TLFG: 28 March - 3 April 2022

Howdy folks and welcome to this week's TLFG.

After the trials of Covid, Non-League Day (NLD) and my return to work on Sunday, it's been a busy few days.

Consequently, there are only match maps at this point - I'm just home, it's 0030 and I really need the rest.

Saturday was a lot of fun. My highlight of NLD was probably the BBC's legendary sports show Football Focus being dedicated to the day, with Alex Scott presenting live from South Shields FC in the north-east.

Once again, #nonleagueday topped the Twitter trending charts in the UK and crowds around the country were huge in some cases, with Notts County topping the attendances with over 10,000.

Lots of clubs seemed to raise impressive sums of money for Prostate Cancer UK so I couldn't be happier.

I spent the afternoon at Harrow Borough who doubled their average crowd for the visit of Welsh club Merthyr Town which ended 1-1.

All in all, I think we'll be back next season.

OK, I've got to get to bed - hopefully I'll get some time to fill this out a bit as the week progresses.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, most of our local non-league competitions and the Women's Super League. 

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 - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

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: 21-27 March 2022

Greetings everyone - welcome to TLFG's Non-League Day special edition.

It's been tough to produce as I tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and have been feeling pretty rough.

There was further bad news at the beginning of the week when my Dad, having beaten lung cancer, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

He was in remarkably good form when I spoke to him the other day and maybe believes he can defeat anything that this 'whack-a-mole' kind of disease can throw at him - here's hoping.

Non-League Day takes place on Saturday

On the bright side, I did finally get to pick up my QPR Supporter of the Year award for 2020/21 prior to the R's dismal 3-1 defeat to bottom club Peterborough - a side who have now got the better of them three times this season.

On Saturday I also enjoyed a visit to Silver Jubilee Park to watch Hendon rather undeservedly lose 2-1 to Yate Town in the Southern League.

Although I was originally intending to go to Tiverton to watch Harrow, it had been frowned upon by my other half so I made full use of the free entry offer the Greens had going for their game instead.

On arrival, I had the honour of finally meeting chairman Simon Lawrence who was greeting spectators as they arrived.

Like Harrow, Hendon are another fine seventh-tier club who are really looking to reach out to their local community and bring new fans in so if you're in the Kingsbury/Cricklewood area, please give them a try.

With Non-League Day (NLD) on Saturday, the remainder of this blog will be devoted primarily to that and I'll produce an in-depth look at what's on and update it as clubs announce new offers and events. 

(UPDATE - an NLD guide is now up, scroll down to see more)

I've done three match maps this week, with one focusing entirely on 26 March itself.

My NLD will be spent at Harrow Borough whose game against Merthyr Town kicks off at the slightly earlier time of 2pm to try and encourage fans heading to the England game at nearby Wembley to pop in on their way there.

Northolt Park station is a short walk away from Earlsmead, with trains taking just five minutes to get to the national stadium and Rayners Lane, with frequent services to Wembley Park, is also reachable on foot or by bus or taxi.

I'll be spending Non-League Day at Harrow Borough

Ticket holders for the Three Lions' game against Switzerland or any Premier League or EFL season-ticket holders will get in for half price (£6).

It's even better for NHS staff, emergency services and armed forces personnel who will get in for free as will all U16s.

If you do fancy joining me, tickets are available in advance or on the gate.

One other match I want to give a quick shout-out for is the England v Ukraine fans' match on Friday night at Bedfont & Feltham's ground near Heathrow.

Supporters of both teams are putting on a benefit game to raise funds for humanitarian aid to be sent to the war-torn nation.

So where do you think you'll spend NLD? The options are almost endless with numerous clubs at all levels offering more than I think I've ever seen before.

There's a real feeling that it could well be the biggest NLD yet!

 THE WEEK AHEAD

Aside from the huge selection of non-league games on NLD, there is also a sold-out England match, a couple of games in the EFL and plenty of women's matches. I've also added a stack of youth matches at U18, U19 and U23 levels.

