not check out this east London derby between sides from the neighbouring boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets? Not only is this a derby, the sides are both in the top five and looking to go up. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>London Senior Trophy Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Croydon v Cockfosters Reserves @3pm</b> - no 10th-tier games are really grabbing me but this important cup match does. The Trams made it to the semi-finals last season too before losing on penalties to eventual champions FC Petrocub. They're up against 11th-tier opposition so will start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 18 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Women's Super League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa @2pm </b>- sixth in the league and through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, Spurs are having a pretty satisfactory season. On Sunday they welcome a side who did really well last season but have found this campaign much more of a struggle. Having improved considerably, Villa are now up in midtable and in very little danger of relegation. The sides' current league form is identical over the last five games so a draw looks highly likely. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Online sales appear to have ended but I'm sure you can pay on arrival - adult tickets are £10</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Reading @2pm</b> - the Addicks pushed Spurs really hard in the FA Cup last week before losing 1-0. Karen Hills' side return to league duty here where they find themselves top of an incredibly tight division. Remember that only one team goes up at the end of the season and there are currently only four points between the top five. Sadly for the Royals, they are not one of them. Relegated from the WSL last season, off-field issues have really blighted the Berkshire club and they could go down again. This is being played at VCD Athletic. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20women%20v%20reading/2024-2-18_14.00/the%20oakwood%20(vcd%20athletic),%20crayford%20da1%204dn?back=2&area=67b8a93e-ca62-e811-93f5-005056b75e6a&type=ga">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers @2pm</b> - the Eagles are also in the title-chasing group and crucially have a game in hand which would put them top on goal difference if they won it. Rovers are the ultimate midtable club. Sitting sixth, they're 12 points behind Charlton so realistically have little chance of going up. They're actually much closer to the relegation zone but it would be quite a surprise if they end up in the bottom two. This match is being played at Sutton United. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/136">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Durham @2pm </b>- with a change of ownership in December and management this month, this is very much a season of transition for the hosts. Knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup over the last few days, it's been a tough week. Now they return to the crucial business of league football where a marginally better goal difference than Watford is all that's keeping them out of the relegation zone. Durham are locked on points with Blackburn so are beatable. This being played at Dartford. <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Women's Cup Semi-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hashtag United v Chelmsford City @130pm</b> - in the lower tiers of the women's game it's all about county cups on Sunday. Let's just say if the third-tier Tags put their strongest side out here, they'll probably score double figures against a side who play four levels below them. I think it's fair to say, there'll be a fair bit of squad rotation as Hashtag are far more worried about winning the Southern Premier title and getting into the Championship. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Capital Senior Cup Quarter-Finals</u></i></b></div><div><b>Actonians v Fulham @2pm </b>- there should be some far better matches in this competition where the teams will be far more focused on doing well and playing their first teams. Almost certain to finish in midtable, this is now a big priority for the A's who play in the fourth tier, one level above Fulham. The Cottagers, however, are in the title race in the fifth tier and beat Actonians on penalties in the FA Cup in October so this should be really competitive again. This is being played at Rectory Park in Northolt. <b><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/northolt/rectory-park-football-centre/capital-womens-senior-cup-actonians-v-fulham/e-zmoyld">Tickets</a></b> are available online or on the gate (cash only) where there's a chance I could be taking your money</div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Millwall Lionesses @2pm </b>- the Dons made the final last year where they lost to Arsenal's youngsters. With the Gunners already knocked out by Fulham, Wimbledon are probably now the favourites but a lot will depend how seriously they take it. In a really tight title battle with Norwich City, promotion will be their top priority. Millwall play a level below but picked up the notable scalp of QPR in the last round. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b>Ashford Town (Middlesex) v London Seaward @3pm</b> - on paper, the most balanced tie of the round sees two midtable fourth-tier clubs do battle at the Robert Parker Stadium near Heathrow. The hosts have had a better season so far but there really is little to choose between them as the 1-1 draw between them two weeks ago demonstrated. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b>Haringey Borough v Tottenham Hotspur U21 @2pm</b> - in the final tie there's an intriguing north London derby between two clubs who are based within sight of each other. Strictly speaking, it's Haringey who are actually based on White Hart Lane whilst Spurs are on Tottenham High Road but you get the idea. The hosts play in the fifth tier but so do Dulwich Hamlet who Spurs only managed to scrape past on penalties in the last round. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-31288190784598336402024-02-04T22:58:00.018+00:002024-02-08T14:51:16.790+00:00TLFG: 5-11 February 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This week has been incredibly hectic again as I've tried to juggle this blog, Non-League Day preparations here and in the Basque Country, a job application, my normal work commitments, my eldest daughter's birthday and her subsequent party!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Somehow I also managed to squeeze in a football away day on Sunday afternoon and that's why I'm still writing at 1030pm and still have a match report to produce for that game before I can go to bed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The away day in question involved my beloved <b>Actonians</b> who headed to Sussex to play Haywards Heath Town.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBYtx1vMO2nQz1c8XfIwqf9ugyUcEh544eeDHSfNKTT0P872PhXuRB-dfr6qErfKd4exWpGHSfRepaJ1hkiBQ5P9GxuGBcLojLWASkd30ylTC7JrqJet7AmCOGK6IWS8Ww_d2vbeUFAWD4BlVgoGq7LUjMNHxk78c2DA57Ca59BTeLgSUsuOss3CHsS97/s1440/hht.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBYtx1vMO2nQz1c8XfIwqf9ugyUcEh544eeDHSfNKTT0P872PhXuRB-dfr6qErfKd4exWpGHSfRepaJ1hkiBQ5P9GxuGBcLojLWASkd30ylTC7JrqJet7AmCOGK6IWS8Ww_d2vbeUFAWD4BlVgoGq7LUjMNHxk78c2DA57Ca59BTeLgSUsuOss3CHsS97/w400-h400/hht.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actonians travelled to Haywards Heath Town on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">This match had previously been abandoned at half-time before Christmas because of poor pitch conditions and postponed again since then, so this was the third attempt to get the game played.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The journey from Shepherds Bush to Haywards Heath, via Clapham Junction, is actually pretty quick and takes just over an hour.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Despite loads of taxis parked outside the station, I opted to walk the mile or so to the ground which Google Maps told me was mostly flat - lie! </p><p style="text-align: left;">Although I arrived shortly after 2pm, the match hadn't kicked off so I was there in time to see the action get underway.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Ahead of the game, most A's fans had been pretty confident of getting something as Haywards Heath Town were bottom of this fourth-tier division.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Hopes were boosted still further by news of star player Skye Bacon's move to league leaders AFC Wimbledon earlier in the week.</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, 70 seconds after the start, goalkeeper Amber Taylor found herself picking the ball out of the net after a scorching 25-yarder found the top corner.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The rest of the first half was turgid with the heavy pitch restricting the quality on show.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Actonians huffed and puffed as they looked for an equaliser and created a number of half chances before the hosts somehow failed to score a second after a lighting break opened up the visitors' defence.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The second half saw the A's keep piling on the pressure but clear-cut chances were few and far between.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Heavy tackles flew in from both sides, with several players left to limp out of proceedings as the clock ran down.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With five minutes to go, Actonians won a free-kick way out on the right which winger Amber Dredge sent straight over the keeper's head into the far corner to finally make it 1-1.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Deep into injury time in something like the 100th minute, Dredge popped up again to send another high effort goalwards.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The diminutive HHT keeper, who had made some good saves during the game, could only palm it into the net to spark wild celebrations.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's now four wins out of five in 2024 for Actonians and they're up to sixth - bring on Cambridge United on Sunday.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, FA Vase, Women's FA Cup, Women's League Cup and FA Youth Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1Tn36_dnlrfuyuijcRnwvIwzFqKi942c&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1LWWlhFMwUlbWDozWY16TuQmzzMrLKv8&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 5 February</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Brentford v Manchester City @8pm</b> - with all four teams immediately below them managing to draw this weekend, the Bees are now only three points above the relegation zone. At the other end of the table, City watched with glee as leaders Liverpool got beaten at Arsenal. This means that if they win at the GTech they'll cut the gap on the Reds to just two points and still have a game in hand. An away win looks almost certain BUT Brentford did the double over the eventual league champions last season so they can't be completely discounted. Tickets are not available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers @7pm</b> - if you can't get in at Brentford then maybe this U21 match could be for you instead. It's being played at Dartford and to be honest it's a dead rubber as the top two spots in Group C have already been secured by Bournemouth and Norwich. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barkingside v NW London @8pm </b>- just two points apart in midtable, both of these sides are a lot nearer the relegation zone than the top five and could therefore do with a win. Please check the venue and kick-off time before you travel as the club, at the time of writing, haven't confirmed the details yet</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 6 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Chesterfield @745pm </b>- the Daggers recorded a hugely important 2-1 win at Rochdale on Saturday to move five points clear of the relegation zone. With only six points separating the teams in 12th-21st, the fight to avoid the drop looks like it's going to be quite something. The title race, on the other hand, looks over already. With their nearest rivals dropping more points at the weekend, the Spireites' 3-1 win at Eastleigh saw them move 19 points clear at the top. Having already beaten D&R 3-1 earlier in the season, they look like a very safe bet to win here. <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v St Albans City @745pm</b> - game of the day in the sixth tier is this match between the teams in fifth and sixth. The hosts ended their three game losing streak on Saturday with a narrow 2-1 win over Truro City whilst St Albans trounced Torquay United 4-0 at Plainmoor. Third place is up for grabs for the winners. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wingate & Finchley v Chatham Town @745pm </b>- on Tuesday, Wingate lost to Dulwich Hamlet to finally surrender their place in the top five. However, they bounced straight back on Saturday with a solid 3-0 win over Lewes to remain sixth and firmly in touch with the other play-off contenders. The visitors stayed second after a 2-1 win at Whitehawk but with leaders Hornchurch still nine points clear, the runners-up spot looks to be the best anyone else will get. <b><a href="https://www.wingatefinchley.com/events/1st-team-v-chatham-town-h-2">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth @7pm </b>- a place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs on Tuesday night at Plough Lane. Yes, you read that right. For some weird reason, this U18 match is being played at AFC Wimbledon's stadium which is firmly on the south side of the city, nowhere near Tottenham's N17 home. Spurs' youngsters are currently top of the South group of the U18 Premier League, making them one of the best sides in the country. The Cherries play at a lower level so will start as significant underdogs. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228763038470&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 7 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u style="font-style: italic;">London Senior Cup Second Round</u></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Charlton Athletic U21 @745pm </b>- after surprisingly sacking boss Danny Bloor last weekend, the Wings' board appointed Rod Stringer and he managed a superb win over Hampton & Richmond in midweek before getting another point against Taunton on Saturday. Now unbeaten in three, the Wings next face a squad from local EFL club Charlton. Barking await the winners in the quarter-finals. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/o/692994228/welling-united-fc/events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Balham v Fleet Town @745pm </b>- the hosts enjoyed a derby win over local rivals Tooting & Mitcham United on Saturday to move into the top six. Now only one point adrift of the play-off places, the south London club need to keep the wins coming to stay in contention. Fleet are 10th so should provide a stern test. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u style="font-style: italic;">Women's League Cup Quarter-Final</u></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @730pm </b>- three of the competition's quarter-finals are taking place in London on Wednesday with Chelsea and London City Lionesses also hosting games. This is the pick of the ties as it features two WSL sides. This cup has only been going since 2011 and City have won it four times to put them second on the all-time list of winners behind Arsenal. The Mancunian club are also the WSL's form team and should beat a competitive Spurs side here <i>IF </i>they put out a full-strength side but that's not a given. Being played at Leyton Orient, <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/EDP/Event/Index/9409?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=wom_tx_page&utm_campaign=women_onsale-filter_1_2023_11&utm_content=mci-cc">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 8 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Chelsea @7pm </b>- in the other tie of the week in this U18 competition, we've got a highly competitive looking derby to look forward to. These two are currently level on points in the league, in the top five of the South division. It's also being played at Selhurst Park. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/286">Tickets</a></b></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 9 February</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div>There's a huge night of U21 action to be enjoyed on Friday with <b>Arsenal</b>, <b>Crystal Palace</b>, <b>Fulham</b> and <b>West Ham United</b> all hosting games. Sadly none of them will be at the clubs' main stadiums. You should be able to pay on the gate for all of them</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div><b>New Salamis v Grays Athletic @745pm</b> - if you'd rather do your bit to support a non-league club instead, then head up to Coles Park in Haringey where two teams in the lower reaches of this eighth-tier division do battle. With one team having already folded, there's only one relegation place to still be decided and these two are well clear of the team in 19th so both have little to fear or play for. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Fulham v AFC Bournemouth @3pm </b>- just a point apart in midtable and in very similar form, these two will probably avoid the drop but could do with a win or two to keep the pressure off. The Cherries won the reverse fixture on Boxing Day 3-0 and are unbeaten in five against the Cottagers so you'd expect them to at least get a draw here. <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228523146410&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm</b> - two of the division's most attractive sides meet at the THS on Saturday. Unbeaten in four, Spurs could get back into the Champions League places with a win here. Roberto De Zerbi's side have won a lot of plaudits since he took over and they recovered really well from their shock thrashing by Luton to inflict a 4-1 defeat on arch rivals Crystal Palace last time out. Sitting just outside the European places, they need to keep the good results coming or they could drift into midtable. Tickets are only available to members </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Norwich City @3pm</b> - with seven points from their last three games, the R's have given themselves a chance of getting out of the bottom three. If they beat the Canaries and Huddersfield lose, then they'll move out of the relegation zone. However, the visitors are going along pretty nicely at the moment and could move into the top six if they are victorious. The East Anglian club are unbeaten in eight against QPR so they're becoming a bit of a bogey club for Rangers. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/qpr/Events?preFilter=9&preFilterName=Home+Games&utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Splash_Banner&utm_campaign=Norwich_Rotherham">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Leicester City @3pm </b>- with only one win from five, the Hornets' play-off ambitions have suffered a bit of hit recently. Still only four points adrift of sixth, they are in contention but they can't let their form continue in this way. Sadly, they might have to wait a bit longer to pick up that next win as the Foxes are rapidly becoming the champions elect even at this relatively early stage. Already 11 points clear at the top, they've had a fine season. However, they've only won three of their last five so they aren't infallible. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Barrow @3pm</b> - the Dons' form has been pretty inconsistent of late but they're still only one point outside the play-off places so there's plenty to play for. On Saturday they welcome a gifted Barrow side to Plough Lane. Up in third, the Cumbrian side have only lost five of their 30 games but the London club did manage a 0-0 draw when they last played in October. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers, which has its final at Wembley, is down to its last 16 teams. Four of the eight ties are being played in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Bromley v Aveley @3pm</b> - the Ravens are pushing hard for promotion into the EFL and are doing really well in this competition which they won in 2022 in front of 46,111 fans. The Millers play in the division below and although they were top earlier in the season, they're now down in eighth. Although underdogs, they took Bromley's promotion rivals Barnet to a replay in the FA Cup earlier in the season so the hosts will have to avoid being complacent at all costs. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Macclesfield @3pm</b> - the sixth-tier Beavers play a level above their opponents who are travelling down from Cheshire.On paper they should start as favourites as they've had a great season. However, Macclesfield are a reincarnation of former EFL club and former FA Trophy winners Macclesfield Town. With average crowds of over 3,000 (the eighth highest in non-league football) they are a force to be reckoned with. They famously have former Premier League player and BBC radio presenter Robbie Savage as director of football whilst Alex Bruce and Phil Bardsley head up their coaching team. A bumper crowd is expected so buy your <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">tickets</a></b> in advance</div><div><b>Wealdstone v Hendon @3pm</b> - given that these sides could have drawn opponents from much further away, they'll be pretty pleased to have ended up with this local derby. As members of the National League, the Stones play two levels above the Greens and will be big favourites to win. However, the north-west London club caused one of the upsets of the competition so far by beating Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in the last round and defeating sides from higher divisions in the two rounds before that. The club who play within sight of the Wembley arch, should travel to Grosvenor Vale with little to fear. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/fa_trophy_5th_round_wealdstone_v_hendon">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Barnet @3pm</b> - in the last London tie we've got another derby, although it's not quite as local as the one above. For the second round running, the Wings have drawn one of the best teams left in the competition. Despite being in the sixth tier's relegation zone, they somehow beat National League leaders Chesterfield in the Fourth Round which few saw coming. Next up they play the Bees who are third in the fifth tier. Unbeaten in the league under new manager Rod Stringer, I'm sure Welling will be well motivated to cause another upset. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/EOSGXY/welling-united-vs-barnet">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dulwich Hamlet v Hornchurch @3pm</b> - possibly the biggest non-league crowd of the day could come at Champion Hill where the Hamlet welcome the league-leading Urchins. Despite only being a midtable seventh-tier team, the hosts frequently get sell-out crowds in excess of 3,000. Sitting six points outside the play-offs, the south London club can still make the post-season but their east London rivals could well leave them nine points adrift by the end of the day. Definitely buy your <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=123">tickets</a></b> in advance if you want to go </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Chichester City @3pm</b> - unbeaten in the 23 league games they've played this season, CVPM are now breathing right down the necks of leaders Ramsgate whose sizeable lead has been cut to three points. The reason they're not top already is because of their great runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy which saw them amass several games in hand. Chichester are seventh but were beaten 3-0 in the reverse fixture last month. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers, which has its final at Wembley, is down to its last 16 teams. One of the eight ties is being played in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Hilltop v Romford @3pm</b> - being played at Cobham's ground, the hosts have used a number of venues this season but have settled on this newly refurbished stadium in Surrey for this one. With their roots in London's Somali community, it would be truly sensational if they made it all the way to Wembley this season. They play in the ninth tier CCL North and were bottom until recently, mainly as a result of this cup run and poor weather - they have seven games in hand on some of the teams above them. The visitors play in the parallel Essex Senior League and they too are on to their second ground of the season, having moved into Rookery Hill following the sad demise of East Thurrock United. Fourth in their league, they would appear to be marginal favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate for £8</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Rayners Lane v Bedfont Sports @3pm </b>- five points clear at the top but having played a game more than title rivals Flackwell Heath, the hosts still have work to do. On Saturday they face a visit from the team in third for what could turn out to be a really crucial match. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Abbey Rangers v Knaphill @3pm </b>- elsewhere in the ninth tier, there's a big clash between the sides in third and second. With Knaphill a short journey away from Addlestone, it's probably fair to describe this as a derby. With leaders Farnham Town well clear at the top, it would now seem to be about who will finish as runners-up. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Molesey v Langley @3pm</b> - there aren't any standout fixtures in the 10th tier but this one between two sides who are fighting for the last play-off spot should be worth a watch. Not a million miles from Hampton Court, you could combine this match with a visit to a Tudor Palace. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Charlton Athletic @515pm</b> - the day comes to a close with a last-16 tie in this competition too. Spurs are a WSL side so will start as strong favourites but the Addicks are top of the Championship and could give them a challenging evening. Being played at Leyton Orient, <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/Events">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 11 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Arsenal @2pm</b> - the Hammers lost fairly comfortably at Manchester United on Sunday to allow the Red Devils to push ahead of them into the top six. It's unlikely to get any easier on Sunday as the third placed Gunners pay a visit to the London Stadium. Having said that, David Moyes' side have beaten the north London giants twice already this season - winning at the Emirates in the league and knocking them out of the EFL Cup at home. One of the best things about West Ham is that <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1457?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=arsenaltickets_jan24&utm_content=ticketinfopage">tickets</a></b> are usually always available for their games and Sunday is no different</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Concord Rangers @3pm </b>- last Sunday saw Cray's women's team play the first match on the pitch at their new ground. The stadium will hopefully be ready for men's football next season and they'll want to make absolutely sure they avoid relegation this season as a result. Ten points clear of the bottom four, they <i>should</i> be fine but they need a few more wins to be sure. Concord are really struggling so this represents a great chance to get more points. <b><a href="https://www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Erith & Belvedere v Sittingbourne @2pm </b>- elsewhere in south-east London, the Deres continue their fight for survival. Currently in the relegation zone but only on goal difference, their chances of staying up are okay. It's going to be tough on Sunday though as Sittingbourne are third and looking to go up. Tickets are available on the gate for £10</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Fifth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Manchester City @1230pm</b> - the tie of the round gets the action underway in the women's game at lunchtime. Despite the return of talismanic captain Leah Williamson from injury, the Gunners suffered an unexpected 2-1 loss at struggling West Ham last week. It leaves them six points behind leaders Chelsea and realistically ends their title ambitions. Therefore, the FA Cup will now be a huge priority for them. Sadly they've drawn City who are in even better form than Chelsea and can't stop winning. When the sides last played in November, Arsenal won 2-1 and they'd be delighted with a similar result here. This match is being played at Boreham Wood and has sold out</div><div><b>Chelsea v Crystal Palace @2pm </b>- Emma Hayes' side have won the FA Cup for the last three years as their dominance of the English domestic game has been almost absolute. With the Eagles a Championship side, albeit a good one, the chances of them causing an upset here must be minimal. This match is being played at Kingsmeadow and <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269#/?view=list&includePackages=true">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Liverpool @2pm </b>- the last tie in the wider London area is an intriguing one as it pits a Championship side against a midtable WSL one. LCL were title contenders last season but are not the force they quite were and removed their coaching team on Wednesday. The Reds, however, are the best they've been for a while. Liverpool should win but you never know. This game is being played at Dartford and <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/tickets">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Southern Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>London Bees v Hashtag United @2pm</b> - the only two sides within the M25 in this division meet at The Hive on Sunday. Although the hosts have been playing in the second and third tiers for most of their existence, they're in real trouble and have yet to win a league match this season. The Tags, on the other hand, are firmly in with a chance of a second consecutive promotion and are a pretty safe bet to win here. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Actonians v Cambridge United @2pm</b> - with four wins out of five in 2024, the A's moved up to sixth on Sunday which might well be the highest they've been all season. Picking up another couple of injuries, they might not be as strong as they'd like for the visit of the U's who've beaten them twice already this season in the league and league cup. Those games both ended 2-1 and the hosts would dearly love to get one over Darren Marjoram's side. <b><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/northolt/rectory-park-football-centre/fa-wnl-actonians-v-cambridge-united/e-ldqgpk">Tickets</a></b> are £5 - maybe see you there</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-73851193733809233932024-01-29T01:01:00.001+00:002024-02-03T11:06:43.985+00:00TLFG: 29 January - 4 February 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Welcome to this week's TLFG, I hope you're well.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sickness has been another big feature of the last few days in TLFG Towers and I've had to take the weekend off work to play nurse to my wife and kids, consequently there's been no live football.</p><p style="text-align: left;">For me, it's been mainly all about <b>Non-League Day</b> (NLD) preparations.</p><p style="text-align: left;">There have been more meetings with our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK and also our friends at Athletic Bilbao who are building up to their own event across the Basque Country again.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've also been building the national match map for NLD and working on this blog while I can.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3tp_1tOQqaITt5vWFiYhfJblisY5YmBVcKT_61UpkxcCCwhveaQv-vlIpsqj5H9ZSPhXs5Zl9A2yDacgVyTDVnEexVA9jHC5KiFKDni1lHgCdYtzL8kMi4uLStpHXIZJJKjZuPRhhEOWnuLwhMfwKCt11ljagmmL_97KW9UfC-4ASz-argLoFz2DWbES/s1350/spaincolombia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3tp_1tOQqaITt5vWFiYhfJblisY5YmBVcKT_61UpkxcCCwhveaQv-vlIpsqj5H9ZSPhXs5Zl9A2yDacgVyTDVnEexVA9jHC5KiFKDni1lHgCdYtzL8kMi4uLStpHXIZJJKjZuPRhhEOWnuLwhMfwKCt11ljagmmL_97KW9UfC-4ASz-argLoFz2DWbES/w320-h400/spaincolombia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spain will play Colombia at London Stadium on 22 March - <b><a href="https://proticketing.com/londonstadium/en_US/entradas/evento/34507/session/1999711/select">tickets</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">NLD takes place on 23 March and it looks like being a fantastic weekend of football in London.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Kicking off on Friday night, it's been announced that Spain will play Colombia in a friendly at West Ham United's London Stadium home.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Then following the NLD festivities on Saturday afternoon, England will play Brazil at Wembley in the evening.</p><p style="text-align: left;">To top it all, it's also Women's Football Weekend so it's all go!</p><p style="text-align: left;">With my wife's health improving, hopefully I'll get to a game at some point this week but we'll see.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Have a great week and enjoy whatever you end up doing.<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1k2jlNueGZX_UePeBQv7DExQz7vxGXE4&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1h1nQfB0rxZOsNBoF4JdayPF8rckkiUU&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 29 January</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Youth & Development matches</u></i></b></div><div>As far as I'm aware, it's all about U18 football on Monday. <b>Hampton & Richmond Borough</b>, <b>Metropolitan Police</b>, <b>Tooting & Mitcham United </b>and <b>Walton & Hersham </b>are all hosting games but please check all the details before travel, particularly the venues</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 30 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Everton @745pm</b> - there are a couple of big games towards the wrong end of the table on Tuesday. Firstly at Craven Cottage, the hosts will be looking to recover from their FA Cup loss to Newcastle on Saturday. Although eight points clear of the relegation zone, wins have been hard to come by for Fulham in recent weeks so they really need to get something here. Everton also bowed out of the cup at the weekend and because of a points deduction sit just above the relegation zone so this could go either way. Also of note, Fulham are unbeaten in five against the Toffees. <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/content">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Sheffield United @8pm </b>- slightly later over in SE25, Roy Hodgson's side face an important game against the bottom club. Without a win in 2024, the pressure is starting to build on the Eagles' 76-year-old manager. A win against the Blades could push them eight points clear of the relegation zone and make things seem a lot brighter. Rarely for a first-team game at Selhurst Park, <b><a href="https://www.cpfc.co.uk/tickets/">tickets</a></b> are on general sale</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><b>Sutton United v Harrogate Town @745pm </b>- since his appointment in early January, Steve Morison has presided over three draws which have lifted the U's off bottom spot. With two of those draws against sides in the top four, that marks a significant improvement. Next up they face midtable opponents Harrogate who won promotion from the National League the year before Sutton so they're both fairly new to this level. Since they first met in a fifth-tier game in 2018, Sutton have only lost one of the nine games they've played against the Yorkshire club. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Aldershot Town @745pm </b>- David Noble's time as Stones manager started with a solid 2-0 win over FC Halifax Town on Saturday. On Tuesday, another top-seven side pay them a visit for what should be a challenging test. The Shots beat Rochdale 3-1 at the weekend and have lost only one of their last five. They also beat Wealdstone 3-1 in August and have never lost at Grosvenor Vale. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Welling United v Hampton & Richmond Borough @745pm</b> - the Wings picked up a surprise away win at Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday and promptly sacked manager Danny Bloor in a move that has angered fans. Whether the struggling team have a replacement in in time for this remains to be seen but they'll have to up their game again to beat this talented Hampton & Richmond side who are well in the hunt for promotion. <b><a href="https://wellingunited.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Enfield Town v Billericay Town @745pm</b> - game of the day in the seventh tier is this top-four clash at Donkey Lane. Both sides suffered defeat on Saturday to lose ground on the top two. With only one team getting automatic promotion and leaders Hornchurch having a double-digit lead over both of them, securing a play-off place would seem to be the most realistic aim at this stage. Wingate & Finchley and Hastings United sit just behind them in the table and also have games on Tuesday which could see them catch the Towners so the stakes are high. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chertsey Town v Leatherhead @745pm </b>- there's another huge game at Alwyns Lane where the leaders welcome the side in third. The Curfews beat Ashford Town 2-1 on Saturday in front of a crowd of 661 and with title challengers Southall suffering a shock defeat at bottom club Binfield, they opened a three-point lead at the top. The Tanners won 2-0 at Thatcham Town to move above Marlow who had their game against Guernsey postponed. With Chertsey having played fewer games than their main title rivals, it's looking bright for the Surrey club. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=125">Tickets</a></b> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Erith Town v Glebe @745pm -</b> the visitors kept hold of top spot with a 2-0 win over Snodland Town on Saturday. It's just as well as main title rivals Faversham Town and Deal Town both won too. As for Erith, they sit six points behind Bearsted who occupy the last play-off place. Although they have a game in hand on them, the Bears are the form team of the division so catching them is going to be hard. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>British Airways v RB Kensington @745pm</b> - the hosts are having a rather fine season. Currently fourth, if they win all their games in hand, second spot is achievable. Although back in eighth, RBK also have games in hand that could put them into the play-off places too. The name gives it away, but if you didn't know, BA play right next to Heathrow Airport. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 31 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford @730pm</b> - top of the bill on Wednesday is this derby at the THS. Since joining the Premier League in 2021, the Bees have only lost one of the five games they've played against Spurs. The last couple of months had been very underwhelming for Thomas Frank's side but then Ivan Toney returned from his betting ban and scored in a priceless 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest to renew their hopes of beating the drop. Spurs conceded a late goal on Friday to lose to Manchester City in the FA Cup and they'll believe they're quite capable of bouncing back here. Tickets are only on sale to members but <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/buy-tickets/home-tickets/?ics=fixtures_bre">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £199</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Dinamo Zagreb @7pm </b>- unbeaten in the three games they've played in this U21 competition, the Hammers should start as favourites against their Croatian opponents who have yet to win. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge and tickets will be available on arrival</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 1 February</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth @730pm </b>- the new month begins with some Thursday night football at the London Stadium. By their respective standards, both sides are having decent seasons. The Hammers are in the top six whilst the Cherries are more than holding their own in 12th. Although David Moyes' side are right up in the battle for European places, they haven't won a match in 2024. Results have included a loss to Championship club Bristol City in the FA Cup and a draw at bottom side Sheffield United last time out. Bournemouth are a couple without a win in the league but they've kept things ticking over with a couple of cup victories instead. West Ham are unbeaten in five against the Dorset club. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1456?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=bournemouthtickets_dec23&utm_content=ticketinfopage">Tickets</a></b></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 2 February</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Leeds United @7pm </b>- as we approach the final games of this stage, the Blues and Lilywhites have already secured the top two spots in Group D to make this a dead rubber. Matches between these two are always worth a watch though. Being played at Kingsmeadow, <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/academy-tickets">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Sadly as a result of work and family commitments, I won't be publishing any previews for this weekend's games - apologies </i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-59859418512550981812024-01-22T01:37:00.023+00:002024-01-27T10:15:32.798+00:00TLFG: 22-28 January 2024<p><span>Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.</span></p><p><span>How has your week been?</span></p><p>Aside from work, preparations for this year's <b>Non-League Day</b> on 23 March are well underway.</p><p>Over the last few days, there have been meetings with team members and our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK.</p><p>Our friends at Athletic (Bilbao) were also in touch as well and hopefully I'll have a meeting with them sometime in the next few days too.</p><p>As for live football, I went to Rectory Park on Sunday to watch <b>Actonians</b> play their first home game since 5 November.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEiKvhkkfOGZaD3Ha93LS53QoTsvZzQfnJGJ7fiVhw7r8MIl8BAltQV-nS6iC2ycgSGjMgmxWq-ojJuan-sZpqMWrST0-vo9wXPxYTAx_QZzHEBKhVL2ohAnGx6CtyRGtR1f54I69_zceqnGQu_4f181NwqOenqEC1mrwhf-r0gtfeZfmMfOT4AYOcU06/s2048/molly.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEiKvhkkfOGZaD3Ha93LS53QoTsvZzQfnJGJ7fiVhw7r8MIl8BAltQV-nS6iC2ycgSGjMgmxWq-ojJuan-sZpqMWrST0-vo9wXPxYTAx_QZzHEBKhVL2ohAnGx6CtyRGtR1f54I69_zceqnGQu_4f181NwqOenqEC1mrwhf-r0gtfeZfmMfOT4AYOcU06/w400-h300/molly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Molly O'Reilly and captain Roschelle Shakes both scored for Actonians on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Having won their first two games of 2024 at Cambridge City and <b>Ashford Town</b>, the squad came into this cup match against <b>Sutton United</b> with some confidence.</p><p>The A's have made the Capital Senior Cup final twice since 2019, beating <b>Leyton Orient</b> in the first and losing on penalties to <b>QPR</b> in 2021.</p><p>Arsenal's youngsters won it last year but bowed out early in their defence, losing to <b>Fulham</b> at Craven Cottage.</p><p>With Sutton playing in the division below the hosts, they were expected to face a tough afternoon and so it transpired.</p><p>Despite some spirited goalkeeping, they found themselves 2-0 down at the interval.</p><p>With a strong wind behind them after the break, they might have hoped for a bit more joy but they barely had a sniff as Actonians raced away to record a resounding 8-0 win.</p><p>For the second week running, teenage striker Tori St Clair was named POTM as she bagged four goals.</p><p>With seven in her last three, she looks quite a prospect.</p><p>Having beaten <b>Charlton Athletic</b> U21s at Plough Lane on Sunday, <b>AFC Wimbledon</b> must surely be the favourites from this point.</p><p>As for Actonians, 2024 has begun very well indeed but they'll do well to get anything next week as they travel to title contenders Norwich City.</p><p>The Canaries won 5-1 at Rectory Park in September on what turned out to be a very dark afternoon for the west London club.</p><p>Things have stabilised somewhat since then so it should be closer but I'll be delighted with a point.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, EFL, National League, Women's Champions League and FA Youth Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1dwe5p4Kb7OzWWeUoWohay4Zp2ck0uzw&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1i9ALanWeWeQaEVgIdwpqs2I61HY36G8&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 22 January</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div>The week begins with a couple of decent U21 games in south London. <b>Chelsea</b> entertain Colchester United at Kingsmeadow whilst <b>Crystal Palace</b> host Birmingham City at Sutton United. Both games start at 7pm and you should be able to pay on arrival with tickets no more than £5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>QPR v Burnley @7pm</b> - after beating Wolves at Molineux in the last round, the R's U18s now face their counterparts from Turfmoor. The match is being played at Loftus Road and <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2024/january/21/tickets-burnley-fayc/">tickets</a></b> can be bought in advance for £3 </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ilford v Tilbury @745pm</b> - the best non-league option of the night takes place at Barking's ground where the struggling Foxes take on top club Tilbury. The Dockers will be looking to extend their lead at the summit to seven points as this is one of their games in hand<br /><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 23 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Middlesbrough @8pm </b>- despite facing Championship opposition in this semi-final, the Blues are 1-0 down after the first leg. Out of the race for the title and not in Europe, Chelsea's only chance of redemption this season are the domestic cups. In other words, winning this will be absolutely crucial for them. They've made nine finals, winning five but they haven't won since 2015. Boro have made the final three times, winning it once. One of those lost finals was against Chelsea in 1998. Although the London club are the poorest they've been for a while, victory for the visitors will still be a huge upset. Tickets have sold out but <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/?_gl=1*1ds39ls*_ga*OTkxODI1MDE2LjE2NzY0Nzk3OTg.*_ga_0SXVVHPVKT*MTY5ODY1NjA5Ni41ODYuMS4xNjk4NjU3OTU0LjAuMC4w*_fplc*bTVQVlprdE1IWjVsMmQ2WE9GRE8zaG56eGYwd3kxWWRPRmVwTDlmSFJPV0FsVVZ1MUJYYm1nU0ZIY3RmMGxuQVI1b0NobDBUME1YalY1JTJCJTJCUmo4VFE0Q2FZbjk1Z2VWJTJCSXJmMXNMZGtaOFJWJTJCOWMzVzZLeFd1SFN3cjVwbUElM0QlM0Q.&agency=CFHV_PL_MPV&orgid=56209&eventId=1360#/event/E1360/seatmap/?selectBuyers=false&minPrice=300&maxPrice=300&quantity=1&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=true&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £300</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><b>Charlton Athletic v Northampton Town @745pm </b>- winless in 11 games in all competitions, the Addicks are now only seven points above the relegation zone. Michael Appleton badly needs to see his side get something here or his position will surely come under more pressure. Tenth and with 10 points from their last five games, the Cobblers are no pushovers. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20northampton%20town/2024-1-23_19.45/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Dorking Wanderers @745pm </b>- sitting not far above the relegation zone, this is close to being a relegation six-pointer so there's plenty to play for. With wins over Gateshead and Oxford City in recent weeks, the visitors are in better form. <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Southend United @745pm</b> - having seen manager Stuart Maynard headhunted by League Two club Notts County last week, the Stones will be looking to start life without him on a positive note. The Shrimpers sit just a point above them and have won three of their last five. However, given they suffered a 10-point deduction earlier in the season, their position is somewhat false. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/vanarama_national_league_wealdstone_v_southend_united">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>London Senior Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Corinthian Casuals v QPR U21 @745pm</b> - this match has been postponed at least twice over the last couple of months and his holding up the rest of the draw. I don't think the R's have ever entered a side in this competition, they've certainly never won it, but they should start as favourites against a team who are struggling towards the bottom of the eighth tier Isthmian League South Central. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 24 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>EFL Cup Semi-Final Second Leg</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Liverpool @8pm </b>- the Cottagers played well in the first leg at Anfield but ultimately lost 2-1. Still, that's far from disastrous now that they have the all-important second leg at home. Fulham have never made the final whilst the Reds are the most successful club in the competition's history with nine wins. Jurgen Klopp's side are also top of the Premier League and will be big favourites to make it to Wembley. Tickets have sold out</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>UEFA Women's Champions League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Real Madrid @8pm </b>- the Blues, who are top, will take a huge stride towards winning this group if they beat their Spanish opponents. Although a huge name in the men's game, the women's team aren't quite at that level and are bottom with just one point from four games and will go out if they lose. That point actually came against Chelsea in Madrid so they know something about containing the London club. This is being played at Stamford Bridge and <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269#/?view=list&includePackages=true">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Boreham Wood v Eastleigh @745pm </b>- unbeaten in four, the Wood have moved six points clear of the relegation zone. However, most of that unbeaten run has been draws so they could definitely do with another win. Eastleigh are only four points shy of the play-off places but they're three games without a victory and this could be a good time to play them. <b><a href="https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/home-tickets-2/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Concord Rangers @745pm </b>- in the seventh tier there's a huge relegation six-pointer between the division's bottom two. The K's are without a home of their own and this can't have helped their ability to operate at the high levels they used to enjoy. The visitors, who hail from Canvey Island, got relegated from the NLS last season and look set to go down again. Locked together on 12 points, they're both 10 points adrift of safety so it's looking bleak </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Athletic Newham @745pm </b>- two sides who sit just outside the play-off places meet at Ashton Stadium on Wednesday. Just a point behind fifth placed Great Wakering Rovers, the hosts could get back into the top five with a win here</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 25 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Middlesex Premier Cup Quarter-Final</i></u></b></div><div><b>CB Hounslow United v RB Kensington @745pm </b>- there's one senior game on Thursday and it's this cup tie at Green Lane. This competition is for teams in the 10th and 11th tiers. The hosts were in the 10th tier last season alongside RBK but got relegated. On paper, the visitors should start as favourites</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 26 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Cup Fourth Round</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Aston Villa @745pm </b>- the country's favourite cup competition is now down to its last 32 and there are two big ties in the capital on Friday night. With 15 wins between them, these are two of the most successful clubs in FA Cup history. For most of the last 20 years, you'd expect the Blues to start as strong favourites but not any more. Under Unai Emery, Villa have become the top-four club who are challenging for honours on several fronts, the role Chelsea have held for most of the 21st century. Now stuck in the midtable doldrums, they've also lost their last two against the Birmingham club at Stamford Bridge. To me, EFL Cup glory looks far more likely for Chelsea. Tickets are currently on sale to members only but check with the club to see if that changes. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">Hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £300</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @8pm </b>- in north London there's another fascinating looking game between two more sides with 15 wins between them. At the time of writing, only three points separate the clubs in the league as City have failed to win seven of their 20 games so far this season. Pep Guardiola's side are the reigning champions but you have to go all the way back to 1991 to find Spurs' last win, something that I still find hard to believe. Tickets are on sale to members and <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/EDP/Event/Index/9395?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=home_tx_page&utm_campaign=avail_mod_prm&utm_content=mci-fac">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £349</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Stoke City @7pm </b>- if you can't get a ticket for either of the above, you could go to this U21 game at the Hammers' Rush Green training facility in Romford. The hosts are second in this 26-team division so will start as favourites. Tickets should be available on the gate but check all the details with the club before you travel</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Epsom & Ewell v Cobham @745pm </b>- there are some reasonable non-league alternatives too including this groundshare derby in leafy Surrey. On this occasion it's tenants versus landlords and with both in the bottom four, there's plenty to play for. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 27 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Cup Fourth Round</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Newcastle United @7pm</b> - the biggest game of the day takes place at the end of it, much to the delight of the away fans I'm sure! The Cottagers come into this on the back of losing to Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-finals on Wednesday so this competition represents their only chance of silverware this season. Fulham have never won the FA Cup and although Newcastle have enjoyed six triumphs, it's 69 years since the last one. Both sides are in poor league form coming into this with only one win in the last five so it's a pretty tough one to call. <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228616602407&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a> </b>were on general sale but seem to now only be available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Preston North End @3pm</b> - this is the only second-tier game in London on Saturday and it's quite hard for me to sell. Neither team are doing particularly well and there isn't any great rivalry that I'm aware of. However, what seems clear from the stats is that Millwall are a bogey team for PNE - they're unbeaten in nine against the Lancashire club which is pretty unusual at this level. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b><u><i><br /></i></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>League Two</i></u></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Mansfield Town @3pm</b> - the hosts suffered the ignominy of losing 3-1 to arch rivals MK Dons on Tuesday to slip to 10th. Of the five games they've played in January, they've only managed to win the EFL Trophy match against Oxford United so they're not in the best form. The Stags are third in the table but are three without a win in the league and only managed a draw against struggling Sutton United on Tuesday. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Reading @2pm </b>- if you're on a tight budget then this U21 match at Kingsmeadow could be a good option for you. When it comes to first-team football, these two are light years apart with the Royals struggling badly in League One. However, in this competition, it's Reading who are in the top six and the Blues down in midtable. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/match/chelsea-u21-vs-reading-u21-english-premier-league-2-2024-01-27">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town @3pm </b>- there are three games in the fifth tier on Saturday but if I were to pick one to recommend it would be this. Last week, the Stones lost manager Stuart Maynard to Notts County. This will be the first game under new boss David Noble who has joined from St Albans City. As a player, Noble played first-team games for the likes of Watford and West Ham before establishing himself at Bristol City and Exeter City. He's joined by Neil Banfield who was second in command at QPR under Michael Beale last season so the Ruislip-based club clearly have some ambition. His first match will be a tough one against Halifax who won the FA Trophy last season and will probably move into the play-off places if they win here. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chelmsford City @3pm</b> - game of the day in the sixth tier was an easy pick as two of the top five meet at The Beveree. H&RB's lengthy unbeaten run finally came to an end at Braintree on 6 January but they haven't played since as the weather has wiped out their fixtures. In that time, Chelmsford have stormed up the table winning six in a row and they're now third. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Hornchurch @3pm </b>- the Urchins arrive at Donkey Lane in top spot. It's a position they've held for a while but their lead is being reduced after three straight draws. The last two of those have come after the departure of manager Steve Morison to Sutton United so it will be interesting to see how his loss will affect them for the remainder of the season. The Towners are fourth. One time title contenders, they're 10 points behind the visitors at the moment so they really have to win this to keep any hopes of automatic promotion alive. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Harrow Borough v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm</b> - elsewhere in the seventh tier there's a derby at Earlsmead. To top it all it's a relegation six-pointer so there's a lot riding on it. As a fan of the Boro, it was sad to see them slip to the bottom following Didcot's midweek win. Now eight points adrift of safety, it's looking like last-chance saloon time already. Surprisingly, H&YU are in a mess too. Third from bottom but only two points adrift, they could deal a real hammer blow to their local rivals with a win here. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b><u><i><br /></i></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Isthmian League South Central</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chertsey Town v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @3pm </b>- the battle for the title in this division is tight. The hosts are currently top, separated from Southall by goal difference alone. Regularly drawing crowds of over 700, which is exceptional for this level, the Curfews are well worth a watch. Ashford are fifth from bottom and don't play a million miles away from Alwyns Lane so there's a bit of a derby element to this too. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=3599">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Ashford United @3pm</b> - over on the south-east side of town, CVPM play the other Ashford who come from Kent. As someone who works on the railway, I've lost count of the times passengers get their Ashford's muddled up and arrive in the Middlesex one looking for a Eurostar to Paris. Anyway, I digress. CVPM are second and still have three games in hand on top club Ramsgate who are 11 points ahead. With only one team going up automatically, it's still a tough ask for Steve McKimm's side but a win here against the team in 11th will keep them firmly on course for at least a play-off place. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bedfont Sports v Burnham @3pm</b> - if you're not far from Heathrow or fancy doing a bit of plane spotting then this top-six clash could be for you. With Rayners Lane and Flackwell Heath pulling well clear of the rest, it now seems to be all about who will finish third. The hosts are the current incumbents whilst Burnham are five points behind them but with two games in hand. The fight for play-off places in this division should be worth keeping an eye on. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Glebe v Snodland Town @3pm</b> - having won their big top-of-the-table clash at Faversham Town last weekend, Glebe are now four points clear in first. With three consecutive wins, their form is good but not as good as third placed Corinthian who are six points behind but have a worrying four games in hand. In other words, the hosts simply have to keep winning to keep their rivals at bay - there is very little margin for error. Snodland won the First Division title last year and are well placed for a play-off push this season so they should provide a stern test. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Croydon v Staplehurst Monarchs @3pm</b> - with almost 400,000 inhabitants, Croydon is the biggest London borough in terms of population. However, it's two main non-league clubs play way down the pyramid and struggle to get big crowds as Premier League Crystal Palace dominate the local football scene. The Trams are in the 10th tier and have a chance of making the play-offs. Although sixth, they're seven points shy of that all-important fifth place which will get them into the post-season. On Saturday, the team in fourth pay them a visit so a win is pretty much essential. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 28 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Huddersfield Town @130pm</b> - there's a bonus bit of second-tier action in Shepherds Bush on Sunday and it's a hugely important game. After beating London rivals Millwall 2-0 in their big game last weekend, the R's have put themselves in a position where a win here against their fellow strugglers will finally take them out of the bottom three. Huddersfield are four without a win and sit just above QPR in the table, so defeat will see them drop into the relegation places instead. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/qpr/Events?preFilter=9&preFilterName=Home+Games&utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Splash_Banner&utm_campaign=Huddersfield_Norwich">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Watford v Southampton @2pm</b> - if you fancy some cup football instead then head to Vicarage Road where two Championship clubs will be battling it out for a place in the last 16. The visiting Saints will start as favourites and they won't want to lose. Last weekend's win over Swansea saw them set a new club record of 21 games without defeat and I'm sure they'll want to keep that run going. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @2pm</b> - with three consecutive wins in the league and cup, Spurs are now establishing themselves as part of the top six. On Sunday they welcome the division's form team to Brisbane Road for a huge test of their credentials. Unbeaten in eight matches and up to second in the WSL, City demolished Spurs 7-0 when they last played at the end of November. Tickets are not available online - whether this means it's sold out or just too short notice I'm not quite sure but check with the club on the day for the latest</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic @2pm </b>- there's a huge game in the second tier where these south London rivals meet at Sutton United's ground. The Addicks are one point clear at the top but third place Palace are just two points behind with a game in hand. With only three points separating the top five and only one promotion place available, this title race looks like being one of the most thrilling around. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/Events?preFilter=6&preFilterName=5.%20Women%27s%20Matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-53842711510380691242024-01-15T14:09:00.025+00:002024-01-20T09:31:05.909+00:00TLFG: 15-21 January 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Welcome one and all to the latest TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Firstly apologies for the late publication - I really fancied myself to get it finished on Sunday night but with the end in sight, one of my kids had a meltdown and wrote off the rest of the evening.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Thankfully I had an early finish at work today so I've got something available for you to read.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sadly I couldn't publish in time for Charlton's lunchtime U21 game but you've got a few hours to check your options for Monday night.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At the moment, I've only had time to write previews for Monday but I'll add more when I get the chance - the match maps are there in full though.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Have a great week and I'll try and flesh this out with more info as soon as I can. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1A2WGfVJto2ndTbT-bWLz8j00b94X9F0&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1gHwUFI56rW6mwBBGFVD2DNzjtZxzV5c&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 15 January</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><b>Aveley v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm </b>- the week begins with this derby at Parkside. It pits a sixth-tier club against one in the fifth but there's likely to be some squad rotation to make things a bit harder to call. The Millers have been to the final four times but never won whilst the Daggers have two titles, the last of which came way back in 2001 </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Woodford Town v Frenford @745pm </b>- the hosts were among the early pacesetters in the league but they've now dropped to sixth and need to recover some form to stay in contention for a play-off spot. Newly promoted Frenford, who are based near Gants Hill, have struggled this season and are in the bottom three<br /><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 16 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Friendly</i></u></b></div><div><b>Walton & Hersham v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @745pm </b>- with most of tonight's fixtures falling foul of the cold weather, these two sides have arranged a friendly at short notice. The hosts play a level above the visitors so should start as favourites on paper. It's £5 to get in</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bedfont Sports v Hilltop @745pm </b>- the hosts are having a good season and come into this match in fourth. On Tuesday they welcome the team who are currently bottom of the division. However, their position is false thanks in part to their great run in the FA Vase which has seen them make the last 16. Having played only 14 games, eight less than some teams, they're a point adrift at the foot of the table</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 17 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League International Cup</i></u></b></div><div>There's another couple of games in this U21 competition with a strong European flavour. On Wednesday, <b>Crystal Palace </b>host Dutch club Feyenoord at Sutton United whilst <b>Fulham</b> play Monaco at their training ground in Motspur Park. Both matches start at 7pm and you can pay on the gate. <b><i>Update - Crystal Palace match now behind closed doors </i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Athletic Newham v Barking @745pm </b>- if it beats the frost, this should be the non-league game of the night. These two local rivals are just two points apart in the top eight and pushing for a place in the play-offs</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Langley v Hillingdon Borough @745pm</b> - one game that should beat the cold is this one at Honeycroft where they have an artificial pitch. The hosts are sixth and well placed for a play-off push but they have played more than everyone else. The visitors are currently bottom but have games in hand on all those above them</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 18 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Youth & Development matches</i></u></b></div><div>Tonight is all about U23 and U18 matches at our local non-league clubs. The pick of the action would seem to be the U23 game between <b>Abbey Rangers</b> and Aldershot Town</div><div><br /></div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 19 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League International Cup</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Dinamo Zagreb @7pm </b>- the weekend begins with another bit of European U21 action. The Hammers are second in Group B whilst their Croatian opponents are second bottom of the eight-team group and without a win. This match is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ilford v Frenford @745pm </b>- elsewhere in east London, there's an Ilford derby being played at Barking's ground. Both are in the bottom three so it's a relegation six-pointer too</div><div><b>Woodford Town v Buckhurst Hill @745pm </b>- a little to the north-west of Mayesbrook Park we've got another derby - the Roding Valley Derby to be precise. With the hosts pushing for a play-off place and the visitors drifting in midtable, there's not quite as much riding on it as the game above but the crowd and atmosphere should be considerably bigger</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 20 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Crystal Palace @1230pm</b> - with only one win in the last five games, the Gunners have slipped to fourth and badly need the three points here if they want to stay in the title race. Palace ended their own poor run of league results just after Christmas with a hugely important win over Brentford but they bowed out of the FA Cup in midweek at Everton. The Eagles last won at the Emirates in 2019 but it was a very rare occurrence as the previous time was in 1994. Tickets are only available to members but <b><a href="https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/crystal-palace/">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £325</div><div><b>Brentford v Nottingham Forest @530pm </b>- talking of bad league form, the Bees' is the worst in the Premier League. Now only three points above the relegation zone, this match against Forest who are just above them is absolutely huge. Thomas Frank's side are unbeaten in five against the East Midlands club and this match marks the long-awaited return of star striker Ivan Toney after a betting ban. Can he save them??? Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Millwall @3pm</b> - if you can't get into either of the above, then this spicy London derby at Loftus Road should be well worth some of your time. Less than four weeks since they last played, these two will do it all again in west London. On that occasion, the Lions virtually strolled to a 2-0 win at The Den which helped them begin a run that's pulled them well clear of the relegation zone. The same can't be said of the R's who can't buy a win at the moment. Five points adrift of safety, they simply have to start winning soon. If you haven't been to one of these games, they can be very lively off and on the pitch so beware. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Bolton Wanderers @3pm </b>- with 10 points from their last four games, the O's have hit a bit of a purple patch. Last time out they inflicted a 3-0 defeat on leaders Portsmouth who are wobbling badly. Next up they play one of the sides looking to replace them at the top so it's going to be tough again. When they last played in December, Bolton edged to a 3-2 win. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Crawley Town @3pm</b> - on level points just outside the play-off places, this should be close. With Crawley a short journey to the south of London, the visitors should bring a decent following for what might as well be a derby. The Dons won the reverse fixture 2-1 last month. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b><i>MATCH OFF</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Everton @2pm </b>- after beating Watford in the FA Cup last weekend, the Gunners return to WSL action on Saturday. They'll be looking to recover from losing the derby to Spurs before Christmas and putting pressure back on leaders Chelsea. Everton got a great 3-0 win at Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday but they'll do well to get anything here. Tickets have sold out</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v Chesterfield @530pm</b> - the game of the day in the fifth tier is this blockbuster between the former leaders and the current top team. The Bees' form dipped badly towards the end of the year but it's recovered well and they're still third. However, the Spireites are 12 points clear at the top and will take some stopping. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a> <i>MATCH OFF</i></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Boreham Wood @3pm </b>- sandwiched in between them in second are the Ravens. Only a point ahead of Barnet, they can't afford to slip up in this derby. The Wood are in midtable and having a slightly disappointing season by their recent high standards but with only one defeat in five and having drawn at Hayes Lane earlier in the season, they can't be taken lightly. This is on an artificial pitch so should go ahead. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Eastbourne Borough @3pm</b> - the pick of the games in the sixth tier will affect proceedings at either end of the table. With Yeovil Town 13 points clear at the top, it seems to now be all about who can finish second. Worthing, Hampton & Richmond and Maidstone United are all level on 46 points in second to fourth. The Beavers have a game in hand on both of them so things are looking good. With The Sports in the bottom four, the hosts really should win. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Wingate & Finchley v Chatham Town @3pm </b>- if you're in north London and not going to one of the other games in the area, then this seventh-tier match at Summers Lane looks good. W&F are having the season of their lives. With an average attendance of 176, they are the smallest club in the division but they've been in the top five for quite a while now. On Saturday they welcome second placed Chatham for a real test of their promotion credentials. <b><a href="https://www.wingatefinchley.com/events/1st-team-v-chatham-town-h">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Raynes Park Vale v Marlow @3pm </b>- the best game in the eighth tier would appear to be this one between two of the top five. RPV lost their big match at Chertsey Town last week which kept the Curfews top. Still in the play-off places, they face a strong Marlow side who sit just a point and a place above them in the table. Tickets are available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Croydon Athletic v Farnham Town @3pm</b> - before the season started, the Rams created a lot of headlines when they were taken over by a consortium which featured Crystal Palace legend Wilfried Zaha and musician Stormzy. Things started well enough but by mid-September results had dipped and co-managers Lee Roots and Kevin Rayner were asked to leave. In mid-October former pro-player Jermaine McGlashan took charge and they're now back in the top six and pushing for a play-off place. On Saturday they welcome leaders Farnham who are an ambitious club who can draw crowds in excess of 1,000 for big games - quite something for a ninth-tier club. They'll have to be at their best to beat them. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Whyteleafe v Rochester United @3pm </b>- there's only one place to be if you want a cracking 10th-tier game on Saturday and that's Church Road where the division's top two do battle. The Leafe are currently seven points clear so a win will be absolutely massive for them. Tickets will be available on the gate and with it being played on an artificial pitch, it should go ahead</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 21 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Women's Super League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Manchester United @1230pm</b> - Sunday is all about women's football and there are some great games to choose from. Top of the bill is this eye-catching fixture at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are top and are the reigning league champions. Despite this, there is a vulnerability to their game that hasn't been on show in recent seasons. Thrashed by Arsenal in the league in December, they needed extra-time to get past West Ham in the FA Cup last weekend. The visitors finished second last season but are only fourth at the time of writing. Both sides are packed with international stars so this should be well worth a watch. <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269#/?view=list&includePackages=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur @645pm </b>- if you want to do a 'double' then you've got the perfect opportunity as this London derby, at Dagenham & Redbridge, doesn't start until the evening so you can combine it with pretty much any other game earlier in the day. The Hammers might be right down near the bottom but they've made some big January signings and should see their results pick up. Spurs are in the top six and much improved on last season but they made heavy weather of beating Championship side Sheffield United in the cup so this could be pretty close. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/womens-team-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @12pm</b> - if they'd won rather than drawn their last two league games then the Addicks would be four points clear at the top. Sadly they did only manage draws so they find themselves on level points with Birmingham City and only just ahead of Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Southampton in what is an incredibly tight title race. Rovers are seventh and eight points off the pace but they have two games in hand so could get right into the fight for top spot too. However, if the Lancashire club lose here then their chances of going up will become very slim indeed. This match is being played at VCD Athletic. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20women%20v%20blackburn%20rovers/2024-1-21_12.00/the%20oakwood%20(vcd%20athletic),%20crayford%20da1%204dn?back=2&area=67b8a93e-ca62-e811-93f5-005056b75e6a&type=ga">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Crystal Palace @2pm</b> - in the later game, we've got a derby featuring another one of those sides who are going for the title. Currently two points behind the leaders, the Eagles have a game in hand so they're in a strong position. LCL have had a disappointing season and will probably struggle to get out of midtable but they are still in the FA Cup and could potentially get something here. This is being played at Dartford. <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/event-details/london-city-lionesses-vs-crystal-palace">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Southern Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>London Bees v Ipswich Town @130pm</b> - originally scheduled to be played in the main stadium that Barnet use at The Hive, the match has now been moved to the new 'Bees Stadium' right next to it which has a 5G pitch (I didn't know there was such a thing). The hosts have had a dreadful season and have yet to win a league game. Ipswich are fifth but have games in hand on all above them so it looks like being another tough afternoon for the London club. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID=997893FC-CC7A-44A2-B098-28FDDB8B3D52">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Capital Senior Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic U21 @2pm </b>- most clubs in the third tier and below will be playing in various county cups on Sunday afternoon. The pick of the ties would appear to be this one at Plough Lane. The Dons made the final last season but narrowly lost to a young side from Arsenal. Arguably a stronger outfit than last season, Wimbledon are top of their fourth-tier division and have former WSL striker Ashlee Hincks banging in goals for fun (29 so far). I watched the Addicks' youngsters play a depleted Actonians side in pre-season and they won by a five-goal margin but they weren't that special. Personally I fancy the Dons to win here. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228756899589&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-53578830015266229182024-01-07T23:27:00.018+00:002024-01-11T19:20:51.427+00:00TLFG: 8-14 January 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of 2024.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I hope the festive period went well for you and you got to a few games.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sadly my very persistent cough (a virus) and work commitments meant I didn't get to a match until this afternoon (Sunday).</p><p style="text-align: left;">It will come as no surprise that I went to watch an <b>Actonians</b> side, this time the reserves who were playing Crawley AFC from the division above in a cup match.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My afternoon at the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub was like none I can remember as I witnessed two truly strange footballing occurrences.</p><p style="text-align: left;">To set the scene, there are two 3G pitches at this facility and both had women's games taking place on them - the aforementioned cup match and a friendly hosted by Hammersmith.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsS4vvtWohlOIWUQ7bEZv6pWZB_cvfmwwZ2E5N3C5HmfQo0HEMmo0ITwtoQsrSFyGOZ77ZKyvYRnLM6XeWfHLR0uDSbqk1rBCuNL6erK2KAcTMf0IV-aA1Um49-HpbIiYun8qgm7-Fgq16FGNA_utOiT6SXNMUVpD6CunOgW4bVxzaCNe1143Tgfl_pya/s1024/TukTuk-Challenge-2024-.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsS4vvtWohlOIWUQ7bEZv6pWZB_cvfmwwZ2E5N3C5HmfQo0HEMmo0ITwtoQsrSFyGOZ77ZKyvYRnLM6XeWfHLR0uDSbqk1rBCuNL6erK2KAcTMf0IV-aA1Um49-HpbIiYun8qgm7-Fgq16FGNA_utOiT6SXNMUVpD6CunOgW4bVxzaCNe1143Tgfl_pya/w283-h400/TukTuk-Challenge-2024-.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TLFG reader Stephen Hall has begun his tuk tuk challenge - <b><a href="https://theshirt2010.co.uk/">find out more</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">The so-called friendly became quite a testy affair with the referee booking various players and coaching staff and it came to a head when he sent off one of the managers during the second half.</p><p style="text-align: left;">For whatever reason, he didn't like the way things were going and abandoned the game - presumably for excessive dissent.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Amazingly as he walked off, the offending manager took out a whistle and took his place with both sides very happy to carry on without the official.</p><p style="text-align: left;">From the little I saw, the man in the middle did seem to enjoy his authority quite a lot so the fact that the rival teams were content to carry on without him says a lot!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyway, in the match I was actually watching, Actonians came from behind to force a 1-1 draw.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With a penalty shootout well underway, it was pointed out by someone that extra-time should have been played before penalties and duly the shootout was abandoned, the players warmed up and extra-time commenced. Bonkers!</p><p style="text-align: left;">The A's totally dominated the following 30 minutes but with time almost up, a Crawley player scored from 30 yards with a speculative shot which no keeper at this level would've saved and it ended 2-1.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Thankfully, the first team won their game at Cambridge City by the same scoreline to make sure my weekend ended on a high after the disappointment of seeing <b>QPR</b> and <b>Harrow Borough</b> lose on Saturday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly this week, many thanks to <b>Stephen H, Glen B</b> and <b>Tim G</b> from <b>London </b>and<b> Charles J</b> from <b>Atlanta, USA</b> who all donated to <b><a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tlfg">TLFG's coffee drinking fund</a></b> - I really appreciate it.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's FA Cup and FA Youth Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1-R33OZxodFi3W5r5VvAadbcVxssw1Ss&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1XQVtW6-p2RBHrZQ235r6_JM8UQSG5V4&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 8 January</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup</u></i></b></div><b>Fulham v Benfica @7pm </b>- the week begins with a very tasty bit of European U21 action as Portuguese giants Benfica send a side to London to play the Cottagers at their training ground in Motspur Park. Both sides have played two group games so far with Fulham winning both and Benfica only managing a draw and a loss. Tickets are usually around £3 and available on the gate but check all the details with the club before you set off</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Charlton Athletic v Colchester United @1pm </b>- earlier in the day there's another U21 match at Dartford's Princes Park. These two are in the bottom four of the South group of teams in this league so could both do with a win. Again, tickets should be available on the door and cost no more than £5<br /><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 9 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>EFL Trophy Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United @745pm </b>- after bowing out of the FA Cup to Championship side Ipswich Town on Saturday, the Dons return to action in this competition. After a fine 5-2 win at Fratton Park against League One leaders Portsmouth in the last round, they should fancy themselves at home against another decent side from that division. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup</u></i></b></div><b>Chelsea v Valencia @7pm</b> - there's another eye-catching European U21 game at Kingsmeadow where the Blues are looking to make up ground on group leaders Brighton who have won all their games. Spanish club Valencia have lost two of their three games so need to be beaten again. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/match/chelsea-u21-vs-valencia-u21-premier-league-international-cup-2024-01-09">Tickets</a></b> are available in advance but should also be available on the night</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm </b>- the Bees suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss at promotion rivals Altrincham on Saturday. Although still third, their lead over fourth-placed Solihull is down to six points. The Daggers are badly in need of a win too but for the opposite reason as they sit just three points above the relegation zone. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Enfield Town v Haringey Borough @745pm </b>- the postponement of Saturday's game at Concord Rangers saw the Towners slip out of the top three for the first time in a while. Now down in fifth, they have Hastings United breathing down their necks in the battle for the last play-off place. On Tuesday they play local rivals Haringey who recorded a hugely important 2-1 win over Canvey Island on Saturday to give their hopes of beating the drop a big boost. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Walthamstow v Colchester United @745pm</b> - after beating Billericay on penalties in the last round, the 'Stow next face a side from League Two club Colchester. How strong a side the fourth-tier club send out remains to be seen but they comprehensively beat Heybridge Swifts, who are above Walthamstow in the league, in the last round. Tickets are £10 on the gate<br /><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 10 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Whitehawk @745pm</b> - the K's are having a terrible season in the Isthmian Premier. Currently second from bottom, they're looking increasingly likely to go down. However, in the League Cup they're doing okay. After beating Dulwich Hamlet in the last round, they face another midtable team. A lot of clubs rotate players in this competition so a lot will come down to who picks their strongest eleven. Tickets are £8 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Athletic Newham v West Essex @745pm </b>- in the ninth tier we have a match between two sides who started pretty well but have drifted in recent weeks leaving them in midtable. The visitors are five points adrift of the play-off places but have games in hand which could put them back in contention. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 11 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Youth & Development games</u></i></b></div><div>All today's action features some of our local non-league sides' U23 and U18 teams. If you want to see a game which has a bit riding on it then <b>Abbey Rangers</b> have a Surrey Premier Cup game against Nottsborough which kicks-off at 745pm</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 12 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div>The weekend gets underway with a trio of U21 games in north and south-west London. <b>Arsenal</b> and <b>Fulham</b> both have home games but top billing goes to <b>Chelsea</b> who host Manchester United at Kingsmeadow - <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/match/chelsea-u21-vs-manchester-united-u21-english-premier-league-2-2024-01-12">tickets</a></b> are available in advance for this. All games start at 7pm</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Manchester City @7pm </b>- there's also a great tie in the country's most prestigious U18 competition where the holders take on a talented City side. At the time of writing the Hammers are top of the U18 Premier League South whilst City are second in the north. Sadly, it's only being played at Rush Green rather than London Stadium. I haven't found any ticket details yet so check with the club nearer the time</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 13 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Fulham @1230pm </b>- the biggest game of the week is this West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime. With just over a mile between their stadiums, these teams really are local rivals. However, over the course of time it's been a very one-sided relationship with the Cottagers winning only one of their last 24 games against the Blues. That took place on the same weekend last year so maybe they could be in luck again, especially given how beatable the current Chelsea team are. Tickets are only available to members and <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £300</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Middlesbrough @3pm</b> - three league wins on the bounce have pulled the Lions 10 points clear of the relegation zone. Next up they face a Boro side who created headlines in midweek by beating Chelsea 1-0 in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final. Only four points ahead of Millwall in the table, they lost 1-0 at home to the London club in the reverse fixture in August so this looks like being a pretty tight game. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Peterborough United @3pm </b>- the Addicks are now nine games without a win in all competitions. Although still 13th, they are much closer to the relegation zone than the play-off places. On Saturday they welcome perennial promotion contenders Peterborough. Currently third, Posh have the longest unbeaten league record in the division (9 games), with Wigan being the last side to beat them at the beginning of November. When these two last played in August, Peterborough won 1-0 and they should be fairly confident of repeating that here. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/Home%20Games">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Barrow @3pm </b>- bottom of the table Sutton begin life under new boss Steve Morison. The former Millwall striker was manager of Isthmian League leaders Hornchurch prior to his appointment which represents quite a promotion (a leap of three divisions) for the young manager. With four points from their last three games, the U's aren't in terrible form but they are still six points adrift of safety. Barrow are fourth and should provide a formidable test for the new boss and his team. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 teams. The winners of each tie receive £5,250 and the losers £1,500. There are three ties in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Bromley v Chippenham Town @3pm</b> - the Ravens are currently London's top ranked non-league club. Second in the National League, they've got a good recent record in this competition too. Making two of the last six finals, they won it in 2022 beating the mighty Wrexham 1-0 at Wembley in front of 46,111 fans. Chippenham are in the lower reaches of the division below them, have never made the final and should be beaten. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Aveley v AFC Fylde @3pm </b>- after a worrying slump in form, the Millers have won their last two games to move back into the NLS play-off places. On Saturday they welcome one of the strugglers from the division above who make the long journey down from Lancashire. Although the Essex club should fancy their chances, Fylde did win it in 2019 so have some pedigree in the competition. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/ChooseQuantity?ticketId=2565&fixtureId=4733">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Chesterfield @3pm</b> - although they're only a division apart, this really is a David v Goliath tie. Whilst the Wings are struggling towards the bottom of the NLS, the Spireites are nine points clear at the top of the National League. Last weekend, it took a 95th-minute goal for Watford to beat them in an FA Cup tie at Vicarage Road. All I can say is good luck Welling, you're going to need it! <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/EWELGX/welling-united-vs-chesterfield-fa-trophy-home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Carshalton Athletic v Hornchurch @3pm</b> - in the seventh tier the Robins are eighth but still seven points shy of the play-off places. Here they welcome the league leaders who, as mentioned above, have just lost their manager to Sutton so it will be interesting to see how they respond. <b><a href="https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chertsey Town v Raynes Park Vale @3pm</b> - for most of the season these two have been in the top two in their eighth-tier division but over the last week things have changed and they're now second and fourth respectively. The hosts have the games in hand to reclaim top spot from Southall whilst RPV could get back up to third if they win theirs. One way or another, I'd say the visitors probably have slightly more to lose here as defeat will seriously dent their automatic promotion ambitions. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=125">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Sheppey United @3pm</b> - elsewhere in the eighth tier there's a match between two of the top six. Both sides enjoyed great runs in the FA Cup bowing out to Charlton Athletic and Walsall respectively. CVPM had a great run in the FA Trophy too so they have three games in hand on leaders Ramsgate. Currently second, they'll be only two points behind them if they win them all. Tickets will be available on the gate for £10 but it's only £6 if you have a season ticket for a Premier League, EFL or National League club</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 teams. The winners of each tie receive £1,875 and the losers £600. There are two ties in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Holmesdale v Highworth Town @3pm </b>- the hosts have been playing in this competition since 2008 and have never previously been beyond the First Round so this run has smashed all club records. Given they're 13th in the ninth tier SCEFL Premier, they've done really well to get this far. On Saturday they face a club from Wiltshire who are currently sixth in the parallel Hellenic League Premier. Ties go straight to penalties if they're level after 90 minutes. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div><b>North Greenford United v Brixham @3pm</b> - although they've been to the Third Round twice in recent years, getting to the Fourth Round is a best for NGU as well. They face quite a test on Saturday as Devon club Brixham made the Fifth Round last season. Intriguingly they're both currently sixth in their respective ninth-tier divisions so this could be pretty epic. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 14 January</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Championship</i></u></b></div><div><b>QPR v Watford @12pm</b> - there's a random bit of EFL action in London on Sunday lunchtime and it's a decent derby between two sides who play about 15 miles apart - I know this as I walked to the away game at Vicarage Road once. These sides last met on the opening day when the Hornets crushed Gareth Ainsworth's side 4-0. In the following weeks, the R's actually rallied to briefly climb above Watford in the table but it's been downhill ever since for the west London club. Now with Marti Cifuentes in charge, performances have improved but a very disappointing festive period has left them firmly in the relegation zone and seen them knocked out of the FA Cup. Watford are just four points from the top six and still in the cup - they look the more likely to win. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Erith & Belvedere v Lancing @3pm</b> - there's also a non-league option too. With Welling United playing in the FA Trophy on Saturday, the Deres' match has moved to Sunday. It's an important game which affects both ends of the table. The hosts are second bottom and fighting the drop whilst Lancing are fourth and going for promotion</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This country's most prestigious cup for women with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 teams. At this stage the Women's Super League teams enter the draw. The winners of each tie receive £54,000 and the losers £13,000. There are five ties in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Arsenal v Watford @1pm</b> - like their men's team, the Gunners have won the FA Cup more times than anyone else - with 14 wins they're well ahead of everyone else. However, they haven't won it since 2016 so it would seem about time they did it again. The draw has pretty kind as the Hornets are bottom of the Championship with only one league win all season and will have to pull off a minor miracle to keep the scoreline respectable. This match has sold out</div><div><b>Chelsea v West Ham United @1pm</b> - the Blues are the holders and have actually won it for the last three years. Top of the WSL, they'll start this match against the struggling Hammers as huge favourites. All is not lost for the east London club though as they've signed three big name international players during the transfer window. With Kristie Mewis (USA), Shelina Zadorsky (Canada) and Katrina Gorry (Australia) all joining, they've got a chance. Also, possibly more critically, Chelsea lost star striker Sam Kerr to a dreaded ACL injury during a winter training camp in Morocco to rock their preparations. <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269&eventId=1458#/event/E1458/ticketlist/?view=sections&minPrice=10&maxPrice=20&quantity=1&sort=price_asc&ada=false&seatSelection=false&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Blackburn Rovers @1pm </b>- also at 1pm there's an all-Championship tie at Sutton United's ground. The race for the second-tier title is incredibly tight with two points separating the top five and Palace are in this group. Although Rovers are seventh, they have games in hand which would put them right back in contention if they won them. When the sides met in the league in October, the Eagles won 4-0 so you'd expect them to win here too. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/268">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United @2pm </b>- like the three ties above, a home win looks highly likely here too. Spurs are sixth in the WSL and come into this on the back of their first ever derby win over Arsenal. With the Blades midtable in the Championship, it looks like a very tough ask for the Yorkshire club. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Moneyfields @3pm </b>- LCL nearly won the Championship last season but didn't quite make it. In the bottom four, this season has been very disappointing by comparison. The visitors are a fourth-tier side and hence one of the lowest ranked teams left in the competition. Scoring an average of six goals in their league games so far, they could make things difficult for the hosts. <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/event-details/london-city-lionesses-vs-moneyfields">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-34777641140743422742023-12-25T23:57:00.041+00:002024-01-06T11:27:40.930+00:00TLFG: 25 December 2023 - 7 January 2024<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings one and all and welcome to the festive edition of TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As has become the routine in recent weeks, it contains all the match maps for the period but only previews for the first few days - I will add more as the week progresses.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So how has your Christmas been so far?</p><p style="text-align: left;">I spent the last few days at my Dad's in Devon where I also caught up with my brother.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We came back on Christmas Eve as I have to work on the 27th and there are very few national rail trains on Boxing Day, which is something you should consider when travelling to games on that date.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh09SQvV7i5TgbMq-JrddbDLGYaRy02-AyTgYZDVZJmR8s055FN383Lr-aFlC7_jWSYZYn8wloLHtzmh0WOvOfEV0SFmddTdmvc_7YJ4WvMu7CI8wg0t_u1tvywM9BXZauMgT3Gq3E7ry2ZHdefs384U3swOKJYr5x_G1RTzgkbDPulN6oHDCZAPSqTDBW/s800/christmasball.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh09SQvV7i5TgbMq-JrddbDLGYaRy02-AyTgYZDVZJmR8s055FN383Lr-aFlC7_jWSYZYn8wloLHtzmh0WOvOfEV0SFmddTdmvc_7YJ4WvMu7CI8wg0t_u1tvywM9BXZauMgT3Gq3E7ry2ZHdefs384U3swOKJYr5x_G1RTzgkbDPulN6oHDCZAPSqTDBW/w400-h400/christmasball.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TLFG's Christmas and New Year Special is here</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Christmas isn't a big thing in our household so we haven't done a huge amount other than go to the launderette as our washing machine is on the blink - I know, rock 'n roll stuff!</p><p style="text-align: left;">My incredibly annoying cough is probably into its fourth week now and it's in a new phase where the phlegm has dried up and my throat is getting quite sore but you don't need to know any more than that.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In fact, it might well stop me going to a game on Boxing Day as I don't know if standing on a damp terrace for a couple of hours is a great remedy.</p><p style="text-align: left;">If I do go, it will be the north-west London derby between <b>Harrow Borough</b> and <b>Hendon</b> but that's looking really doubtful at the moment.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With the year coming to an end, I guess it's right to consider what some of the highlights have been.</p><p style="text-align: left;">For me, the two amazing trips to Bilbao to work with the good people at Athletic Club stand out a mile.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Getting them to support Non-League Day was a huge moment for me and this year's event went well again with some great coverage and bumper crowds around the country.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A hugely important thing for me was getting seriously involved in women's football and bringing my first full season of watching <b>Actonians</b> at all levels to an end.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I was spoiled by what I experienced with the first team finishing third in their division of the fourth tier - their best ever performance.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The reserves won a league and cup double for the second season running and the Thirds more than held their own in the eighth tier.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This year also saw me visit QPR's new training ground and make my return to watching the first team after nearly two years of self-imposed exile.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So those are my best bits, what are yours?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Christmas also seems to be a good time to briefly review how some of our local teams have fared so far this season.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Starting in the Premier League, <b>Arsenal</b> look like being the capital's top club again. Although far from fallible, they're top and looking capable of going one better than last season with Manchester City faltering. They're also going well in the Champions League, winning their group and face a winnable tie against Porto in the next round.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The consensus appears to be that <b>Tottenham Hotspur</b>, currently fourth, are far more entertaining under new boss Ange Postecoglu and the departure of Harry Kane doesn't seem to have had too much of an impact.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After winning the Europa Conference League last season, <b>West Ham United</b> seem to have pushed on. Up to sixth in the Premier League, at the time of writing, they also won their group in the Europa League.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Brentford</b>, <b>Crystal Palace</b> and <b>Fulham</b> are all bumping along in midtable and could do with a few more wins to allay any fears of getting drawn into a relegation battle.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The biggest underachievers in the division, certainly from a London perspective if not a national one, are <b>Chelsea</b> who have spent hundreds of millions of pounds but are 10th and in really underwhelming form. How they change things up is hard to know but boss Mauricio Pochettino is finding things a bit of a struggle at the moment.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the Championship, none of our local sides made a great start to the campaign but in recent weeks it's <b>Watford</b> who have started to get a bit of form going and they're closing in on the play-off places.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Millwall</b> and <b>QPR</b> are in a relegation battle with both replacing their managers already. The match between the two on Boxing Day at The Den is going to be some occasion.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Charlton Athletic</b> and <b>Leyton Orient</b> are our two representatives in the third tier but neither look likely to do anything significant, although survival and consolidation at this level following their promotion should be enough to keep O's fans happy. </p><p style="text-align: left;">It's a different story in League Two where <b>AFC Wimbledon</b> would appear to have a team good enough to get a play-off spot whilst <b>Sutton United</b> are going to have to do something pretty astounding to avoid relegation back to the National League as they're bottom and nine points adrift of safety.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the National League, the main challengers in the London area are <b>Bromley</b> and <b>Barnet</b> who are second and third respectively. Whether either of them can realistically challenge for the title looks unlikely as top club Chesterfield are already 10 points clear.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Last season <b>Aveley</b> won promotion to the National League South and impressed many for the first few months of this season, getting themselves into promotion contention but that form has worryingly fallen away in the last few weeks and they've plummeted to eighth.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As they've dropped points, they've been overtaken by a <b>Hampton & Richmond Borough</b> side who've gone unbeaten in 13 and surged up to second.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A change of ownership had seen a lot of upheaval behind the scenes and discontent among some of the fans but the results have been superb over the last two or three months and the south-west London club are flying.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the seventh tier, three of the top four in the Isthmian League are London clubs.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Hornchurch</b> lost in the play-offs last season and lead Chatham Town by eight points at Christmas which seems pretty commanding.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Enfield Town </b>are often there or thereabouts and they're third but the surprise package are <b>Wingate & Finchley</b> who are fourth and having the season of their lives.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Averaging crowds of just 168, they are the smallest club in the division by some distance.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the parallel Southern League Premier South, our local clubs are having a mixed season.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Walton & Hersham</b> started very strongly after their promotion but have lost a bit of momentum. Nevertheless, they're still seventh and only a point shy of the play-off places.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Elsewhere, <b>Hendon</b> are also in with a shout of a top-five finish being only four points adrift at the time of writing.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Hanwell Town</b>, <b>Harrow Borough</b> and <b>Hayes & Yeading United</b> are all trying to avoid the drop.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Moving into the eighth tier and back into the Isthmian League, the South Central division is currently seeing a scrap between <b>Chertsey Town</b> and <b>Raynes Park Vale</b> for top spot with only goal difference separating them at the moment.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the North Division, the main challenge is coming from <b>Walthamstow</b> following their move across from the Southern League. Currently eighth, they're only two points behind Basildon United in fifth.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After fantastic runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, <b>Cray Valley PM</b> seem to be the London club most likely to challenge for the title in the South East Division. Currently fourth with games in hand on all around them, they're in a very strong position to challenge.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Another club to experience significant upheaval over the summer were <b>Rayners Lane</b>. From the outside, it looked like they were in disarray with the club forgetting to enter the FA Cup and FA Vase.</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, they've rebuilt their promotion winning squad and pushed on again to top the ninth tier CCL Premier North.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the Essex Senior League, the huge success story so far have been <b>Sporting Bengal United</b> who went top in December following their promotion.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Mile End based club slipped backed to second just before Christmas but with <b>Woodford Town</b>, they're well placed for a play-off push.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I would normally also give <b>Romford</b> a mention at this point but in mid-November they moved to Rookery Hill following the demise of East Thurrock United so no longer play within TLFG's catchment area - suffice to say, they're in the top four too.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Faversham Town are two points clear at the top of the SCEFL Premier but have both <b>Glebe</b> and <b>Erith Town</b> hot on their heels in second and third.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the 10th tier, Amersham Town have a whopping 16-point lead at the top and appear to have the CCL Division 1 title wrapped up already. The main contenders from the London area at this stage are <b>Molesey </b>who are fourth and 20 points behind.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We do have a leader, at least for now, in the ECL Division 1 South where <b>Clapton CFC</b> currently top the tree.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I say for now as they've played five games more than their nearest challengers Benfleet and more games than anyone else in the whole division. <b>Cannons Wood</b>, who play at Aveley, are also very much in the mix for at least a play-off place.</p><p style="text-align: left;">What's less in doubt is the lead held by <b>AFC Whyteleafe</b> at the top of the SCEFL Division 1. Although second placed <b>Lewisham Borough</b> have games in hand, they'll still be a point behind if they win them.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the women's game, reigning champions <b>Chelsea</b> have a three point lead at the top of the Super League despite being thrashed 4-1 by arch-rivals <b>Arsenal</b> two weeks ago.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The Gunners moved level with their old foes by winning that game but followed it up with their first ever North London Derby defeat to <b>Tottenham Hotspur</b> which very few people saw coming.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Spurs are having possibly their best season ever and can count themselves firmly among the contenders to finish fourth.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>West Ham United</b>, on the other hand, have been seriously disappointing and are only being kept off the bottom by goal difference. </p><p style="text-align: left;">In the second tier, we have a thrilling title race on our hands with only two points separating the top five teams. <b>Charlton Athletic</b> and <b>Crystal Palace</b> are both in that leading group battling for the solitary promotion place.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Hashtag United</b> won their fourth-tier division last season and are top of the FAWNL Southern Premier as their great performances have continued. However, main rivals Portsmouth are only three points behind with two games in hand.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the division that Hashtag won last season, we have a thrilling duel between <b>AFC Wimbledon</b> and Norwich City to savour.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Level on points at the halfway stage, only one of them can get promoted and with relatively large sums being spent by both, there's a lot at stake.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In the fifth tier, it's been all about <b>Dartford</b> so far but with only a one-point lead, <b>Fulham</b> and <b>Dulwich Hamlet</b> are ready to pounce if an opportunity comes their way. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Ok, I think that'll do for a half-term report - I hope you found it informative.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly this week I'd like to thank <b>Gordon N</b> from <b>Quebec, Canada</b> for donating to <b><a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tlfg">TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a></b> - many thanks. </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The highlights of the next two weeks include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league and women's competitions. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel</b> <b>just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MATCH MAP 25-29 DECEMBER</u></b><br />Boxing Day fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin<br />Friday fixtures - black pin<br /><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1PnR-JMiGo8B3LVZkODFnHG-_UKXrLYc&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>MATCH MAP 30-31 DECEMBER</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin<br />Sunday fixtures - orange pin<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1m3tp73cGGbScWEU-jE3eSMoUf4pbY0Q&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>MATCH MAP 1-5 JANUARY</u></b><br />New Year's Day fixtures - yellow pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday fixtures - purple pin<br />Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1doqSk3pi4v5SKwsX4cr7Saddi6U0g_c&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>MATCH MAP 6-7 JANUARY</u></b></div><div>Saturday fixtures - blue pin<br />Sunday fixtures - orange pin<br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b></div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1K_fpCcT0g0ziroDyWEjiSc0_A0fUay4&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div>In the following section I list, by day, 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.<br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Tuesday 26 December</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b><br /><b>Millwall v QPR @1pm - </b>unusually for Boxing Day, there are no Premier League games in London. However, don't despair as we have this very spicy derby to entertain you instead. Games between these two are always lively but with both fighting relegation, there's even more riding on it than normal. Despite the highly intimidating conditions for away teams, the R's have only lost one of their last five at The Den. There are only a few <b><a href="https://tickets.millwallfc.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/VisualSeatSelectionBoost.aspx?stadium=TD&product=H23QPR&campaign=&type=H&productsubtype=&productIsHomeAsAway=N&prodDesc=Milllwall+v+QPR">tickets</a></b> left so don't delay buying one if you do want to go</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Watford v Bristol City @3pm </b>- if you fancy something a little less intense then head north-west to Vicarage Road. The Hornets have improved their form significantly in recent weeks and could move into the play-off places with a win here. The Robins are only two points behind but haven't won here since 2011 when goals from Nicky Maynard, Marvin Elliott and Brett Pitman saw them win 3-1. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b><br /><br /><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b><br /><b>Leyton Orient v Charlton Athletic @1pm </b>- there's another fine looking derby in the third tier where teams from east and south-east London do battle. The O's won promotion from League Two last season and began life back at this level with a 1-0 loss to the Addicks at The Valley. Coming into this match, they're only four points behind Charlton so it should be close. As I mentioned last week, Michael Appleton's side don't lose much but they draw too often and they were held again by Burton on Saturday which left them in 11th, 11 points adrift of the play-off places. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/Events">Tickets</a></b><br /><br /><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b><br /><b>AFC Wimbledon v Sutton United @3pm</b> - the so-called Thameslink derby completes the EFL offering in the capital on Boxing Day. With only one defeat from their last seven league games, the Dons are in the play-off places but the competition is fierce and anything less than a win here will probably see them slip down. They should win here as Sutton are bottom and nine points adrift of safety. Sadly for neutrals this has sold out<br /><br /><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b><br /><b>Boreham Wood v Kidderminster Harriers @3pm</b> - Boxing Day is usually all about big derbies in the fifth tier but for some reason, in London, it's not this year. The Wood's biggest derby against Barnet actually got played on Saturday and they'll want to forget it quickly as they lost 6-0. Although five places above the relegation zone, the lower reaches of the table are really tight with only six points between 16th and 22nd. Therefore it is pretty much essential that they beat bottom club Kidderminster. <b><a href="https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/home-tickets-2/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Eastleigh @3pm </b>- with one win from five, the Daggers are also in the group of strugglers who are just about keeping their heads above water. Hampshire club Eastleigh are being kept out of the play-off places by goal difference so it looks like being a tough afternoon for the east London club. <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b><br /><br /><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b><br /><b>Welling United v Dartford @1pm</b> - in the sixth tier we do have a big local derby. With Ebbsfleet United no longer in the division, this is as big as it gets for these two. Located about five miles apart, more or less on the same road, there have been some big games between these two in recent years. Last year the Darts finished as runners-up in this division but that form has not returned for this campaign and they're in the bottom seven. With Welling in the relegation zone, this has the feel of a six-pointer to it. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/EDPDJT/welling-united-vs-dartford-2">Tickets</a></b><br /><br /><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b><br /><b>Dulwich Hamlet v Carshalton Athletic @3pm</b> - with average crowds of 2,314, the biggest attendance of the day in the seventh tier will almost certainly be found at Champion Hill. Although not the biggest rivals, they're both from south London and are only one place apart in the push for a play-off place. If you want to go, you are advised to buy <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=123">tickets</a></b> in advance and arrive about half-an-hour early to secure a spot with a decent view</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Haringey Borough v Hashtag United @1pm</b> - with the hosts fighting to get out of the relegation zone and the Tags trying to get into the play-off places, there's plenty to play for here. The visitors' fanbase has primarily been built online so they're not really associated with a specific geographical location. However, when they started their progression up the leagues, they did groundshare with Haringey so there's a connection. Tickets will be available on the gate<br /><br /><b><i><u>Southern League Premier Division South</u></i></b><br /><b>Harrow Borough v Hendon @3pm</b> - my personal choice for Boxing Day, if I'm well enough, will be this derby between two old rivals. Until recently, games on 26 December in this fixture produced loads of goals, 28 from the last five, but this will be the first meeting between them on this day since 2019. On current form, Hendon should win as the Boro are battling relegation. <b><a href="https://harrowboroughfc.ktckts.com/">Tickets</a></b> are cheaper if bought online in advance</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hayes & Yeading United v Hanwell Town @3pm</b> - there's another derby a little to south of Earlsmead. Aside from Hendon, all the clubs from this part of London in the Southern Premier South are struggling. Harrow are in the relegation zone, so are Hanwell and H&YU are two points above the drop zone so there's quite a bit riding on this. Tickets are available on the gate<br /><br /><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b><br /><b>Chertsey Town v Thatcham Town @3pm</b> - top of the division and with average crowds of over 500, the Curfews are definitely the side to be watching in the eighth tier at the moment. Like Chertsey, Thatcham have also won the FA Vase in recent years but haven't carried that form into league football at this higher level. In no danger of relegation, the Berkshire club are more than holding their own but a home win looks the most likely outcome here</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Raynes Park Vale v Sutton Common Rovers @1pm</b> - pushing Chertsey hard are newly promoted RPV who are being kept off top spot by goal difference alone. With fifth-placed Marlow having a couple of games in hand, the title race in this division is looking very exciting indeed. SCR's main priority would seem to be making certain they avoid relegation </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cray Valley PM v Phoenix Sports @1pm </b>- after their fantastic runs in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, CVPM now need to refocus on the league where they have a chance of doing great things this season. Currently fourth and with games in hand on all those above them, they're very much in the title race. Fellow south-east Londoners Phoenix Sports are in the lower reaches of the table but will hope to throw a spanner in the works<br />-------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><b><u>Wednesday 27 December</u></b><br /><br /><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b><br /><b>Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers @730pm</b> - despite giving Aston Villa a good game at the GTech in their last outing, the Bees lost 2-1 to make it just one win from six. Still seven points above the relegation zone, the west London club need to start winning. Wolves enjoyed a 2-1 Christmas Eve victory over Chelsea to move level on points with the Blues in 11th. This is the type of game Brentford need to be getting something out of but they've only beaten the Midlands club once in their last eight matches. Tickets are only available to members</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chelsea v Crystal Palace @730pm </b>- with two wins from their last six Premier League games, the hosts are 10th. After losing to Wolves on Sunday, the grumblings of discontent grew louder with fans' ire starting to be directed towards boss Mauricio Pochettino in a way I haven't heard so far this season. Although far closer to the bottom than the top, Palace are one of those sides who can get a result against almost anyone as their fine draw at Manchester City last week showed. However, with 12 defeats in a row, Chelsea appear to be a real bogey team for them. Tickets are only available to members. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">Hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £400</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Metropolitan Police v Westfield @745pm </b>- the highest level non-league game of the day takes place at Imber Court where the Met are fighting to avoid another relegation after voluntarily taking one last season. Westfield, who hail from Woking, are six points short of the play-offs so will be targeting a win here<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><b><u>Thursday 28 December</u></b><br /><b><u><br /></u><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b><br /><b>Arsenal v West Ham United @815pm </b>- to my knowledge, all we have on Thursday is this big derby at the Emirates. Although winning only one of their last three, the Gunners are still top as others have dropped points too. At the time of writing, only four points separate the top four and if Manchester City win their game in hand, it will get even tighter. After a great win over his former club Manchester United, David Moyes' side are now in the top six and doing really well. Sadly, their recent away form has been more than a bit suspect with them conceding five on their visits to Fulham and Liverpool. Although the Hammers haven't managed a league win over the Gunners for a while, they did knock them out of the EFL Cup when they last played in November. Tickets are only available to members and all hospitality packages have sold out<br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Friday 29 December</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>Championship</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Millwall v Norwich City @745pm </b>- after their hugely important derby win over QPR on Boxing Day, the Lions are at home again on Friday. This time it's the midtable Canaries' turn to visit The Den. Although down in 12th, that part of the table is incredibly congested with only three points separating the sides in sixth and 14th, so a win here could put them right in the mix. Norwich appear to be a bit of bogey team for Millwall as they're unbeaten in eight against the Bermondsey club. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Watford v Stoke City @745pm </b>- the Hornets would've moved into the top six if they'd beaten Bristol City at Vicarage Road on Tuesday but it all went wrong and they lost 4-1. With only one win in five, Stoke are towards the wrong end of the table and should offer Watford a good chance to bounce back. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Leyton Orient v Wycombe Wanderers @745pm</b> - like Millwall, the O's enjoyed a Boxing Day derby win too. Their 1-0 win over Charlton saw them move up to 13th but with the play-off spots still 15 points away, it looks like a midtable finish is likely to be as good as it gets. Wycombe used to really punch above their weight when Gareth Ainsworth was in charge but since his ill-fated departure for QPR, they've struggled. Winless in 11 league games, they're down to 17th and appear to be in some trouble. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>AFC Wimbledon v Colchester United @745pm</b> - on Boxing Day the Dons welcomed local rivals Sutton to Plough Lane for a sold out derby. The U's had won only three games all season and were stuck at the bottom but somehow they won 1-0 and moved up to 23rd. Wimbledon blew a place in the top six in the process. Colchester sit just above Sutton in the table so this should be viewed as a great opportunity to recover but it could turn out to be another banana skin. Apparently it's approaching another sell out, so make sure you buy your <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=101898701034&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">tickets</a></b> in advance if you want to go </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cray Wanderers v Enfield Town @745pm </b>- there are also some decent non-league options on Friday as well. London's oldest club entertain the Towners at Bromley's ground in a match which is of great importance at either end of the table. Cray sit one place above the relegation zone thanks to their marginally better goal difference so need every point they can get. Enfield, on the other hand, are third and eight points behind leaders Hornchurch. With only one side going up automatically, they won't want to give up on their title ambitions just yet. <b><a href="https://www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hornchurch v Lewes @745pm</b> - the Urchins have only suffered one league defeat but it was a significant one, losing 2-0 to second placed Chatham shortly before Christmas. If they had won, they'd be 11 points clear with three games in hand. As it stands, that lead is only five points but they do still have the three extra games. Although still in a very healthy position, it boosted the hopes of the chasing pack and they should feel a need to up their game again. Sussex club Lewes are down in midtable but they shouldn't be underestimated as they drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture back in August, making them one of only four teams to get something out of a game with Hornchurch in the league this season. <b><a href="https://hornchurchfc.ktckts.com/event/hch2324ilp12/hornchurch-vs-lewes">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Saturday 30 December</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Crystal Palace v Brentford @3pm </b>- with most of the sides below them picking up points in recent weeks, pressure is starting to build at both of these clubs who are really struggling to win. Lose here and it's possible that Palace could end the day in the bottom three if results elsewhere go against them. Strangely, since the Bees' arrival in the Premier League, all five games between the two have ended in a draw and it looks highly likely that it could end the same way here. Tickets are only available to members</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barnet v Southend United @3pm - </b>back-to-back wins over Boreham Wood and Southend seem to have brought the Bees' worrying slump to an end. Having only beaten the Shrimpers three days ago, the north London club should have a pretty good idea of how to do it again. If they do, they could go second. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bromley v Ebbsfleet United @3pm </b>- in order for Barnet to go second, current incumbents Bromley will need to slip up here. Ebbsfleet won the NLS title by some margin last season but sadly they're stuck in the relegation zone alongside Oxford City who they came up with. In the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, it was the Ravens who won 3-2. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dartford v Welling United @3pm </b>- with Aveley having well and truly lost their mojo, this is most definitely the match of the day in the sixth tier. As mentioned above, these two are big local rivals and both were looking for points to fight off relegation going into Boxing Day's game. On that occasion, the Darts edged to a 1-0 win and put themselves right up into midtable in the process. The Wings are now eight points adrift of safety and badly need a victory here. <b><a href="https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dulwich Hamlet v Horsham @3pm</b> - my pick in the seventh tier is this battle of two of the biggest clubs in the Isthmian League. As we know only too well, the Hamlet draw crowds of 2,000-3,000 for most of their games these days, whilst Horsham are pushing an average attendance of 900. Both sides sit ready to pounce just outside the play-off places but the Hornets have played fewer games than most of those around them because of their fantastic FA Cup run. You are strongly advised to buy <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=123">tickets</a></b> in advance if you want to go</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cray Valley PM v Sittingbourne @3pm </b>- talking of great FA Cup runs, CVPM had one too which means they're third in their eighth-tier division and have games in hand on all of those around them. Here they take on the side who are one place and one point below them. Tickets are available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Stansfeld v Glebe @3pm</b> - in the ninth tier, why not pop down to Chislehurst for this groundshare derby at Foxbury Avenue? This time it's tenants versus landlords. As it stands, Glebe are second and fighting for the title alongside five other teams whilst Stansfeld are only a point off the bottom. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Enfield Borough v Clapton CFC @3pm</b> - for a match in the 10th tier, there should be a reasonable atmosphere as CCFC's fans tend to travel in reasonable numbers and make a good amount of noise. It's also a game of major significance at either end of the table with Enfield battling the drop and CCFC currently top. This match is being played at Wingate & Finchley and tickets will be available on the gate </div><div style="text-align: left;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Sunday 31 December</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Fulham v Arsenal @2pm</b> - the footballing year comes to an end in London with a double helping of top-flight games. At Craven Cottage, Fulham will be keen to end a three game losing run with a huge derby win over the title-chasing Gunners. It must be agonising being an Arsenal fan right now as every time a chance opens up to pull clear at the top, they blow it. Having seen off a tricky Brighton side and got a decent draw at Liverpool just before Christmas, they then lost at home to West Ham on Thursday. They really should beat the Cottagers but if they don't, they could end the day in fourth. Tickets and hospitality have sold out</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth @2pm </b>- it's a not too dissimilar story at Spurs. Just when they threaten to get going, the wheels come off. After three consecutive wins, they lost 4-2 at Brighton as Thursday night became a miserable one for North London's two giants. Normally you'd expect a match against the Cherries to be highly winnable but not anymore. After a poor start, they're now unbeaten in seven and top of the Premier League form table. That run included wins over Newcastle United and Manchester United and a draw against Aston Villa so Tottenham better watch out! Tickets are only available to members and hospitality packages have sold out too</div><div style="text-align: left;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Monday 1 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>Championship</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>QPR v Cardiff City @3pm </b>- the R's responded well to their poor performance at Millwall on Boxing Day by drawing 0-0 at second placed Ipswich on Friday. Next up they play the Bluebirds who are one of the only sides they've actually managed to beat this season. Cardiff were poor in those early weeks of the season and they have improved significantly. However, with only one win in five they are beatable. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Charlton Athletic v Oxford United @3pm </b> - after drawing too many games to make decent progress up the table, the Addicks are now starting to lose. Back-to-back defeats to Leyton Orient and Bristol Rovers means they're now closer to the relegation zone than the play-off places. Although they lost their big game to Derby on Friday, Oxford are still in the top six and should be confident of getting something here. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20oxford%20united/2024-1-1_15.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sutton United v Newport County @3pm</b> - sadly for the U's, they couldn't follow up their derby win over Wimbledon with another three points at Gillingham as they lost 1-0 in Kent. Still six points adrift of safety, they need to keep picking up points wherever they can. Welsh club Newport are in the bottom seven so Sutton should feel they have a chance. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Maidenhead United @3pm </b>- with the Stones based in Ruislip and Maidenhead a little to the west of London on the Elizabeth Line, this is pretty much a derby given this is a national division. The clubs are also close in the table with Wealdstone 12th just a place and two points above the visitors. The hosts won the reverse fixture 2-0 on Boxing Day and are unbeaten in five against the Magpies. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Slough Town @1pm </b>- these two fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Arbour Park on Boxing Day. The result extended H&RB's lengthy unbeaten run and kept them in second but it also continued Slough's great run too. Despite being down in 17th, the Rebels are second in the NLS form table so this will hopefully give us another cracker. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Carshalton Athletic v Kingstonian @3pm </b>- there are a number of derbies in the seventh tier with this one representing the south side of town. The K's geographical home of Kingston isn't a million miles from Colston Avenue but now they're groundsharing at Tooting & Mitcham United, this is a much more local affair. The Robins are pushing for a play-off place and demolished Haringey Borough 6-0 at Coles Park on Saturday. The visitors are third from bottom and the only side in the division without an away win. <b><a href="https://www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Enfield Town v Haringey Borough @3pm </b>- on the north side, the Towners will be looking to recover from their surprise loss to struggling Cray Wanderers on Friday. With top club Hornchurch also dropping points against Lewes and Chatham not playing since Boxing Day, they're still third. As hinted at above, Haringey are in trouble near the bottom. After a great win against Billericay Town shortly before Christmas, they've shipped 10 goals in the two 'festive' games they've played since and will do well to get anything at Donkey Lane. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm</b> - the Greens will be looking to follow up their derby win over Harrow Borough by seeing off another local team. The Boxing Day victory took Hendon up to ninth, only four points adrift of the play-off places. Sadly the same can't be said of the visitors who lost their big derby against strugglers Hanwell Town, meaning only goal difference is now keeping them out of the relegation zone. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Walthamstow v Basildon United @3pm</b> - there are a few games in the eighth tier too and if I were to go to a game, it would be this one. The Stow are chasing a place in the top five whilst the visitors are currently up there. If they beat them, it makes them pretty strong contenders in my book. Also, with average crowds of 320, there's usually a decent atmosphere at their games too. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;">----------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Tuesday 2 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion @730pm</b> - with back-to-back wins over Manchester United and Arsenal, 2023 came to a pretty great end for the Hammers. Up to sixth in the Premier League, doing nicely in the Europa League and with an FA Cup Third Round tie to come, 2024 holds a lot of promise for David Moyes' side. Brighton are eighth and having a pretty similar season although their form is a little more patchy at the moment. Interestingly, since joining the top flight in 2017, the Seagulls have built up a great record against West Ham losing only once in 13 matches. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1405?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=brightontickets_nov23&utm_content=ticketinfopage">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Erith Town v Fisher @745pm </b>- the one non-league option of the night is an all south-east London affair at Bayliss Avenue in Thamesmead. The Dockers are currently fifth but only four points behind leaders Faversham, with a game in hand in what is an incredibly tight title race. The Fish are coasting along in 10th and need to start winning if they want to make the play-offs. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Wednesday 3 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>Isthmian League South Central</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Sutton Common Rovers v Marlow @745pm - </b>during December, SCR managed to draw 0-0 at top clubs Chertsey Town and Raynes Park Vale whilst losing to other lesser teams. Overall, they failed to win any of the six games they played during the month and are down in 14th as a result. On Wednesday they face Marlow who are sixth. The Buckinghamshire club were looking like genuine contenders when they thrashed Binfield 8-1 at the start of December but they haven't won since and are now 14 points behind the leaders. Even if they win their three games in hand, they'll still be off the pace. This match is being played at AFC Whyteleafe</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Buckhurst Hill v Romford @745pm</b> - although down in the bottom four, the hosts will probably have enough to stay up. Only the bottom two go down and they're seven points clear of them. Romford, on the other hand, are third and well in the hunt for the title. At the time of writing, only five points separate the top four but leaders Tilbury have games in hand on all those below them. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;">------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Thursday 4 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>FA Cup Third Round</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Crystal Palace v Everton @8pm</b> - I could be wrong but I can't remember an FA Cup Third Round getting underway on a Thursday before but that's what's happening here with the game being broadcast live on ITV4. Presumably selected because it features two Premier League sides, I'm not sure what kind of spectacle we'll be treated to. With both teams trying to make sure they stay up, the cup might not be their biggest priority and there could be a few reserves and youngsters on show. That's reflected by the fact that <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/">tickets</a></b> are on sale to non-members, something which rarely happens for first-team games at Selhurst Park</div><div style="text-align: left;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Friday 5 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>FA Cup Third Round</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Brentford v Wolverhampton Wanderers @715pm</b> - there are three more ties on Friday night and they're all in London. With slightly staggered kick-offs, the first one is another all-Premier League game at the GTech. The Bees are on a terrible run and bottom of the PL form table so it will be interesting to see what Thomas Frank does here. Will he play a strong side to try and win and build morale and momentum or give other players a chance because the cup doesn't matter? Wolves are enjoying a bit of a purple patch under boss Gary O'Neil. Highly unlikely to be relegated, the Midlands club are exactly the sort of team that should be thinking of giving the FA Cup a really good go. Again, it's highly unusual to be able to get <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/brentfordfc">tickets</a></b> for games at this venue but they are available to non-members for this one</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Fulham v Rotherham United @730pm</b> - although some of these FA Cup ties might not be the most sexy on paper, they do represent a great opportunity to get yourself on a Premier League club's ticketing database which can be really useful when buying tickets for bigger games. This match between the Cottagers and Championship strugglers Rotherham is one such match. Complacency should be Fulham's greatest threat here. Dispel any thought of that and they should get through. <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228609074878&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley @8pm </b>- the last tie of the night is at the THS where Spurs welcome a side who've won only 3 of their 20 Premier League games this season. Again, it's really hard to know what kind of game we'll get here. Tottenham's main priority will probably be a top-four league finish but winning the FA Cup would be huge for a club who haven't won anything for a while. The Clarets are all about staying up so a long run in the FA Cup is probably not in Vincent Kompany's plans. Surprisingly, this has still to go on sale to non-members but that could change in the next day or two so check the club's <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/buy-tickets/home-tickets/">website</a></b> for the latest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Ilford v Hullbridge Sports @745pm</b> - the best non-league alternative of the night is to be found at Mayesbrook Park. The Foxes are in the bottom two and desperate for points whilst Hullbridge still have hopes of making the play-offs</div><div style="text-align: left;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Saturday 6 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>FA Cup Third Round</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town @1230pm </b>- having seen off Cheltenham Town and Ramsgate in the previous two rounds and scoring 10 goals in the process, the Dons are the kind of opponent that Championship high-flyers Ipswich would probably have wanted to avoid travelling too. Although the Suffolk club are second in the second tier, their form has faltered of late and they're winless in five. There's definitely some cupset potential here. There aren't many <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228754282076&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">tickets</a></b> left so buy ASAP if you want to go</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Millwall v Leicester City @1230pm </b>- the Lions have had a superb festive period, winning all three of their league games as they've moved well away from the Championship relegation zone. Now unbeaten in five, the last team they lost to were runaway leaders Leicester but it was close with the Foxes edging to a 3-2 win in the Midlands. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Millwall's appearance in the FA Cup Final which they lost 3-0 to Manchester United. What a great time to have another good run in the competition. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>QPR v AFC Bournemouth @3pm</b> - when I initially saw this draw I was pretty underwhelmed. The Cherries weren't doing particularly well in the Premier League at the time and I just saw this as a battle of two strugglers in front of sparsely populated stands whose minds would be on other things. Since then, the R's have continued to struggle but Bournemouth have become one of the most in-form teams in the top division. QPR made the final in 1982 whilst the visitors never have - could this be their year? <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Watford v Chesterfield @3pm</b> - the Hornets have landed a home tie against one of the last remaining non-league sides in the competition. Not just any old non-league team though but the ones who are currently top of the National League. Fully professional, this isn't a team of part-timers. They also famously made the FA Cup semi-finals in 1997 but they were a league side back then. Like Millwall, Watford have a big anniversary this year too - it's 40 years since they played Everton in the final of 1984. Worryingly, I remember it very well! I don't know if it's a glitch or if it has sold out but I couldn't find any way of buying tickets for this match on Watford's website, with no men's games available at all. I would therefore suggest calling the club for the latest</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Chelsea v Preston North End @530pm </b>- in the final tie of the day, two clubs with 10 FA Cup wins between them do battle at Stamford Bridge. With eight titles, the Blues are joint third in the overall rankings for the competition alongside Liverpool and Tottenham. Although PNE's last win was way back in 1938, their's is an illustrious history with seven appearances in the final in total. Midtable in their respective divisions, neither are having a particularly great season but you'd expect the hosts to prevail. The last time PNE played here was in another FA Cup tie in 2002 and they lost 3-1 - it could be a similar story here. Tickets have sold out but <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £300</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Bristol City @1pm</b> - since originally publishing this guide nearly two weeks ago, this U21 game has been added too. Most of Spurs' U21 games are played at Stevenage's ground outside London but this is being played at Enfield Town. Tottenham are currently top of the Premier League 2 and have won all their group games so far in this competition, consequently they will start as strong favourites. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/spursu21a/tottenham-hotspur-u21s-vs-bristol-city-u21s-">Tickets</a></b> are £5</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Welling United v Aveley @3pm </b>- with their winless run getting longer, the Millers finally got a victory on Saturday. The win over Dover Athletic means they stay in eighth, two points adrift of the play-offs so promotion is still on the cards but they need to start building another good run. Welling present a good opportunity for some more points as they're down in the relegation zone and really struggling for form. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/ELYMMV/welling-united-vs-aveley">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hornchurch v Horsham @3pm</b> - six points clear with two games in hand, it's looking pretty good for the Urchins who are top of the Isthmian League. A solid 3-0 win at Hashtag United on New Year's Day showed what they're capable of. As mentioned above, Horsham are still in with a shot at the play-offs as they have some games in hand after their FA Cup run. However, with only one point from their three festive games, they're starting to lose ground. <b><a href="https://hornchurchfc.ktckts.com/event/hch2324ilp13/hornchurch-vs-horsham">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Harrow Borough v Hanwell Town @3pm </b>- elsewhere in the seventh tier, there's a derby at Earlsmead. Harrow are only playing at this level after accepting a reprieve from relegation last season. It came at such a time that the club were all set up for eighth-tier football so this campaign was always going to be a struggle. Although second from bottom, they've often been undone by late goals and red cards as they've fought hard against much better resourced clubs. Still only four points adrift of safety, the season isn't over. Local rivals Hanwell were in the relegation zone too going into Christmas but a good festive period has seen them pull clear so it is doable. <b><a href="https://harrowboroughfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b> are cheaper if bought online in advance</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hanworth Villa v Binfield @3pm </b>- there aren't any standout games in the eighth tier so I've decided to put Hanworth in the spotlight. Last season, they finished the season incredibly strongly and made it to the play-offs almost out of nowhere. This season started slowly again but the momentum is building and they're now four points outside the top five. On Saturday they play bottom club Binfield who've shipped 77 goals in 19 games so there's virtually no chance of this ending goalless. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Abbey Rangers v Balham @3pm</b> - two of the top six in this division meet at Addlestone Moor on Saturday. This season the top team gets automatically promoted and the next four play-off for one more promotion place. The hosts are fourth whilst Balham sit just outside the leading group but have games in hand on the two teams immediately above them</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>FC Deportivo Galicia v Langley @3pm</b> - in the 10th tier, TLFG reader Steve Hall is starting an epic virtual <b><a href="https://theshirt2010.co.uk/">trek around the football clubs of England</a></b> on his digital tuk tuk from this game. He's raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK and FC Deportivo Galicia. As for the match, both sides are in midtable </div><div style="text-align: left;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Sunday 7 January</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><i>FA Cup Third Round</i></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>West Ham United v Bristol City @2pm</b> - the weekend concludes with two more FA Cup ties. The Hammers are enjoying a decent run at the moment. Their 0-0 draw with Brighton on Tuesday kept them sixth in the Premier League. In other words, they should start as strong favourites against a midtable Championship team. West Ham have won the cup three times but haven't been to the final since 2006 when they lost an absolute classic to Liverpool. City made the final once but it was way back in 1909 and they lost 1-0 to Manchester United. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1494">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Arsenal v Liverpool @430pm </b>- the tie of the round takes place at the Emirates later in the day. Despite not having won the cup since 2020, the Gunners are the record holders for most titles with 14 wins - two ahead of Manchester United. Liverpool are joint third on the list with eight wins. Back to the present day, Arsenal are fourth in the Premier League after a bit of a wobble which has seen them concede top spot to the Reds. It doesn't get much bigger than this. Tickets are only available to members and hospitality has sold out</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Boreham Wood v York City @2pm</b> - there's a random bit of fifth-tier action at Meadow Park if the games above are no good for you. Both clubs are in lower midtable and could be even lower if Saturday's results go against them. Since these clubs first met in 2016, all five games between them have ended in a draw and it looks like being a very likely outcome again here. To make this match even more interesting, adult <b><a href="https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/uncategorized/ticket-info-york-city-h-2/">tickets are only £10</a></b> which is half the normal charge but they must be bought in advance to get this price</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>New Salamis v Bury Town @3pm</b> - there's also an odd bit of eighth-tier football too. The hosts play their games at Haringey Borough so if you're in north London and you've been to Boreham Wood before, then this could be for you. Bury Town are chasing a play-off place and should start as marginal favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>QPR v AFC Wimbledon @2pm</b> - the biggest match of the day in the women's game is this London derby between the fourth-placed R's and leaders Wimbledon. I don't think it's unfair to say QPR have overachieved so far this season so it's credit to all involved that they've done so well. The Dons are in a fight to the death with Norwich City for the title. With only one team getting promoted, they're level on points with the East Anglian club and can't afford any slip ups. The reverse fixture produced an entertaining 5-3 wins for the Dons back in September. This match is being played at Hanwell Town and tickets will be available on the gate</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>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.<o:p></o:p></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP?</u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>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!</div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b></div></div></div></div></div>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-82606016589743714502023-12-17T23:55:00.011+00:002023-12-23T16:02:18.626+00:00TLFG: 18-24 December 2023<p>Greetings one and all and welcome to the penultimate post of 2023.</p><p>This week's guide goes up to Christmas Eve although there are no games in London on the 24th - you'll have to head to the Midlands for Wolves v Chelsea if you really want to get your football fix that day.</p><p>How has your week of football watching been?</p><p>Mine was busier than I expected.</p><p>After nearly two years away, I made my long awaited return to Loftus Road for a QPR first-team game.</p><p>I was undecided in the run up to the night and had pretty much resolved not to go when my friend Dave came through with a free ticket so off I went.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsHjuy3Ni2h9z3yq9yuPyZi378qr3qFTTqGKhjAftMMhzg-SjaOfEEDZomc-aC11sIZc6leIP9_kesm05d35_bAztnqOls5U99Mi2A7wsb0oFPvCs_EGZQ7Qr8PTZ0pL4aEp1mQ_YZaxLNqkiFeDYiUIK61AOwQj7SMRQl5S3c-No4QW4g_SEfL4J8I3t/s2048/plymouth.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1939" data-original-width="2048" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsHjuy3Ni2h9z3yq9yuPyZi378qr3qFTTqGKhjAftMMhzg-SjaOfEEDZomc-aC11sIZc6leIP9_kesm05d35_bAztnqOls5U99Mi2A7wsb0oFPvCs_EGZQ7Qr8PTZ0pL4aEp1mQ_YZaxLNqkiFeDYiUIK61AOwQj7SMRQl5S3c-No4QW4g_SEfL4J8I3t/w400-h379/plymouth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 21 months, it was great to be back at Loftus Road</td></tr></tbody></table><p>For those of you who don't know, my last match was against Peterborough in March 2022 and it was a pretty awful afternoon.</p><p>It wasn't supposed to be that way as I went on the pitch before the game to collect the Supporter of the Year award.</p><p>That went smoothly enough but it all went downhill when I returned to that stands and found that I was surrounded by racists who totally ruined everything.</p><p>It was particularly bad as I had my nine-year-old daughter with me and she simply told me she didn't want to come back when what was also a dreadful game came to an end.</p><p>After nearly 40 years following the club, I was left feeling totally disillusioned and took a lengthy sabbatical.</p><p>On Wednesday that ended with a match against Plymouth Argyle.</p><p>After three straight wins, confidence was high against side who hadn't won away all season.</p><p>Such confidence seemed to be misplaced as the Devon club tore Rangers apart numerous times in the opening quarter of the game but just couldn't score.</p><p>Then everything changed when a hefty challenge from the aptly named Dan Scarr on Ilias Chair saw him sent off - something which seemed to surprise most people in the ground.</p><p>QPR spent the last 70+ minutes, including injury time, camped in and around Plymouth's area but they just couldn't break through as Argyle gave a defensive masterclass.</p><p>With the final whistle approaching I <i>almost </i>didn't want them to concede as their efforts to keep the R's out were so valiant.</p><p>It finished 0-0 and although that was disappointing, it didn't really matter as I'd enjoyed my return to HQ.</p><p>The racists in the 'posh' seats of South Africa Road from the previous time were nowhere to be found in the Upper Loft and I left with a smile on my face.</p><p>When I'll next return I'm not sure - with most tickets still costing in excess of £30, it might take another freebie to tempt me.</p><p>One other thing to note about the evening was the large amount of German fans in attendance, most of whom were over with Freiburg to watch their Europa League tie the following day at West Ham.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv9vf6By3oYuIx8xFol4z0sncekTtfvLNzGA4XZL5CvMwG_U9NAITMVOcMHQUWOltccAiwANEOwjn0qFntmjBVo-qaid41zaW-ZLg7XiID5vV7FMEALZk82_nErfI-191BUfrpjRGbiIBAp7wW235_6TOlj7DIHBJol5lFPgDlfSif24I-JTs0VjZYmyv/s2048/boleyn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv9vf6By3oYuIx8xFol4z0sncekTtfvLNzGA4XZL5CvMwG_U9NAITMVOcMHQUWOltccAiwANEOwjn0qFntmjBVo-qaid41zaW-ZLg7XiID5vV7FMEALZk82_nErfI-191BUfrpjRGbiIBAp7wW235_6TOlj7DIHBJol5lFPgDlfSif24I-JTs0VjZYmyv/w300-h400/boleyn.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was the centre circle at the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park</td></tr></tbody></table><p>As a result, there were numerous announcements in German to cater to them - some of them might even have taken part in the half-time game for fans on the pitch but I'd need to confirm that.</p><p>Among them was my friend and TLFG reader <b>Christoph B</b> and it was he and many others who I met at Canning Town on Thursday morning to go on a West Ham United walking tour.</p><p>After leaving Canning Town, we also went to West Ham itself, Upton Park and finished up in Stratford visiting a number of the most historic sights in the Hammers' history.</p><p>With a fine local guide called Rob leading things, we learned all about Thames Ironworks and how they developed into the club we know today.</p><p>My 'favourite' bit was visiting the site of the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park which was demolished in 2016 and turned into an estate of smart new flats but a small patch of grass where the centre circle used to be has been preserved and you can stand on it.</p><p>On our way back up Green Street, we bizarrely spotted a fox on the roof of one of the terraced houses and with that being the emblem of the Bundesliga side, this was seen as some kind of omen.</p><p>Sadly it turned out to be a bad one as their side lost 2-0 but they're still in with a chance of progressing via the play-off round.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy and FA Youth Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1WMJcuaG5Sk4aoAqDIvD378GLwYTsVL8&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1tZKNGfIwMc0B2iym_A0Ux2YDEFAEBOM&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 18 December</u></b></div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>Development Matches</u></i></b></div>There are a couple of U21 matches topping the bill on Monday with <b>Charlton Athletic</b> getting things underway at 1pm when they play AFC Bournemouth in the Professional Development League at Dartford. Then at 7pm, <b>Crystal Palace</b> welcome <b>West Ham United</b> to Sutton United for a Premier League 2 fixture. Neither game should cost more than £5<div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 19 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>EFL Cup Quarter-Final</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Newcastle United @8pm </b>- Stamford Bridge plays host to what is probably the tie of the round. With the Blues well out of the running for the league and not in Europe, this competition probably represents their best chance of success this season. They've made two of the last five finals but haven't won it since 2015 when they beat Tottenham 2-0. Newcastle have more to play for at this point in the season but they haven't won anything for decades and any pot will do. They made the final last season and could well go one better if they get through this. Tickets have sold out but <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £300</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><b>Watford v Manchester City @7pm</b> - there's also a tie in the country's most prestigious U18 competition too. Taking place at Vicarage Road, the Hornets welcome their counterparts from the mighty City who will start as strong favourites. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Trophy Third Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Billericay Town @745pm - </b>after seeing the original tie postponed twice, the Stones will try again against opposition from two levels below them. Wealdstone famously won the Trophy back in 1985, beating Boston United 2-1 in the final. Essex club Billericay have only ever made it to the quarter-finals. On that occasion in 2018, it was the Stones who knocked them out. In theory, the same thing should happen again here. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/billericay_town">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Walthamstow v Colchester United @745pm</b> - after beating Billericay on penalties in the last round, the 'Stow next face a side from League Two club Colchester. How strong a side the fourth-tier club send out remains to be seen but they comprehensively beat Heybridge Swifts, who sit just above Walthamstow in the league, in the last round. Tickets are £10 on the gate<br /><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 20 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League International Cup</i></u></b></div><div>There's a mouthwatering night of European U21 action to look forward to on Wednesday with <b>Chelsea</b> entertaining Celtic at Kingsmeadow and <b>Fulham</b> hosting Athletic Bilbao at Motspur Park. Both matches start at 7pm. Given how popular Celtic games can be, I advise buying <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/academy-tickets">tickets</a></b> in advance. The other game should have tickets available on the gate</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Isthmian League South East</i></u></b></div><div><b>Erith & Belvedere v Littlehampton Town @745pm</b> - after getting stuffed 5-0 by Ramsgate on Sunday, the Deres stay stuck in the bottom two. With the visitors just two places and three points above them, this is a highly important relegation six-pointer. Tickets are £10 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Halstead Town @745pm</b> - only managing a 0-0 draw at Hullbridge Sports on Friday, Woodford missed the chance to close in on the top two who also drew this weekend in their respective games. If they win this, they'll close the gap on top club Sporting Bengal United to one point. However, Halstead are a top-six side themselves so will be no pushovers</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 21 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion @8pm</b> - with Christmas closing in we have this random bit of top-flight action between two fierce rivals. Both sides took on one of the big clubs this weekend - the Eagles came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Manchester City at the Etihad whilst the Seagulls lost at Arsenal. The Sussex club are on a five game unbeaten run at Selhurst Park and the table would suggest they'll make that six games. Tickets are not available to non-members</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 22 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ilford v FC Clacton @745pm </b>- second from bottom with only three wins and now playing away from their Cricklefields home, things are looking pretty dire for the Foxes. Eight points adrift of local rivals Frenford who sit just above them, they've got a lot of ground to make up. On Friday they take on a midtable Clacton side who really must be beaten. This is being played at Barking</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>May & Baker v Harlow Town @745pm </b>- the hosts are coasting along nicely enough in midtable but they could face a tough evening here as Harlow are among the title contenders. This is being played at Aveley</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 23 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Manchester United @1230pm </b>- over the last couple of weeks, the Hammers' results have fluctuated wildly. Comfortable home wins over Freiburg and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been sandwiched between thrashings at Fulham and Liverpool. After disappointing results against Bournemouth and Bayern Munich, United picked up a decent point against arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday. Given these recent results, it's a pretty hard one to call. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Burnley @3pm </b>- probably the most notable thing about this fixture is that it will see Rebecca Welch become the first woman to referee a Premier League game. On current form, the Cottagers should beat relegation threatened Burnley but the Clarets are unbeaten in four against the London club so who knows? <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228523146407&productId=10228523055302&lang=en">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @3pm </b>- although down in 16th, the Toffees are in great form and are only near the relegation zone because of a points deduction. Spurs' form is far more variable and this could be a really entertaining game. The north London club are unbeaten in five against the Goodison Park club. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Southampton @3pm </b>- after three wins in a row, optimism was starting to grow at Loftus Road. However, after only drawing with the 10 men of Plymouth and losing to relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday, the uncertainty has returned. Next up, the high-flying Saints pay a visit. Up in fourth, they should provide a very stern test for Marti Cifuentes' side. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Burton Albion @3pm </b>- unbeaten in five league games, the Addicks are still 11 points adrift of the play-offs as they are drawing too many games. Burton have the worst form in the division and are sliding towards the relegation zone. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20burton%20albion/2023-12-23_15.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Mansfield Town @3pm </b>- the U's took the tough decision to part company with boss Matt Gray who guided them into the EFL and took them to the EFL Trophy Final. With only three wins from 21 games, this season has been a disaster and they're seven points adrift of safety at the bottom. Gray's assistant Jason Goodliffe will take charge of this match but with the Stags in fourth, it looks like being another tough afternoon. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v Boreham Wood @3pm </b>- going on the basis of their last five games, the Bees are bottom of the National League form table and pretty much out of the title race which is being dominated by Chesterfield. Still third, promotion is a very realistic prospect via the play-offs but they need to keep hold of that top-seven place. On Saturday they play local rivals Boreham Wood in this derby. The Wood made the play-offs last season but are well of the pace this time round and are still in the battle to avoid relegation. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Altrincham @530pm</b> - while Barnet have been dropping points, the Ravens have taken full advantage and are now second. On Saturday they welcome fourth placed Alty for arguably the biggest game of the day in the fifth tier. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Weston-super-Mare @3pm</b> - two of the division's form teams meet for what could be a cracking game. The Beavers have shot up to third in recent weeks after going 12 games unbeaten. During that run they've beaten second placed Torquay and drew 0-0 at top club Yeovil in their last match. Although down in midtable, WSM have won four of their last five so could be tricky opponents. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=191">Tickets</a></b> </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Walton & Hersham v Gosport Borough @3pm</b> - two of the top six in this division should provide you with the game of the day in the seventh tier. The Swans looked like title contenders in the early stages but after 19 games, they're now 11 points behind top club Salisbury. Still very much in the hunt for the play-offs, a win here will strengthen their case. <b><a href="https://waltonhershamfc.com/ticketing/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Corinthian Casuals v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @3pm</b> - for some reason there are very few games on in the eighth tier. I've gone for this as it features two sides who are battling the drop. Neither are in the bottom two at the moment but CCs are only two points clear and Ashford are in the bottom five too. <b><a href="http://www.corinthian-casuals.com/season_tickets-728030.html">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tooting & Mitcham United v Colliers Wood United @3pm</b> - there aren't any table-topping clashes in the ninth tier so why not check out this south London derby at Imperial Fields. TMU were relegated to this level at the end of last season and they've taken time to adjust. Currently midtable they're doing much better than CWU who are bottom after winning only one of their 20 games</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Langley v Amersham Town @3pm</b> - groundsharing at Uxbridge, the Merry Makers are now on TLFG's patch. Sixth and well placed for a play-off push, they welcome leaders Amersham to Honeycroft on Saturday. A whopping 16 points clear at the top, the Buckinghamshire side look like champions already</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-24301354506539177822023-12-10T23:33:00.012+00:002023-12-15T22:16:15.945+00:00TLFG: 11-17 December 2023<p>Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.</p><p>How have you been? Getting firmly into the Christmas spirit or is too early for you?</p><p>Personally I don't partake of the festivities any more but I don't begrudge anyone who does.</p><p>It also makes me invaluable around the time of the Christmas work do when I'm more than happy to cover for anyone who wants to go out for a big drink up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFyMo8LUzvY4IsUj-gJLGFGaTDLjXRnbVby7vXWOzpbAbPQSSo_mjpLQXBRS9c5v3UTzKCY9GW6a8lxsX2cwgAZdUXI8ft3kJpJSt1JuIMRV8Bwngse1VikE8qmqPhLEPN3Ny0GDC_VpYBEUwXXe7jUZXC9xkm6QbxCQIv0Ujznr9tvNKPL6kpO_RsCH8/s726/whufrei.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="726" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFyMo8LUzvY4IsUj-gJLGFGaTDLjXRnbVby7vXWOzpbAbPQSSo_mjpLQXBRS9c5v3UTzKCY9GW6a8lxsX2cwgAZdUXI8ft3kJpJSt1JuIMRV8Bwngse1VikE8qmqPhLEPN3Ny0GDC_VpYBEUwXXe7jUZXC9xkm6QbxCQIv0Ujznr9tvNKPL6kpO_RsCH8/w400-h220/whufrei.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a big night of European action in London on Thursday - <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1415?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=freiburgtickets_oct23&utm_content=article">tickets</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I do, however, love the feast of football that is the Christmas/New Year period and our annual two week special will be going into production soon.</p><p>The past week for me has been spent enjoying the continued improvement of <b>QPR </b>under Marti Cifuentes with a third consecutive win leaving them within touching distance of 21st place and safety.</p><p>It's got to the point where I'm seriously considering going back to watch them after the best part of two years away.</p><p>The Plymouth match on Wednesday could see me make my return.</p><p>This is largely because my friend and TLFG reader Christoph is bringing a group from Germany to Loftus Road as part of a football tour of London built around watching their beloved Freiburg at <b>West Ham</b>. </p><p>Whatever happens, I'll be going on a football related walking tour with him on Thursday before that big European game.</p><p>A lot of this depends on whether I can shake off my winter cough which I now seem to get every year and which seems to last about six weeks - it's really annoying!</p><p>Anyway, I hope you're in better health and have a great week.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Europa League, Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Champions League, Women's Super League, Women's League Cup and FA Youth Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=167L44ynUGhMcCmjNECFsmHeyyd2QhHY&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1AeZZpp3VRgeUVV9hTlffnAr8SHeneGo&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 11 December</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><b>Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough @7pm</b> - the week begins with this U21 match at Sutton United's ground. We're still at the group stage of the competition at the moment and the Eagles will go top of their group if they beat bottom club Boro. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/204">Tickets</a></b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Surrey Senior Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Carshalton Athletic v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm</b> - just to the east of Gander Green Lane we've got a local derby in this county cup. The Robins now play two levels above the Terrors so they should, in theory, start as favourites but it will largely depend on how strong a squad they field</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 12 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Watford v Ipswich Town @745pm</b> - the Hornets grabbed an injury-time equaliser in their big match with Southampton on Saturday as they drew 1-1. The result leaves them two points adrift of the play-off places in what is a very congested table. Ipswich are new to this division after promotion from League One and look all set to go straight through to the Premier League. Their 2-0 win at Middlesbrough means they're second, seven points clear of third placed Leeds. These sides haven't played each other since 2015 and that season the Tractor Boys won both games. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Second Round Replay</u></i></b></div><b>Barnet v Newport County @745pm </b>- the Bees have faltered badly in the league in recent weeks but cup competitions have given them more joy. Drawing 1-1 in Wales against League Two opposition last week was a fine achievement and then on Saturday they thrashed Maidstone United 4-0 in the FA Trophy. Back on home turf, could Barnet pull off an upset? They'll play non-league Eastleigh at home in the next round if they do. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Trophy Third Round</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Wealdstone v Billericay Town @745pm</b> - after seeing the original tie postponed on Saturday because of a waterlogged pitch, the Stones will try again against opposition from two levels below them. Wealdstone famously won the Trophy back in 1985, beating Boston United 2-1 in the final. Essex club Billericay have only ever made it to the quarter-finals. On that occasion in 2018, it was the Stones who knocked them out. In theory, the same thing should happen again here. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/billericay_town">Tickets</a></b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>London Senior Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Corinthian Casuals v QPR U21 @745pm</b> - after seeing this match postponed last month, the R's will send their youngsters to Tolworth as they enter this competition for the first time. Casuals are having a season to forget and could well suffer a second consecutive relegation. They'll be hoping this match against QPR's development side will offer their senior players a chance for a morale-boosting win. Whether they get it is another matter as Rangers are in fine form in the Professional Development League</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 13 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Plymouth Argyle @745pm</b> - the R's continued their revival under new boss Marti Cifuentes with a hard fought 2-0 win over high flying Hull City on Saturday. That makes it three wins in a row and only one defeat in six for the Catalan manager. After being marooned in the relegation zone some distance from safety, a win against Plymouth could take them out of the bottom three and move them level with Argyle who have also struggled this season. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Women's League Cup</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm</b> - after thrashing Chelsea 4-1 in their top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates on Sunday, the Gunners have to play north London rivals Spurs twice in three days this week. First up is this game in the League Cup at Boreham Wood's ground. The clubs are level on points at the top of Group D after two games so whoever wins here will take an outright lead. Given the small capacity, <b><a href="https://www.arsenal.com/tickets?field_arsenal_team_target_id=5&revision_information=">tickets</a></b> have almost sold out so you'll have to act quickly to get one</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sporting Bengal United v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm </b>- SBU came up from the 10th tier at the start of the season and have surged up the table in recent weeks, putting themselves top. Only one point clear of Tilbury, who have a game in hand, they've got little room for error if they want to stay there. GWR are down in ninth but have games in hand which if won could put them in the play-off places</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 14 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>UEFA Europa League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v SC Freiburg @8pm </b>- the Hammers' fine six game unbeaten run came to a crashing end with a 5-0 drubbing by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday. They'll need to do a lot better than that if they're to win this Group A decider at London Stadium. Freiburg are having a very similar season to West Ham - top eight in the Bundesliga and joint top of this group with David Moyes' side. The reverse fixture saw West Ham win 2-1 in Germany so they should start as marginal favourites here. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>UEFA Women's Champions League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Hacken @8pm</b> - after suffering that humbling defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, the Blues are another side who badly need to raise their levels going into a big European game. Their Swedish opponents travel to Stamford Bridge as group leaders having beaten Real Madrid and Paris FC in their first two games. Emma Hayes' side only managed a draw when they travelled to the Spanish capital so they're second. <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269#/?view=list&includePackages=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 15 December</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Blackburn Rovers @6pm </b>- the pick of Friday night's action takes place at Plough Lane where the Dons' youngsters welcome opposition from Lancashire. Rovers play in the U18 Premier League so will start as favourites. The winners will travel to Cheltenham Town or Sheffield United in the next round. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228751256820&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 16 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Sheffield United @3pm</b> - the only top-flight game in London on Saturday is to be found at Stamford Bridge. With only one win in five, the Blues are 12th and closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League places - an almost unthinkable scenario when you consider they won Europe's top club competition in 2021. The Blades are bottom but with Chris Wilder back in charge, they won their last match against Brentford to give themselves some hope. This is the weakest Chelsea side there's been for some years but surely they won't lose this one too will they??? Tickets are only available to members but <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £480</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @12pm</b> - the next biggest footballing event of the day is likely to be the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Arguably the capital's best ground, this women's game gives you a superb chance to visit without membership and at a very affordable price (£15). The two played in the cup in midweek, with the Gunners winning on penalties after a 3-3 draw. The visitors will probably field a slightly stronger team for this league game and will start as favourites. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Huddersfield Town @3pm</b> - the Lions must be rueing the departure of manager Gary Rowett as they've only won one of the six games since Joe Edwards took over. Now just a point above the relegation zone, they face this six-pointer against a side who have the same points as them. Anything less than a win could see them end the day in the bottom three. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Wealdstone @3pm</b> - there are a couple of games in the fifth tier on the Saturday and I'd have to make this one in east London my pick as it's a crosstown derby. Only a point apart in midtable, it should produce a decent contest. <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Eastbourne Borough @3pm</b> - there's another big relegation six-pointer in the sixth tier too where two of the bottom four meet at Park View Road. Either could move out of the drop zone with a win. <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/o/692994228/welling-united-fc/events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm</b> - if you're looking for a seventh-tier option, I'd advise you to head north where two of the division's best supported teams will do battle at Donkey Lane. The Towners are currently third and looking good for a play-off place. Dulwich came down from the NLS last season and after a rocky start, have begun to find some form. Now six points shy of the top five, the play-off positions are starting to come back into view. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/match11a/enfield-town-vs-dulwich-hamlet">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Division 1 Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hadley v Barton Rovers @3pm</b> - this week seems to see most of the action happening at the wrong end of the table with another big relegation scrap to be found in the far north of London not too far to the west of Enfield. The hosts are in the bottom two but only a point behind the visitors who hail from the Luton area. Tickets are £10 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Glebe v Faversham Town @3pm</b> - one of the games of the day at any level sees the top two in this ninth-tier division duel for supremacy. Glebe are currently second but only a point behind Faversham so it couldn't be much tighter. Tickets will be available on the gate and should be in the £7-10 range</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Challenge Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Whyteleafe v Lewisham Borough @3pm </b>- in the same league's cup competition, the top two in the First Division meet at Church Road for what should be a keenly contested game. The Leafe are currently seven points clear at the top and recently beat their title rivals 2-1. However, Lewisham have two games in hand so their bid for top spot is far from over. A win for the visitors could give them a huge psychological boost. Tickets will probably be in the £5-8 range</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 17 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm</b> - with Manchester City playing Crystal Palace on Saturday, there's a good chance the Gunners could be down to third by the time this kicks off. However, a win here will put them top at least temporarily as Liverpool play later in the day. Beating the Seagulls won't be easy though. A top eight club, they beat Marseille on Thursday to win their group in the Europa League. The Emirates is also a happy hunting ground for the Sussex club. Since joining the Premier League in 2017, they've won four, drawn one and only lost twice. Tickets are only available to members and hospitality has sold out</div><div><b>Brentford v Aston Villa @2pm</b> - with only three points from their last five games, the Bees are suffering a bit of a slump in form. Last time out they lost to bottom club Sheffield United. On Sunday they welcome a side who are in the best shape they've been in for some years. Now firmly among the frontrunners in the league and doing well in Europe, Unai Emery's side will start as firm favourites. Tickets are not available to non-members</div><div><b>West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers @2pm </b>- after being demolished 5-0 by Fulham last weekend, the Hammers responded with a solid 2-0 win over Freiburg on Thursday which saw them book a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League. Wolves, on the other hand, picked up a point in a slightly underwhelming 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest in their last match. Having won their last three against the Midlands club at London Stadium, you'd think David Moyes' side will probably have the edge here. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Erith & Belvedere v Ramsgate @3pm</b> - if you're struggling to get into one of the games above, you have one non-league option. Taking place at Park View Road in Welling, the Deres welcome a side who hit the headlines recently with their televised FA Cup game against AFC Wimbledon at Plough Lane. Given they did so well in that competition, it should come as no surprise that the Kent side are top of this eighth-tier division and should win against a side who are languishing near the bottom. Tickets are £10 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Watford v London City Lionesses @2pm</b> - with no Super League action scheduled in the capital, the top women's game is this second-tier fixture at Wealdstone's ground. The Hornets won promotion to this level last season but have really struggled and are bottom as we approach Christmas. LCL were title contenders in 2022/23 but they've also had a rocky campaign and are in the bottom four too. If Watford are to stay up, they have to win matches like this. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-gb/categories/womens-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Southern Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hashtag United v Rugby Borough @3pm </b>- the Tags are new to this level following promotion but unlike Watford, stormed to the top beating all comers in the opening months of the season. Since then, they've lost a couple and are now second to Portsmouth on goal difference. Rugby Borough, formerly Coventry United, are third and will move into contention if they win here. In the reverse fixture back in September, Hashtag won 3-1. As a side note, defender Sophie Baigent who starred for Actonians last season, has recently signed for the Tags so it will be interesting to see how she fares. Being played at Aveley, tickets will be available on the gate for £5</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-43868440570432637812023-12-04T10:01:00.020+00:002023-12-08T09:48:24.140+00:00TLFG: 4-10 December 2023<p style="text-align: left;">Welcome to this week's edition of TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It seems my visit to QPR's new training ground and meeting new manager Marti Cifuentes made a huge impact as the side went on to win two games in three days.</p><p style="text-align: left;">On Tuesday they beat Stoke City 4-2 at Loftus Road and then they travelled north to Preston on Friday where they won 2-0.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Although still in the bottom three, confidence now appears to be high and the gap to safety is now down to four points.</p><p style="text-align: left;">This weekend they face a home game against a decent Hull City side who are chasing a play-off place so it will be interesting to see if the recovery continues.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFQ42hwUHhrgnrUD-vGcKr6zIZE2-npKdmfp_T4OiubUxprIBbswy_EW0DppyuK7XC0fB8EHTuWTwSIyMMOTwqf5IzOkY1-tzhgbdM-8nXnFB2Y4vmI8Rlrl75XcudC0P92GlbHUr4cmyzE-epWHKRP9ChwHOtMiHj8H9v-Z2smgkoCVAOnMFIHo16Zz9/s1140/palacecherries.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1140" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFQ42hwUHhrgnrUD-vGcKr6zIZE2-npKdmfp_T4OiubUxprIBbswy_EW0DppyuK7XC0fB8EHTuWTwSIyMMOTwqf5IzOkY1-tzhgbdM-8nXnFB2Y4vmI8Rlrl75XcudC0P92GlbHUr4cmyzE-epWHKRP9ChwHOtMiHj8H9v-Z2smgkoCVAOnMFIHo16Zz9/w400-h266/palacecherries.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/tickets/bournemouth-home-tickets-now-on-general-sale/">Tickets</a></b> for Palace v Bournemouth are on sale to non-members</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">The same night QPR beat Preston, thousands of fans were treated to a thrilling game at Wembley where England's women came from 2-0 down to beat the Netherlands 3-2.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sadly it doesn't look like being enough to qualify for the Olympics but there's still an outside chance.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My other two clubs, Harrow Borough and Actonians, had their matches postponed or abandoned so I had a pretty quiet weekend.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As it turns out, my whole week was pretty quiet - norovirus ripped through all the inhabitants of TLFG Towers so I didn't actually get into work until Friday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It was great to hear from long-time reader <b>Christoph B</b> from <b>Freiburg</b> in Germany. He's coming with some friends to watch his beloved Breisgau-Brasilianer play West Ham in the Europa League next week.</p><p style="text-align: left;">They're going to be here for several days and will watch several games, including QPR, and do some tours one of which I'm planning to go on - more on that soon.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As for this week, hopefully I'll get to a game at some point as I have some days off but we'll see.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly, many thanks this week to <b>Kelvin W</b> from <b>Ealing</b> for his kind donation to <b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a> </b><span style="text-align: center;">- he's been reading and supporting this blog for many years, something I'm hugely appreciative of.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1cKtdL4_OcWnTbuoSZGzDUocxAD7KCBM&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1dmvnykL4EaZZldKKSYYHi-sBGtp-nJ8&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 4 December</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Ramsgate @745pm</b> - delayed from the weekend for live TV coverage, the final tie of the round takes place at Plough Lane. The Dons famously upset the mighty Liverpool to win the trophy in 1988 in what I often cite as being my favourite ever final. A hell of a lot has happened in the intervening 35 years but to suffice to say, the south London club aren't the force they once were. Now in League Two, they should still start as strong favourites against an Isthmian League side who play four levels below them. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228747835647&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Charlton Athletic @7pm</b> - on the west side of town, this U21 match at Hanwell Town should provide a decent value night out. The R's are a point ahead of Bournemouth at the top of the table and should beat an Addicks side who are 15 points behind in eighth</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Welling United @745pm</b> - the Millers were flying and applying genuine pressure to leaders Yeovil in what looked like becoming a title race. However, they've now gone five without a win and are down to fourth. The gap between themselves and top spot is now eight points so it's not insurmountable but they'll have to start winning soon. The Wings, on the other hand, are in the relegation zone. With seven points from five games, their form is currently better than any of the other strugglers so they might just get something here</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 5 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm</b> - the Third Round, when all the big clubs' academy sides enter the draw, gets underway this week. Although both these clubs are in the Premier League, their U18 sides play at wildly different levels. Whilst Spurs are currently top the U18 Premier League South, the Bees play in a regional group of the EFL Youth Alliance League, which is something like the third tier, and they're not doing too well either. On paper this looks like a comfortable away win. Interestingly for groundhoppers, this is being played at Brentford's new facility in Staines so if you haven't been already, now's your chance. Previous games here have required you to buy <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/brentfordfc/EDP/Event/Index/268">tickets</a></b> in advance so I presume it will be the case for this one too - do not turn up without one!</div><div><b>Millwall v Barking @7pm</b> - the Blues' youngsters have produced the story of the competition so far. Entering in the Preliminary Round, they've beaten Great Wakering Rovers, Billericay Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Stanway Rovers, Kingstonian and MK Dons and now find themselves competing against the biggest clubs in the land. Representing a ninth-tier club, they are the lowest-ranked side left in the draw. Although it's not Old Trafford or the Emirates, a trip to the The Den is still a fantastic opportunity and who knows what could happen? <b><a href="https://tickets.millwallfc.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/productevent.aspx?productsubtype=UN21">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Braintree Town @745pm</b> - with Aveley faltering, the Beavers have taken full advantage. Now unbeaten in 10 games, winning nine of those, the south-west London club are up to second and catching leaders Yeovil. Essex club Braintree slipped out of the play-off places on Saturday after seeing their match against Weymouth get frozen off <br /><div><br /></div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 6 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth @730pm</b> - Roy Hodgson's side managed a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Sunday but that means they've now won only one of their last six. Still well clear of the relegation zone, they face a side below them who are in much better form after a ropey start. The Cherries have taken 10 points from their last five games and were robbed of a win over Aston Villa by a last-minute equaliser on Sunday. Palace are unbeaten in six against Bournemouth but that run could come to an end here. It's highly unusual for <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/107">tickets</a></b> for Premier League games at Selhurst Park to go on sale to non-members but this one has so don't miss out</div><div><b>Fulham v Nottingham Forest @730pm </b>- with three minutes to go of Sunday's game, the Cottagers led 3-2 against Liverpool at Anfield. Sadly, a late collapse saw them lose 4-3 to leave them 14th in the table. Forest lost 1-0 at home to Everton to remain just behind Fulham in the table. To me, this has draw written all over it. <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/content">Tickets</a></b> do appear to be available to non-members </div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League International Cup</i></u></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Benfica @7pm </b>- the Eagles made it to the final of this U21 competition last season. As it stands, the south London club are in a qualifying position for the next round whilst Benfica have a bit of catching up to do after drawing their opening game at Liverpool 1-1. This match is being played at Sutton United. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/203">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Barking @745pm</b> - with only one win from their last five games in all competitions, the hosts' great early-season form seems to have left them. Still third and with a game in hand on the leaders, all is not lost but an uplift in results is required. The Blues are coasting along nicely enough in midtable with a play-off push probably now the aim</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 7 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @815pm</b> - Spurs came from behind to snatch a point after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Manchester City on Sunday. The result left them in fifth and allowed arch rivals Arsenal to open a three-point lead at the top. The Hammers drew 1-1 with Palace to stay in the top half but they'll have to do a lot better to get anything out of this one. Spurs are unbeaten in five at home against West Ham. Tickets are not available to non-members but <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/EDP/Event/Index/9341?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=home_tx_page&utm_campaign=avail_mod_prm&utm_content=whu">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £399</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 8 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League Cup</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Brentford @7pm</b> - there's a west London derby to be enjoyed at Motspur Park on Friday night. The Cottagers are currently third in the PL2 South which should indicate that they're one of the best sides in the country at this level. How good the Bees are is hard to gauge as they don't play in a league. However, last season, they won this competition and beat Fulham 2-1 in the semi-finals at this venue so they must know what they're doing! Admission is usually around £3 on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Southampton @7pm </b>- the Hammers thrashed Arsenal 5-1 at the Emirates in last year's final in front of nearly 35,000 fans. They begin the defence of their title at home to the Saints who they also trounced 6-1 in the semi-final at London Stadium. As you can obviously see, West Ham's youngsters are really good and they look to have another good crop on their hands this year too. This is being played the club's Rush Green training facility and you can usually pay on the gate </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cannons Wood v Clapton CFC @745pm </b>- the non-league match of the night would appear to be this 10th-tier game between two of the title contenders. I think I'm right in saying that both sides have occupied top spot at some point this season. It's actually quite hard to decide who the best team is at the moment as some in the top six have played 24 games and others only 19. This match is being played at Aveley</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 9 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Liverpool @1230pm</b> - the only Premier League game in London on Saturday takes place at Selhurst Park. Roy Hodgson's side are on a bit of a sticky run at the moment, with the midweek defeat to Bournemouth extending their winless run to four games. By contrast, the Reds are motoring along with only one defeat from their last 13 games in all competitions. Up to second in the league and only two points behind Arsenal, they will go top for at least a few hours if they win here. Tickets are not available to non-members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Hull City @3pm</b> - after back-to-back wins under new manager Marti Cifuentes, the R's are a totally different prospect to the one of a few weeks ago. Still in the bottom three, they have plenty to do but they now look a much tougher side to play against. Hull have had a good season under another bright young coach. Former Fulham and Brighton player Liam Rosenior has done a great job since taking over a year ago and they're currently in the top six. This could be quite a decent game. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Southampton @3pm</b> - with 10 points from their last five games, the Hornets are enjoying a bit of a recovery. Winning 2-1 at Hull in their last match, Valerian Ismael's side are up to 10th and could move level with the Tigers if results go their way on Saturday. The Saints came down from the Premier League last season and struggled to begin with. However, they've now found their feet, are in the top four and are joint top of the form table with Leeds. If you can't get a ticket for Palace, then it appears you have a couple of very good Championship alternatives. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Cambridge United @3pm</b> - despite going four games without defeat, the Addicks are still stuck in the midtable doldrums - 10 points clear of the relegation zone but still seven points adrift of the play-off places. With a place in the top six their clear aim, they need to be winning this game against a Cambridge side who are out of form and too close to the bottom four for comfort. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20cambridge%20united/2023-12-9_15.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Derby County @3pm</b> - with only four points from their last six games, the O's have hit a bad patch. Down in 16th, they could really do with a win soon. Sadly, it looks unlikely to come here as Derby have won five of their last six games and are in the play-off places. Interestingly, this will be the first match between the sides since 1985 when they fought out a 2-2 draw at Brisbane Road in a league game. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><i>League Two</i></u></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Swindon Town @3pm</b> - following their 5-0 demolition of non-league Ramsgate in the FA Cup on Monday, the Dons return to league action on Saturday. Sitting 10th in the fourth tier, they're well placed for a play-off push but so are Swindon who are just two points above them. Beating the Wiltshire club would be a real statement of intent and put them firmly among the contenders. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/content">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Harrogate Town @3pm</b> - unbeaten in five games, the U's have tightened things up a lot. However, they're drawing games not winning them and as a result they're still bottom. However, they are still only four points adrift so it's not a lost cause by any means. Harrogate are cruising along in midtable and look likely to stay there. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers, with its final at Wembley, is down to its last 64 teams. At this stage, all the clubs in the fifth tier enter the draw. There are several ties in London, here are my picks:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Barnet v Maidstone United @3pm</b> - the Bees are on a poor run of four consecutive defeats which has put a huge dent in their title challenge. Now third in the table and 11 points behind the leaders, hanging on to a play-off place would now seem to be the priority. Last season Barnet made the play-offs and the semi-finals of the Trophy but ended up with nothing - they'll be hoping that doesn't happen again. Maidstone made the headlines last weekend by beating Barrow to make it to the FA Cup Third Round where they'll host Port Vale or Stevenage. The Kent club play in the division below Barnet but they're second and could make things difficult for the north London side</div><div><b>Hendon v Weymouth @3pm</b> - a short distance to the south of The Hive, the Greens are also in action in the Trophy. A seventh-tier side, they've done well to get this far, picking up the scalps of AFC Sudbury, Walton & Hersham and Eastbourne Borough. The latter play at the same level as Weymouth so Lee Allinson's side have every chance of causing another upset</div><div><b>Welling United v Brackley Town @3pm</b> - the Wings are in the sixth tier's bottom four but they're in reasonable form. On Saturday they welcome a side from the parallel NLN who won the Trophy in 2018. Up in fourth in their division, they will start as favourites at Park View Road</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Yeovil Town @3pm</b> - not a million miles from Welling, the Darts are preparing for possibly their biggest game of the season as former Championship club Yeovil come to town. The Somerset outfit have had a spectacularly bad decade and find themselves back in the sixth tier for what I believe is the first time since 1997. Despite this dramatic fall, they're giving this season a really good go and are six points clear at the top with a game in hand</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Walton & Hersham v Salisbury @3pm</b> - the Swans have been among the frontrunners in the seventh tier all season but a sudden dip in form has seen them lose four in a row. This has seen them slip to eighth but they do have two or three games in hand on most of those above them. Salisbury are only being kept off the top by goal difference and they have a game in hand on leaders Chesham so this could be quite a battle</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hanworth Villa v Marlow @3pm</b> - the hosts made the play-offs after fantastic winning run towards the end of the season. They're going to need to something similar this time as although they're seventh, the leading back are already breaking away. Seven points adrift of the play-offs, they badly need to beat Marlow who are fourth but have the games in hand to be top</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Rayners Lane v Milton United @3pm </b>- in the ninth tier, it's first versus third at Tithe Farm. Once again it's worth remembering that Rayners Lane had a chaotic summer following their promotion and everything looked like it would fall apart. However, the new management team pulled things together and with, I believe, an increased budget have recruited a decent squad. Currently top, but only on goal difference, they can't afford many slip ups if they want to stay in the title race</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Langley v Yateley United @3pm</b> - two of the top five meet at Honeycroft which is Langley's new home for this season. The Merry Makers finished fifth last season and they look quite capable of at least matching that this year. Yateley are currently fifth but have games in hand on all of those above them</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Crewe Alexandra @530pm</b> - if youth football's more your thing then the Gunners, last season's beaten finalists, entertain Crewe at Boreham Wood's ground. The late kick-off means you should be able to combine it with the game between London Lions and Tring Athletic which takes place at nearby Rowley Lane</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b><u>Sunday 10 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v West Ham United @2pm </b>- the day's top-flight action gets underway at Craven Cottage. Marco Silva's side pulled off an unexpected 5-0 drubbing of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday to really boost spirits. Next up they face a crosstown derby against the Hammers who extended their unbeaten run to six games with a fine 2-1 win at Spurs on Thursday. Talking of six games, that's how long their unbeaten run is against Fulham too. I'm fairly confident they'll be able to make it seven here. Tickets are only available to those with a previous Fulham booking history</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United @430pm</b> - both these sides suffered disappointing nights on Thursday - Spurs lost the aforementioned game to West Ham while the Magpies came unstuck at Everton. Ange Postecoglu's side were top not that long ago but recent results mean they're now in worse form than bottom club Sheffield United and surely out of the title race. Newcastle were looking like a good bet for a top-four finish but two defeats in their last four have made those predictions look a bit shaky. Eddie Howe's team did the double over Tottenham last season, scoring eight goals in the process, but I think a draw looks more likely this time. Tickets are only available to members whilst <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/tottenhamhotspur/EDP/Event/Index/9342?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=home_tx_page&utm_campaign=avail_mod_prm&utm_content=new">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £299</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Chelsea @1230pm</b> - there's also a massive game at the Emirates where the top two in the WSL meet for a game that could go a long way to deciding who wins the title. The Blues are the reigning champions and currently top, three points ahead of the Gunners. With every point absolutely crucial in this division, a loss for Arsenal would leave them with an almost insurmountable six-point deficit to make up. Almost 60,000 <b><a href="https://www.arsenal.com/tickets?field_arsenal_team_target_id=5&revision_information=">tickets</a></b> have already been sold so don't delay if you want to snaffle one of the last ones</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United @645pm</b> - although there's also a WSL game at West Ham at 2pm, the late kick-off here means you can combine it with pretty much any other game taking place on Sunday (except the men's game at Spurs - oh the irony). Being played at Leyton Orient, a much improved Tottenham side could break into the top five with a win. <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/buy-tickets/womens-tickets/?ics=fixtures_mnu_h">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>Unlike the men's competition, only second-tier clubs join the draw in this round. There are two ties in London, with the winners of each one receiving £35,000 and the losers £9,000 - a significant sum for many clubs at this level</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Chatham Town @1pm</b> - the Eagles are fourth in the Championship but they'll go top if they win their game in hand. Therefore, they are without question one of the strongest teams in the Third Round. Chatham are struggling at the level below them so will start as underdogs. This match is being played at Sutton United. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/Events?preFilter=6&preFilterName=5.%20Women%27s%20Matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Billericay Town @1pm</b> - it's a similar tale at Princes Park where a second tier club hosts one from the third. The gulf between the two is probably not as big as for the match above but LCL should still be expected to go through. <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Haringey Borough @3pm</b> - if you'd prefer a men's non-league game then head to Bromley where London's oldest club take on bottom side Haringey in a relegation six-pointer. At the time of writing on Thursday, Cray sit just above the relegation zone on goal difference so a win would take a bit of pressure off</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hilltop v Hamble Club @3pm</b> - after seeing this tie postponed last weekend, these clubs will try again on Sunday. These two midtable teams from parallel ninth-tier divisions should put on a competitive display. Whatever the weather this weekend, this should go ahead as it's been moved to Bedfont Sports who have a 3G pitch</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-43787642438203457272023-11-26T23:33:00.020+00:002023-12-01T16:42:41.213+00:00TLFG: 27 November - 3 December 2023<p>Another month is coming to an end and the match-packed festive period is starting to appear on the horizon. </p><p>How was your week?</p><p>On Wednesday I had the honour of being invited to QPR's sparkling new training ground at Heston to celebrate the <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/2023/november/24/tiger-cubs-celebrate-in-style/">15th anniversary of the Tiger Cubs</a></b>, the R's club for young people with Down's syndrome.</p><p>If you've been reading this blog for several years, you might remember that a friend (<b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrischarles808">Chris Charles</a></b>) and I set up an annual sponsored walk for the TC's back in 2010.</p><p>Over the years, the team have walked to away games at Arsenal, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford and West Ham United.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpgXRcxLQlpnWKT5fw3rDsdnLXbHO0OggxlFQQOSIZnEhstLmRDkW-Rd6fUIoR6XVYvveheITdSyh2POsrfPt6axuTQ0j3vuGXdMsiBgKcC9XQyr23e8Pb6Z1JVupIg6E03BPp2qtW9XIHiL254wtIhvTHEJ-rwUKam4aM5A9SiiAJaUQAvNC22pGRnEy/s1439/heston.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="1439" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpgXRcxLQlpnWKT5fw3rDsdnLXbHO0OggxlFQQOSIZnEhstLmRDkW-Rd6fUIoR6XVYvveheITdSyh2POsrfPt6axuTQ0j3vuGXdMsiBgKcC9XQyr23e8Pb6Z1JVupIg6E03BPp2qtW9XIHiL254wtIhvTHEJ-rwUKam4aM5A9SiiAJaUQAvNC22pGRnEy/w400-h379/heston.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris and I with a couple of the QPR Tiger Cubs at Heston</td></tr></tbody></table><p>In more recent years, the walks have often ended up taking us to Loftus Road for a home game - heading in from the old training ground at Harlington or last year doing a walk around all the club's old grounds in north-west London.</p><p>In total, the walkers have raised £155,000 for the TC's which has allowed the club to not only keep going but now operate at three locations around London. </p><p>After being given a tour of all the new facilities, Chris and I were among those to give a brief speech, before the celebrations got fully underway - I even got to meet new manager Marti Cifuentes.</p><p>The plan is to walk to another home game from Heston in April, Sky TV permitting!</p><p>As for watching some football, I headed down to Gunnersbury Park on Sunday to watch <b>Actonians Reserves</b> in action again.</p><p>Today's visitors were title challengers <b>Denham United</b> who had thrashed a depleted A's side 4-1 on the opening day of the season in the reverse fixture.</p><p>Far from being depleted again, the side was boosted by the presence of four first-team players (as they didn't have a game), and several more offering support from the sidelines.</p><p>It ended up being a really good game.</p><p>Actonians dominated for long periods but some stunning goalkeeping from Zara Butt and some wasteful finishing meant the first half ended goalless.</p><p>The hosts managed to break the deadlock early in the second half when the aforementioned Butt made a total mess of Rosie Hay's free-kick.</p><p>I'm not quite sure what happened but she seemed to get disorientated and it somehow hit the post and went in.</p><p>The chances continued to come but Butt redeemed herself with some more great saves and then Denham equalised.</p><p>Captain Annie Hewitt drove forward from midfield before lashing an unstoppable effort in off the bar to draw them level with just over 20 minutes to go.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOWTbsCjVzJmpS4vpkvfMEstEBOlXZ9m-7z0krvr3TiG0vQ_weNuUBK9Jmxp1rKfpLSrxj9hwaqPmQw56xNsMoxvmVfkA2yu9xvuZ4dcpl-Avh6LYcGNZbMRUc-aJxkejgSJB5m-R9bXEsIKUa__ojUs-_ZEjpPNDebt-7VXJuo6Z7F4Lz3A7fFK2vgBF/s2048/fenix.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1460" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOWTbsCjVzJmpS4vpkvfMEstEBOlXZ9m-7z0krvr3TiG0vQ_weNuUBK9Jmxp1rKfpLSrxj9hwaqPmQw56xNsMoxvmVfkA2yu9xvuZ4dcpl-Avh6LYcGNZbMRUc-aJxkejgSJB5m-R9bXEsIKUa__ojUs-_ZEjpPNDebt-7VXJuo6Z7F4Lz3A7fFK2vgBF/w285-h400/fenix.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Donkey Lane is the place to be on Tuesday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully, the A's heads didn't drop and a smart move was clinically finished low into the bottom corner by top scorer Katy Hanscomb soon after.</div><p></p><p>It turned out to be the winning goal and saw Actonians hold on to third for another week.</p><p>Looking forward now, one of the matches of the week for me, takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in north London on Tuesday night where <b>Enfield Town</b> dip their toes into European football.</p><p>Yes, that's right, the seventh tier Isthmian League Towners will be welcoming Danish club BK Skjold for their opening group game in the FENIX Trophy. </p><p>I've written more about this in the match preview below but it should be quite a moment for the north London club and I wish I could be there but alas I'm working.</p><p>Work means I won't get to any games this week but I hope you do, so have a great one. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week we've got matches in the Champions League, Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Vase, FENIX Trophy, Women's National League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1MpM4KKgM9PfGkLU0nsTtvpd0Eh3e-Rw&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1DwTHt_ToRlcGZ76bMeT0WH0Ff0A49Ec&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 27 November</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers @8pm</b> - the week begins with another helping of top-flight action on the banks of the Thames. The Cottagers are now four without a win and down in the bottom six. They could really do with three points and Wolves, who sit three points above them in the table, are the sort of team they need to be beating. Unusually for Premier League games, <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228523146404&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">tickets</a></b> are available so don't miss your chance!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City @2pm</b> - earlier in the day, we have this U21 game at Dartford's ground. Neither team are having a particularly great season but the hosts should start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>EAL Senior Division Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Lymore Gardens v FC Petrocub @745pm </b>- the only other senior match of the day is this tie in an 11th tier cup competition. The sides are currently sixth and seventh in the EAL's top division. The match is being played at Haringey Borough</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 28 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Stoke City @745pm</b> - the R's suffered their first defeat under new boss Marti Cifuentes at Norwich on Saturday despite dominating possession. Three games into his reign, the best the Catalan boss has so far managed is a draw so they badly need a win to start climbing the table. Although the Potters are only in 16th, they're tough to beat with only one loss in their last five and are also unbeaten in three at Loftus Road. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/qpr/?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Website_Button&utm_campaign=Tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Norwich City @8pm</b> - these two have spent most of the last few years yo-yoing between the top two divisions. However, that habit seems to be coming to an end as neither of them went up last season and both are well down the table at the time of writing. Two points apart in the table, the Canaries come into this on the back of two wins so they're in marginally better form. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Cheltenham Town @745pm</b> - the Addicks made the 600-mile round trip to Carlisle on Saturday and came back with a point after a 1-1 draw, a result which lifted them to 10th. The visitors had an horrific start to the season, playing 15 games before finally winning one. They've now found their mojo, taking 10 points from their last five games, so they're far more dangerous opponents than their lowly position suggests. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20cheltenham%20town/2023-11-28_19.45/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Crewe Alexandra @745pm </b>- the U's are another club to have made a very poor start but they've started to tighten things up and are now unbeaten in four. However, they're still bottom because they're drawing rather than winning. Sadly for them, Crewe are one of the division's form teams and head to south London in fourth after winning five of their last six games. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Lyon @7pm</b> - this bemusingly low key U21 competition resumes on Tuesday with this match at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground. It's still at the group stage at the moment and these two are top of Group B (there are eight teams in it). In their previous games, the Hammers beat Celtic and Valencia whilst Lyon have enjoyed wins over Chelsea and Southampton. Tickets should be available on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Tring Athletic @7pm</b> - elsewhere in east London, it's a huge night for the youngsters of both these sides but particularly those of the visitors. Hertfordshire club Tring see their first team play in the ninth tier so for them to produce an U18 side good enough to go this far is some achievement. Not only will they get the chance to play at Brisbane Road here but if they win, they'll be away to Newcastle United in the next round. Tickets are £4 and entry is via the club's main reception</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FENIX Trophy</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v BK Skjold @745pm </b>- one of the biggest highlights of the week for me sees some European football under the lights at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. Yes, you read that right. The FENIX Trophy is an invitational competition for semi-pro and amateur clubs across the continent which is now in its third season. Founded in Italy in 2021, the first winners were FC United of Manchester who beat Prague Raptors in the final in Rimini. Last season, Danish club BK Skjold won after also getting the better of Prague in a match at Milan's San Siro - a fantastic occasion. This season, the competition has expanded from nine to 12 teams with the Towners making their debut and it looks like they couldn't have got a much tougher opening opponent. <b><a href="https://enfieldtownfc.ktckts.com/event/etfc2324fenix1/enfield-town-vs-bk-skjold-fenix-trophy">Tickets</a></b> are £12 and can be bought online</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 29 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>UEFA Champions League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v RC Lens @8pm </b>- the Gunners won 1-0 at Brentford on Saturday to go top of the Premier League so they should go into this match with some confidence. Lens are sixth in the French league after a 3-0 win at Clermont on Saturday and beat Arsenal 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the start of October so they need to be taken seriously. Tickets are only available to members but you should be able to get into the UEFA Youth League game between the clubs' U19 sides which is being played at Boreham Wood at 1pm - admission is usually free</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Whitehawk @745pm</b> - the best non-league option of the day sees London's oldest club take on opposition from Sussex. Unbeaten in three, Cray are now three points clear of the bottom four and hoping to push up the table. Whitehawk are 12th but have games in hand on most of those above them, so they should be higher up and will start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sporting Bengal United v Hullbridge Sports @745pm</b> - the hosts won promotion back to this level last season and have made a great start. Currently fourth, they've played less games than the three clubs above them and win here could put them second. Hullbridge could move into the top five with a win of their own</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 30 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Youth & Development games</u></i></b></div><div>Today is all about U23 and U18 football with matches at numerous non-league clubs around the capital - see the map for more details</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 1 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>UEFA Women's Nations League</i></u></b></div><div><b>England v Netherlands @745pm</b> - Sarina Wiegman's team return to Nations League action against the country of her birth. Things haven't gone that smoothly for the reigning European champions since returning from the World Cup with away defeats to Belgium and the Netherlands leaving them third in the group with two games to go. If they do want to progress, they really need to win this huge game which is being played at Wembley. <b><a href="https://www.wembleystadium.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div>If women's football isn't for you then there's a couple of men's U21 games to consider. <b>Fulham</b> entertain Brighton & Hove Albion at their training ground at Motspur Park whilst <b>West Ham United </b>take on Nottingham Forest at Rush Green. Both matches start at 7pm</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Frenford @745pm</b> - there are a couple of decent options in this division on Friday but I'm going for this as it affects things at either end of the table. Woodford may have slipped to third by the time this comes round and they'll want to get back in the hunt for the title. Newly promoted Frenford are in the bottom three and badly need a win to revive their fortunes</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 2 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm </b>- these two experienced very contrasting fortunes in midweek with the Gunners thrashing Lens 6-0 in the Champions League and Wolves losing 3-2 at Fulham in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta's side are riding the crest of a wave right now, coming into this as leaders. However, Gary O'Neil is seen by many as a very canny young manager who is doing a good job at his new club. They will definitely start as underdogs but dangerous ones. Tickets are only available to members but <b><a href="https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/wolverhampton-wanderers/">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £350</div><div><b>Brentford v Luton Town @3pm</b> - in terms of average attendance, these are two of the smallest clubs in the top flight with the Hatters' crowds of 10,937 making them the smallest. When you consider that 23 Championship, six League One and two League Two sides get more than that, it's fair to say they're punching well above their weight. Four points clear of the relegation zone after 13 games is no mean feat and with this being a derby of sorts, the atmosphere should be great. I can vouch for this having seen these two play each other at a packed Griffin Park way back in 1996. On that occasion, I believe the Bees came from 2-0 down to win a classic 3-2. It wouldn't surprise me if we got some more of the same here. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Sunderland @3pm</b> - there should be no lack of atmosphere at The Den either where the Lions welcome the biggest club in the division (in terms of attendance). After Joe Edwards' brilliant start at Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall's new manager was brought crashing down to earth with back-to-back defeats to Coventry and Ipswich. The Mackems are eight places above them in the table but arrive on the back of two defeats against teams fighting the drop so it could be a good time to play them. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Horsham @3pm</b> - with AFC Wimbledon playing on Monday, there's only one tie taking place in London this weekend and it looks pretty special. Sutton are one of the most famous giantkilling clubs in FA Cup history. In 1989, whilst playing in the fifth tier, they managed a 2-1 win over a Coventry City side who were fifth in the top flight - the equivalent of Barnet beating Tottenham Hotspur today. More recently in 2016/17, they beat Cheltenham Town, local rivals AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United before bowing out at home to Arsenal in the Fifth Round, losing 2-0 whilst still a non-league side. Now members of League Two they'll start as favourites against Isthmian League opposition who find themselves here after Barnsley fielded an ineligible player in the last round, getting themselves disqualified. Horsham gave it a good go against the Tykes though, drawing 3-3 at Oakwell before losing a replay. With only around 25 miles between the clubs, it's practically a derby too so I'd buy <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/event/sutfacr2/sufc-vs-horsham">tickets</a></b> in advance just to make sure you get in</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Rochdale @3pm </b>- the Ravens find themselves right up in second as they prepare for this huge game against former EFL club Dale. Although second in the table, they're a whopping 11 points behind leaders Chesterfield so they need to keep winning to have any chance of the title. The visitors have won four of their last five and will almost certainly break into the play-off places if they win this huge game. Again, this is one that's worth getting <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">tickets</a></b> for in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm</b> - the Beavers are the division's form team. Unbeaten in nine, with eight of those wins, it's a great time to watch the team from south-west London. Up to fourth, they could go second with a win here against midtable Hemel but they've only lost one of their last five too. It has all the ingredients for a great game. <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Dashboard?clubId=191">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Wingate & Finchley v Billericay Town @3pm</b> - there will be far bigger crowds in the seventh tier on Saturday but there's only one game featuring two of the top five. W&F are the smallest team in this division with crowds of only 170 but they're having a fantastic season and find themselves in the play-off places after 17 games - usually they're at the other end. Billericay are third and are now in their second season at this level following relegation from the NLS and will provide a very stern test. <b><a href="https://www.wingatefinchley.com/events/1st-team-v-billericay-town-h">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Corinthian Casuals v Chertsey Town @3pm </b>- there's a game of some significance affecting the top and bottom of this eighth-tier division on Saturday. CC's came down from the Premier Division last season and being in the bottom three, are on course to go down again. Chertsey, on the other hand, are a team who appear to be on a steady up. In 2019, they did the double by winning the Combined Counties League and FA Vase. They've made the play-offs at this level since then and are top coming into this after winning their massive match against title rivals Southall last week. Over 600 packed into Alwyns Lane for that game and I'm sure they'll take a few to Tolworth for this one. Tickets are £12 on the gate </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition for teams in the ninth and 10th tiers with its final at Wembley is now down to its last 64 teams so things are getting quite serious. There are five ties in the London area on Saturday with the winners receiving £1,125 and the losers £350</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Athletic Newham v Erith Town @3pm</b> - the tie of the round in our area must be this one at the Terence MacMillan Stadium. Two seasons ago, the hosts thrashed Littlehampton Town 5-0 in the Fourth Round but then got thrown out of the competition for having fielded an ineligible player. Following their reprieve, Littlehampton went all the way to Wembley before losing in the final to Newport Pagnell Town. In other words, Athletic Newham have some unfinished business in this competition. Currently sixth in the Essex Senior League, they take on the Dockers who are a big part of the SCEFL title race. The south-east London club made the Fourth Round last year so they'll be looking to make it that far again</div><div><b>Egham Town v Cobham @3pm</b> - the Sarnies have made it to the Fourth Round for the last two years so it would be rude not to complete the hat-trick. In 2021/22 they beat Cobham on their way there, winning 3-0 at their place in the Second Round. The Hammers made it all the way to Fifth Round the previous year so they've both got some recent form in this competition. On current form, I'd put my money on Egham to prevail here</div><div><b>Harefield United v Jersey Bulls @1245pm </b>- in one of the day's early kick-offs, the Hares welcome opposition from the Channel Islands to Preston Park. After finishing in lower midtable last season, the hosts are really struggling this time and will probably find it really tough against Jersey who are pushing for the title in their ninth-tier division</div><div><b>Hilltop v Hamble Club @3pm </b>- this is only the third season that Hilltop have taken part in the FA Vase and this is the furthest that they've gone. The club with its roots in London's Somali community have made steady progress up the leagues in recent seasons and although promotion looks unlikely this season, a great run in this competition would represent a big success. Hamble play in the parallel ninth-tier Wessex League and hail from the Southampton area - this could be close</div><div><b>London Lions v Stanway Pegasus @3pm </b>- the capital's most senior all-Jewish club will equal their best ever run in the competition if they win here on Saturday. Playing a level above Stanway, they have a great chance of making progress</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Lewisham Borough v AFC Whyteleafe @3pm</b> - by 10th-tier standards there's a monster of a game at the Ladywell Arena where the division's top two meet. The visitors are currently four points clear at the top but Lewisham have two games in hand so this is huge!</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 3 December</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm </b>- with five points from five games, the Blues are just about hanging on to a place in the top 10. On Sunday they face a highly rated Seagulls side who are enduring a bit of a blip with only six points from five games themselves. The Sussex club did, however, beat AEK Athens 1-0 in Greece on Thursday in the Europa League so should arrive in good spirits. Brighton are also unbeaten in five league games against Chelsea but lost to them 1-0 in the EFL Cup at Stamford Bridge two months ago. Tickets are only available to members but <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/club-chelsea">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £300</div><div><b>West Ham United v Crystal Palace @2pm </b>- the Hammers made it four wins in a row in all competitions with a 1-0 win in Serbia over Backa Topola in the Europa League on Thursday. Up to ninth in the Premier League, things are looking pretty rosy for David Moyes' team right now. The Eagles have lost four of their last five including three big dropped points at Luton last weekend. Last season Palace did the double over West Ham but that looks unlikely this year. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1397?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=palacetickets_oct23&utm_content=ticketinfopage">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Southern Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hashtag United v Cheltenham Town @3pm </b>- there's an international break taking place in the women's game so the highest level matches you'll be able to see will be in the third tier. The Tags are currently top of this division and should start as strong favourites against seventh-placed Cheltenham. This match is being played at Aveley's ground</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Ashford Town (Middlesex) v QPR @2pm</b> - in the fourth tier there's a west London derby near Heathrow Airport. The Tangerines were the division's early leaders but despite dropping to fifth, they're still a much better side than they were last season. The R's have done really well after what appeared to be a rather disorganised pre-season and they've powered up to third. Ashford are only a point behind them with a game in hand so this should be really close</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ERWFL Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barking v Real Bedford @2pm</b> - the Blues won the Division 1 South title last season to move up to this level. The east London club are more than holding their own in midtable but the visit of the leaders will no doubt be tough</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>London & SE Women's Regional League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dulwich Hamlet Reserves v Brentford @130pm</b> - these two sixth-tier sides could well end up battling each other for the divisional title. Dulwich's second string are currently top whilst the Bees are well down in seventh but they've played five games less after a lengthy FA Cup run and would go top if they won them all. A win for either side here would do wonders for morale</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via <b><a href="https://twitter.com/tlfguk">X/Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-72182642949972446322023-11-19T23:13:00.014+00:002023-11-24T15:15:28.460+00:00TLFG: 20-26 November 2023<p>Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest TLFG.</p><p>Once again things are a little curtailed at this point as I'm exhausted. </p><p>I've had a couple of long shifts at work this weekend and simply haven't had the time to get this piece as far as I'd like to by now.</p><p>At this stage, the match maps are, as far as I know, both up to date and I've written a few previews up until Wednesday to keep you going for now.</p><p>Sorry I don't have more for you at this stage but I think you'll survive!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week sees the top clubs return from the international break meaning we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1ejG6ukP0HCxtB3V_XaYYXoUa_yRlpNo&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1t2Rwlfl-04UqlYzWYc5CtNcNXpFgzYs&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 20 November</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v AFC Bournemouth @7pm</b> - the week begins with another helping of U21 football. Being played at Hanwell Town, this clash of the PDL South's top two should be well worth a watch</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 21 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Lincoln City @745pm </b>- the O's were leading 1-0 with just six minutes to go when this match got abandoned last month. A fan was taken seriously ill in the crowd and sadly later died. The match is being replayed in full and the hosts could really do with a win having now gone four games without one. The Imps are three points above them so it should be close again. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/EDP/Event/Index/271">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>EFL Trophy</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Sutton United @7pm</b> - as EFL Trophy games go, quite a lot is riding on this. The top two in each group go through and with Crawley Town having already claimed top spot, only one of these two can join them. Currently locked on three points each, Charlton have slightly better goal difference so they only need a draw to progress. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/Home%20Games">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Aldershot Town @745pm</b> - with the top two losing on Saturday, the Ravens moved up to third just three points behind second-placed Barnet after a narrow win over AFC Fylde. Aldershot sit just outside the play-off places and should provide tough opposition. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Braintree Town @745pm</b> - the Darts suffered the disappointment of an FA Trophy defeat to Maidstone United in the Kent derby on Saturday. On Tuesday they'll be able to refocus on the league, knowing a win against a side who are just above them, could take them into the play-off places</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Whitehawk @745pm </b>- the Towners saw off the challenge of promotion rivals Hastings United on Saturday to stay second behind Hornchurch. The Urchins kept themselves 11 points clear at the top with a win over Potters Bar. Sussex club Whitehawk are down in ninth but have games in hand which if won would put them firmly in the top four</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 22 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>National League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Barnet v Oldham Athletic @8pm </b>- playing a day after everyone else, the Bees could start this game in third place just behind Bromley. In order to end their run of two consecutive defeats, they'll have to beat the Latics who were a Premier League club back in the '90s. Currently 10th, they're not the side they once were but they've only lost one of their last five and should bring a sizeable following with them. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 23 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>UEFA Women's Champions League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Paris FC @8pm </b>- after drawing their opening group game with Real Madrid in Spain, the Blues return to Stamford Bridge to face the French club who eliminated Arsenal in the qualifying rounds. Emma Hayes' team crushed a decent Liverpool side 5-1 at the weekend and should start as favourites against the side who are currently second in Ligue 1. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/buy-womens-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div>There are a couple of decent looking ties in the country's most prestigious U18 competition tonight with <b>AFC Wimbledon </b>hosting Stevenage at Plough Lane and <b>Erith & Belvedere</b> taking on <b>Charlton Athletic</b> in a local derby. You should be able to pay on the gate for both</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 24 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Essex Senior League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Saffron Walden Town @745pm</b> - there are a couple of ESL games tonight but this one at Ashtons would be my pick. The hosts draw excellent crowds for this level and have been top for most of the season but in recent weeks they've dropped to third. Still only four points behind leaders Tilbury, they'll go second if they beat midtable SWT</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 25 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Brentford v Arsenal @530pm</b> - the biggest game of the day is this derby at teatime. After worrying barren spell, three wins from their last four games have lifted the Bees up to 11th and away from the relegation zone which was getting a little too close for comfort. The Gunners are challenging for the title again, have only lost once in the league and won here in the League Cup in September - they will start as favourites. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Coventry City @3pm</b> - with the Lions narrowly missing a place in the top six and the Sky Blues making it to the play-off final at Wembley, it's fair to say last season was a decent one for both clubs. This time round, things are very different with Millwall in the bottom half and on to a new manager and City way down in 20th and starting to build a lengthy winless run. The new man at Millwall is Joe Edwards who has spent most of his career as a coach at Chelsea. His impact was immediate as they won the first game of his reign 4-0 at Sheffield Wednesday so they should be pretty confident of getting something here. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Wigan Athletic @3pm</b> - the O's loss to Lincoln means they're now winless in six in the league and down to 14th - the table is tight so they're only four points above the relegation zone. Next up, they welcome former Premier League club and FA Cup winners Wigan who have just come down from the Championship. Although down in 18th, they should actually be ninth as they started the season on -8 points and are doing way better than the table suggests. This will be the first time the clubs have played since 1997, a season where the Latics comfortably did the double over the London club. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Notts County @3pm</b> - after a bit of a wobble, the Dons have won three of their last four in all competitions to give their confidence a boost. Now down in 10th and four points adrift of the play-off places, they've got work to do to make up the ground they've lost in recent weeks. Notts County are back in this division after winning promotion from the National League and are on course for another promotion, sitting third as they come into this. There aren't many <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=101898701031&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">tickets</a></b> left so definitely buy in advance if you want to go</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Wealdstone v Barnet @3pm</b> - undoubtedly the game of the day in the fifth tier is this local derby at Grosvenor Vale. There's a significant grudge in existence between these two, largely over stadium issues with the Stones the more aggrieved party. Historically, the Bees are the bigger and more successful club and are Chesterfield's main challengers for the title. However, after a brilliant start, they've now lost three in a row and could come unstuck again if a spirited Wealdstone side turn up. This is another game where I'd strongly advise buying <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/vanarama_national_league_wealdstone_v_barnet">tickets</a></b> in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Yeovil Town @3pm</b> - in the sixth tier, there's a match of great importance affecting either end of the table. The Wings are in the bottom four after winning only three of their 18 games whilst former Championship club Yeovil have already opened a nine-point lead at the top as they bid to get back into the National League at the first time of asking. Again there should be a big crowd so buy your <b><a href="https://ticketpass.org/event/ENHEXL/welling-united-vs-yeovil-town-home-tickets">tickets</a></b> in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Southern League Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Walton & Hersham v Merthyr Town @3pm</b> - in the seventh tier, fifth host fourth at the Elmbridge Xcel Sports Hub. The hosts have enjoyed a staggering three consecutive promotions and are apparently well set for another one after a great start to life at this level. On Saturday they welcome Welsh opposition who have improved tremendously following after some significant investment in recent months. <b><a href="https://waltonhershamfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chertsey Town v Southall @3pm</b> - the standout game in the eighth tier, this match between the top two in this division should be well worth a watch. The hosts are currently second, two points behind the 'All but with a game in hand so this is huge</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Colliers Wood United v Balham @3pm</b> - there's nothing in the ninth tier to match the game above but we do have this south London derby at Wibbandune. Although the areas of Colliers Wood and Balham are geographically close to each other in reality, neither club actually play their home games in those areas so the rivalry isn't probably as big as it could be. The visitors are in the top six and should start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>RB Kensington v Amersham Town @3pm</b> - this match gives you a chance to run the rule over one of the best sides in the 10th tier. Having won 15 of their 18 league games this season, Amersham have already opened an 11-point lead at the top and are beginning to look unstoppable. RBK are no slouches themselves and could potentially go second if they win here and other results go their way. Sadly the hosts don't have a ground of their own and rather than playing somewhere in inner London, they groundshare out in Zone 4 at North Greenford United</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 26 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa @2pm</b> - twelve games into the season and amazingly just three points separate the top five. Both of these clubs are members of that leading group so the result of this could play a big part in where they finish up, so tight are the margins. Villa come into the game a point behind Spurs but in marginally better form and they've won on two of their last three visits to the THS. Regular tickets are only available to members whilst the last few remaining <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/premium-experiences/matchday-options/experiences/?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=home_tx_page&utm_campaign=avail_mod_prm&utm_content=avl">hospitality packages</a></b> start at £349</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v West Ham United @2pm </b>- the rest of the day's football is all to be found in the women's game and there's plenty to choose from. First up we have this derby at Boreham Wood's ground. The Gunners warmed up for this with a 2-1 win at Southampton in the League Cup on Thursday which put them joint top of their group with Spurs. West Ham, however, lost 3-1 at Brighton in the same competition to extend their winless run to six games. Now just goal difference is keeping them off bottom spot and they'll do well to get anything here. This match has sold out</div><div><b>Chelsea v Leicester City @2pm</b> - Emma Hayes' side come into this on the back of a 4-1 win over Paris FC in the Champions League so they should be full of confidence coming into this one. Leicester narrowly avoided relegation last season but after a bright start have now gone five league games without a win and are down in midtable. The match is being played at Kingsmeadow and <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/schedule/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269&_gl=1*8t6425*_ga*NDY1MjkyNDY0LjE2OTgzOTEyMTU.*_ga_0SXVVHPVKT*MTcwMDgzNTc2Ny4xMi4wLjE3MDA4MzU3NzQuMC4wLjA.#/?view=list&includePackages=true">tickets</a></b> have almost sold out so don't delay buying one if you do want to go</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Southampton WFC v Brentford @3pm</b> - after seeing this match postponed twice, the tie has been switched to Bedfont Sports which the Bees women use for home games. Southampton WFC are independent of the men's club and are not to be confused with the Southampton women's team in the Championship. Even so, they are a very well established fourth-tier club who should have too much for sixth-tier Brentford but this is the cup and anything's possible. This match is free entry</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>For most teams still in the FA Cup, it's actually the Second Round this weekend. At this stage, the draw is made up of the surviving teams from the third tier and below. Here are the ties taking place in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Millwall Lionesses v Bromley @1pm</b> - the action begins at lunchtime with this much anticipated derby at the ground Fisher use in Rotherhithe. The Lionesses are currently fifth in the fifth tier whilst the Ravens are third in the sixth. On paper, we should expect to see a home win</div><div><b>Enfield Town v Luton Town @2pm</b> - a little later there's a clash between two sides from parallel fifth-tier divisions. The Hatters are in far better form and with two of Actonians' best ever side from last season now in their ranks, they must surely win!</div><div><b>Haringey Borough v Moneyfields @2pm</b> - being played within earshot of the THS at the same time as Spurs v Villa, fifth tier Haringey have landed a tough draw against a very talented Moneyfields side who are averaging over six goals a game in their fourth-tier division so far this season</div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div><div><b><i><u>L&SE Women's Regional League Division 1 North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Actonians Reserves v Denham United @2pm</b> - last but not least, I thought I'd throw in this sixth-tier match too as it's where I plan to be. After watching the A's second string record a resounding 5-1 win at Clapton CFC two weeks ago, I'm going to go and watch them again. With the first team out of action, one or two players could well make a guest appearance in what could end up being an important match in this season's title race as these two are third and fourth. It is being played in Gunnersbury Park</div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-11171361314831406332023-11-13T12:35:00.008+00:002023-11-16T15:11:19.723+00:00TLFG: 13-19 November 2023<p>Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.</p><p>After a lot of ambitious talk about seeing several games during my week off, I only managed to get to see a further one.</p><p>I had been all set to go to the Middlesex Senior Cup game between <b>Harrow Borough</b> and <b>Hanwell Town</b> on Tuesday but my kids played up as I was about to head out and it didn't happen.</p><p>Apparently it was a pretty turgid affair with Boro scraping through with a last-minute goal despite playing most of it against 10 men.</p><p>On Friday we had some meetings as the preparations for this season's Non-League Day continued.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHHohC6FS1hPvf2mdKw-0-y-kQ8PYhHBZ7btrpzDOvkzj51bSvEobDt6h1SFwfJva7zKBcQ5wHQM2cm0uza7gqhkkYwLuUB2_KJPO4BIm885tbSNCpubJwKKA0czpljS8bG-1ixYWcFXDEAIZsGTOQ1aKmXbE7m3PPJYF2Ss9nkgrknNbgndzhGxWsc4M/s1083/claptonactonians.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1083" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHHohC6FS1hPvf2mdKw-0-y-kQ8PYhHBZ7btrpzDOvkzj51bSvEobDt6h1SFwfJva7zKBcQ5wHQM2cm0uza7gqhkkYwLuUB2_KJPO4BIm885tbSNCpubJwKKA0czpljS8bG-1ixYWcFXDEAIZsGTOQ1aKmXbE7m3PPJYF2Ss9nkgrknNbgndzhGxWsc4M/w400-h400/claptonactonians.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actonians Reserves played at London's oldest ground on Sunday</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Aside from a team meeting, we also went to have a chat with our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK at their HQ which sits in the shadow of The Shard by London Bridge station.</p><p>On Sunday, I did finally get to a game as <b>Actonians Reserves</b> travelled to Forest Gate in east London to take on<b> Clapton CFC</b> in a league match.</p><p>CCFC play at the Old Spotted Dog which is London's oldest ground and for that fact alone, I'd always recommend a visit.</p><p>It was my first since 2015 when I went to the Non-League Day match between the other Clapton and Ilford which produced a thrilling 3-3 draw in front of almost 1,000 people.</p><p>A lot of CCFC's fans were in the crowd that day but their club didn't form until three years later when they became disillusioned with the Tons' ownership.</p><p>Although Clapton FC still exist, CCFC took control of the Old Spotted Dog and saved it.</p><p>Now back open and hosting men's and women's football, the supporters have done a superb job to keep the historic ground alive.</p><p>As is often the case, I turned up a few minutes late but I knew it was going to be worth the visit as the drums and chants of the CCFC fans could be heard from some distance away - very unusual for a women's sixth-tier match but not for one of their games.</p><p>With crowds of 200-300 for their recent games against Dulwich and Fulham, the attendance was somewhat lower than that but there was no lack of atmosphere.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHap-gScFaSKdBVsygLLoG0xV-6IpaqZayEMrTNABhl_TaO5ebAZIud3mKXpdMZd-EuBz1ioCJtThyw9p0I0S0r_xOxe021KYYEwBxJXgkI4kP3aOsO19P8sGjU2KitCZGuF7kkF40fACz_quaZSGaofgLDMvLDfHVeUCbWy9WM1nUWrrHg5HI095qAiq/s800/England%20v%20Malta%20-%20800x450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHap-gScFaSKdBVsygLLoG0xV-6IpaqZayEMrTNABhl_TaO5ebAZIud3mKXpdMZd-EuBz1ioCJtThyw9p0I0S0r_xOxe021KYYEwBxJXgkI4kP3aOsO19P8sGjU2KitCZGuF7kkF40fACz_quaZSGaofgLDMvLDfHVeUCbWy9WM1nUWrrHg5HI095qAiq/w400-h225/England%20v%20Malta%20-%20800x450.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">England play Malta at Wembley on Friday - <b><a href="https://www.wembleystadium.com/tickets/">tickets</a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Women's games here are pay what you want with a programme thrown in - you can't say fairer than that.</p><p>Having made my way to the away dugout where the small number of travelling fans were gathered, I discovered the A's had gone 1-0 up in the first minute and shortly after, they scored a second.</p><p>By half-time the visitors had opened up a highly unexpected 5-0 lead which no-one saw coming.</p><p>As Neil (the doyen of Actonians supporters) and I headed to the tea bar, we were joined by last season's first-team captain Naomi Graham who lives out east and came along to give the team her support.</p><p>After the interval, it was a far more even contest with Clapton CFC scoring the only goal of the half from the penalty spot shortly after A's keeper Elisa Dogor was lucky to avoid being sent off.</p><p>It finished 5-1, a result which lifts Actonians' second string to third.</p><p>Although it's unlikely, could they win a third consecutive promotion? If they did, they'd be in the division below the first team!</p><p>Overall, a fun afternoon thanks to a great performance on the pitch and and the great hospitality of CCFC and their fans.</p><p>Lastly this week, many thanks to <b>Neil A</b> from <b>Vancouver, Canada </b>and <b>Martin B </b>from<b> Sherborne, Dorset</b> who donated <b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a> </b><span style="text-align: center;">I really appreciate it.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>This week sees the top clubs have some time off for the international break but we've still got plenty to look forward to with matches in the EFL, FA Trophy and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1EXV9kBGWkiCSi2nile9_rKmjYFjBNwU&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=13T9tZ0zApK4hEJZN8kckCffpGZB3I-4&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 13 November</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Chelmsford City @745pm</b> - the Millers lost their big game against promotion rivals Bath City on Saturday, allowing the West Country club to catch up and leaders Yeovil to pull six points clear. This match against fellow Essex side Chelmsford gives them a great chance to bounce back immediately. City are in the play-off places too so this should be some game</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 14 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>National League South</i></u></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v St Albans City @745pm</b> - the Beavers extended their unbeaten run to eight games with an impressive 5-2 win over Maidstone on Saturday. The result keeps them in fourth, meaning they'll go second if they win this one and Aveley slip up on Monday</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>London Senior Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div>There are a couple of eye-catching ties in this competition on Tuesday. <b>QPR</b> are entering a team for the first time in years and they begin with an away tie against <b>Corinthian Casuals</b>. Elsewhere, <b>Barking</b> welcome <b>Leyton Orient</b> to Mayesbrook Park. Both games kick-off at 745pm</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 15 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Cup First Round Replay</i></u></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Charlton Athletic @745pm</b> - after recording a sensational 1-1 draw at The Valley in the original tie, CVPM welcome the Addicks to the Artic Stadium. With capacity limited to just 1,550, tickets have sold out. In the time since that first game, Cray Valley have been knocked out of the London Senior Cup but won a league game against Erith & Belvedere. Charlton warmed up for this with a fine 2-2 draw at League One leaders Portsmouth. If the underdogs do somehow win, it will be the furthest they've gone in the competition</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>London Senior Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cockfosters v Charlton Athletic U21 @745pm</b> - the Addicks' U21 side are also in action against non-league opposition in the far north of London and with the away allocation at CVPM so low, you'd like to think they might take a few extra fans to Chalk Lane instead</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barking v MK Dons @730pm </b>- after wins over Great Wakering Rovers, Billericay Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Stanway Rovers and Kingstonian, it's fair to say Barking are having quite a run in the country's most prestigious U18 competition this season. Next up they face a side who only entered the draw in the last round and won 3-0 at Stourbridge</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 16 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Youth games</i></u></b></div><div>Today's matches are all at U18 level with <b>Chessington & Hook United</b>, <b>Colliers Wood United</b>, <b>Corinthian Casuals</b>, <b>Enfield Borough</b>, <b>Hillingdon Borough</b> and <b>Metropolitan Police</b> (who have two squads in action) all playing at home</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Friday 17 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier</i></u></b></div><div><b>England v Malta @745pm </b>- the biggest crowd of the week will be found at Wembley for this international match. With Gareth Southgate's side having already booked their place at next summer's tournament, there's a fair chance a few fringe players will be given a run-out in this one. Malta are bottom of the group having lost all seven of their games. <b><a href="https://www.wembleystadium.com/tickets/">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Takeley @745pm</b> - having seen themselves replaced at the top of the table by Tilbury, the hosts have the chance to re-take the lead. Takeley are in the bottom five and should be beaten</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 18 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Women's Super League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Liverpool @130pm </b>- with it being an international break in the men's game, the biggest crowd of the weekend should be found at Stamford Bridge which plays host to this WSL match. The Blues are currently top and are the reigning champions. The Reds, despite an unspectacular season, did manage to beat Chelsea last year and they've made a good start this time. Nonetheless, anything other than a home win will be a surprise. <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=CFGV_PL_MPV&orgid=56269&eventId=1517#/event/E1517/ticketlist/?view=sections&minPrice=25&maxPrice=50&quantity=1&sort=price_asc&ada=false&seatSelection=false&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Tranmere Rovers @3pm</b> - the biggest fixture in the men's game is this relegation six-pointer at the bottom of the fourth tier. Sutton have been 24th for most of the season but four points from their last two games has kept them in touch with everyone else. So much so that if they beat third from bottom Tranmere, then they could move out of the relegation zone. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v Gateshead @3pm</b> - with only one win from their last three, the Bees are starting to lose the form that put them in title contention. They are still second but have now slipped five points behind leaders Chesterfield. The visitors crushed Dorking Wanderers 6-0 in their last match and are chasing a play-off spot themselves so they should present a decent challenge to the north London club. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Bromley v AFC Fylde @3pm</b> - the Ravens are another local club to be having a good season. A win here against relegation threatened Fylde could see them end the day in third. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition is for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers and has its final at Wembley at the end of the season. At this stage, all the clubs in the sixth tier enter the draw alongside the remaining seventh and eighth tier clubs that have made it through the earlier rounds. Here are my pick of the ties in London:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Dartford v Maidstone United @3pm</b> - two of the biggest clubs in Kent, who both play in the sixth tier, have been drawn to play each other at the well-appointed Princes Park. On form the visitors should start as favourites. This season marks the 50th anniversary of the Darts' one and only run to the final so it would a great time to try and emulate that fine achievement. <b><a href="https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/event/darmaidfat/-dartford-v-maidstone-fa-trophy">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm</b> - a lot has been made of CVPM's sensational run in the FA Cup which saw them bow out at home to Charlton Athletic on Wednesday night. However, they've had a great run in the FA Trophy too. On Saturday they welcome an in-form H&RB side who, playing two levels above them, should start as strong favourites. The hosts have been brilliant in the cups in recent years, making it the FA Cup First Round again in 2020 and all the way to Wembley for the FA Vase Final in 2019. Hampton & Richmond have gone out in this round for the last four years and they look set to face another challenging afternoon here</div><div><b>Hendon v Eastbourne Borough @3pm</b> - the seventh tier Greens have put in some good displays recently. On Saturday they pushed title contenders Gosport hard before losing 2-1 and in the previous round of this competition, they knocked out Walton & Hersham who are another of the division's best teams. On Saturday they welcome a side from the level above who have only won one of their last five league games and are dangling just three points above the relegation zone. The chance of an upset looks reasonable</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Hastings United @3pm</b> - the game of the day in the seventh tier sees two of the top five in this division meet at Donkey Lane. In this division only one team goes up automatically with the next four playing off for a second promotion place. Currently, Hornchurch are 11 points clear at the top and seemingly leaving everyone else behind. Therefore this match is of huge importance - the Towners need to keep the pressure on the Urchins whilst Hastings need to win to stay in the play-off places as four teams are queued up right behind them waiting for any slip-ups</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Walthamstow v Stowmarket Town @3pm</b> - the highest ranked of our local eighth tier teams to be hosting a game on Saturday are the Stow. Currently fifth in the Isthmian North, they could move into the top four with a win over lowly Stowmarket. With average crowds of nearly 400, the north-east London club are one of the best supported sides at this level and are definitely a club on the up - ones to keep an eye on</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Rayners Lane v Broadfields United @3pm</b> - it didn't take long to decide my ninth tier game of the day. This match at Tithe Farm sees the leaders take on the side in sixth and to top it all, they groundshare. This should be well worth taking a look at if you're in north-west London</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Clapton CFC v Benfleet @3pm</b> - in the 10th tier, why not pay a visit to the Old Spotted Dog? CCFC are currently top of this division and the visitors are sixth. However, it's devilishly tight with only three points separating the top six</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Sunday 19 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Isthmian League South East</i></u></b></div><div><b>Erith & Belvedere v Chichester City @3pm </b>- the Deres have only managed two wins since returning to this level at the start of the season, consequently they're in the bottom three. Chichester are fifth at the time of writing (Thursday) and have a couple of games in hand on some of the sides above them so will start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Aston Villa @3pm - </b>the Hammers, under new boss Rehanne Skinner, have made a disappointing start with only four points from their first six games. It's even worse for Villa who were bottom going into last weekend having lost all their games. Thankfully for them, they beat fellow strugglers Bristol City to move off the dreaded bottom spot. The Birmingham club's struggles have been a huge surprise after their fine season last year. Surely they'll come good soon. This match is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1437?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=villawomenstickets_oct23&utm_content=ticketinfopage">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Sunderland @12pm</b> - arguably the women's match of the day actually takes place in the second tier where the leaders host the club in second at The Valley. Level on points and goal difference, only goals scored separate them. The early kick-off means you should be able to combine it with the Erith & Belvedere game above <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20women%20v%20sunderland/2023-11-19_12.00/the%20valley?hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Southampton @2pm</b> - next up it's the match between the sides in third and fourth. The Eagles are only a point behind the leading pair and have a game in hand meaning the race for the solitary promotion place looks like being one of the closest ever. This match is being played at Selhurst Park. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/Events?preFilter=6&preFilterName=5.%20Women%27s%20Matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Sheffield United @2pm</b> - the Hornets picked up a crucial point by drawing 0-0 at Reading in their last match, a result which moved them out of the relegation zone. The Blades are also in the bottom four so this is definitely a game they should be targeting to get something out of. This is being played at Vicarage Road. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Capital Senior Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Arsenal U21 @230pm </b>- the Gunners youngsters entered this tournament last year and won it. Playing against senior opposition throughout, they beat Sutton United, QPR, London Bees and AFC Wimbledon and scored 21 goals in the process. This demonstrated once again the huge gulf that exists between the biggest women's clubs and the rest. They begin the defence of their title with a trip to Craven Cottage to play fifth tier Fulham. Last week the Cottagers played Portsmouth in the FA Cup - I predicted they'd struggle and they duly lost 9-1. This will almost certainly be another tough assignment. <b><a href="https://tickets.fulhamfc.com/selection/event/date?productId=10228591177780">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-72787657210822549492023-11-06T01:03:00.012+00:002023-11-11T08:22:35.020+00:00TLFG: 6-12 November 2023<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Once again I've produced match maps for the whole week and previews for Monday to Friday - I'll produce some weekend ones in a few days time.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My week saw me get to the two games I targeted.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>QPR</b> won their U21 game against Cardiff City 3-2 on Monday whilst <b>Actonians</b> put up a great fight and were very unlucky to lose 0-3 to leaders <b>AFC Wimbledon</b>. The Dons were probably worthy of the win but two late goals made the win look far more convincing than it was.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The highlight for me was getting a birthday card from the A's players and it's small things like this that keep fans like me coming back for more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiLfmqPqRdFWu0Z_cGTrEyATJN72LMXPLTbFWYNJpDJj466w51j5Px9rXAkvpHrJCZBDmwNo9_KTgAJUIOSXBl34EsRuqzIIAvWimQNRW8KrwQJ0cM6Ozw3SNyK6sZx13ruzZJMzJD9TsqYvJ6ctDUhW0FX1nwUYQ1-7894IMQTC_94JohoKZM6giCrME/s726/OlympiacosTickets726.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="726" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiLfmqPqRdFWu0Z_cGTrEyATJN72LMXPLTbFWYNJpDJj466w51j5Px9rXAkvpHrJCZBDmwNo9_KTgAJUIOSXBl34EsRuqzIIAvWimQNRW8KrwQJ0cM6Ozw3SNyK6sZx13ruzZJMzJD9TsqYvJ6ctDUhW0FX1nwUYQ1-7894IMQTC_94JohoKZM6giCrME/w400-h209/OlympiacosTickets726.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b> are available for West Ham's Europa League game against Olympiakos</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Elsewhere, the much-hyped FA Cup tie between <b>Charlton Athletic</b> and non-league <b>Cray Valley PM</b> didn't disappoint with the eighth-tier club earning a replay after recording a superb 1-1 draw in front of a live TV audience on Sunday evening. A huge well done to them.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm lucky enough to have a few days off now and hopefully I'll get to see a few more games by the time I write next weekend.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly this week, many thanks to <b>Jack M</b> from <b>Bethnal Green</b> who donated <b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a> </b><span style="text-align: center;">I really appreciate it.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with matches in the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, EFL, FA Vase, Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1V2hkvtPP-UQ_awlkNzvgEljzaYwo4dQ&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1uldHtJtP5byQOJBT8wk1Iz961PyIRQI&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 6 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea @8pm </b>- the week begins with a huge derby game at the THS. With 13 points from their last five games, Spurs are the division's form team and will go top if they win here. With only two wins from five, the Blues are down in 13th but they have a good away record against Tottenham in recent years, losing only one of their last six in all competitions. Tickets are only available to members whilst remaining <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/premium-experiences/matchday-options/experiences/?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=home_tx_page&utm_campaign=avail_mod_prm&utm_content=che">hospitality packages</a></b> cost in excess of £2,000</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm</b> - the Millers won again on Saturday, beating Weston-super-Mare 2-0 to stay second in the division. Hemel are in the bottom half so should be beaten. If the Essex club do take the three points and win by two goals or more then they will go top</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 7 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>EFL Trophy</i></u></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Portsmouth @7pm</b> - there's an all-League One fixture in this competition on Tuesday. We're still in the group stage at the moment with the O's bottom and Pompey top. The visitors are unbeaten and top in League One but lost to non-league Chesterfield in the FA Cup at the weekend so they are beatable. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Crystal Palace U21 @7pm</b> - the Dons trounced Cheltenham 5-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday so should have some confidence coming into this one against the Eagles' youngsters who have yet to win. <b><a href="https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Chelmsford City @745pm</b> - locked on 22 points just outside the play-off zone, these two will go into this knowing a place in the top seven is up for grabs. Chelmsford did the double over the Darts last season and they should be capable of getting at least a point</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 8 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>UEFA Champions League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Sevilla @8pm </b>- with three games played, the Gunners are top of Group B but they have lost a match and can't relax just yet. Sevilla won the Europa League for the seventh time last season but are struggling in La Liga this season and will do well to get anything at the Emirates. Any remaining tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>UEFA Youth League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Sevilla @1pm </b>- earlier in the day, the clubs' U19 sides meet at Boreham Wood for what should be a thoroughly entertaining fixture</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Cup Third Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm</b> - the pick of the non-league matches for me is this match at Imperial Fields where two south London sides meet in this league cup game. Both sides are in the bottom eight of the Isthmian Premier so it should be close. <b><i>UPDATE - match brought forward to Tuesday 7 November</i></b></div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 9 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>UEFA Europa League</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Olympiakos @8pm</b> - with three consecutive defeats in the league, the Hammers are suffering a dip in form. They also lost to 2-1 to Olympiakos a couple of weeks ago in the reverse fixture. The Greek side suffered only the second defeat of their domestic season on Saturday but remain second and should provide a stern test. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1414?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=olympiacostickets_sep2023&utm_content=article">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Bristol City @7pm </b>- the Gunners recorded a hugely important 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the WSL on Sunday. This will be the first match in the defence of the trophy they won last season and on paper they should win against a City side who are struggling towards the bottom of the table. The match is being played at Boreham Wood</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Friday 10 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League Cup</i></u></b></div><div>There are a couple of games in this U21 competition on Friday night with <b>Crystal Palace</b> hosting Ipswich Town at Sutton United and <b>Fulham</b> taking on Burnley at the club's Motspur Park training ground. Both kick-off at 7pm</div><div><br /></div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 11 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Burnley @3pm</b> - the Gunners recovered from losing their first league game of the season at the weekend by beating Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday. They should be confident of further success here as the Clarets have only won once since the start of the campaign and they've only triumphed once at Arsenal since 1974. Tickets are only available to members. <b><a href="https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/burnley/">Hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £660!</div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Everton @3pm</b> - the Eagles ended a three match winless streak with a win at Burnley last weekend which lifted them above West Ham into 11th. The Toffees are in the bottom five but enjoying a bit of a recovery with seven points from their last four games - it should be close. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Bristol City @3pm</b> - both clubs will be showing off new managers on Saturday. The R's unveiled Catalan Marti Cifuentes at Rotherham at the weekend but this will be his first home game since taking charge. City recruited Liam Manning from Oxford United on Wednesday. To say the Robins are a bogey team for QPR would be an understatement. The west London club are seven without a win at home to the West Country club and five of those games ended in defeat. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/qpr/EDP/Event/Index/3545?position=2&utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Web_Story&utm_campaign=Bristol_City">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Watford v Rotherham United @3pm </b>- the Hornets have built a five-game unbeaten run but with three of those games ending in a draw, their climb up the table hasn't been as dramatic as it could've been. The Millers are down in the bottom three and haven't won at Vicarage Road since 2003 so the chances of an away win look slim. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Oxford United @3pm</b> - the O's are unbeaten in five too but again they're drawing too many. Still only six points adrift of the top six, though, a win here should move them into the top half. As mentioned above, the U's are having to begin life without their fine young manager Liam Manning who had lifted them to second. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers @3pm </b>- five games without a win in the league, the Dons have won back-to-back games in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy. Although down in 17th, Rovers have won four of their last six league games and have drawn 2-2 on their last three visits to Wimbledon. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=101898701040&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Boreham Wood v Bromley @3pm</b> - both sides bowed out of the FA Cup at the weekend. The Wood got stuffed 5-1 by fellow fifth-tier club Eastleigh while the Ravens fought hard against League One Blackpool before losing 2-0. Returning to league action, Bromley should start as favourites as they're up in third and in fine form</div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Solihull Moors @530pm</b> - if Bromley do slip up then Solihull are poised to take their place in the top three. To do that, they'll need to get the better of a Daggers side who have only lost one of their last five league games and are eyeing a play-off spot themselves</div><div><b>Wealdstone v Rochdale @3pm</b> - having been knocked out of the FA Cup in the previous round, these sides have had a week off. The Stones have only won one of their last seven games in all competitions and the relegation zone is getting too close for comfort. The visitors are playing their first season in this division following relegation from the EFL and could end up in the play-off places with a win</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Maidstone United @3pm</b> - the game of the day in the sixth tier sees the sides in fourth and fifth meet at the Beveree. The hosts had to play their first few games away from home while they waited for some issues with their pitch to be resolved. As a result, they didn't start too well. Now unbeaten in seven, they're climbing the table fast. The Stones are on an even better run, having not tasted defeat in 12 games in all competitions. The Kent club usually bring a sizeable travelling contingent so there should be a good crowd</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Enfield Town v Canvey Island @3pm</b> - the Towners have had a bad week. Having lost 2-0 to Hornchurch in their top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, they got knocked out of the Middlesex Senior Cup by Combined Counties League side North Greenford United on Tuesday. Now down to third, they have to get back to winning ways quickly to have any chance of keeping up with the leaders. Canvey made the play-offs last season but are down in 11th at the time of writing</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Redbridge v Walthamstow @3pm</b> - in my opinion there aren't any standout games in the eighth tier but this derby in north-east London should be worth a watch. The Stow are currently sixth whilst Redbridge are three points behind in 11th</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and 10th tier, with its final at Wembley, is now down to the last 64 teams. At this stage, the draw is still regionalised into north and south to minimise travel for these smaller clubs. Here are my pick of the ties:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Bedfont Sports v North Greenford United @3pm</b> - two of the top seven in the CCL Premier North meet at a ground that's probably most famous for being close to the runway at Heathrow Airport so you can watch planes land while you're enjoying the game. Neither side have ever made it beyond the Third Round</div><div><b>Erith Town v Peacehaven & Telscombe @3pm</b> - playing in the Premier Divisions of the parallel SCEFL and SCFL and both in the top four, they both also had good runs in the competition last year. Being played in Thamesmead, it should provide some fine entertainment</div><div><b>Wembley v Athletic Newham @3pm</b> - with the final being played at the National Stadium, I think it's always worth watching the Lions if they're still in the running. Down in the bottom four of the CCL Premier North, it hasn't been a great season for them but they're still going strong in the Vase. They've never been beyond the Third Round and they'll do well to get there this year as the visitors are in the top eight in the parallel Essex Senior League</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Cannons Wood v Dunmow Town @3pm</b> - in the 10th tier, two of the title contenders in this division meet at Aveley's ground. Dunmow are top and three points above the hosts but Cannons Wood have a game in hand so this is huge!</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Sunday 12 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Nottingham Forest @2pm</b> - after an important win over Olympiakos in the Europa League on Thursday, the Hammers now need to arrest a four game winless streak in the league. After a bright start, their Premier League form has noticeably dropped off and they're now down in the bottom half. Forest struggled last season but they're more than holding their own this time and are only a point behind West Ham. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1396?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=foresttickets_oct23&utm_content=ticketinfopage">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>Chelsea v Manchester City @430pm</b> - by their very high standards, the Blues have been poor this season but with only one defeat in five, they are back into the top half following their 4-1 win at Spurs on Monday. They'll have to be at their best on Sunday as the current leaders and reigning champions head to Stamford Bridge, a ground which they've won at on their last three league visits. Tickets have sold out but <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=CFHV_PL_MPV&orgid=56209&eventId=1334&_gl=1*1e06476*_ga*NDY1MjkyNDY0LjE2OTgzOTEyMTU.*_ga_0SXVVHPVKT*MTY5OTYwMTQzNy44LjEuMTY5OTYwMTQ1NS4wLjAuMA..*_fplc*NTE3Zlk5dyUyQjlqc054Q3pjNk52emNlT0tyZEg5S05LV1ZBWk1BamZ3JTJGTDhQTkNQJTJCMCUyQnNlQlpmOWlDWXglMkZZOGpwUml1VFlVakxsdHRZN1RXdlBBejBJb0VVMSUyRmxWU3lCc25td3lhemRzUzZtWWpRRVdXcGN2anpUQWlOOUJnJTNEJTNE#/event/E1334/seatmap/?selectBuyers=false&minPrice=495&maxPrice=495&quantity=1&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=true&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £495</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>May & Baker v White Ensign @3pm</b> - there's also one non-league match. The hosts are struggling towards the bottom of the 10th tier ECL Division 1 South so they'll do very well to beat opposition from the division above. This is being played at Aveley's ground</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @1230pm</b> - Spurs have made a really bright start under new boss Robert Vilahamn. Since the Swedish coach took over, they've only suffered one defeat and that was a closely fought game against top club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Currently third, three points behind the leaders, they'll be confident of getting something here. Liverpool, however, are also much improved on last season and are level with them on points. The last time the Reds played a club from north London was on the opening weekend of the season when they beat Arsenal at the Emirates so they're dangerous opponents. This match is being played at Leyton Orient and <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/buy-tickets/womens-tickets/?ics=fixtures_liv_h">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Lewes @2pm</b> - the title race in the second tier is shaping up to be a good one with only four points separating the top four at the moment. The Eagles are in that group and have a game in hand on all those around them. On Sunday they welcome bottom club Lewes so you'd expect them to win. The match is being played at Sutton United and <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Birmingham City @1pm</b> - the hosts made an underwhelming start to the campaign but two wins have put them back up to seventh.City are in fifth and joint top of the form table so another win would appear to indicate that their season is back on track. This match is being played at Dartford and <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/tickets">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>With the qualifying rounds out of the way, the surviving clubs from the fourth tier and below are joined in the draw by clubs from the third tier. The winners of each tie should get something in the region of £6,000 which is a huge sum for some of the smaller clubs</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Bromley v AFC Portchester @1pm</b> - one of the first ties of the afternoon takes place at the well appointed Hayes Lane where two of the best clubs in the sixth tier go head-to-head. Currently second in their respective regional leagues, this should be a well contested match and will definitely see one of the lower-ranked sides make it to the Second Round</div><div><b>Dartford v Abingdon United @1pm</b> - taking place on the 3G pitch behind the main stadium at Princes Park (London City Lionesses will be using that), the Darts have one of the best chances of causing an upset. Currently undefeated and top of their fifth-tier division, they play a midtable side from a level above</div><div><b>Denham United v Millwall Lionesses @1pm</b> - at the same time on the far western edge of London, Denham host one of the biggest games of their recent history. Another one of the sixth-tier's best sides to have made it this far, they take on a Millwall team who play in the division above<i> </i>so there is a chance of an upset</div><div><b>Dulwich Hamlet v London Bees @2pm </b>- the biggest crowd of any tie taking place in London could well come at Champion Hill where the fifth-tier Hamlet welcome the women's wing of Barnet. The north London club play in the third tier so should start as considerable favourites even though they are bottom such is the gulf in quality between divisions </div><div><b>Fulham v Portsmouth @230pm</b> - after beating Actonians on penalties in the last round, the Cottagers have landed a home draw against Pompey. To say the fifth-tier hosts face a daunting afternoon would be an understatement. The visitors are currently top of the third tier, scoring 40 goals and conceding only two in the nine games they've played. Fulham will do well to get nil!