TLFG: 31 August - 6 September 2020

Welcome to the latest edition of TLFG as we move into September - I can't believe it's that time of year already.

How has your week been? Did you get to a game or two?

I've been doing early shifts at work again so going out in the evening has been a non-starter but plenty has been happening at London clubs.

Chelsea saw off Manchester City in the women's FA Community Shield at Wembley prior to Arsenal beating Liverpool to take the honours in the men's game.

The biggest transfer news, certainly from my point of view, saw the move of QPR midfielder Eberechi Eze across town to Crystal Palace, for a package totalling around £20m, where he made a solid start in the Eagles' pre-season win over Charlton Athletic at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea hoovered up Thiago Silva (PSG), Ben Chilwell (Leicester) and Malang Sarr (Nice) whilst Tottenham Hotspur ended the week by signing Matt Doherty from Wolves.

The one and only @Evra played today against @NGUFC for step 7 Brentham FC from the @MCFLFOOTBALL Our hosts won the game 3-2 but we were very satisfied with our performance. Brentham goslscorers were C. Duffy and J. Nail. Thanks to @Evra and @jordanrocca 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Z0kZDRqM5e

— Brentham FC (@BrenthamFc1919) August 29, 2020

On the non-league front, probably the biggest event of the last seven days was former Manchester United and Juventus star Patrice Evra's decision to play for 11th tier London club Brentham in a friendly against North Greenford United.

It created great publicity for both clubs and brought in some well needed funds for the hosts as a decent crowd descended on Berkeley Fields.

Personally I'd love to see more recently retired pros do the same thing - Peter Crouch hails from the area these two clubs come from and noted on Twitter that Evra had played. Maybe he will be next?

Who would you like to see do a turn in non-league?

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the opening round of the FA Cup and the first batch of fixtures in the Combined Counties League, Essex Senior League and Southern Counties East League whilst there are still a few pre-season matches.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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. However, capacity restrictions are currently in place at all grounds because of Covid-19 meaning only clubs from the seventh tier and below can currently admit spectators.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

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.

Tuesday 1 September

Friendlies
In terms of league standing, the best match of the night should be the one at Imber Court between Metropolitan Police and National League side Aldershot Town. Given the Met have successfully hosted a match already, I think that means they should be able to open their ground to 600 people but given they rarely get past 200 then you shouldn't struggle to get in. 

There's further National League representation in north-west London where newly promoted Wealdstone travel to Northwood for a derby. The hosts play three levels below the Stones so will be considerable underdogs. With Wealdstone having sold out their recent friendlies at Bedford Town and Southall, a capacity crowd is not unthinkable here either so you are strongly advised to book in advance online.

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

The first competitive matches of the 2020/21 season in London get underway on Tuesday as the country's most illustrious cup competition begins. In more normal times, FA Cup fixtures usually take place on Saturdays with replays in midweek. This year because of Covid-19, the competition is starting on a midweek evening and there will be no replays at all which could make for better games. A total of 368 teams from all over the country begin their FA Cup journey at this point, with bigger clubs joining as the rounds progress. Another effect of the pandemic is the cutting of prize money so the winners of these early matches will only bank £1,125 and the losers £375.

There are 15 ties in the London area on Tuesday so where should you go? For me the most notable include the match at Tithe Farm where Broadfields United begin their groundshare with Rayners Lane by hosting Loxwood. The stadium has been recently redeveloped and boasts some of the best facilities of any non-league club at that level. One of the few eighth-tier clubs to enter the draw at this early stage, Whyteleafe travel to Chislehurst to face SCEFL club Glebe. Whilst up in north London, SSML side New Salamis make their FA Cup debut by playing Colney Heath at Haringey Borough's ground which will be their new home for this campaign.

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Wednesday 2 September

Friendly
The only pre-season game of any note on Wednesday sees Essex clubs Grays Athletic and Billericay Town meet at Parkside, which is another one of non-league's finest new grounds.

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
There are a further six matches on Wednesday with a number of clubs playing their first ever ties. Park View, who play at the New River Stadium on White Hart Lane, host Hashtag United who used to play next door at Coles Park but have since left the capital. The visitors have created all kinds of headlines in recent years as they were formed and have grown on social media. They were among the frontrunners in the Essex Senior League last season and will start as favourites as Park View play a level below them. SCEFL club Stansfeld, who groundshare with Glebe, are also making their bow in the competition this season. They face a tricky tie against Kent club Punjab United from the division above. If you want a third tie, there's not too much to choose between the others but Balham are another club to be beginning a new groundshare so their match against Hassocks at AFC Croydon Athletic could be of interest in that respect.

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Friday 4 September

Essex Senior League

With the cup football out of the way, league action begins on Friday night in Barking where West Essex welcome Takeley to a revamped Mayesbrook Park which boasts a brand new 4G pitch.

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Saturday 5 September

Friendlies
With many non-league clubs beginning their league campaigns on Saturday, the amount of pre-season games has reduced a lot but some bigger teams are in action. There's an Essex derby at Bridge Avenue where Hornchurch take on near neighbours and former EFL club Dagenham & Redbridge for what should be a decent game. 

After falling short in the National League play-offs, Boreham Wood will hope for another good season and get their preparations underway by making the short trip to Summers Lane to play Isthmian League club Wingate & Finchley.

There's a groundshare derby at Hayes Lane where Isthmian League club Cray Wanderers host their landlords Bromley at 230pm - tickets are available online.

Also hailing from the National League, Aldershot Town make a trip to the Powerday Stadium to take on Hanwell Town.

In south London there's a decent looking derby between Isthmian League sides Carshalton Athletic and Tooting & Mitcham United - tickets are available online in advance. For previous games at Colston Avenue you had to buy before you arrived because of the limited capacity and for track and trace reasons so it will probably be the same for this one.