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 - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

SATURDAY MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

SUNDAY MATCH MAP

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

NON-LEAGUE DAY GUIDE

(This is a work in progress and will be updated as the week progresses)

Saturday 26 March

FIFTH TIER

National League

Wealdstone v Bromley @3pm - the biggest game of the day is this fifth-tier derby between two sides from opposite sides of London. It's been mainly about consolidation for the Stones this season and they seem to have managed that with relative ease. On Saturday they pushed league leaders Stockport County really hard before eventually losing 4-2. Bromley, on the other hand, are still very much in the hunt for a play-off spot and are in the FA Trophy Semi-Finals meaning another trip to Wembley is within their grasp. NLD Deal - it's £10 for all Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders. The club are also taking part in the National Lottery Football Weekends scheme which allows you to bring a friend for free if you have a lottery ticket for Saturday's draw, check with the club for all the T&Cs. Update - this match has been made all-ticket so you must buy in advance

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SIXTH TIER

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Dartford @3pm - although down in 14th, the hosts have two games in hand which if won would put them right back in contention for a play-off spot. Dartford were top but are still third and firmly in the race for promotion. The Cleo Saul Beveree Stadium is one of London's favourite non-league grounds, especially on a sunny spring afternoon so I'd urge you to pay a visit if you're in that part of town. NLD Deal - like Wealdstone, H&RB are taking part in the 2for1 lottery promotion too

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SEVENTH TIER

Southern League Premier Division South

Harrow Borough v Merthyr Town @2pm - my beloved Boro are pulling out all the stops this year as they look to enjoy their best NLD ever. As mentioned above, the game has been brought forward to 2pm, with the very gracious assistance of their Welsh opponents, to try and encourage people with tickets for England v Switzerland to visit them first. Harrow are lucky enough to have goal machine James Ewington in the side and he's well on course to score 40 goals this season. NLD Deal - ticket holders for the Wembley match will get in for half price as will all Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders. It's also free for all NHS, emergency services, armed forces personnel and U16s

Hayes & Yeading United v Tiverton Town @3pm - the hosts are currently top in what is one of the tightest title races there is. With Metropolitan Police, Taunton Town and Farnborough all within three points of them, it looks like going down to the last day. Although in lower midtable, Tiverton were one of the first teams to stop Hayes winning when they drew 0-0 in Devon back in November. NLD event - this is being declared a 'dementia friendly football match' with a local Dementia Friends group attending the match in what is being described as the first 'Forget Me Not FC' match day

Isthmian League Premier Division

Corinthian Casuals v East Thurrock United @3pm - one of London's most colourful and historic clubs, CC's play in Tolworth and are easily reachable by train. With the support of their lively fans, they should have too much ETU who are bottom after winning only 6 of their 34 games. As an NLD treat, there will be a Brazilian samba band playing in the clubhouse after the match - a nod to the club's link with South American super club Corinthians

Cray Wanderers v Kingstonian @3pm - founded in 1860, the hosts are London's oldest club so are worth a watch just for that. They've had a tough season and are currently in the bottom three but have just appointed former Bromley boss Neil Smith as manager. The K's were right up with the title contenders earlier in the campaign but their form has left them and they're now down in midtable. NLD Deal - Premier League/Championship season-ticket holders get in for £5

Haringey Borough v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - playing on White Hart Lane within sight of the Tottenham Hostpur Stadium, the hosts have left it late to declare their plans but they're pretty great. NLD Deal - quite simply, everyone is allowed in for free with a collection to be split between Prostate Cancer UK and Ukraine Relief

Wingate & Finchley v Bishop's Stortford @3pm - one of the division's smallest clubs, Wingate have been holding their own at this level now for 10 years. With former player Marc Weatherstone now in charge of the team, they're fighting hard again. The visitors are having a fine season - currently second, they will start as favourites. NLD Deal - Premier League season-ticket holders will get in for £6

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EIGHTH TIER

Isthmian League North Division

Aveley v Stowmarket Town @3pm - arguably the game of the day in the eighth tier, leaders Aveley host the team two points behind them in third. Not only this but Stowmarket have a game in hand. The Millers' Parkside ground is very modern and has some of the best facilities of any non-league club within the M25

Barking v AFC Sudbury @3pm - the Blues have struggled this season and AFC Sudbury aren't pulling up any trees but there's something happening that could tempt you to Mayesbrook Park. NLD Deal - a free glass of beer on entry, how big it is and what beer it is we don't know. It's also half price for Premier League, EFL and National League season-ticket holders and kids for a quid

Isthmian League South Central

Chertsey Town v Guernsey @1245pm - with Bracknell already having won the title, it's all about who finishes second. The Curfews are currently in the runners-up spot and will want to hold on to it. A visit from Guernsey, or any club from the Channel Islands, is always a bit of a novelty and that's why the game kicks off so early. As a result of this, you could probably get to Egham Town v Burnham at 3pm and if you're an England ticket holder, you'll definitely make it to Wembley too. NLD Deal - half price for emergency service and armed forces personnel

Chipstead v Thatcham Town @3pm - in the deep south of TLFG's catchment area, the Chips welcome 2018 FA Vase winners Thatcham who are only two places below them. NLD Deal - it's pay what you want and there's a collection for Prostate Cancer UK, although this is currently only being promoted by the away team so double-check this on the day 