</div><div><b>Sutton United v Maidenhead United @630pm</b> - with Crystal Palace playing at the same ground at lunchtime, this tie has been pushed back to the evening meaning you'll easily be able to see two games on Sunday. With Maidenhead playing a level above the U's, they should start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>L&SE Women's League D1 North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Clapton CFC v Actonians Reserves @2pm </b>- last but not least I'm giving this game a mention too as it's the one I'm aiming to be at. Being played at London's oldest ground, two well-matched sides with ambitions of at least a top-three finish meet in Forest Gate. On X, CCFC are calling it the "most important league game of the season" so what more do you need to know?!!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-82391826390569892572023-10-30T08:21:00.025+00:002023-11-04T07:32:37.321+00:00TLFG: 30 October - 5 November 2023<p>Greetings one and all.</p><p>This is going to be very brief for now as I'm about to take the kids to school.</p><p>So far I've got this week's match maps and previews up until Friday.</p><p>A quick mention and a big thank you to <b>Kevin O</b> from <b>Croydon</b> and <b>Thomas G</b> from <b>Massachusetts, USA </b>who donated some money to <b><a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tlfg">TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a></b> - I really really appreciate it.</p><p>One really annoying thing to happen recently was the hacking of my personal Facebook account.</p><p>This means I can no longer access TLFG's page. Although recovery attempts and appeals are ongoing, I'm not hopeful so apologies if that page has gone quiet and remains that way.</p><p>This week I'm off to <b>QPR</b> U21s on Monday and hopefully <b>Actonians</b> on Sunday to try and celebrate my birthday. I say try as they're playing a very strong <b>AFC Wimbledon</b> side that will be incredibly tough to play against.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfGJyw2IkiaUyP6l53f3t1yXQzdr1F8TaEMhirQKTRXwlmum0PHNU0wx0RRucm69PHagkXhlJD3arH_bFPB3UUMAk92HWLOyF9A3FxcprLhOc3NjC0gyMBBQzi12AZwQ8ioVIa0TRcLwS4O18Vu3YSEkXZ3_3Mp8rjWcrFnbH4nLt6fm7maBdsrA5oSmQ/s1200/cvpm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfGJyw2IkiaUyP6l53f3t1yXQzdr1F8TaEMhirQKTRXwlmum0PHNU0wx0RRucm69PHagkXhlJD3arH_bFPB3UUMAk92HWLOyF9A3FxcprLhOc3NjC0gyMBBQzi12AZwQ8ioVIa0TRcLwS4O18Vu3YSEkXZ3_3Mp8rjWcrFnbH4nLt6fm7maBdsrA5oSmQ/w400-h210/cvpm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FA Cup ties don't get much more magical than this</td></tr></tbody></table><p>If you want to visit a newish ground, <b>Brentford</b> reopen Staines Town's old ground Wheatsheaf Park on Tuesday.</p><p>They'll be using it primarily for development and youth team matches and they begin against an U21 side from Strasbourg on Tuesday - details on the match map below.</p><p>The FA Cup First Round is one of the highlights of the season and it takes place this weekend.</p><p>There are some really interesting ties, not least the local derby between <b>Charlton Athletic</b> and <b>Cray Valley PM</b>.</p><p>Have a great week and I'll hope to update things as we go.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with matches in the Premier League, EFL, FA Cup and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1kV5U_XPe1nLuQAmLADfuYJkFh1r7puM&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1IQV9SQL8w9R-9_NqXOEXhm8cMViaEQ0&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 30 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Cardiff City @1pm</b> - the week begins with some U21 action at Loftus Road. The R's youngsters are currently second in the southern section of this league. If leaders Millwall slip up against Bournemouth, they will go back to the top if they beat bottom club Cardiff. Entry is by donation - cash and cards are both accepted</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion @7pm</b> - there's more U21 action this evening at Sutton United's ground where the struggling Eagles will look to get out of the bottom three with a win over the Baggies. Tickets are £5 for adults</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 31 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Friendly</i></u></b></div><div><b>Brentford B v Strasbourg U21 @7pm </b>- sadly in July last year, non-league club Staines Town folded. Today, Premier League club Brentford will reopen their old ground at Wheatsheaf Park. They plan to use the well-appointed venue primarily for B team, youth games and possibly women's games in future. There's has been some behind-closed-door action already but tonight will see the first game with spectators. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/brentfordfc/Events?preFilter=11&preFilterName=Brentford%20B">Tickets</a></b> are £5 but must be booked in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup</u></i></b></div><div>There are two games in this U21 competition tonight with <b>Chelsea</b> entertaining Dinamo Zagreb at Kingsmeadow and <b>Fulham</b> playing Feyenoord at Motspur Park. Both games start at 7pm. Tickets will be available on arrival at both</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div>The U18 sides from League One and League Two sides enter the draw at this stage. <b>AFC Wimbledon</b> host Cambridge United at Plough Lane whilst <b>Leyton Orient </b>welcome AFC Sudbury to Brisbane Road. Tickets will be available on arrival </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Weston-super-Mare @745pm</b> - the highest level non-league game takes place at Princes Park where two teams who are a point apart in midtable should put on a competitive match. A win for the hosts will take them into the top 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Wingate & Finchley v Enfield Town @745pm</b> - there's a north-London derby to be enjoyed at Summers Lane. W&F are one of the smallest clubs in the division but they're punching well above their weight so far this season. They were up in fourth at one point but are still in the top eight. The Towners are third and need to win if they want to close the gap on leaders Hornchurch who are already 11 points ahead of them</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bedfont v RB Kensington @745pm</b> - two of the top four in this 10th-tier division do battle at The Orchard. Leaders Amersham are 12 points clear at the top and seemingly romping away with it. However, both these sides have games in hand which could make the title race a bit more competitive</div><div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 1 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>EFL Cup Fourth Round</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers @745pm</b> - the Blues lost 2-0 at home to Brentford on Saturday as their woes continued. Next up they face Championship club Blackburn, a side they should really be beating. The Stamford Bridge club have made nine finals but haven't won this competition since 2015. Building a bit of momentum would seem to be a major priority for Mauricio Pochettino's side right now so I would hope to see them field a strong side if I were a Chelsea fan. <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=CFHV_PL_MPV&orgid=56209&eventId=1358&_gl=1*13fl4xp*_ga*NDY1MjkyNDY0LjE2OTgzOTEyMTU.*_ga_0SXVVHPVKT*MTY5ODc1MDQzMC40LjEuMTY5ODc1MDQ0NC4wLjAuMA..*_fplc*MG8zaVNvbXd1ZlVZQVRLJTJCT0RMSXVOa1d4dnBDV1NZdDVsUVdnMCUyQkVFcXVTRFUlMkYwbURLUiUyRlBCalprQllkbmRudFMxMHVQbzVRJTJGUVR2VzJLZnJiQ3pKTkdNZ29uZjglMkJMZHY2OUJIYk5lTE1VWWUyajhOT1dFU2lsR1dzaWN3JTNEJTNE#/event/E1358/seatmap/?selectBuyers=false&minPrice=240&maxPrice=840&quantity=1&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=true&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false">Hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £240</div><div><b>West Ham United v Arsenal @730pm</b> - this competition would seem to be the perfect kind of thing the Hammers should be targeting to follow up on last season's Conference League triumph. They've made two finals before but never won it. It's a different story for Arsenal who've won it twice and been runners-up sixth further times. It has, however, been 30 years since they last took home this cup and will probably want to focus on bigger things. Tickets have sold out but there will probably be some hospitality packages available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Whitehawk @745pm</b> - after seeing the original tie postponed on Sunday, these two Isthmian Premier sides will have another go on Wednesday. The visitors are in better form so will start as favourites. The winners will host Lewes in the next round</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barkingside v Clapton CFC @745pm </b>- the 'Side have had a tough start to the season and defeat here could leave them on level points with a team in the relegation zone. CCFC on the other hand, will go second with a win in this derby</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 2 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>London Senior Cup First Round</i></u></b></div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Balham @745pm </b>- these two met in the 2018 final. That year Balham romped to a 4-1 win but they haven't been to the final since. CVPM have a huge FA Cup tie at Charlton on Sunday so you'd think they'll rest a few players ahead of that and probably hand the visitors the advantage</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>Friday 3 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League 2</i></u></b></div><div>There are two big games in this U21 competition on Friday night with <b>Arsenal</b> hosting Manchester City at Boreham Wood and a derby between <b>Chelsea</b> and Fulham at Kingsmeadow. Both kick-off at 7pm</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Athletic Newham @745pm </b>- the hosts will look to extend their lead at the top to six points with a win here. The visitors could end up in the top six if they triumph</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 4 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Manchester United @1230pm </b>- the Cottagers are winless in seven at home to the Red Devils with the last six ending in defeat. Never has that record looked more likely to end than now. Having bowed out of the EFL Cup with a whimper at home to Newcastle on Wednesday, United are in real trouble by their very high standards. The pressure is really on boss Erik ten Hag and defeat here could bring his reign to an end. Tickets and hospitality appear to have sold out</div><div><b>Brentford v West Ham United @3pm</b> - both sides come into this match on the back of big derby wins. The Bees winning 2-0 at Chelsea on Saturday whilst the Hammers enjoyed a comfortable EFL Cup win over Arsenal on Wednesday. Since joining the Premier League, Brentford have won both of their home games against West Ham 2-0. In fact, the east London club haven't won a league game away at Brentford since 1953. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Southampton @3pm</b> - these two haven't met in the league since 2012. On that occasion, the Saints won an entertaining game at The Den 3-2. After a brief rocky patch following their relegation from the Premier League, the Hampshire club have now put together a decent unbeaten run that has seen them climb to fourth. After coming close to securing a play-off spot last season, the Lions have struggled this year and parted company with boss Gary Rowett last month. Still with only a caretaker boss in charge, they're winless in four and will start as underdogs here. <b><a href="https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/tickets/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>One of the most exciting weekends of the year for lower-league clubs has arrived. At this point of the competition, all the surviving non-league clubs are joined in the draw by the pros of League One and League Two. The winners of each tie receive a whopping £41,000 - a huge amount of money for most non-league sides if they can get through</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Carlisle United @3pm </b>- the only tie in London between two League One sides takes place at Brisbane Road. With Carlisle in the relegation zone, the O's should start as favourites. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/Events">Tickets</a></b> have been reduced to £15</div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town @3pm</b> - these clubs seem to be going in opposite directions in terms of form at the moment. The Dons had a great start to their League Two campaign but they're now five without a win and sliding towards the bottom half. Cheltenham, on the other hand, are second from bottom in the division above but have picked up seven points from their last four. This is really tough to call. Top price <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=10228743697980&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">tickets</a></b> are also £15</div><div><b>Sutton United v AFC Fylde @3pm</b> - the U's are bottom of League Two but managed a hugely important 2-1 win over Bradford City in their last game. The visitors have been down in the National League's relegation zone for most of the campaign but a three game unbeaten run has seen them start to climb the table. Again, this is a tough one to call but the hosts should start as marginal favourites. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Blackpool @545pm</b> - the day's final tie looks like being a bit of a cracker. The Ravens have surged up to third in the National League in recent weeks but face a club who were in the Championship last season. The Seasiders have responded well to the setback of relegation and are currently in the top eight of League One. It will take a special performance for Bromley to win. If they do pull it off, it will be the first time they've made the Second Round since 1945/46. If you do want to go, I'd strongly advise buying <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/EDP/Event/Index/172?position=1">tickets</a></b> in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Weston-super-Mare @3pm </b>- the Millers are probably pinching themselves. After winning promotion via the Isthmian League play-offs, they've taken to life in the NLS like ducks to water. Up to second after winning at St Albans on Saturday, they're now six points behind leaders Yeovil. With only one win from five, WSM are in the bottom half and should be beaten</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hornchurch v Enfield Town @3pm</b> - undoubtedly the biggest game of the day in the seventh tier sees first host second in this massively important match. Even at this early stage, the Urchins are already eight points clear so the Towners really need to win to keep their title hopes going</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Walthamstow v Gorleston @3pm</b> - there aren't any games as blockbuster as the one above in the eighth tier, but the 'Stow look well worth having a look at. Up in fifth in this division, they could climb into the top three if they win here against the club in 12th <b><i>UPDATE: MATCH OFF</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Glebe v Deal Town @3pm</b> - based in Chislehurst, the hosts have got off to a flyer and are currently two points clear at the top with a game in hand on second placed Erith Town. However, third placed Faversham have two games in hand on them which if won would put them top. All in all, the title race is looking interesting and Glebe need to beat midtable Deal to keep with the pace</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Forest Hill Park v Lewisham Borough @3pm</b> - in the 10th tier look no further than the Catford Classico at the Ladywell Arena. Lewisham won the last meeting between the two at the beginning of September with a last-minute goal in front of a bumper crowd of nearly 200. These two groundshare and are both in the top five so there should be a good turnout again</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 5 November</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Cup First Round</i></u></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Cray Valley PM @530pm </b>- unsurprisingly shifted to Sunday evening for live TV coverage, this is the kind of tie that the FA Cup is all about. Not only have eighth tier CVPM battled through five rounds and eight matches (including replays) to get this far but they've been drawn against their local pro club. Lying just three miles north of their own Artic Stadium in south-east London, The Valley will play host to the biggest match in the Isthmian League club's history. The Addicks should start as overwhelming favourites and will almost certainly win but if they don't, it will be the story of the weekend. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20cray%20valley%20pm/2023-11-5_17.30/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b> are £10</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Manchester City @1230pm</b> - there are some great women's games on Sunday with two of the WSL's best sides meeting at Boreham Wood's ground at lunchtime. The Gunners have made a disappointing start, winning only two of their four games. City, however, are top of the league and have already taken a point off reigning champions and co-leaders Chelsea. It looks like a mouthwatering prospect and it's sold out</div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @2pm</b> - after narrowly losing their opening game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Spurs have won all of their games since and are one point off top spot. With only one win from four, the Toffees are down near the bottom and should be beaten. This is being played at Leyton Orient and <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/buy-tickets/womens-tickets/?ics=fixtures_eve_h">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>West Ham United v Bristol City @3pm</b> - the Hammers' form from last season seems to have carried over to this one with a very mixed bag of results so far. They should have enough to beat newly promoted City though as they've lost all four games since coming up. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge and <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/EDP/Event/Index/1436?utm_source=whufc&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=bristolcitywomenstickets_oct23&utm_content=ticketinfopage">tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Watford v Crystal Palace @2pm </b>- with only one win from eight, the newly promoted Hornets are bottom and in desperate need of points. Although only one point from safety, every point is hard to get in this division if you're one of the weaker teams. Palace are fourth but could go second with a win. This match is being played at Wealdstone. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/events/watford%20women%20v%20crystal%20palace%20women/2023-11-5_14.00/watford%20women?back=2&area=99c2d1ed-c304-ec11-8314-f873bd5289ef&type=ga">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>Actonians v AFC Wimbledon @2pm</b> - after only being able to muster a squad of 12 against AFC Sudbury last week, the A's will need to be as close to full strength as possible for the visit of the leaders. The Dons demolished fellow title contenders Worthing 5-0 on Sunday so anything less than a win here will be quite a shock. With it being my birthday that day, I'll be at Rectory Park and hoping for something special! <b><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/actonians-lfc/t-jzqplpg">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-33275238817497270402023-10-22T21:07:00.010+01:002023-10-27T10:52:08.287+01:00TLFG: 23-29 October 2023<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With some really awkward shift times this weekend, I'm having to keep things brief.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In terms of content, I've got both match maps as up-to-date as I can and there are previews for Monday to Friday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm going to hold my hands up now and say there's a really great programme of matches on Tuesday night but I simply don't have time to write previews for anything other than the biggest games so apologies for that.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKfP4BmNa5Xu42di9ZTPz_uUoy4buQ5EWFpOCx3_VskmgOpzYUvoSARtqINFWcimQiHa52Ad4z7K2xoGFJQYgeCqMEms0yuCIL4_GbGYRtQauKk3IGFSrPIvXW5yDxYY589-i3xj1LKTdsygqV8WJ1cJ7jEI9vVpf8F1TKjszdyzTXgqSYnSuIpK6CoO7/s1440/plic.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKfP4BmNa5Xu42di9ZTPz_uUoy4buQ5EWFpOCx3_VskmgOpzYUvoSARtqINFWcimQiHa52Ad4z7K2xoGFJQYgeCqMEms0yuCIL4_GbGYRtQauKk3IGFSrPIvXW5yDxYY589-i3xj1LKTdsygqV8WJ1cJ7jEI9vVpf8F1TKjszdyzTXgqSYnSuIpK6CoO7/w400-h225/plic.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal Palace entertain Monaco in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">At the time of writing, I'm still in trying to pick myself up from Actonians' loss to Fulham in the Women's FA Cup earlier on Sunday afternoon</p><p style="text-align: left;">I didn't make the game but I heard it was closely fought and when the A's headed into injury time with a 1-0 lead, I thought the weekend was going to end very nicely indeed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sadly the Cottagers grabbed a late equaliser and then won it on penalties.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Last year Actonians' run to the Third Round brought them enough prize money to be able to start this season, such was the dearth of sponsorship over the summer, so going out at this early stage is a bit of a blow - especially when the win was so close.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Hopefully they'll bounce back in the league against AFC Sudbury on Sunday and things won't feel so bad.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly this week, a big thank you to <b>Wouter S</b> from <b>The Netherlands</b> who donated some money to <b><a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tlfg">TLFG's coffee-drinking fund</a></b> - I really appreciate it.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As well as his donation, Wouter also wished me luck with our new cat Pickle and I'm pleased to say it's all going smoothly at the moment.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Three days in, he's now pretty settled and has a good feel for the layout of our home.</p><p style="text-align: left;">He's living up to his ragdoll traits with the kids, even my four-year-old, finding it very easy to handle him.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I also had to abandon preparing this piece on Saturday night when he insisted on sitting on the keyboard.</p><p style="text-align: left;">So that's about it from me. I'll aim to write the weekend previews nearer the time and then get to that Actonians match on Sunday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Have a great week!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy and Women's National League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1TxUmt0khRxvAdOSXebUm9c6tI5-BWfk&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1e8kwsUxkMnaAsiZzoEKBxjRGQvnov9Y&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 23 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham @8pm</b> - the week begins with a juicy derby in N17. After a brilliant start to the season, Ange Postecoglu's side will go two points clear at the top if they win this. On paper, this midtable Fulham side should be beaten. When you consider they're also unbeaten against the Cottagers since 2013, a win for Spurs looks even more likely. Tickets are only available to members or <b><a href="https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/tickets/premium-experiences/matchday-options/experiences/?utm_source=thfc&utm_medium=home_tx_page&utm_campaign=avail_mod_prm&utm_content=ful">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £299</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Ipswich Town @1pm </b>- earlier in the day, the R's U21 side welcome the Tractor Boys to Loftus Road. The hosts could go back to the top of the table with a win here but Ipswich are fifth so should present a tough challenge. Admission is by donation on the gate - cash and cards are accepted</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Carshalton Athletic v Lewes @745pm</b> - the only non-league game of the night should be well worth a watch as it sees two of the Isthmian League's top six meet at Colston Avenue. After getting knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy by lower division Cray Valley PM in consecutive games, the Robins' confidence seems to have taken an understandable hit. Since then, they've failed to win any of the three league games they've played and they're now 11 points behind the leaders. Lewes, on the other hand, broke into the top six on Saturday after thrashing promotion hopefuls Enfield Town 4-0 so the momentum would seem to be with them</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 24 October</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Millwall v Blackburn Rovers @745pm</b> - locked together on 16 points in the middle of the table, there's nothing particularly outstanding about this fixture. However, the Championship is really tight and with only six points separating sixth from 20th, a win here could put either of them back up among the play-off contenders. The other thing to note is that Rovers won 4-3 here on the final day of last season which stopped Millwall getting into the top six - I doubt the Lions' fans have forgotten. <b><a href="https://tickets.millwallfc.co.uk/PagesPublic/ProductBrowse/VisualSeatSelectionBoost.aspx?stadium=TD&product=H23BLA&campaign=&type=H&productsubtype=&productIsHomeAsAway=N&prodDesc=Millwall+v+Blackburn+Rovers">Tickets</a></b> </div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley @745pm </b>- the Dons' draw at Barrow on Saturday made it three games without a win and saw them slip to eighth in the process. They were replaced in the play-off zone by Accrington after their win over MK Dons. Therefore this game has a reasonable amount at stake. A look through the records shows that Stanley are a bit of a bogey team for the Dons. In the 10 away games they've played against their south London opponents, Accrington have only lost twice. <b><a href="https://tickets.afcwimbledon.ltd.uk/selection/event/seat?perfId=101898701045&ot=0&gtmStepTracking=true">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barnet v Solihull Moors @745pm</b> - there's a full programme of fixtures in the fifth tier but as I'm pushed for time, I've only got the ability to recommend one and it's not hard to decide which one. The Bees moved level on points with top club Chesterfield on Saturday and play the team in third here. Last season saw Wrexham and Notts County pull away from the rest in a two-horse title race. If Barnet win here, then we could see a similar scenario begin to develop as Solihull are already eight points behind. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/login.asp?selectHomeAway=true&eventID={D8728E0C-79B6-44AB-A930-8CC2736A6456}">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><i><u>Premier League International Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Monaco @7pm </b>- still in the group stage, this U21 competition played entirely on English soil sees its next batch of games take place this week. After being held to a 1-1 draw in their opening game by Athletic Bilbao, Palace next entertain Monaco who began with an impressive 2-1 win over Liverpool last month. The match is being played at Sutton United and adult <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/200">tickets</a></b> are £5</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 25 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Horsham @745pm </b>- after two exciting yet ultimately disappointing 3-2 defeats to Dulwich and Enfield, the K's got a well needed 3-0 win over Folkestone on Saturday to move up to 17th. At Horsham, the focus must surely be on their great FA Cup run and the impending First Round trip to League One giants Barnsley at the start of next month. As a result of that, they have two games in hand on most of the teams in the top five and could find themselves right up there with a win here</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>West Essex v Great Wakering Rovers @745pm</b> - a win by two goals or more will see the hosts go top of the ESL until at least Friday when current leaders Woodford Town return to action. GWR are down in ninth so should be beaten</div><div><br /></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 26 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Youth and Development football</i></u></b></div><div>There are a handful of U23 and U18 matches around London tonight, largely on the north and west side of town</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 27 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur @8pm</b> - with only one win from their last five, the Eagles could do with another three points. Despite that lack of victories, Roy Hodgson's side are still 11th and would move level on points with Manchester United if they win here. However, it's a massive if as Spurs will head to Selhurst Park as league leaders having beaten Fulham 2-0 on Monday night. Tickets are only available to members and hospitality packages seem to have sold out too</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div>There are three fine U21 games to keep you entertained on Friday night if you can't get a ticket for the Palace game above. <b>Chelsea</b>, <b>Fulham</b> and <b>West Ham United</b> are all playing at home - admission is never more than £5</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v FC Clacton @745pm </b>- as mentioned above, current leaders Woodford could find themselves needing to win this if West Essex triumph on Wednesday night. Clacton are still very much in the running for a play-off place so this shouldn't be the easiest of games for the hosts</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 28 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Brentford @1230pm</b> - it's derby day in west London as the Bees travel to Stamford Bridge. Since joining the Premier League in 2021, Thomas Frank's side have won both of their games in SW6 beating the Blues 4-1 and 2-0. With the Blues improving but still somewhat out of sorts, can they do the unthinkable and win for a third time in a row? Tickets have sold out but <b><a href="https://mpv.tickets.com/?agency=CFHV_PL_MPV&orgid=56209&eventId=1333&_gl=1*1syxqcx*_ga*NDY1MjkyNDY0LjE2OTgzOTEyMTU.*_ga_0SXVVHPVKT*MTY5ODM5MTIxNC4xLjEuMTY5ODM5MTIzNC4wLjAuMA..*_fplc*SnAxY2ZNdVZlRERQZyUyRnN3Q2ZIdnlDMzk5ZUJvOWdrZGlwNnVuUG42ejNuQk4wTEFYTFlGWiUyRmlwdnJjRTJzQjBRNnpLcHM4RHF6MDRuQ2FocGxQQ2RlMUtBNERNWXlHN3NVdU0lMkZ4dFhFMkcxQzFlV0lwQVp5MmJEVXJhVkhnJTNEJTNE#/event/E1333/seatmap/?selectBuyers=false&minPrice=360&maxPrice=360&quantity=1&sort=price_desc&ada=false&seatSelection=true&onlyCoupon=true&onlyVoucher=false">hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £360</div><div><b>Arsenal v Sheffield United @3pm</b> - in the later game, the Gunners will look to keep themselves in the title race by winning here. With the Blades rock bottom and without a victory, anything less than three points will be a disaster. If the Yorkshire club do manage to finally get a win, it will be their first at Arsenal since 1971. Tickets are only available to members. <b><a href="https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/sheffield-united/">Hospitality packages</a></b> are available from £280</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Leicester City @3pm</b> - if the matches above are out of your price range, then the next best thing is probably a visit to Loftus Road where you'll get to watch what might as well be a Premier League team. Leicester, the 2015/16 Premier League champions and 2020/21 FA Cup winners, are top of the table and seem set for an immediate return to the top flight.The R's, on the other hand, are having a terrible season and find themselves stuck in the relegation zone after their midweek defeat at West Brom. It looks like a foregone conclusion but an equally poor QPR did the unthinkable last season by winning at eventual champions Burnley to delay them winning the title. <b><a href="https://www.qpr.co.uk/tickets">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><b>Watford v Millwall @3pm</b> - if you'd rather watch a match which, on paper, should be far more competitive then head to Vicarage Road. Now unbeaten in three, the Hornets leapfrogged the Lions with their win at Swansea on Tuesday to climb to 15th. Millwall are still without a manager following the departure of Gary Rowett. The current favourite to replace him is former Rangers and QPR manager Michael Beale who incidentally hails from south-east London so it looks like a good fit. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers @3pm</b> - after a seven game unbeaten run, the Addicks suffered their first defeat of the Michael Appleton era on Tuesday when they lost 3-1 at Lincoln City. The result leaves them five points adrift of the play-off places, one of which is currently filled by Bolton. Wanderers have a great record against Charlton in recent years, winning their last four against them and they're unbeaten at The Valley since 2014. If the London club are to be seen as serious promotion contenders then this is the kind of opponent they need to be able to beat. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20bolton%20wanderers/2023-10-28_15.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b> are available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Bradford City @3pm</b> - the U's, who are bottom, looked like pulling off a memorable draw at big-spending Wrexham on Tuesday night but conceded in the 89th minute to lose 2-1. Still only three points adrift of safety, there's still plenty of time to turn things around. Bradford made the play-offs last season but have struggled to get going this time round and boss Mark Hughes got sacked as a result. With seven points from their last four games, results have improved a bit under player-manager Kevin McDonald. They're also unbeaten in all four matches they've played against Sutton since the London club joined the EFL in 2021. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/event/sut2324h09/sufc-vs-bradford-city">Tickets</a></b> are available </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Boreham Wood v Southend United @3pm</b> - after a solid 3-1 midweek win at Dagenham & Redbridge, the Wood are now five points clear of the relegation zone. Although that result was pleasing, they're still way off the standards they set last season as they reached the play-offs. With all the off-pitch turmoil seemingly now over, the Shrimpers fans can focus solely on what's going on on the pitch and recently it's been very good. A 3-0 home victory over Ebbsfleet on Tuesday made it four wins in a row and they're now 14th. They would be actually be fifth if it wasn't for the 10-point deduction they received earlier in the season so it looks like being a tough afternoon for the hosts. <b><a href="https://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/home-tickets-2/">Tickets</a></b> are cheaper if bought in advance</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hampton & Richmond Borough v Torquay United @3pm</b> - the hosts are currently second only to leaders Yeovil when it comes to being in good form. With four wins on the spin, the Middlesex club are climbing the table fast and are now only a point adrift of the play-off places. The Gulls are only a point above them so if they win, they will almost certainly break into the top seven. Given the big crowd that's likely to be generated by the visit of a former EFL club, you're strongly advised to buy <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanstoreType=Fixtures&clubId=191&isUpcoming=True">tickets</a></b> in advance, it's also cheaper than paying on the day too</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy First Round</u></i></b></div><div><i>The FA Trophy is a national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to the eighth tiers with its final at Wembley. At this stage, the 64 seventh and eighth tier teams who have made it through the qualifying rounds do battle. There are several ties in London, here are my pick:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Dulwich Hamlet v Lewes @3pm</b> - the biggest crowd will be found at Champion Hill where two Isthmian Premier clubs go head-to-head. The Hamlet have an average attendance of 2,308 despite having made a disappointing start following their relegation from the National League South. They are currently the best supported non-league side in London, the second best supported club in the seventh tier and get higher crowds than 16 National League sides and even two in League Two. Lewes are a former fifth-tier club who hold similarly inclusive values to Dulwich and with only four points separating them in the league, it should be a fun afternoon. You are strongly advised to buy <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=4281">tickets</a></b> in advance as games often sell out</div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Chesham United @3pm </b>- the hosts, who are London's oldest club, are in the Isthmian Premier's bottom three and having a season to forget. They'll be hoping to kick-start their season here with what would be a shock win over the Generals who are pushing hard for the Southern League Premier South title</div><div><b>Hendon v Walton & Hersham @3pm</b> - the Greens also welcome one of the best sides in the Southern League. Just a point behind Chesham, W&H have enjoyed three consecutive promotions as they've surged up to the seventh tier. Hendon have been playing at this level for decades and are coasting along in midtable. A lot will come down to who wants it more and with the visitors perhaps more concerned with getting another promotion, this might give the hosts the edge</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chertsey Town v Chipstead @3pm</b> - match of the day in the eighth tier would appear to be this game between two of the top seven in this division. Third but only a point behind leaders Raynes Park Vale, the Curfews could go top with a win here</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Premier North</u></i></b></div><div><b>Rayners Lane v Ardley United @3pm</b> - for me there aren't any standout fixtures in the ninth tier so I'd suggest going to give Rayners Lane a watch. The north-west London club finally won promotion from the 10th tier last season and despite a lot of upheaval off the pitch over the summer, have managed to very successfully regroup. Currently top of this division, they welcome ninth-placed Ardley who are playing in this league because they agreed a swap from the SSML with London Lions</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chessington & Hook United v Seaford Town @3pm</b> - again there's not a stellar selection of games in the 10th tier so it gives me a chance to recommend a game in the SCFL where two of the division's form teams meet at Chalky Lane. With 10 points from their last five, they're in seventh just behind Seaford on goal difference</div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 29 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Everton @1pm</b> - with only one win from five in the league and having suffered defeat to Olympiakos in the Europa League on Thursday, the Hammers come into this on a rare low after a very successful few months. The Toffees are three points above the relegation zone but with two wins from their last five, are showing some signs of improvement. West Ham have won three of their last four against the Merseyside club and you'd expect them to extend that run here. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/home-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League 2</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm</b> - there's also a bit of U21 action on Sunday afternoon. At the time of writing, these clubs are fourth and sixth in the PL2 so it should be well worth a watch. This match is being played at Boreham Wood's ground. Admission is often free but never more than £5</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Trophy First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Whitehawk @3pm</b> - there's also a tie between two Isthmian Premier clubs at Imperial Fields. With three wins from their last six matches, the K's are picking up a bit of form after a poor start. Whitehawk, with only one league defeat, are in the division's top four and will start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Cup Second Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hashtag United v Rugby Borough @2pm </b>- in the women's game it's an international break, so the highest level of football you'll be able to see will be this all third-tier team cup match. Being played at Aveley, the Tags are currently top of the Southern Premier whilst Rugby are fourth so this should be well worth a watch</div><div><b>London Bees v Norwich City @2pm</b> - elsewhere in north London, there's a great chance of a cupset as the Canaries travel to The Hive. Currently fighting hard for the title in their fourth-tier division, they should have the talent and momentum to get the better of the Bees who are bottom of the Southern Premier without a league win</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Worthing @2pm</b> - the big game in the fourth tier sees the leaders host the side three points behind them in third. The sides played on the south coast in the FA Cup last weekend with the Dons winning an entertaining game 3-2. Given how crucial every point is at this end of the table, another loss for Worthing could pretty much end their title ambitions. This match is being played at Plough Lane. Tickets are £5 on the door and, just so you know, there's a Halloween fancy dress competition taking place for fans</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-87819054565465626172023-10-15T22:17:00.009+01:002023-10-20T11:33:37.404+01:00TLFG: 16-22 October 2023<p style="text-align: left;">Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At this point I have produced full match maps for the week ahead but have only written previews for Monday to Friday as I've run out of time.</p><p style="text-align: left;">To be honest, I don't think it's a bad thing as things often change in midweek which make my previews inaccurate by the weekend.</p><p style="text-align: left;">There are some great matches to look forward to too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgUau2vDp4-sdudpCfNSuu8OFiQTpudMevN10ye-gdgyXOjNVCqspy51GtgM5-3_6w8Ico42OPGQN2euxnxyIZsD1kwXSOkMLj2_-RLyWVB-2pzuCC-BUqeFaQUX4IVcZJtzh4OXYXGQEIIHbZ-LT6FQ3baiN6cT5N1-PcHwaLerDtO6TQUmwkU5A5BM3/s1080/clapton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgUau2vDp4-sdudpCfNSuu8OFiQTpudMevN10ye-gdgyXOjNVCqspy51GtgM5-3_6w8Ico42OPGQN2euxnxyIZsD1kwXSOkMLj2_-RLyWVB-2pzuCC-BUqeFaQUX4IVcZJtzh4OXYXGQEIIHbZ-LT6FQ3baiN6cT5N1-PcHwaLerDtO6TQUmwkU5A5BM3/w400-h400/clapton.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Claptico is finally here!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">If you can't make it to England v Italy on Tuesday, we've got a random international friendly at <b>Brentford</b> between Australia and New Zealand which should be fun.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Elsewhere that night it's also the first El Claptico between <b>Clapton CFC</b> and <b>Clapton</b> at the Old Spotted Dog and there's a big FA Cup replay between <b>Barnet</b> and <b>Aveley</b> with a place in the First Round up for grabs.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Last week I did manage to get to the derby between <b>QPR</b> and <b>Actonians</b> at Hanwell Town which took place on Wednesday.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It was a tight game which the R's had the better of and they took the lead 20 minutes from time.</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, the A's rallied superbly to score twice in the last 10 minutes and nick a hugely important 2-1 win. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Next up, they face a very tricky FA Cup tie against <b>Fulham </b>to make it two west London derbies in a row.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Back to this week and the big event in TLFG Towers should be the arrival of a new cat.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My wife and kids have been lobbying for one for years but I've always strongly resisted as we live in a flat with no direct access to the outside world.</p><p style="text-align: left;">However, a parent at my daughters' school breeds ragdolls which are apparently specialist house cats so we're going for it. Wish me luck!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>We've got a great few days of action to look forward to with international football at the start of the week and Premier League and a full programme of EFL football returning at the end of it.</p><p>Aside from that there are also games in the FA Vase, Women's Super League, Women's FA Cup and all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1DcdTunjdfuY76cPRBQnZ3pH8y5--zwY&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1sD0w5iPZ-GOHThILqyCVUd2x2hR_vgo&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 16 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Professional Development League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Millwall @1pm </b>- the week begins with this U21 derby at Dartford's ground. Millwall are one of the best teams at this level and are currently vying for top spot with QPR. Entry to these matches should be no more than £5</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Middlesex Premier Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>PFC Victoria London v Civil Service @745pm </b>- the only senior match of the day takes place at Ashford Town's ground near Heathrow (update - this is now being played at Colliers Wood United). PFC are a club founded in 2016 by Polish ex-pats and they're currently in the 11th tier MCFL Premier Division. On Monday they take on one of the oldest clubs in the world. Civil Service began life in 1863 and were one of the original members of the FA. As an amateur team, I don't usually cover them as they play outside the football pyramid but the Chiswick-based club are definitely worth a watch</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Third Round Qualifying</u></i></b></div><div>The next round of the country's most prestigious U18 competition takes place this week, with ties taking place between Monday and Thursday. On Monday the home teams include <b>New Salamis</b> and <b>Uxbridge</b> but the biggest tie is probably <b>Walton & Hersham</b> against Maidstone United. All games kick-off at 745pm</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 17 October</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier</u></i></b></div><div><b>England v Italy @745pm - </b>the biggest game of the week sees two of the titans of world football meet at Wembley. The last time that happened was in the Euros final of 2021 when the Azzurri broke English hearts by beating them on penalties. Since then there have been three further matches - a 0-0 draw at Molineux, a 1-0 win for Italy in Milan (both in the Nations League) and a 2-1 win for England in Naples. That last result means Gareth Southgate's team are currently top of Group C and a win here will pretty much seal their ticket to Germany for next year's competition. Tickets have sold out</div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>International friendly</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Australia v New Zealand @745pm</b> - if you can't get into the above but still want to watch some international football then head west to Brentford's GTech Stadium where these two old rivals, who are more famous for playing rugby or cricket, do battle.Top price <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/brentfordfc/Events/Index">tickets</a></b> appear to be £20 but there are cheaper ones available </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying Replay</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Barnet v Aveley @745pm </b>- one of the stories of the day on Saturday was the Millers' ability to grab a late equaliser for a 2-2 draw against one of the top sides in the fifth tier. That fact alone would've been impressive enough but they did it with nine men too! Having now lost home advantage, you'd think the Essex club's run will now end but this is the FA Cup and magic does happen. The winners will travel to Manchester to play Curzon Ashton in the First Round. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/login.asp?selectHomeAway=true&eventID={7D153541-CCC5-4293-8B7D-8D66DBB38E61}">Tickets</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>ECL Division 1 South</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Clapton CFC v Clapton @745pm</b> - the first El Claptico is finally here. Ever since the sides were allocated the same division, this match has been eagerly awaited by fans and neutrals alike. CCFC was founded in 2018 by supporters of Clapton who had become disillusioned with the club's ownership. After two promotions CCFC are now in the same division as the Tons and this game at the Old Spotted Dog, which is London's oldest ground, should draw a big crowd for the level. Given the limit on capacity, you're strongly advised to buy <b><a href="https://www.claptoncfc.co.uk/store/Clapton-CFC-mens-first-team-vs-Clapton-FC-p593141361">tickets</a></b> in advance</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 18 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Kingstonian v Enfield Town @745pm </b>- the K's lost 3-2 at Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday in front of over 3,000 fans. It left them in the bottom three as their tough start to the season continued. Enfield travelled to eighth tier Cray Valley PM in the FA Cup and got humbled 5-2 by the lower-ranked team. The defeat saw them miss out on what would've been a memorable trip to The Valley to play Charlton Athletic in the First Round. Now they can re-focus on the league where they are firmly involved in the promotion race. An away win looks likely</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SSML Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>London Lions v Cockfosters @8pm </b>- a point apart in midtable, these two are way off title pace but with a bit of momentum, one of them could make it to the play-offs. The hosts play near Boreham Wood, just to the west of Cockfosters, so this is also a derby</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Barking @745pm</b> - Woodford have made a superb start and could've gone six points clear at the top but suffered their first defeat of the season on Friday night. Not only did they lose but they lost big, going down 4-0 at home to Tilbury who strongly reinforced their promotion credentials in the process. The Blues, on the other hand, are down in lower midtable and should be beaten</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>L&SE Women's Regional League D1 South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Welling United @745pm</b> - if you fancy some women's football, there's a south-east London derby at Hayes Lane. The hosts are currently second with games in hand so should start as favourites</div><div><br /></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 19 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Youth Cup Third Round Qualifying</i></u></b></div><div>There are two matches in this U18 competition on Thursday with <b>Barnet</b> hosting Ware at The Hive and <b>Welling United</b> welcoming Dorking Wanderers to Park View Road</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 20 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>EAL Senior Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford East v Frenford Reserves @8pm</b> - there are three games in this 11th-tier division on Friday. Woodford East, in third, are the highest-ranked team in action and they badly need to win to try and cut the nine-point gap on leaders FC Baresi. The match is being played at Barking's ground</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 21 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Brentford v Burnley @3pm</b> - a lot has been made of the Bees' success in the top flight over the last couple of years and rightly so. They have this aura about them that they're well organised and tough to beat and they have been but this season it hasn't gone so well. With Ivan Toney banned for betting offences, they've only won one of their eight games and sit just three points above Burnley who are in the relegation zone. To say this is an important game for both would be an understatement. Tickets are only available to members</div><div><b>Chelsea v Arsenal @530pm</b> - the biggest club match of the week takes place at Stamford Bridge at teatime where two of England's football heavyweights meet in this derby. In years gone by, this match would've settled title battles but with the Blues down in midtable and nine points off the pace, they're unlikely to challenge this season. Just before the international break, the Gunners firmly reinforced their credentials by beating Manchester City to leapfrog them in the table. Arsenal are also unbeaten in their last four at Stamford Bridge and on current form, should be able to extend that run. Apart from some very expensive hospitality packages (£600+), this match is sold out</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Watford v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm</b> - our local second-tier clubs are not having a great campaign. Millwall are 15th, QPR are in the bottom three and the Hornets could end up in the relegation zone if they lose here and results elsewhere go against them. Wednesday are rock bottom following their promotion so losing to them would be disastrous. <b><a href="https://tickets.watfordfc.com/en-GB/categories/home-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League One</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Reading @3pm</b> - two former Premier League clubs meet at The Valley for one of the biggest games of the day in the third tier. The Addicks are putting together a decent unbeaten run and with two games in hand on some of the clubs above them, they'll surely be up among the play-off contenders soon. The Royals suffered relegation to this level last season after suffering a points deduction for financial reasons and a further deduction since the start of the season means they're in the relegation zone again. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20reading/2023-10-21_15.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Barnsley @3pm</b> - with only one defeat in five, the O's are just three points off the all-important top six. If they are to be considered as serious promotion candidates then they'll need to beat the likes of Barnsley who made the play-off final last season and are third coming into this. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/Events">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Morecambe @3pm</b> - the U's have had a miserable season but when they thrashed Walsall 4-0 two weeks ago, it looked as if they might have turned a corner. Sadly, they promptly went and lost their next game 4-1 at Doncaster who were only four places above them in the table. Lancashire club Morecambe could find themselves just outside the play-off places with a win here so it could be another tough afternoon for the south London club. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/event/sut2324h08/sufc-vs-morecambe">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v Maidenhead United @3pm</b> - with the hosts fighting for the title and the visitors desperate to get out of the relegation zone, this is an important game at either end of the table. The Bees made smooth progress in the FA Cup in midweek and should be confident of getting the points which could put them top if leaders Chesterfield lose. <b><a href="https://www.venuetoolbox.com/barnetfc/asp/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators&TicketsSelectedCostCentreID={02F0CA36-74F5-46D9-9444-17FA242A8A1A}&clickedCostCentreLogo=true">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Bromley v Oxford City @3pm</b> - the Ravens also made it through to the First Round of the FA Cup last week and they'll want to take that winning form into the league. Two matches without a victory has seen them slip to fifth. Oxford are just above the relegation zone so should be beaten. <b><a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/bromleyfc/">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v Woking @3pm</b> - of the five local sides we have in the fifth tier, the Daggers are struggling the most. In the relegation zone and knocked out of the FA Cup by a team from two divisions below them, it's not been great for the east London club. Woking are having a disappointing season by their recent standards. The Surrey club made the play-offs last season but with four defeats from five, are well off the pace this time round. <b><a href="https://daggers.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Wealdstone v Boreham Wood @530pm</b> - there's a local derby in the live televised game later in the day. Two of the smaller clubs in the division, they've done really well to simply be competitive at this level with neither facing much threat of relegation since they came up. Indeed, Boreham Wood have made the play-offs on more than one occasion so it's a bit of a surprise to see them struggling a bit. Only a point apart in the table, this should be close. If you've got a car, then this can be combined with the matches at Hilltop or Northwood which are taking place nearby. <b><a href="https://wealdstonefc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/vanarama_national_league_wealdstone_v_boreham_wood">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League South</u></i></b></div><div><b>Aveley v Truro City @3pm</b> - after all their heroics against Barnet on Saturday in the FA Cup, the Millers lost the replay on Tuesday night. They'll quickly want to refocus on their league form which has been really impressive for a newly promoted club and a win here against midtable opposition from Cornwall could see them climb back into the top three</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hornchurch v Bognor Regis Town @3pm</b> - there aren't any standout games in the seventh tier on Saturday so I've gone for this as it gives you a chance to run the rule over the Urchins who narrowly missed promotion last season and are six points clear at the top as things stand. Beneath them, the table is pretty tightly congested with only six points separating second from 13th. Bognor are in this group so could well be in the play-off shake up at the end of the year</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Metropolitan Police v Raynes Park Vale @3pm</b> - it's a similar story in the eighth tier where there aren't any obvious crackers but one of our local table-toppers are in action. RPV won promotion to this level last season and have made a great start. One point clear of Southall at the top, they're involved in what looks like a being a very competitive title race with all of the top five firmly in contention. Therefore a win at struggling Met Police is vital. It's a real shame to see the hosts where they are. After numerous seasons in the seventh tier, where they often made it to the play-offs and had some good runs in the FA Cup, they took voluntary relegation last season for financial reasons and look set to go down again</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Vase First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>Bedfont Sports v Hassocks @3pm</b> - there are numerous ties around London in this competition on Saturday but they're all much of a muchness in my opinion. This one is my pick of the ties as it features sides from the top six of the CCL Premier North and SCFL Premier so it should be competitive</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div>There's a very unusual doubleheader taking place at Mayesbrook Park on Saturday with <b>Ilford</b> having to switch their derby against <b>Barking</b> to the Blues' ground as their own stadium is hosting Barkingside's FA Vase match. This match will kick-off at 1230pm before <b>Romford</b> play Takeley at 4pm. Both matches will require you to pay separate admission</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>AFC Whyteleafe v Bridon Ropes @3pm</b> - the Leafe are another local side to be top of their division. Currently level on points with Rochester United, they have the lead by virtue of scoring one more goal than the Kent club. On Saturday they welcome Bridon Ropes who sit just two points above the relegation zone</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 22 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Women's Super League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion @2pm</b> - Sunday is all about women's football and there's a great selection of matches taking place. Reigning WSL champions Chelsea continue their title defence with this home match against the Seagulls. Now under the management of American coach Melissa Phillips, who did really well at London City Lionesses, the Sussex club look like being a tougher proposition this season. Emma Hayes' side have been steady but unspectacular in their opening games and Brighton should make Chelsea work hard for the points. <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/buy-womens-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>West Ham United v Liverpool @3pm</b> - the Reds travel to east London having blown the chance of going top of the WSL last Sunday. After a 100% start to the season, they lost to Everton at Anfield and ended the weekend in fifth. With one win from three, Rehanne Skinner will want to see her Hammers side get at least a point here. <b><a href="https://www.whufc.com/tickets/womens-team-matches">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @2pm</b> - with it being a derby and with both sides doing well, this match is being played at The Valley. With only one defeat from seven, the Addicks are fourth and only three points behind leaders Southampton. Palace are doing even better - they're third, a point behind the leaders and they have a game in hand. This one has real potential. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20women%20v%20crystal%20palace/2023-10-22_14.00/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Southampton @1pm</b> - if you want to see the current leaders in action, then head to Princes Park where the Saints are in town. LCL narrowly missed out on the title last season but it looks like they'll be in a relegation battle this time round. <b><a href="https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Southern Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hashtag United v Plymouth Argyle @2pm</b> - the Tags finally lost their 100% record at home to MK Dons a couple of weeks ago but recovered to beat Billericay three days later. Three points clear of Portsmouth at the top, the Essex club should be expected to beat this struggling Argyle side</div><div><b>London Bees v Oxford United @2pm</b> - having shipped 27 goals in their first seven games, bottom club Bees managed a welcome 0-0 draw at fellow strugglers Chatham in their last game. In desperate need of a win, they'll do really well to get anything against Oxford</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's FA Cup Third Round Qualifying</u></i></b></div><div><i>At this stage of the competition, all the fourth-tier clubs enter the draw. There are numerous ties around the capital, here are my pick:</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Actonians v Fulham @2pm</b> - after beating QPR in the league in their last match, the A's face another local derby against the Cottagers. On paper, the hosts should win as they play a level above the visitors but it will probably be really close. Fulham are second in the division below and scored eight in their last match. If they do win, it won't be the biggest surprise of the day. This is being played at the Middlesex FA's HQ at Rectory Park in Northolt</div><div><b>London Seaward v Norwich City @2pm</b> - the hosts have been gloriously inconsistent this season, beating the likes of promotion contenders Worthing one week and getting thrashed by strugglers Chesham the next. On Sunday they welcome another one of the top teams in the fourth tier. In theory they should lose but with this team, who knows??? This is being played at Redbridge's ground which is next to Barkingside Tube station</div><div><b>Watford Ladies v Brentford @2pm</b> - the hosts, who are not connected to the men's team, play in the sixth tier and welcome another club who play at the same level but in a parallel league. Being played on one of the outside pitches at The Hive (at the same time as London Bees), the visitors should start as favourites</div><div><b>Headstone Manor v Dulwich Hamlet @2pm</b> - playing in the seventh tier on what is little more than a park pitch in Hatch End in north-west London, Headstone Manor face one of the biggest matches in their history. Fifth-tier club Dulwich are the opponents and they should be expected to bring a few fans</div><div><b>Richmond & Kew v Maidenhead United @2pm</b> - the hosts, who are also in the seventh tier, play close to the Thames in shadow of National Trust stately home Ham House. Having caused a bit of an upset by beating local rivals Richmond Park in the previous round, they face an incredibly tough match against fourth-tier opposition </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-8535921688158746792023-10-08T21:40:00.001+01:002023-10-13T10:22:42.587+01:00TLFG: 9-15 October 2023<p style="text-align: left;">After a month of missing deadlines and not completing guides at all, this week's piece is up on time and in its entirety.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's been another busy week and I even had to go to a funeral at one point - a friend's mother.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The only positive about that sad day was arriving in the area early and getting to check out the local non-league ground, as you do.</p><p style="text-align: left;">After many years writing about the goings on there, I finally got the chance to have a stroll around the outside of the Ladywell Arena which plays host to <b>Lewisham Borough </b>and <b>Forest Hill Park</b>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KMvprFwu5iEYAJsjw_4ISSx_bqTMndt6W3vSWJzImhSPezbkUNYF5n0ur3ppSEiSmq0JAARhNdLb1pmMHyFXJdqWhexWAGfHktC_Ii_nyo6YOSUikiNBP0y_yt15M8Mnby3razDV06Qv9kZYSQTnbAKsDSTQkzx15fxEhy4YTQd8QEzoTff1KkGTkFSw/s800/australia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KMvprFwu5iEYAJsjw_4ISSx_bqTMndt6W3vSWJzImhSPezbkUNYF5n0ur3ppSEiSmq0JAARhNdLb1pmMHyFXJdqWhexWAGfHktC_Ii_nyo6YOSUikiNBP0y_yt15M8Mnby3razDV06Qv9kZYSQTnbAKsDSTQkzx15fxEhy4YTQd8QEzoTff1KkGTkFSw/w400-h225/australia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The biggest match of the week takes place at Wembley on Friday </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">It is primarily an athletics facility and a pretty good one by the looks of it and I could probably have just walked in but I opted to do a lap around it on the path that goes around the outside. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Lewisham Borough have been a club on the up for a year or so now and they're well placed for a tilt at promotion from the SCEFL Division 1.</p><p style="text-align: left;">With crowds growing significantly, they're a club to definitely keep an eye on this season.</p><p style="text-align: left;">That was about as close as I got to any action this week. In the days ahead, I hope to get to Hanwell Town on Wednesday to watch the derby between <b>QPR</b> and <b>Actonians</b> in the Women's National League.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The games are often quite dramatic and in my time following the A's, QPR have tended to shade things.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I always feel particularly strange on these days. As someone who's followed the R's men's team for 40 years (it was the anniversary of my first game last Wednesday), I'm totally committed to supporting Actonians in the women's game and want to win these matches more than any other.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyway, that's enough from me. Enjoy your week.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>Despite it being an international break, there are matches taking place every day this week - the often barren day of Thursday has been filled out with some youth games.</p><p>Aside from that there are games in the EFL, FA Cup, Women's Super League and all the other non-league and women's matches involving local clubs.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1Y02YI-05ICYlKzcwl-5JMx5Jgw-2G9o&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1fNlZJuRpSLWQYRTr3-kz31Y8bOMAnoI&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 9 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Norwich City @7pm </b>- the week begins with some U21 action at Dartford's ground. This competition is currently in its group stage and didn't begin well for the Addicks when they lost their opener to Bournemouth 4-0. Norwich drew their first game against Wolves 2-2 so you'd have to make them marginal favourites here</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Carshalton Athletic v Canvey Island @745pm</b> - the Robins come into this on the back of a week where they got knocked out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy by Cray Valley PM who play a level below them. Although CVPM are a decent side eighth-tier side, Carshalton are one of the title contenders at this level so it was a shock to see them lose. They'll be hoping their league form returns swiftly against midtable Canvey - a win will put them on level points with leaders Hornchurch</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 10 September</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>EFL Trophy Group J</u></i></b></div><div>Two of our local sides have been drawn in this group and they both play on Tuesday. <b>Charlton Athletic</b> lost their opening game 4-3 at Crawley Town last month whilst <b>Sutton United</b> lost on penalties to Aston Villa U21s after drawing 2-2. Today the match-ups switch around with the Addicks hosting Villa and Sutton entertaining Crawley Town</div><div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Hornchurch v Hastings United @745pm</b> - top at the time of writing, the Urchins had a similar week to title rivals Carshalton as they went out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy. With those two competitions out of the way, they can concentrate on the league. With Hastings in the top five too, this is one of the non-league games of the week</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Corinthian Casuals v Raynes Park Vale @745pm </b>- my pick of the games in the eighth tier is this local derby. Sadly, CCs have made another poor start and could be headed for back-to-back relegations. It's the opposite case for newly promoted RPV who could go top with a win</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>West Essex v Romford @745pm </b>- another one of the non-league games of the week takes place at Wadham Lodge on Tuesday where the teams in second and third will look to cut the gap on leaders Woodford Town </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>--------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 11 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Women's League Cup</u></i></b></div><div><b>Tottenham Hotspur v Reading @730pm</b> - although there are a smattering of men's non-league games on Wednesday, the biggest matches are all in the women's game. Also known as the Continental Cup, Spurs made it to the quarter-finals last season. They drew the Royals in the group stage last season too and beat them 2-1, a result which contributed to the Berkshire club failing to make the knockout stage. Since then, Reading have suffered relegation and lost a number of key players so you'd expect another Spurs win. This is being played at Leyton Orient</div><div><b>West Ham United v Charlton Athletic @730pm </b>- the Hammers got all the way to the semis last season before being demolished 7-0 by Chelsea. They'll hope for another good run this season and they start at home to the Addicks who play a division below them. Karen Hills' side have only lost one of their opening six games and will be hopeful of causing an upset. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge</div><div><b>London City Lionesses v Watford @7pm</b> - the other tie of the night sees two Championship sides meet at Dartford's ground. LCL narrowly missed out on the title last season but with only win from six this season, it's not going well. The Hornets won promotion to this division last season and they're struggling too. A lot could depend on which side rotates their squad the most</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></i></b></div><div><b>QPR v Actonians @745pm</b> - as far as these two teams are concerned, this is as close as it gets to a West London Clasico. Hailing from the neighbouring districts of Shepherds Bush and Acton, this is a proper local derby. As with most derbies, the form book usually goes out the window with the team which finishes higher in the league, often disappointing in these games. Last season saw the A's enjoy their best season ever but they drew at home and got thumped 5-3 away. Both sides look unlikely to challenge the leading group this season with fifth probably the best either can achieve. Both lost on Sunday - QPR had their goalkeeper sent off and apparently don't have a replacement whilst Actonians were pretty toothless against Worthing so it's really tough to call. It is being played at Hanwell Town</div><div><br /></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 12 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FAWNL Division 1 South East</i></u></b></div><div><b>London Seaward v Cambridge United @745pm</b> - the other two sides who will probably challenge for fifth meet at Redbridge's ground the day after. Seaward beat a depleted Actonians side on the opening day but then lost comfortably at home to QPR a few weeks later. They then recovered to inflict title contenders Worthing's only defeat of the season before getting thrashed at struggling Chesham on Sunday, demonstrating just how unpredictable a side they are. In recent weeks, Cambridge have enjoyed two wins over Actonians in the league and cup and picked up a stunning win at previously unbeaten Ashford Town on Sunday. However, in the middle of all that, they conceded eight at home to AFC Wimbledon showing once again how crazy this league looks like being this season. Prior to Sunday I would have Seaward as favourites but now I'm not so sure</div><div><b><u><i><br /></i></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Youth football</i></u></b></div><div>There are seven U18 matches on Thursday. All the details are on the match map but please doublecheck everything with the hosting clubs on the day as venues and kick-off times can be subject to change</div><div><br /></div><div>----------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 13 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>International friendly</u></i></b></div><div><b>England v Australia @745pm </b>- if you didn't already know, another international break is taking place this week. The first of the Three Lions' games sees them host the Socceroos at Wembley in this friendly. The last time these two played was in 2016 at the Stadium of Light where goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney saw England win 2-1. The previous game to that in 2003 saw Australia's only win in the fixture as a side full of Premier League players recorded a memorable 3-1 success at Upton Park. The last few tickets sold out on Sunday</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Woodford Town v Tilbury @745pm </b>- if that game's not for you, then this is your next best option. The hosts have made a blistering start to the season. Unbeaten after 12 league games, they're five points clear at the time of writing, although that could change in midweek. Tilbury suffered relegation from the Isthmian League last season and have adjusted pretty well. If midweek results go their way, they could go fourth</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Saturday 14 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>League Two</i></u></b></div><div><b>AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City @3pm</b> - the aforementioned international break means the highest level match you'll be able to see is this fourth tier one at Plough Lane. A fine return of 11 points from their last five games means the Dons are up to the heady heights of the top four. The Bantams made the play-offs last season but with only four wins from 12, they're languishing in midtable. The last three games between the two have ended in a draw </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying</u></i></b></div><i>One of the most exciting days of the non-league calendar is here again. This round of the cup sees all the fifth tier National League clubs enter the draw alongside the smaller clubs who have survived the previous five rounds. The winners of each tie receive £9,375 to go with any winnings from previous rounds but more importantly they go into the prestigious First Round draw with all the League One and Two clubs. This could see one of the minnows take on a former Premier League club like Bolton, Charlton, Derby or Portsmouth. My own club Harrow Borough did this two years ago, pushing Pompey hard and only losing 1-0 at Fratton Park - a fantastic experience. There are several ties taking place in the London area:</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Aveley v Barnet @3pm</b> - the Millers won promotion to the National League South last season and have begun well. With six wins from 11, they're in the top six. After beating local rivals Hornchurch in a replay last week, they've landed a very tough draw. The Bees came from behind to win 3-2 at Dorking Wanderers on Saturday, to stay second in the National League and they'll start as favourites here. Given how big a game this is for Aveley, I'd advise buying <b><a href="https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/ChooseQuantity?ticketId=590&fixtureId=4273">tickets</a></b> in advance</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Boreham Wood v Welling United @3pm</b> - there's another all-TLFG area tie at Meadow Park. The Wood have had some great runs in the FA Cup in recent seasons, most notably getting to take on Everton at Goodison Park in the Fifth Round in 2022. They'll do very well to repeat that as they're not in the greatest of form but neither are the Wings who play a division below them. A home win looks like the most likely outcome</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Bromley v Wealdstone @3pm - </b>two of our local fifth-tier sides have also been drawn together at Hayes Lane in what is arguably the tie of the day locally. The Ravens have made the Second Round on three occasions but not since 1945 so as one of the National League's top clubs, it's about time they at least matched that. In my head, I had the Stones as being a decent FA Cup side and although they did make the Third Round in 1978, they haven't been to the First Round since 2015. With only one win in five in the league, their chances of progress this time don't seem great</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Cray Valley PM v Enfield Town @3pm</b> - London's lowest ranked remaining team are CVPM and they've got a great chance of joining the big boys in the First Round. After beating Carshalton in the last round, the Towners don't present any bigger threat so a cupset is definitely possible. Despite their relatively lowly status, Cray Valley also made the First Round in 2020 and the FA Vase Final in 2019 so they know a thing or two about playing in cups. Let's not completely forget about Enfield Town though as it's a huge moment for them too. Since their formation in 2001, the Isthmian Premier club have never been beyond this round </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><u>Isthmian League Premier</u></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Dulwich Hamlet v Kingstonian @3pm</b> - the Hamlet suffered relegation from the NLS last season and have struggled on their return to the seventh tier. Just a point above the bottom three after eight games, this season is threating to be another huge disappointment. On Saturday they play another one of the division's strugglers in what already looks like a crucial game. Without a ground of their own for several years now, the K's are finding life tough and their fortunes haven't improved since moving to Imperial Fields. Playing over six miles from central Kingston, retaining and building a fanbase at this level is going to be tough<br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><b>Uxbridge v Leatherhead @3pm</b> - in other news, Uxbridge play their first game at the refurbished Honeycroft. The new 3G pitch will see leaders Leatherhead provide very challenging opposition but with the Red Army in promotion contention too, this could be well worth a watch. It's also 'Pay What You Want'<br /><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Essex Senior League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sporting Bengal United v FC Clacton @3pm </b>- if they both win in midweek then they'll start this game as fourth and fifth. SBU won promotion back to this level last season and have started impressively well again. Playing at the Mile End Stadium, they are one of the most centrally located clubs in London</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>CCL Division 1</u></i></b></div><div><b>Molesey v Bedfont @3pm</b> - game of the day in the 10th tier sees second play third in this division. The visitors have two games in hand on the top two. If won, it would put them second, two points behind leaders Amersham Town</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>AFC Premier Division</u></i></b></div><div><b>Honourable Artillery Company v Old Salvatorians @130pm </b>- having just come to my attention on Thursday night, there's a real treat in store for groundhoppers as HAC are playing a match at their historic HQ off City Road. Located half way between Old Street and Moorgate stations, it's the only ground in the City of London and not to be missed. It's free entry but you need to DM the club via one of its social media channels to reserve a spot</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Chelsea v West Ham United @530pm</b> - there's a rare bit of Saturday night football in the WSL as champions Chelsea welcome the Hammers. On paper this has home win written all over it but the Blues made heavy weather of beating Spurs at Stamford Bridge in their opening game and needed an injury-time equaliser to get a 1-1 draw against the nine players of Manchester City on Sunday, so it will be interesting to see how they do back at Kingsmeadow. These games often reach capacity so I'd advise buying <b><a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/buy-womens-tickets">tickets</a></b> in advance. The late kick-off means you can probably combine it with one of the nearby non-league matches</div><div><br /></div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sunday 15 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Isthmian League Premier</i></u></b></div><div><b>Cray Wanderers v Hornchurch @3pm</b> - there's one men's game on Sunday and it sees London's oldest club host the current Isthmian League leaders. Being played at Bromley's ground, Cray need some points to start pulling away from from the bottom six </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Super League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Arsenal v Aston Villa @2pm</b> - after setting a WSL attendance record of 54,115 for their season opener against Liverpool, the Gunners will have another go at beating it as they welcome Villa to the Emirates Stadium. They suffered a shock 1-0 loss to the Reds in that game and will have to up their game against Villa who are in theory a stronger side although they too lost to Liverpool on Sunday. Tickets for men's games at the Emirates are very hard to get without membership and incredibly expensive. If you simply want to see a game at this venue, this gives a great chance at a good price. <b><a href="https://www.arsenal.com/tickets?field_arsenal_team_target_id=5&revision_information=">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Women's Championship</u></i></b></div><div><b>Crystal Palace v London City Lionesses @2pm</b> - there's a south London derby in the second tier. Palace are the top-ranked London side in this division after thrashing leaders Blackburn 4-0 on Sunday. The result leaves them one point off top spot. As mentioned above, LCL are struggling so they'll do well to win this match which is being played at Sutton United's ground</div><div><b>Watford v Lewes @2pm</b> - the Hornets face a huge game against fellow strugglers. With only one team going down, beating bottom club Lewes will give them a great chance of staying up. This match is being played at Wealdstone</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><b><u>FAWNL Division 1 South East</u></b></i></div><div><b>QPR v Haywards Heath Town @2pm</b> - formerly known as Crawley Wasps, HHT have struggled following their relegation from the third tier and have won only one match this season. The R's should win. Interestingly, the sides will play again next week in the next round of the FA Cup</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>L&SE Women's Regional League Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Dartford v Sutton United @3pm</b> - the Darts finished seventh last season but showed a few signs of putting a good side together in the closing weeks of the campaign. This campaign has begun really well with them winning all seven of their opening games, putting them top with a five-point lead over Fulham. The U's slipped to fifth after losing 4-1 at Fulham on Sunday</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-54178902253843909022023-10-02T12:36:00.010+01:002023-10-07T07:45:11.233+01:00TLFG: 2-8 October 2023<p style="text-align: left;">Quite a bit earlier than last week but still later than I'd like, this week's guide is here.</p><p style="text-align: left;">At the moment it's just match maps and Monday's previews but I'll add more detail as the days progress.</p><p style="text-align: left;">It's taken a bit longer than usual as, in their wisdom, the FA haven't published any fixture info for the latest round of the FA Youth Cup which takes place this week.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've had to go club-by-club to find what I need but some are still yet to reply.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Aside from that, there's loads to choose from with matches at all levels in the men's and women's game.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u>THE WEEK AHEAD</u></b></p><p>We have matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Cup, FA Trophy, Women's Super League and FA Youth Cup among others.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league or youth matches. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>MIDWEEK MATCH MAP</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monday fixtures - yellow pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Tuesday fixtures - green pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thursday fixtures - purple pin</div><div class="MsoNormal">Friday fixtures - black pin</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1IRCnuY_CZCV1qpWee1Rme9chUZSy3Ts&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1YF388yYPslQe75-cBylEqaHp9khkrHU&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><u>TLFG DAILY DIGEST</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">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.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u>Monday 2 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><i><u>Premier League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Chelsea @8pm</b> - the week begins with this huge west London derby at Craven Cottage. Prior to Todd Boehly's takeover at Chelsea last season, the Cottagers hadn't beaten their neighbours in 21 attempts but then it all changed. In 2022/23, Fulham took four points off the Blues, winning the home game 2-1. On current form, you'd give them a very decent chance of winning again. Tickets are not available</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Challenge Cup First Round</u></i></b></div><div><b>SC Thamesmead v Lewisham Borough @745pm</b> - the only non-league option of the night sees one of the First Division's top teams travel to the bottom club for what should be a routine cup win</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Youth football</u></i></b></div><div>There are a number of games at U23 level and below today, with the FA Youth Cup (U18) ties at <b>Abbey Rangers</b> and <b>Walton & Hersham</b> being the pick of what's on offer</div><div><br /></div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Tuesday 3 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Professional Development League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Millwall v QPR @2pm </b>- the day begins with this fine looking derby between two of the top U21 teams at this level. What's even better is that it's being played at The Den too</div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>League One</i></u></b></div><div><b>Charlton Athletic v Exeter City @745pm </b>- despite going four games without defeat, the Addicks are still not out of the bottom half. Exeter sit just a point outside the play-off zone but their great start appears to be ebbing away, with their most recent loss at home to struggling to Northampton making it three defeats from their last four. Charlton also come into this with a record of five straight wins against the Grecians with the Devon club's last win at The Valley coming back in 2011. <b><a href="https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/events/charlton%20athletic%20v%20exeter%20city/2023-10-3_19.45/the%20valley?hallmap=&hallmap">Tickets</a></b></div><div><b>Leyton Orient v Lincoln City @745pm </b>- on level points with Charlton, it's a very similar story at Brisbane Road where the O's welcome a side from just outside the top six. The east London club will want to bounce back strongly after becoming the first side this season to lose to Fleetwood when they played them at the weekend. Interestingly, this is the first time the sides have played since 2006. <a href="https://www.eticketing.co.uk/leytonorient/Events" style="font-weight: bold;">Tickets</a><b> </b>have been reduced to just £10 and it's almost sold out as a result</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>League Two</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton United v Salford City @745pm </b>- with only one point from their last nine league games, the U's are bottom and in desperate need of a win. Tuesday night presents them with a reasonable chance of getting some as Salford are in poor form too. With five defeats from six, they could be the team that the south London club finally get a bit of joy against. <b><a href="https://suttonunitedfc.ktckts.com/brand/match-tickets">Tickets</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>National League</u></i></b></div><div><b>Barnet v AFC Fylde @745pm</b> - if leaders Chesterfield lose at home to Bromley, the Bees will go top if they win here. Fylde are currently in the relegation zone with two wins from 13 games so they should be beaten</div><div><b>Dagenham & Redbridge v York City @745pm </b>- the Daggers are now six without a win and only one point above the relegation zone. York are just below them, so this is a big game for both sides</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Third Round Qualifying Replay</u></i></b></div><div><b>Hornchurch v Aveley @745pm</b> - the Urchins came from 2-0 to draw 2-2 at Parkside on Saturday as this highly anticipated tie between two local rivals didn't disappoint. Remember, Aveley play a division above Hornchurch and are in great form so it was a really impressive recovery. Which way this goes is anyone's guess but I'm expecting more drama and a big crowd. The winners can look forward to hosting Barnet in the next round</div><div><b>Cray Valley PM v Carshalton Athletic @745pm</b> - it was a similar story at Colston Avenue on Saturday where CVPM, who play a level below the Robins, came from behind to force a 3-3 draw. Both sides are in good form in their respective divisions so this is another hard one to call. The winners of this one will welcome Enfield Town </div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Wednesday 4 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b>TRAVEL ADVISORY - AS IT STANDS, THERE IS SCHEDULED TO BE A NATIONAL RAIL AND TUBE STRIKE ON THIS DAY. ONLY BUSES, TRAMS, DLR, LONDON OVERGROUND AND ELIZABETH LINE SERVICES WILL RUN AS NORMAL</b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>National League</i></u></b></div><div><b>Boreham Wood v Hartlepool United @745pm </b>- after making it to the play-offs last season, The Wood are finding things tough this time round. With only two wins from 13 games, they're part of a small group of teams who sit just above the relegation zone. Hartlepool, on the other hand, made a great start but with only one win from five they've slipped out of the leading pack</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Cup Third Round Qualifying Replay</u></i></b></div><div><b>Welling United v Gosport Borough @745pm</b> - the Wings needed a 97th-minute equaliser on Saturday as they saved a 2-2 draw and avoided an upset against Southern League leaders Gosport. I say upset but Welling are only three places above their opponents in the pyramid and in much worse form. I don't think many people will be that surprised if they go out here. The winners will be away to Boreham Wood</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>Isthmian League South Central</u></i></b></div><div><b>Sutton Common Rovers v Leatherhead @745pm</b> - playing at AFC Whyteleafe's ground, SCR have made a decent start to the season. Up in fourth at the beginning of October, I'm sure they would've taken that when the campaign started. However, their opponents are doing even better and will go top if they win this one</div><div>--------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thursday 5 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>FA Youth Cup Second Round Qualifying</i></u></b></div><div>As is the case on most Thursdays, youth and development football takes centre stage. There are several matches on today but the best ones are in the FA Youth Cup - the country's most prestigious U18 competition. The pick of the ties for me is the derby between <b>Barnet </b>and<b> Boreham Wood</b> at The Hive, although <b>Welling United</b> against Ebbsfleet United is a close second</div><div>-------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Friday 6 October</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u><i>Premier League Cup</i></u></b></div><div><b>Fulham v Leicester City @7pm</b> - it might surprise you to know that the Cottagers' U21 side are currently second in the PL2 table, just behind Tottenham. Although this is a different competition, which is currently in its group stage, they should win here against a midtable Foxes side. The match is being played at the club's training ground in Motspur Park and you can pay on the gate</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>SCEFL Premier</u></i></b></div><div><b>Glebe v Stansfeld @745pm</b> - the best non-league option is this groundshare derby in south-east London. The hosts will go top if they win whilst Stansfeld could end the weekend at the foot of the table if they lose</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><u>FA Youth Cup Second Round Qualifying</u></i></b></div><div>There are three more ties to finish off the week with. If you're on the east side of town, <b>May & Baker</b> entertain Ware at Aveley's ground. In the north <b>New Salamis</b> play Hertford Town at Haringey Borough and in the south west, <b>Cobham</b> welcome Dorking Wanderers</div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Sadly I've run out of time to write previews for 7-8 October so you'll just have to rely on the maps - sorry</i></b></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8673515373840331924.post-35849128510784832672023-09-29T19:58:00.002+01:002023-09-29T19:58:41.808+01:00TLFG: 30 September - 1 October 2023<p>Apologies for the incredibly late publication of this week's piece.</p><p>Last weekend I was off on Sunday where I ran the Ealing Half Marathon in the morning and went to watch <b>Actonians</b> in the afternoon.</p><p>I then went straight onto early shifts at work which has meant lots of early nights and no time or energy to get anything written until now.</p><p>This week's rather paltry offering will only feature a match map for Saturday and Sunday and no match previews.</p><p>There are loads of great games taking place in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Cup (men's and women's) and we've also got the long-awaited return of the Women's Super League which sees matches being played at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge and their staggered kick-off times means you could get to both.</p><p>Hopefully this is of some use to you and you have a great weekend and I'll have something more substantial for next week.</p><p><b>As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off</b> <b>or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league or youth matches. </b>Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><br /><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;">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.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>WEEKEND MATCH MAP</u></b><br />Saturday fixtures - blue pin</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday fixtures - orange pin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe height="340" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=11ii_M7JuO2YtzbKZa6rYPEUbLXvSOBc&ehbc=2E312F" width="420"></iframe><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>GET INVOLVED</u></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">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.<o:p></o:p></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>NEED HELP? </u></b></div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">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!</div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div>You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelondonfootballguide">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/ldnfootyguide">Twitter</a></b> or even by good old <b><a href="mailto:thelondonfootballguide@gmail.com">email</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.paypal.me/tlfg">Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here</a></b><span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p>James Doehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13316939552393432834noreply@blogger.com0