DOUBLEHEADERS

Over at Parkside, there's a doubleheader where Aveley play Hythe Town at 1pm before Grays Athletic take on local rivals Tilbury in the annual Stan Veness Cup. As far as I know, you'll have to buy separate tickets for both.  

There's a similar situation in west London where Bedfont Sports entertain Hayes & Yeading United in a friendly at 1215pm before CB Hounslow United get their Combined Counties League campaign underway against Guildford City.

Probably the best value doubleheader is at Mayesbrook Park where Barking play back-to-back friendlies against Enfield Town and Witham Town starting at 3pm. It's £6 a ticket and it will get you access to both games.

Ninth-tier leagues

All of our local ninth and 10th-tier leagues, bar the SSML, get fully underway on Saturday. As a result of Covid-19, all leagues from the seventh tier downwards saw the 2019/20 season declared null and void with many clubs having played over 70% of their fixtures. Consequently, several clubs avoided relegation whilst others missed out on promotion or recording their highest ever finish.

Among those to have a case in feeling hard done by were Spelthorne Sports who were second in the Combined Counties League when the abandonment came. The Sunbury-based club have only been playing at this level for six years so it was disappointing to see things end when they did. On Saturday they welcome Frimley Green who were also in the top four when things came to an abrupt halt.

London's main title challengers in the Essex Senior League were Walthamstow who were third, only three points behind leaders Saffron Walden Town but with three games in hand. Their chances of promotion to the Isthmian League looked very good indeed but they'll have to start all over again with a trip to Mile End to play Sporting Bengal United who ended up in the bottom five.

Among those to enjoy a reprieve from relegation, Erith & Belvedere amassed only 20 points from 28 games in the SCEFL Premier Division but face a very tough opener against Chatham Town who were among the title contenders.

Tenth-tier leagues

Probably the most aggrieved club in the country were and still are Jersey Bulls. The Channel Islands club were playing their first ever season in the English football league system and took the Combined Counties League Division One by storm winning all 27 of their league games before Covid-19 struck. They were 20 points clear, had games in hand on all those in the top five and had already secured promotion with 11 games to go. Sadly it all counted for nothing and they have to begin from scratch with a trip to Bedfont & Feltham who were pushing for promotion themselves. 

Of our local sides, the pick of the clubs in the CCL Division 1 were Walton & Hersham who had a very good chance of joining Jersey Bulls in going up. They begin with a match against Ash United who struggled last season.

Elsewhere in the 10th tier, Frenford return from a year in exile in Basildon to play the first competitive match on their new 4G pitch at their ground in Ilford. Holland are the visitors for an ECL Division 1 South match.

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GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 24-30 August 2020

The great return to football finally happened on Saturday with games taking place at non-league grounds all over the capital.

So how was it for you?

With many kick-offs staggered it would have been easy to see two matches, some people even saw three.

Personally I saw nothing thanks to a mammoth shift at work but I did get a bit of time to work on this during my break.

The week ahead has another good selection of games with lots of clubs from the seventh through to the 10th tiers hosting fixtures around the city.

Once again FA rules mean a maximum attendance of between 150-300 depending on the level the club plays at, so you'll need to buy in advance or turn up early to guarantee admission.

You'll also be expected to give your details on arrival for track and trace purposes.

After very successfully hosting a sold-out doubleheader on Saturday, Carshalton Athletic are straight back into action on Monday when Cray Valley PM pay them a visit. A total of 300 tickets are available for this and must be bought online in advance.

This is one of the biggest games of the week as the Robins are the only seventh-tier side who are hosting and actively encouraging supporters to attend. There are matches at several other clubs at this level too but they're being used as test events and more casual spectators won't be allowed in.

One seventh-tier side you can watch on their travels are Cray Wanderers - London's oldest club. They start the week at Whyteleafe (now cancelled) before visiting local rivals VCD Athletic on Wednesday.

Oh yes, I almost forgot, one of our local sixth-tier teams is also in action on Tuesday. National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough make the short trip to Ashford Town as they get their pre-season underway.

Getting hold of accurate information has been a challenge and games will almost certainly change, move or get cancelled over the course of the week so please check all details before you travel with the clubs themselves, including whether spectators will be admitted.

UPDATE FRIDAY 28/08/20: - as suggested above, there have been a few matches added and cancelled over the course of the week. Most notably tonight where AFC Cubo take on Peckham Town in the London Senior Trophy Final at Cray Valley PM's ground in south-east London. There is a very limited capacity but some tickets are still available online so buy now if you want to go.

On Saturday, Carshalton Athletic are hosting National League South side Tonbridge Angels in another friendly at Colston Avenue. There is a limit of 300 so you'll also need to buy online in advance to get in.

There have been a handful of other games added on Saturday so please give the maps another look just in case.

I have tried hard to get information about any women's friendlies that might be happening but the only ones I can find are being played behind closed doors.

Finally, in case you were in any doubt, there is a huge day of football at Wembley on Saturday with the men's and women's Community Shield matches taking place but sadly no spectators will be admitted. 

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday match - yellow pin

Tuesday match - green pin

Wednesday match - turquoise pin

Thursday match - purple pin

Friday match - black pin

    

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday match - blue pin

 

I think I've got to grips with the changes in Blogger and Google Maps so the map should work but if doesn't, paste the following links into your browser:

Midweek map: http://tiny.cc/fytosz

Weekend map: http://tiny.cc/jytosz

Once again, I feel this entry is a bit below normal standards but there's a lot less football on and info has been hard to come by but I hope it suffices.

Enjoy your week and get in touch if you have any questions or know of any games I might have missed.