Hanwell Town v Westfield @3pm - the Geordies are just a point behind Chertsey and pushing hard for second themselves. Westfield are in lower midtable and should be beaten. With Harrow just up the road, there's a lot of competition in this part of London to tempt you in. NLD Deal - it's free for emergency services and U18s, half price for PL/EFL season-ticket holders and England v Switzerland ticket holders

Sutton Common Rovers v Staines Town @3pm - being played at Sutton United's Gander Green Lane, SCR should be hopeful of taking all the points against bottom club Staines. NLD Deal - all prices have been cut so that adults are now only £5 and there will be a collection for Prostate Cancer UK too

Tooting & Mitcham United v Binfield @3pm - another one of our clubs to be struggling in this division, the Terrors will hope for some extra backing as they go after three crucial three points. NLD Deal - free entry for U18s

Uxbridge v Marlow @3pm - with only five points separating the sides in second and seventh, that race for the runners-up spot is set to be fierce. These two are both among that group. NLD Deal - half price for Premier League/EFL season-ticket holders

Isthmian League South East

Phoenix Sports v Hythe Town @3pm - two of the bottom six do battle to pick up some crucial points. NLD Deal - £5 for any "League or National League" ST holders

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NINTH TIER

CCL Premier Division North

Edgware Town v Holyport @3pm - currently seventh, the hosts should see off bottom club Holyport with ease. There are clear views of the Wembley Arch from the north end of Silver Jubilee Park and the 83 bus, which stops nearby, will drop you off at the top of 'Wembley Way' if you're going to the England game. However, traffic might mean you need to leave before the end. NLD Deal - free entry for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders and members 

Wembley v North Greenford United @3pm - a local derby not far from the national stadium so another good option if you're going to watch England. However, despite sharing a name and being in the same part of London, it's still a two-mile walk so you'd probably have to leave before full time. There are no deals in place that we're aware of

CCL Premier South

Walton & Hersham v Knaphill @3pm - Surrey club W&H are having a fine season and are engaged in a titanic title fight with Beckenham Town. The Swans are currently one point clear but have played more games. Knaphill, near Woking, don't have far to travel so should give this a bit of a derby feel. NLD Deal - free entry for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders

Essex Senior League

Cockfosters v Redbridge @3pm - just around the corner from the Tube station of the same name, Cockfosters welcome the second-placed Motormen. NLD event - one of the more unusual but highly important things to be taking place anywhere in the country, the hosts are holding a stem cell donor recruitment event on behalf of the Leukaemia Cancer Society

Ilford v Sawbridgworth Town @3pm - two of the bottom six are set to battle it out for a crucial three points at Cricklefields. The Foxes appear to be hosting a collection for Prostate Cancer UK, with adult entry a reasonable £7

West Essex v St Margaretsbury @3pm - the hosts are coasting along comfortably in midtable whilst the hosts are down in the bottom three. NLD Deal - it's pay what you want for everyone at Wadham Lodge and there's a free burger and beer for the first 10 people through the gate

SCEFL Premier Division

Erith & Belvedere v Canterbury City @3pm - the Deres have an outside chance of a top-three finish and should have enough to win here. NLD event - 50% of the gate receipts will be donated to the local foodbank

Glebe v Bearsted @3pm - with Chatham and Sheppey well clear in the top two spots, it's all about securing third for Glebe. Bearsted are down in 11th. NLD Deal - buy one, get one free on drinks until kick-off

SSML Premier

Harefield United v Arlesey Town @3pm - there's a midtable clash at Preston Park which lies in a part of suburban west London that's more like a country village. NLD Deal - pay what you want

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TENTH TIER

CCL Division 1

AFC Hayes v Kensington & Ealing Borough @3pm  - a midtable contest at Farm Park, it should be pretty even. NLD Deal - free entry for NHS staff and armed forces

Bedfont & Feltham v Sandhurst Town @3pm - located very close to the runway at Heathrow Airport, this is one of the most photographed non-league grounds in London. Sandhurst, pushing for a place in the top three, will start as favourites. NLD Deal - £3 for Premier League/EFL season-ticket holders

FC Deportivo Galicia v Bagshot @3pm - playing next door at Bedfont Sports' ground, FCD are the division's highest scorers with a whopping 108 goals from 33 games. The visitors have been struggling this season and should be beaten. NLD Deal - everyone paying the £5 entry fee gets a free pin badge and very smart they are too

Hilltop v London Lions @3pm - one of the biggest games of the day at any level, this top-two clash should be well worth a watch. Being played at the Middlesex Stadium near Ruislip, it pits one side with their roots in the Somali community against one with a Jewish background. NLD Deal - all ticket prices halved so it's now only £2.50 for adults and there will be a collection for Prostate Cancer UK

Rayners Lane v Wallingford Town @3pm - there's another fine game in this division just a few miles to the east. The Lane are third, a position they will probably finish in. One of the most entertaining sides in the division, they're one of four clubs to have so far scored 100 goals or more. The visitors are in the top six too so we could have another cracking match on our hands. Close to Rayners Lane station, this is another good option if you're going to the England game. NLD Deal - half price for Premier League/EFL season-ticket holders, a prize draw for those who buy a programme and half of all gate receipts will go to the Ukraine Relief Fund

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ELEVENTH TIER

Middlesex County Football League

Stonewall FC v Larkspur Rovers @2pm - there aren't any special deals that we're aware of in the 11th tier but the games are really cheap or free anyway. This match features the capital's top LGBT football club and it's being played at the London Marathon Community Track which sits in the shadow of the London Stadium in what was the Olympic Park

Kensington Dragons v Sporting Hackney @2pm - if you're an England fan looking for an early kick-off then this match at Linford Christie Stadium on the edge of Wormwood Scrubs could be for you. 

Pitshanger Dynamo v NW London @2pm - playing at North Greenford United's ground, this is another one that's well placed for fans heading to Wembley. The hosts are battling to avoid the drop whilst NW London are going for the title

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TWELFTH TIER

Surrey South Eastern Combination

AFC Whyteleafe v Frenches Athletic @3pm - the hosts are a phoenix club set up at the start of the season following the sudden and rapid demise of Isthmian League side Whyteleafe. Consequently, the club play in a much better stadium and have a much bigger fan base than most clubs at this level. They're targeting a record crowd of around 400 and have made it free entry so anything's possible

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: 14-20 March 2022

It's been another incredibly busy week at TLFG Towers as Non-League Day (NLD) gets ever closer.

With scores of press releases going out to various entities and meetings going on with our partners, this blog has very much taken a back seat.

So regretfully, it's just match maps again this week.

There are now less than two weeks to go

There are some really good games though, so make sure you have a good hunt around to make sure you don't miss them.

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The big news of the week has of course been the sanctioning of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Essentially this means the club can't receive any revenue but can spend as much as it wants until it runs out of money - which given the huge wage bill, probably won't take too long.

Listening to the radio just now, I heard the word 'administration' mentioned in relation to Chelsea and it seems almost unthinkable.

As a QPR fan, you wouldn't expect me to shed many tears over their predicament and I'm not but as a matter of personal policy, I always try to avoid gloating as it's one of the most pathetic and destructive behaviours imaginable and one that can so easily be thrown back in your face.

The future looks very uncertain but it does for the whole of Europe right now, something which is far more concerning.

------------------------------------------

Congratulations to Bromley who have made it through to the FA Trophy Semi-Finals after beating Solihull Moors on Saturday.

Sadly it wasn't to be for Dagenham & Redbridge or Southall who both lost quarter-final ties on penalties in the Trophy and FA Vase respectively.

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On to personal news and I'm pleased to say that I've been given another chance to pick up my QPR Supporter of the Year award for 2020/21 ahead of the R's home game against Peterborough United on Sunday so if you go to the game, you might see me make a brief trip onto the pitch before the action gets underway.

Before that, I plan to undertake another West Country awayday with Harrow Borough as they head down to Devon to play Tiverton Town on Saturday. It'll be a new ground for me, despite my Dad having lived in that region for about 20 years.

Lastly, there was also a nice cameo appearance from yours truly in this month's When Saturday Comes (WSC), which some of you may have seen mentioned on Twitter, something which is always an honour.

I think that's all I've got time for - please help me by spreading the word of Non-League Day if you can.

The match finder is up and running so you can locate a game wherever you are in the country on 26 March and take a full part in the festivities.

THE WEEK AHEAD

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

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 - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

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: 7-13 March 2022

After running out of time last week, I've managed a fuller edition of TLFG this time - yes, the Daily Digest is back.

For most of the week, I was expecting another short version as Non-League Day (NLD) prep is really taking up a lot of time.

Our match finder is now finally available and the whole site should be up and running by the end of the week too.

We're still in discussions with Kick It Out about which matches will feature as showpiece games but we'll probably know in the next few days.

There's less than three weeks to go until Non-League Day

It was disappointing when the FA scheduled England's match against Switzerland on the same day (26 March) but the 530pm kick-off means that several clubs close to Wembley have games which they hope Three Lions fans and hopefully a few Swiss ones will want to go to beforehand.