TLFG: Saturday 22 August

Greetings one and all - TLFG is BACK!!!

After over five months of Covid induced radio silence, I'm pleased to report that following the FA's recent announcements there are games taking place this Saturday which you can attend.

I've been caught on the hop a bit by this so I've cobbled this entry together quickly on the evening of what is my 15th wedding anniversary. All the big celebrations were this afternoon so I've been able to get away with it.

As for Saturday, there are a very healthy selection of games all over the capital being hosted by non-league clubs from the seventh to the 10th tiers.

Part of the FA's rules for getting these games on is a maximum attendance which varies from club-to-club depending on the level they play at but that won't exceed 300 at any of them so you'll need to buy in advance at some of the bigger ones to guarantee admission.

You'll also be expected to give your details on arrival for track and trace purposes.

The pick of the fixtures appears to be Hanwell Town v Brentford B which kicks-off at 11am but the capacity is limited to only 200 so you'll have to get there early to have any chance.

Apart from that, there's a very appealing doubleheader at Carshalton Athletic who have back-to-back games against Walton Casuals and Worthing starting at 2pm. A whopping 300 tickets are available for this and must be bought in advance online - one ticket will get you in to both games.

There's also some seventh tier inter-league action between Metropolitan Police and Horsham at Imber Court - 300 are allowed for this but you can just pay on the gate.

At lower levels there are great variety of kick-off times with some clubs even offering free entry - all details can be found by clicking around the match map.

As I mentioned above, this has been compiled at short notice so please check all details before you travel including whether spectators will actually be admitted as some clubs haven't decided or published the details at this stage.

   

Annoyingly, since I last wrote, a lot of back end stuff has changed in Blogger and Google Maps so publishing the map might not go to plan. If the one above doesn't work, you should be able to view it by clicking on this link or if that doesn't work, paste the following link into your browser:

http://tiny.cc/rcposz

Apologies for this brief and rather rushed entry but hopefully it will do and I'll get things into a more presentable shape soon.

It's great to be back.

UPDATE (3pm, 21 August) - some new fixtures featuring ninth and 10th tier teams have been added to the map so have another look if still haven't decided

TLFG: 16 March...

Greetings one and all.

This blog has been through some strange times but nothing compares to what we're all experiencing now.

With coronavirus causing the postponement of matches in most of the leagues and cups I cover, I've decided to also suspend my coverage until we know what's going on.

As it stands, there are still a few games in the National League, Essex Senior League and Southern Counties East League but things are changing all the time and at quite short notice so please check all the latest information with the leagues themselves if you are interested in seeing a game.

In the meantime stay well and I hope to catch up with you all soon.

James

PS - for what it's worth, if the season does end here, how about carrying over all the points and goals (for and against) to the start of next season?

Any games in hand could be played in 'pre-season' and then we go from there.

It's not ideal but it seems one of the fairest options out there.

TLFG: 9-15 March 2020

UPDATE: 13 MARCH - AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MOST OF THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHES IN LONDON HAVE BEEN POSTPONED. 

HOWEVER, A FEW NON-LEAGUE AND WOMEN'S GAMES ARE STILL ON. 

THE WEEKEND MATCH MAP AND DAILY DIGEST HAVE BEEN UPDATED WITH ALL MATCHES THAT ARE GOING AHEAD BUT CHECK AGAIN BEFORE YOU TRAVEL IF ANY DETAILS HAVE CHANGED.

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Greetings and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.

Firstly I'd like to apologise to all those who have left comments on this blog over the last few months and not been replied to.

I always used to get an alert when someone posted something but at some point this has stopped happening and I've been blissfully ignoring all your carefully posted comments and queries.

I only noticed by chance when I was going through some pages on the 'back-end' of the blog and noticed to my horror that there were quite a few.

The best way to get in touch is by email, Facebook or Twitter - all the details are at the foot of the page.

A few tickets are left for West Ham v Wolves on Sunday

It's also been a tough week trying to stay across all the fixture changes with some clubs very kindly keeping me updated.

I say it below, but as a rule of thumb I'd say all men's non-league, U23 and U18 matches and any in the women's game are subject to short notice changes.

For example I've just found out that QPR Women are playing a home cup match this afternoon, just two hours before it's set to kick-off and Charlton Athletic have an U23 game on Thursday but the venue and whether or not it's even being played is in doubt.

So always check what the final details are before you travel.

From a personal point of view, this weekend was a great one for my teams who both enjoyed near identical performances.

QPR and Harrow Borough both came from 1-0 down at half-time to win 3-1 at Preston and Metropolitan Police respectively.

It took Rangers to the magic 50-point mark which should see them avoid relegation but also left them just six points adrift of the play-off places with more than enough games left to sneak in.

This game has now been moved to Met Police's ground at Imber Court

The win for Harrow against an in-form Met was priceless in their battle to avoid the drop and they're now eight points clear.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. I'm on early shifts this week so am highly unlikely to catch any games but I hope you enjoy whatever you go to see.

Lastly, many thanks to Benjamin Z from Dortmund, Germany who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. Cheers!

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's FA Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

Of the games that remain, here are my picks of what you should go and see - there are of course other options that you might prefer or be logistically better for you.