My own club Harrow Borough have brought forward their game against Merthyr Town to 2pm and are offering half-price entry to England v Switzerland ticket holders as well as season-ticket holders of any Premier League or EFL club. 

Other clubs hosting games in the area include Edgware Town and Wembley who both have views of the stadium from their grounds. 

In other news, I was supposed to pick up my QPR Supporter of the Year Award on Saturday ahead of the R's game against Cardiff City.

Sadly, I was working so couldn't go but it doesn't sound as if I missed much on the pitch as Rangers threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 with a terrible second-half performance.

I did, however, get to a game on Sunday.

Over the last few months, regular readers will know that my daughter has started playing for Actonians U9 team.

Today she and her team-mates were invited to be mascots for the first team in their FA Women's National League game against London Seaward (formerly known as Leyton Orient until the club inexplicably took the name off them last season) at Rectory Park.

My daughter ended up being paired with goalkeeper Roschelle Shakes - I say goalkeeper, she's usually a striker but injury to Paige Horsnell meant she had to start the game in goal.

A commanding presence, she barely put a foot wrong and pulled off a couple of decent saves as Actonians generally dominated the game and won 3-0.

Maria Ledezma-Viso makes it 3-0 to Actonians

The win left them fourth in the table with QPR, who have games in hand,  being the only club likely to catch them.

Talking of the R's, they were playing on the neighbouring pitch at the same time so I got two games for the price of one!

Their match against Cambridge United was a thriller that saw them win 3-2 with a very late goal despite having a player sent off and another sin-binned.

Rumours suggest they could play some more games at Rectory Park so there could be some more doubleheaders coming up.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, most of our local non-league competitions and the Women's Super League too. 

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 - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list, 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 7 March

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @8pm - despite some iffy results of late, a place in the top four is still within Spurs' grasp. On paper, they should beat a relegation-threatened Toffees side who haven't enjoyed a 'new manager bounce' under Frank Lampard. It's hospitality packages only at this stage

Professional Development League

Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town @1pm - the pick of the youth action is this lunchtime kick-off at The Valley. As always, check all the details before you travel for this and any other academy game

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Tuesday 8 March

Isthmian Premier

Corinthian Casuals v Bognor Regis Town @745pm - the highest level of football you can watch on Tuesday is this seventh-tier match in Tolworth. With both sides trundling along in midtable, there's very little riding on it

Combined Counties League Premier South

Beckenham Town v Badshot Lea @745pm - there's a feast of great games in the CCL on Tuesday so it's really hard to pick just one but I've gone for this as it pits second against fourth. It's also worth checking out the matches at Abbey Rangers, AFC Croydon Athletic and North Greenford United

Combined Counties League Division 1

Hilltop v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - the hosts have been one of the breakthrough teams of the season and are top of the division after stepping up to this level for the first time in 2021/22. In this match they take on the club they groundshare with and they should win

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Wednesday 9 March

Isthmian Premier

Cray Wanderers v Haringey Borough @745pm - Sitting 19th out of 22, London's oldest club are in danger of relegation. The last time I checked, they had games in hand so the table looked a bit false. However, they've now played more than all those around them and they're still down there. Haringey are only six points ahead of them and they drew 1-1 earlier in the season so it should be close again

Combined Counties League Premier South

Colliers Wood United v Raynes Park Vale @730pm - always one of my highlights of the season, the A3 Derby is back. Postponed from earlier in the season, this should be worth a watch if you're in south-west London. Up in the top six, RPV are favourites

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Thursday 10 March

FA Women's Super League

West Ham United v Chelsea @745pm - women's football takes centre stage on Thursday as the Hammers look to take advantage of the Blues' current inconsistency. Having lost Saturday's League Cup Final to Manchester City, Chelsea have now won only one of their last three games which is unusual for a side of their ability. Despite an upturn in their recent fortunes, it will take something pretty special for the hosts to prevail. Tickets are available

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Friday 11 March

Premier League 2

Chelsea v West Ham United @7pm - the following night, the two clubs' male U23 sides meet at Kingsmeadow. At this level, Chelsea are having a stinker and are second bottom, whilst West Ham are third with games in hand on all of those above them. Tickets are £5 and will be available on the gate

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v FC Clacton @745pm - if you'd rather a non-league option then head to north-east London for some ESL action. Woodford are always welcoming to new visitors and would love to see you there. The two clubs are neck-and-neck in midtable so it should be competitive

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Saturday 12 March

Premier League

Brentford v Burnley @3pm - the Bees are in the middle of a crucial run of games, which will surely decide whether they retain their Premier League status. After losing to Newcastle, they picked up a priceless 3-1 win at bottom club Norwich on Saturday to move six points clear of Burnley and the relegation zone. If they beat the Clarets as well, things will look very rosey indeed. Tickets are only available to members

Championship

Millwall v Middlesbrough @3pm - from almost out of nowhere, the Lions have become the form team of the division with five wins on the trot. This has catapulted them up 10th just three points behind Boro who occupy the last play-off spot. They could even start this match on level points if they win their midweek trip to Blackburn. Tickets are available

League One

AFC Wimbledon v Lincoln City @3pm - the Dons lost at title contenders Wigan to extend their winless run to 17 games. Somehow, they're still just above the relegation zone as the teams below them have faltered too. The Imps are a couple of places above them so this is a must-win game. Tickets are available

National League

Boreham Wood v Chesterfield @520pm - in the late televised game, two of the title contenders meet at Meadow Park. The Wood impressed many people with their run to the FA Cup Fifth Round which saw them eventually bow out at Everton on Thursday. Although fifth, they have games in hand on all the clubs around them and are still well in the hunt for top spot. Former EFL club Chesterfield, who also had a big FA Cup trip to Chelsea in January, are second but have played more than everyone else. The reverse fixture saw the Spireites win 2-1 at the end of October

FA Trophy Quarter-Finals

Bromley v Solihull Moors @3pm - in case you don't know, the FA Trophy is a national knockout competition for sides in the fifth to eighth tiers, which usually has its final at Wembley. As we're now down to the last eight, it's fair to say things are getting pretty serious. At Hayes Lane, 2018 finalists Bromley welcome fellow National League play-off hopefuls Solihull who are currently on a 10-game unbeaten run. This might worry most teams but probably not the Ravens, who were the last side to beat them two months ago. Tickets are available

Dagenham & Redbridge v York City @3pm - in the other London tie, the Daggers will start as favourites as they host a side from the level below. However, York have a good recent record in this competition and have made the final three times since 2009, winning twice. If the east London club manage to ward off complacency, then they should be ok. Tickets are available

National League South

Dulwich Hamlet v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - when there are no real standout fixtures in the sixth tier, it's really hard not to recommend a visit to the Hamlet. I might just as well copy and paste this paragraph every time they have a home game. A trip to Dulwich might not represent a typical afternoon out at this level, but it should be a good one. Often sold out on Saturdays, Champion Hill is one of the most welcoming, lively and colourful grounds in the capital and is well worth trying out. At the time of writing, the hosts are just about holding on to a play-off spot and will have to be on their game if they want to avoid any mishaps against an improving Havant side. If you do want to go, you're strongly advised to buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 30 minutes before kick-off to get a good view

Isthmian Premier

Hornchurch v Enfield Town @3pm - after an unspectacular start to the campaign, last season's surprise FA Trophy winners Hornchurch have started to build up a head of steam which has seen them rise to fifth. Enfield were giving leaders Worthing plenty to think about until they lost to them last weekend on the south coast. They're now fourth and 11 points adrift. If they lose this, they'll be swapping places with the Urchins

Isthmian South East

Cray Valley PM v Hastings United @3pm - game of the day in the eighth tier sees fourth play first. CVPM have lost three in a row so it doesn't look like a great time to be playing the U's who have won six on the bounce and are 10 points clear

CCL Premier Division North

Hanworth Villa v Abbey Rangers @3pm - at the time of writing, these are the top two in this ninth-tier division. Midweek results could see Abbey drop a place or two if they lose but it should still be good. Over the 10 years or so that I've been writing this blog, Hanworth have often been there or thereabouts without really threatening to win the title. This year, it looks almost impossible for them to lose it. Currently 23 points clear with eight games to go, only Abbey and Southall have any vague chance of catching them because they have some games in hand

SCEFL Division 1

Stansfeld v Snodland Town @3pm - although second and four points behind leaders Sutton Athletic, the hosts must still be title favourites as they have three games in hand. Snodland are two points behind in third but have played more games and will be fourth if Tooting Bec win on Tuesday

MCFL Premier Division Cup Semi-Final

Clapton CFC v Cricklewood Wanderers @2pm - there's a double of sorts over at Wadham Lodge where The Tons go for cup glory on the pitch next to the main stadium where West Essex will be playing at 3pm. Although down in the 11th tier they often get lively crowds of 400+ so are well worth experiencing. With the overlap in kick-off times between the two games, you'll have to leave one early or turn up late for the other but with Clapton CFC games being pay what you want, you can't really go wrong  