Saturday 14 March

National League
Bromley v Chorley @3pm - the hosts were top of the league for most of the first half of the season but their form has collapsed completely and they're now way down in 13th. On Saturday they welcome Lancashire club Chorley who are bottom of the league and all but down already
Sutton United v Hartlepool United @3pm - the U's form has improved a lot as the season has progressed and they've moved into the relative safety of midtable. Former EFL club Hartlepool are 11th but only one point shy of the play-off places in what is a very competitive division


National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - there are several games in the sixth tier on Saturday but for the neutral I'd always recommend a trip to Champion Hill more for the atmosphere than anything else. The Hamlet are the best supported club in the division with well over 2,000 fans attending most games, despite the fact they are in real danger of relegation. They fought hard but lost 2-1 at leaders Wealdstone on Saturday and now only goal difference is keeping them out of the bottom two. Hemel are usually there or thereabouts in the race for the play-offs and with nine games to go they find themselves six points adrift of the top seven. Given the large crowds, you're advised to buy tickets in advance although it's not essential
Dartford v Chelmsford City @3pm - with only one defeat in five, the sixth-placed Darts look highly likely to book a place in this year's play-offs. Chelmsford were in terrible form but new manager Robbie Simpson has turned things around and the points are flowing in again
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Oxford City @3pm - the Beavers' frustratingly inconsistent form means they're just outside the play-offs. If they're to break into the top seven then they simply have to win games against midtable sides like Oxford
Welling United v Billericay Town @3pm - locked in midtable and in fairly similar form, both are still very much in the battle to avoid relegation. The lower half of the division is desperately tight with only five points separating the sides in 14th-21st

CCL Premier Division
Balham v Raynes Park Vale @3pm - the hosts' season is pretty much over with midtable safety all but assured. Local rivals RPV are still fighting to avoid the drop

Essex Senior League
West Essex v Saffron Walden Town @3pm - like the game above, the hosts don't have a huge amount to play for but Saffron Walden are currently top and part of a very exciting title race alongside Hashtag United and Walthamstow

CCL Division 1
Kensington & Ealing Borough v Tooting Bec @3pm - the hosts have moved this match to Club Des Sports on the Acton/Shepherd's Bush border so this is definitely one for groundhoppers. It's also an important game in the race for promotion with Tooting Bec currently in third and K&EB having the games in hand to catch them

MCFL Premier Division
London Samurai Rovers v Brentham @3pm - with Clapton CFC now playing their game against Cricklewood behind closed doors this is the next best option in the 11th tier. LSR play their matches at Northwood FC and have the games in hand to put themselves just one point behind leaders Brentham so a win here will put them firmly in contention for the title


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Sunday 15 March

FA Women's National League Division 1 South East
Leyton Orient v Billericay Town @2pm - with the Women's FA Cup Quarter-Finals getting postponed, the highest ranking women's match to remain on is this fourth-tier game between two of the top five at Mile End Stadium

Women's Capital Cup Semi-Final
Dulwich Hamlet v Crystal Palace Development @2pm - there's a south-east London derby at Champion Hill which should also be worth a watch. It's only £4 to get in but with all of the above, please check all the details before you travel

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 2-8 March 2020

Greetings and welcome to this week's guide to all that's going on in the world of London football.

How has your week been? Did you get to a game?

I didn't but I was briefly given the opportunity to guide a few Swiss football tourists around Shepherds Bush and White City showing them the area's rich Olympic heritage before they went to watch QPR draw with Birmingham.

The group was led by German football author and publisher Christoph Beutenmuller whose works include 'Der London Fussball Guide' which I've mentioned on here before - if you're a German speaker and planning a visit here, then I recommend you get a copy.

'Two Men In Search...' pay a visit to Sutton Common Rovers

The itinerary also included an official tour of QPR, a trip to Harrow School to explore some of the roots of the game itself and a visit to Wembley for the Carabao Cup Final.

I'm sure he'll be running another trip in the future so contact him if you're interested.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. Enjoy your week - there are a lot of midweek games as a result of all the recent postponements so fill your boots!

Lastly, many thanks to Christoph (mentioned above) who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. Cheers!

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, 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.

Monday 2 March

Premier League 2 & Professional Development League
The week begins with a great selection of U23 matches spread throughout the day so you can easily see two. However, the pick of the matches which feature Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are both taking place just outside London at Aldershot Town and Stevenage respectively. West Ham United, Crystal Palace and QPR also have games too

Isthmian League North
Aveley v Brentwood Town @745pm - the best non-league option is to be found on the far east side of town where the promotion chasing Millers play host to fellow Essex side Brentwood who are fighting to avoid the drop

ECL Division 1 South
Barkingside v Holland @745pm - if you'd prefer something a little more niche then this top-six clash from the 10th tier could be more to your liking - unsurprisingly the visitors wear orange

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Tuesday 25 February

FA Cup Fifth Round
Chelsea v Liverpool @745pm - it's all change in the FA Cup where for the first time ever, the Fifth Round ties will all be played in midweek, between Monday and Thursday, with no replays. Undoubtedly the tie of the round, this match between two of the biggest clubs in the land has been selected for live broadcast on BBC One. It's just as well because it's sold out and there's little way you'll get to see it without being a season-ticket holder, member or are prepared to pay a small fortune for hospitality

Premier League International Cup
Arsenal v Monaco @7pm - the next best thing would appear to be this glamorous European U23 tie. This competition is now at the quarter-final stage and shows off some of the best of the continent's young talent. It is being played at Boreham Wood

National League
Barnet v Boreham Wood @745pm - arguably of far more importance is this north London derby between two sides with hopes of promotion. The visitors are already an established part of the top seven but the Bees have the games in hand to catch up. However, a lot will depend on the weather as Barnet's pitch has been really poor of late and saw yet another postponement last week

SCEFL Premier Division
Beckenham Town v AFC Croydon Athletic @745pm - in the ninth tier there's a game of huge importance at either end of the table with the Becks going for the title and the Rams battling the drop. It's also a local derby so there's plenty riding on it

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Wednesday 4 March

FA Cup Fifth Round
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City @745pm - given that Spurs are out of the title race and look like losing to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, you'd hope that Jose Mourinho will really go for this as it's his only realistic chance of silverware this season. With eight titles, Tottenham are one of the most successful clubs in the competition's history and I still find it hard to believe that they haven't won it since 1991. In struggling Norwich they face a very winnable tie but I hear the Canaries have sold 9,000 tickets and they've got little to lose. The good news is, you could be there too as tickets are on sale to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Haringey Borough @745pm - as a result of good cup runs, both these sides have games in hand on those above them. However, even if they won them all they'd still be short of the play-off places so this looks very much like a midtable battle for position

CCL Division 1
Kensington & Ealing Borough v Westside @745pm - the hosts have lost a lot of games to bad weather so to make up the backlog of fixtures they've been given permission to play a few home games on the 4G pitch at Club Des Sports on the Acton/Shepherds Bush border. Although there isn't a lot of cover, the clubhouse and other facilities are said to be great and it's free to get in. The novelty drew a decent Step 6 crowd of 71 for the first match there on Saturday. The move has also now made them my local non-league club and one of the most centrally located in London being only about four miles from Marble Arch/Oxford Street. Both sides actually have quite a few games in hand but if K&EB win theirs then automatic promotion could well be on the cards. UPDATE - this match has now been moved to Raynes Park Vale. However, NW London are supposed to be playing a game at Club Des Sports on Saturday
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Thursday 5 March

ECL Division 1 South
Fire United v Halstead Town @745pm - there's one game on Thursday night and it's not a hugely enticing one. Fire United are languishing at the bottom of the 10th tier with only one victory all season. Halstead should win

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Friday 6 March

Premier League 2
Watford v Crystal Palace @1pm - there's a decent bit of U23 action on Friday - it's a derby of sorts and it's being played at Vicarage Road where it's £3 to get in

ECL Division 1 South
May & Baker v Frenford @745pm - M&B provide a Friday night non-league option for the second week in a row as they welcome east Londoners Frenford to Parkside. Although a long shot, a title challenge still isn't out of the question for the hosts
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Saturday 7 March

Premier League
Arsenal v West Ham United @3pm - last week both these sides surprised me. The Gunners suffered an unexpected home defeat by Olympiakos to exit the Europa League whilst West Ham almost got something out of their trip to Liverpool and beat Southampton with ease as David Moyes sent out a far more hungry looking team. Arsenal have a tricky cup match at Portsmouth on Monday night which could go a long way to defining their season - if they lose again then they might as well give up and go home. The Hammers don't have a great record at the Emirates Stadium but on current form could well get something. Tickets are not available to non-members
Crystal Palace v Watford @3pm - both these sides had a great weekend with Palace winning at big rivals Brighton and the Hornets somehow beating leaders Liverpool with ease. The Eagles' win puts them on the verge of survival for another year and it will be a real shock if they go down. Watford, however, are still very much in the fight to avoid the drop but they'll have no reason to fear anyone given their last result. If you do want to go, a few restricted view tickets are still available to non-members in the away end

Championship
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - the Bees blew a two-goal lead at Cardiff on Saturday to only draw and extend their winless streak to five games. Amazingly, with other results going their way, they've barely moved in the table and are still fifth. Automatic promotion looks out of the question now, but a play-off place is theirs to lose. Sheffield Wednesday were up there with them a couple of months ago but their form has also deserted them and midtable is where they're likely to finish. Nonetheless, the match is pretty much sold out with any remaining tickets going to members only
Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough @3pm - one of the most important games of the day takes place at The Valley where we have this huge relegation six-pointer between two former Premier League clubs faced with a drop into the third tier. The Addicks have shown flashes of inspiration in recent weeks and two wins from five have given them a chance but the teams around them have also started winning. So instead of moving away from the bottom three, they've actually got a lot closer to it. Middlesbrough have the worst form have anyone in the bottom six and simply must be beaten. Tickets are available to non-members

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - although they're still well down the table, the Dons look like they're going to survive. A fine win at Gillingham on Saturday left them eight points clear of the relegation zone and although some of the teams below them have games in hand, their form is pretty good and they should do it. Bolton are bottom and haven't won for a while so another three points looks probable here. Tickets are available to non-members

League Two
Leyton Orient v Cambridge United @3pm - with both sides in no real danger of getting promoted or relegated, this is one for groundhoppers and those doing 'the 92'. With only one defeat in five, the O's have improved considerably of late but in Cambridge they face a bit of a bogey team. Their home record against them in recent years has been poor, with their last win way back in 1999. Tickets are available to non-members

National League
Sutton United v Torquay United @3pm - unusually there is only one fifth-tier match in London on Saturday and it's between two midtable teams. The division is so tight that both are still capable of being promoted or relegated with 11 games to go. In reality they're unlikely to do either but it means they still have plenty to play for. Former EFL side Torquay are one of the best supported clubs in the division so should bring a sizeable following.

National League South
Wealdstone v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - there's also only one game in the sixth tier but it's a big one as the division's top club play it's best supported one. Much has been written about these London clubs this season but to re-cap, the Stones have been fantastic all season and pretty much led from day one whilst Dulwich have been pulling in crowds of 2,000-3,000 despite being in terrible form and fighting for their lives to stay up. It's should be a cracker!