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Sunday 13 March

Premier League

Chelsea v Newcastle United @2pm - there are three top-flight games in London on Sunday including this intriguing game at Stamford Bridge. Uncertainty is swirling around the west London club at the moment as owner Roman Abramovich has put the club up for sale. The Russian billionaire has transformed the club into one of the biggest in the world since taking over in 2003 and no-one's quite sure what his departure will bring. It's been a rollercoaster of a week on the pitch which began with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup Final, a hard-fought 3-2 win at Luton in the FA Cup and a 4-0 drubbing of Burnley at Turf Moor. Here, a section of Blues supporters decided to sing their owner's name rather than show solidarity for the people of Ukraine prior to kick-off. Since the humiliation of losing to Cambridge United in the FA Cup at the start of January, Newcastle are now unbeaten in seven and almost certain to avoid relegation. Chelsea have won eight of their last 10 games against the Toon but that record could come under some pressure here. Only hospitality packages remain

West Ham United v Aston Villa @2pm - the Hammers narrowly lost their big game at Liverpool on Saturday to miss their chance of returning to the top four. Having played three games more than some of the clubs around them, a Europa League spot looks increasingly like their most realistic target. Villa have stabilised under Steven Gerrard and won't go down or get into Europe - it's now all about playing for places and the prize money that goes with them. West Ham appear to be a bit of a bogey team for Villa who have only beaten them once in their last 11 attempts. Tickets are available

Arsenal v Leicester City @430pm - the day concludes with a chance to watch a resurgent Arsenal who after four straight wins, find themselves back in the top four. It seemed almost unthinkable that they'd come anywhere near this earlier in the season but boss Mikel Arteta has pulled off a minor miracle to put them right back in there with all the other big clubs. They have games in hand too, so catching third-place Chelsea should also be possible. After winning last season's FA Cup, Leicester have been very underwhelming this season. With only nine league wins, they're very much stuck in the midtable doldrums and should be beaten. Tickets are only available to members

FA Women's Super League

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @1230pm - Spurs drew with Reading on Sunday which meant they were unable to reclaim third place from Manchester United who won on Saturday. City, on the other hand, are starting to looking ominously good. After seeing injuries ruin most of their season, the stars are returning and so are the wins. Saturday saw them come from behind to beat Chelsea 3-1 in the League Cup Final as they picked up the first major bit of silverware of the campaign. An away win looks most likely and will leave them just two points off third. Tickets are available

Chelsea v Aston Villa @1pm - if you're in south-west London you'll be much better placed to head to Kingsmeadow where the Blues will look to restart their chase of Arsenal. Emma Hayes' side haven't played a league game for nearly a month since they drew 0-0 with the Gunners and they're now eight points behind the north London club but have three games in hand. Villa sit just above the bottom three and their fine young England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton will probably have a busy afternoon. Tickets are available

FA Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Liverpool @2pm - in the second tier of the women's game, it looks like being a tough afternoon for the Addicks who welcome the leaders. A couple of games without a win have seen the hosts slip to fifth but they should take heart from seeing London City Lionesses hold the Reds to a 1-1 draw on Sunday

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: 28 February - 6 March 2022

Welcome one and all to this week's TLFG.

Once again, this week has been crazily busy and as we approach 11pm I've regretfully taken the decision to cull the 'Daily Digest'.

I was expecting a quiet shift at work but it wasn't to be and I've yet to eat and have to do the school run in the morning - realistically I would need another three or four hours from this point to do a complete blog and I just haven't got it in me.

So instead of doing the digest, I'll just recount what I've been up to in one of the biggest weeks we've all faced probably since the start of the pandemic.

Although I had the week off, it was busy.

The first major activity came on Tuesday when I headed to the Premier League's new HQ in Paddington for our annual Non-League Day (NLD) planning meeting.

A lot of exciting ideas were discussed and with them and their member clubs behind us, we should have another decent year.

Non-League Day is less than 4 weeks away

On Wednesday I began a bit of awareness-raising ahead of NLD by starting to run between some of the London clubs that are hosting matches on 26 March.

I kicked things off at Wembley FC before gradually heading north east via Edgware Town and Wingate & Finchley before finishing off at Cockfosters.

It totalled 23km and it was uphill virtually all the way!

Just as I was coming to the end, a woman smiled and thanked me - I was running in a Prostate Cancer UK top so I presume she had some kind of connection.

After a day of rest, I headed out again on Friday morning but this time in the company of TLFG reader Liam who I've met a couple of times at games.

It was a beautiful morning so it was very enjoyable indeed. 

Our meanderings around west London took us to Hanwell Town, Harrow Borough, Rayners Lane and Wealdstone.

There are plans to explore some more clubs on Wednesday in possibly the south or east of London but we'll see over the next couple of days how that works out.