Southern League Premier Division South
Hayes & Yeading United v Swindon Supermarine @3pm -  in the seventh tier we've got a very interesting looking top five clash between two sides looking to make sure of a play-off place. The hosts are on a seven-game unbeaten run which actually saw them play Swindon away in a re-arranged match last week - it finished 1-1. That result should give them great confidence of being able to at least repeat that scoreline and possibly get more

Isthmian League South Central
Hanwell Town v Tooting & Mitcham United @3pm - the hosts have been top for most of the season but they didn't play on Saturday and saw Ware move three points clear with a draw against Marlow. Although Hanwell have two games in hand, the table is still tight and they need to win big games like this. Tooting were also among the frontrunners but have lost form and even with some games in hand themselves, a play-off spot is the best they can hope for now. A win here is almost essential for them

SSML Premier Division
Oxhey Jets v Tring Athletic @3pm - this match between two of the division's top five appears to be the best on offer in the ninth tier on Saturday. Oxhey are the top TLFG club in this league and are well capable of cracking into the top four. Tring are second and don't look like getting any higher with leaders Colney Heath eight points clear and in possession of a game in hand

SSML Division 1
New Salamis v St Panteleimon @3pm - being played at Enfield Town's ground, this top-two clash between sides from the Greek Cypriot community was easy to pick as the featured game in the 10th tier. Saints are nine points clear so winning this could effectively make the title theirs

MCFL Premier Division Cup Semi-Final
Clapton CFC v London Samurai Rovers @2pm - although it's only a cup competition for 11th tier sides, it should draw a big crowd to Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow. Clapton CFC have been averaging very lively crowds of nearly 500 this season which is astounding for a club at this level. The two sides are pretty evenly matched and are both in contention for the league title too. Entry is by donation. UPDATE - this match has been moved to Mabley Green 3G facility near Hackney Wick.

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Sunday 8 March

Premier League
Chelsea v Everton @2pm - the weekend comes to a close with the Carlo Ancelotti derby as the Italian brings his new Toffees side back to Stamford Bridge where he won the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season before being surprisingly sacked the following season after finishing second. So successful was his brief time at Chelsea that he achieved the third highest win ratio of any manager in Premier League history. Back to the present and Everton have improved noticeably in the short time he's been there but he got himself sent off on Sunday after arguing with the referee during their draw with Manchester United. Tickets are not available to non-members

FA Women's National League Division 1 South East
Enfield Town v AFC Wimbledon @2pm - with the Super League taking a break for the SheBelieves Cup in the USA, the focus falls on some of the other divisions. There are several matches on Sunday with this top five encounter at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium appearing to be the best on offer

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 24 February - 1 March 2020

Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG as we supposedly move into the spring.

How has your week been?

Last time I mentioned how I had an ambitious plan to see a game on Saturday and I managed to do it.

About a month ago I travelled to Paris to see a match, this weekend I went all the way down to Cornwall to watch Harrow Borough play at Truro City - which is 17 miles further from London than the French capital as the crow flies.

Given the way non-league football is regionalised to minimise travel, by a quirk of fate Harrow have found themselves in a league where they have to travel huge distances because they're right next to the geographical dividing line between leagues.

Harrow Borough made the long trip to Treyew Road on Saturday

Since the fixtures came out in the summer, this was the match many Harrow fans were looking for as it would provide the chance to go to the ever popular tourist destination of Cornwall.

Some made weekends of it but not me - I left home at 0715 and went by train from Paddington all the way down.

Fares on this line can often be extortionate if left to the last minute and with the bad February weather putting the match in some doubt, most chose other methods of transport.

Luckily, as a First Group employee I got a free ride - one of the big perks of working in a sometimes very challenging environment.

Thankfully the trip was smooth and I got into Truro at about 1230pm.

Rather than go straight to the ground, I headed into the town centre to visit the cathedral which is this small city's biggest landmark.

I had a good look round (free entry) and enjoyed a pasty in the forecourt outside before heading to the match.

Despite the bad weather, the pitch was in reasonable condition probably largely down to the fact that the ground is situated on top of a hill, improving natural drainage - the climb from the town was considerable so if you have walking difficulties, get a cab.

Boro have a small fanbase but a decent turnout of 15-20 (about 10% of a normal home attendance) made the trip.

Playing with the wind, the visitors more than matched the table-topping hosts and even had the audacity to take the lead.

However, Truro equalised almost immediately with a penalty to make it 1-1 at the interval.

Harrow go close on otherwise tough afternoon in Cornwall

The second period was a different story and with strong gusts pinning them back, Harrow barely got out of their half and shipped three fairly soft goals to lose 4-1.

Although this was of course disappointing, I didn't expect to get anything out of the game and I came away happy to have just made the trip, ticked the ground off my list and largely enjoyed my day.

The day was also improved by seeing former QPR manager Neil Warnock, a Cornish resident, also in attendance and he hung out by one of the corner flags for most of the game.

My return train made a few extra stops on the way back, picking up what appeared to be Cambridge United's media team at Plymouth after their match - something which provided some interesting eavesdropping material as they discussed various football topics and personalities.

I eventually got home at about 2215 some 15 hours after setting out - there aren't too many longer away days in English football but it was thoroughly rewarding and I can't wait for the next one.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. Enjoy your week - there are some big games including our first major cup final of the season.

Lastly, many thanks to Richard H from Washington DC, USA who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. He claims to have become a Brentford fan after reading TLFG and going to a game back in 2017. Have you adopted a team as a result of this blog? Let me know. 

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, EFL Cup, EFL, National League and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, 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.

Monday 24 February

Premier League Cup
Charlton Athletic v Reading @1pm - the week begins with some U23 football at Dartford's ground. This competition is coming to the end of the group stage and these two sides are already through. However, whoever wins this will top the group

Middlesex Premier Cup Quarter-Finals
This knockout competition for clubs in the 10th and 11th tiers sees two of its quarter-finals being played on Monday night. St Panteleimon entertain Cricklewood Wanderers at Rayners Lane's ground and Pitshanger Dynamo take on FC Deportivo Galicia at Hanwell Town UPDATE - St Panteleimon's match has been moved to Tuesday night

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Tuesday 25 February

Champions League
Chelsea v Bayern Munich @8pm - the level of football ratchets up considerably on Tuesday as the German league leaders head to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of this last 16 tie. Bayern won all of their group games and scored an average of four goals in each one. They are also top of the form table in the Bundesliga and beat Paderborn 3-2 on Friday night. The Blues, on the other hand, haven't been great in recent weeks but ended their winless run with a morale boosting victory over Spurs on Saturday - it's going to be tough. Tickets are not available

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Derby County @745pm - elsewhere in west London, you'll have no trouble getting a ticket for this second-tier game. The sides are neck-and-neck in midtable and have seemingly little to play for. Both sides recorded commendable draws in their latest matches against promotion contenders Nottingham Forest and Fulham respectively. Probably the most notable thing about this match is that it will mark Wayne Rooney's 501st appearance in English league football if he is selected by the visitors. Tickets are available to non-members

National League
Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - the hosts have had some terrible problems with their pitch of late with several games getting postponed and last week's match against Harrogate abandoned half way through. If they can get the match on then it could be significant. Not only is it a crosstown derby but the Bees are only two points off the play-off places whereas Dagenham are scrapping for every point they can get to stay out of the relegation zone

National League South
Wealdstone v Chelmsford City @745pm - the Stones found themselves six points clear at the top on Saturday evening after yet another win. After a torrid run, Chelmsford have garnered four points from their last two but their usual run to the play-offs now looks like a distant dream. Another home win looks like a pretty safe bet

London Senior Cup Qaurter-Final
AFC Wimbledon U23 v Brentford B @2pm - if you're at a loose end on Tuesday afternoon you might fancy this match at Kingsmeadow. Both clubs' second XIs have been entered in this competition this year with the Bees youngsters hoping to win it after making last year's final. I believe tickets are £5 on the gate

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Bedfont Sports v Broadfields United @745pm - there are some sizeable sides in this competition so these two have done well to make it to the last four. The hosts play a level above the visitors so should start as favourites. The winners will face Wealdstone or cup holders Brentford B in the final

CCL Premier Division
CB Hounslow United v Hanworth Villa @745pm - in the ninth tier we've got a local derby which is also a bottom of the table clash. Both are level on 18 points, some six points adrift of the team above them. A defeat for the hosts will be disastrous as Hanworth have five games in hand

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round
Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion @745pm - the hosts are trying to create a bit of a buzz around this match as if it were a clash between the two men's teams who are big rivals. It's unlikely to get that intense but a home tie in the quarter-finals against Birmingham City is on offer for the winners

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Wednesday 26 February

Championship
Fulham v Swansea City @745pm - now winless in three, the Cottagers are stuttering at an unfortunate moment. If they'd taken maximum points from those very winnable games, they'd be sitting pretty in second and looking good for automatic promotion. Thankfully for them, the second tier is incredibly unpredictable and so-called good teams often drop points without warning meaning Fulham are still third. The Swans were also contenders but with only one win in five, they're down in ninth and look unlikely to mount a serious challenge to return to the top flight. Tickets are available to non-members
Millwall v Birmingham City @745pm - over in Bermondsey we've got the Gary Rowett derby to look forward to as the Lions boss faces one of his old clubs. After drawing with Fulham and winning at Preston, Millwall suffered the ignominy of defeat at lowly Wigan on Saturday to leave them with probably only a slim chance of making the play-offs. Birmingham are about as midtable as it's possible to be but they're on a good run and could be dangerous. Tickets are available to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Corinthian Casuals @745pm - the best non-league option takes place in Tolworth where the K's entertain CCs who they groundshare with. Kingstonian had a good shot at making the play-offs because of a number of games in hand but they've drawn six of their last seven games to fade into midtable obscurity. Casuals have been poor all season and are struggling to break out of the bottom three but a win here would see them do that

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Thursday 27 February

Europa League
Arsenal v Olympiakos @8pm - after winning the first leg 1-0 in Athens last week, the Gunners are in a strong position to progress to the last 16. The Greek giants are currently top of their domestic league and face a huge top of the table clash against PAOK on Sunday in the run up to this game. Arsenal have to play Everton. Tickets are not available to non-members

FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final
Chelsea v Millwall @7pm - normally a last eight tie in this U18 competition would be well worth considering but not on this occasion. Controversially, the Blues have given Millwall an allocation of only 1,000 tickets, which have been snapped up, and restricted home sales to season-ticket holders and members only

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Friday 28 February

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Manchester City @7pm - if you've never been to the Emirates Stadium before, now's your chance. Tickets for this U23 game will go on sale to non-members on Tuesday 25 February at 11am for only £4. If you want to go, you must buy in advance as none will be available on the night

ECL Division 1 South
May & Baker v Fire United @745pm - if you'd prefer a non-league option then you'll need to head east to Aveley where M&B have become the top club from TLFG's catchment area in this division. Fire United have had a shocker on and off the field and are bottom

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Saturday 29 February

Premier League
West Ham United v Southampton @3pm - it's looking pretty bleak for Hammers fans right now. Down in the bottom three and on a lengthy winless run, it's hard to know where their next point is coming from. On Monday night they play the all-conquering league leaders Liverpool so there's virtually no chance of anything there. However, on Saturday they welcome the midtable Saints who they must hope to take something off. After a couple of defeats, the Hampshire club picked up a hugely important win over a struggling Aston Villa side to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone - almost certainly guaranteeing their place in the top flight for another season. One note of cheer for West Ham - it would appear they are a bit of a bogey team for Southampton having won six of the last 10 against them. Tickets are available to non-members
Watford v Liverpool @530pm - after an initial improvement in results under new boss Nigel Pearson, the wins have dried up and the Hornets are back in the bottom two. They are firmly in touch with the other strugglers and have a game against Manchester United on Sunday which could change the look of the table significantly if they pull off a shock result. Whatever happens at Old Trafford, getting anything out of this match against the leaders will be incredibly tough. Tickets are not available

Championship
Fulham v Preston North End @3pm - there's a decent selection of second-tier games on Saturday with this match between two of the top six (at the time of writing) looking like the best on offer. Whatever happens in midweek, the Cottagers will still be among the play-off places when this kicks off but it could be a different story for PNE who have very ticky trip to leaders West Brom on Tuesday. Tickets are available to non-members
Millwall v Bristol City @3pm - after the midweek game against Birmingham, Gary Rowett's side next welcome the Robins who are having their usual wobble as we approach the most important part of the season. With three defeats from their last five games, the West Country side have slipped out of the play-off places and badly need three points to get back on track. Tickets are available to non-members
Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City @3pm - I've written about both sides already so there's not much more to add. Over the last 20-odd years, Loftus Road hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Blues with only three wins in 10 attempts. but they did come out on top in a seven-goal thriller there last year. Rangers went 4-0 down before pulling it back to 4-3 and then missing a penalty at the death - a miss which seemed to destroy Nakhi Wells' confidence for the rest of the season and played a part in the departure of boss Steve McClaren. Tickets are available to non-members

FA Trophy Quarter-Final
Barnet v Halesowen Town @3pm - the Bees have made it to the last eight of this national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers. The final is at Wembley, a stadium you can see from the local Tube station as you make your way home. Barnet have only made it to the final once, way back in 1972 when they lost to Stafford Rangers. Halesowen play three levels below them and therefore represent an excellent chance to progress to the last four

National League
Boreham Wood v Hartlepool United @3pm - the Wood picked up a hugely impressive 1-0 win over Yeovil on Saturday to win their David v Goliath contest and move into the top three. They have a winnable midweek game at Aldershot before hosting an upwardly mobile Hartlepool side who have an eye on the play-offs themselves
Bromley v Sutton United @ - the Ravens' decline continued on Saturday as they lost at home to lowly Wrexham. Although still very much in touch with the other play-off contenders, their form has completely deserted them. On Saturday, they welcome fellow Londoners Sutton for a derby. The U's have drawn four games in a row and despite being in 15th, they're still in real danger of going down as only three points separate the teams between themselves and 21st

National League South
Dartford v Wealdstone @3pm - the leaders travel to Princes Park to take on a much improved Darts side who kept themselves in the play-off places with a win over Eastbourne Borough on Saturday. The two last played each other on the opening day at Grosvenor Vale where the Stones won 4-1
Dulwich Hamlet v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - the biggest crowd in the division will probably be found at Champion Hill for this relegation six-pointer. Like the division above, lots of teams find themselves just above the relegation zone and these two are in this category
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chelmsford City @3pm - the Beavers won at Maidstone on Saturday to stay on the heels of Dartford as they look to unseat them from the play-off spots. Chelmsford have arrested their losing streak but still look vulnerable and will start as second favourites
Welling United v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - the Wings have improved a lot under their new boss and have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone. Havant look pretty certain to book a play-off place but the higher you can finish the easier the post-season so they could still do with the win

Isthmian League Premier Division
Carshalton Athletic v Horsham @3pm - the game of the day in the seventh tier would appear to be this top-six clash at Colston Avenue. The Robins have played more games than those around them so they can't afford to drop too many points. The reverse fixture back in October ended in a 2-2 draw

Isthmian League South Central
Tooting & Mitcham United v Bracknell Town @3pm -  in the eighth tier the Terrors have slipped out of the play-off places but have two games in hand so they still have a chance. Bracknell are just above them and also have some games in hand meaning that this is an incredibly important game for both as they look to break into the top five

CCL Premier Division
Abbey Rangers v Ascot United @3pm - my pick of the day in the ninth tier is another top-six clash down in Addlestone where Abbey welcome the league leaders. The Berkshire club have a four-point lead at the top and need another win to keep Spelthorne Sports at bay

ECL Division 1 South
Lopes Tavares v White Ensign @3pm - the hosts were top for a long time but have fallen down the table as they haven't played very much recently. In the meantime they've been replaced by White Ensign. LT have the games in hand to put them back on top but they've got to win this or their title bid could be in serious jeopardy

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Sunday 1 March

Carabao Cup Final
Aston Villa v Manchester City @430pm - the season's first major piece of silverware is up for grabs at Wembley on Sunday. Relegation-fighting Villa are 10-1 outsiders to win as City are, on paper, so much better than them. Of the big clubs, the Mancunians take this competition seriously, they are the current holders and have won four of the last six finals. Villa also have an excellent history in this competition with five wins from eight final appearances but they haven't claimed this honour since 1996. Tickets are sold by the clubs - the last time I looked, some were available in the City end if you had a previous purchasing history

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers @2pm - Spurs received quite a bit of criticism for their performance against Chelsea on Saturday and they are open to losing their place in the top five from a number of contenders. Wolves are one of those clubs because they are hard to beat - only Liverpool have lost fewer games this season. However, they draw far too many - only Arsenal have drawn more. Given Tottenham's current lack of strikers, this looks like being another one where the points are shared. Tickets are not on sale to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Cray Wanderers v Merstham @3pm - can't get a ticket for either of the above? All is not lost as there's a great non-league option at Bromley's ground where London's oldest club entertain Merstham. Cray are very much in the hunt for a play-off place whereas their opponents from Surrey need points to avoid the drop. Before the match, the club will also be re-signing George Taylor who last played for them in 1938. It is the 100-year-old's wish to kick a ball one more time and Cray are making it happen. I know some TLFG readers from Finland have told me they're going to this one so why don't you join them?

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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