Liam (right) and I reach Wealdstone

Finally, on Saturday I took my three-year-old to her first-ever match.

We headed back out to Harrow Borough to watch them take on title-chasing Taunton Town in what would turn out to be an epic game.

Having met friend and club official James C at the gate, I was informed that he'd invited lots of school kids from the local area to check out the club and that 139 had turned up.

This explained the fact I could hear the crowd from some distance away as my daughter and I turned up nearly 20 minutes late.

Still 0-0 when we arrived, the kindly gateman let me in for half price because I'd missed so much and my daughter got in for free.

Sadly within about five minutes, Taunton took the lead and were 2-0 up by half-time.

Given their form, this was no great surprise and I wasn't expecting a huge amount in the second half.

However, with the children doubling the normal attendance and cheering the Boro players forward, they mounted a superb comeback and ultimately won it 3-2 with an 82nd-minute goal from star striker James Ewington who has now scored 31 goals in all competitions this season.

My daughter gets fully involved in the action

The crowd went wild and there were jubilant celebrations at the end as the hosts held on for a famous win.

It was fantastic to see the children and their families take up the offer of free tickets and also the diversity of those that did with many members of the local Asian community visiting the club for the first time.

They were given a thrilling welcome and hopefully they'll be back for more.

What my 3-year-old companion made of it I'm not sure.

The trips to the tea bar for chocolate and bread pudding probably made it worthwhile but by the end she was attempting to gouge my eyes out!

If you're wondering whether to take a youngster to their first football match, for any kids under the age of five or six, I'd say go to a non-league match.

They're not tied to their seat as they will be in most Premier League or EFL clubs and it's usually very safe to explore the ground or just hang out on the terraces.

My nine-year-old much prefers non-league games and enjoys the freedom. She often finds the big stadiums too noisy and the crowd intimidating.

Apart from anything else, if it does all go wrong and they have a meltdown, you'll have paid a fraction of the price for a ticket and going home won't be quite so painful.

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The joyous scenes at the end were very different from the far more sombre ones earlier in the day as my daughter and I paid a brief visit to the Ukrainian Embassy in Holland Park and then briefly interacted with a peace vigil at the nearby Ukrainian Social Club.

I visited Kyiv for the European Championship 10 years ago and had a great time. I also have Ukrainian colleagues who have been worrying about the situation for weeks.

Having spent some time in Georgia too, I contacted one of my oldest friends there and the alarm bells are ringing again for them as well.

Where things go from here is unclear but there won't be many winners - the whole thing seems pretty pointless.

---------------------------------------------------

Back to football now and my plans for the next few days are unsure.

QPR were supposed to play an U23 match against Millwall at Wealdstone on Tuesday.

However, the Stones have had a couple of structural safety incidents during games where hoardings have given way during goal celebrations and the council have closed the stadium to fans.

Consequently, the QPR match is now behind closed doors.

On a positive note, I plan to be at Rectory Park on Sunday to see my eldest daughter do mascot duties for Actonians as they play London Seaward in a Women's National League game at 2pm.

I think that's more than enough from me - take care wherever you are and hopefully they'll be a blog to write next week.

                                                             THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, most of our local non-league competitions and it's the Women's League Cup Final too. 

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 - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

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: 21-27 February 2022

Greetings one and all from a windswept London.

How was Storm Eunice for you?

There were, very sadly, deaths in the capital and around the country as the weather caused all kinds of problems on Friday.

With trees down, structural damage inflicted and heavy rain falling too, several football matches fell by the wayside on Saturday afternoon.

In Shepherd's Bush, where I am, we got off pretty lightly and I think the wind is actually blowing more consistently as I write this.

Although QPR's match with Hull City did go ahead, my plans to attend a local non-league match to keep my expenditure down were all scuppered so I just stayed on the sofa and dozed while my eldest daughter took advantage and put on 'The Emoji Movie'!

Tickets are on sale for this important match on Sunday

This week has been tiring - a combination of work, lots of Non-League Day (NLD) prep, this blog and all my household/family commitments has left me with very little time to do anything else.

On Thursday I received an invitation to collect my QPR Supporter of the Year trophy.

It was announced that I'd won the award back in May but only now have they been able to put on a presentation because of Covid-19.

Unfortunately, it's going to be during half-time of the Cardiff City game on 5 March when I'm working so I've had to decline.

Thankfully I've had the experience of a pitch presentation several times before and it will give the young lad who beat cancer, who I shared the award with, to take centre stage and enjoy the limelight.

After all the rushing around of the last few days, I've got this week off.

On Tuesday I'm heading to the Premier League's new HQ in Paddington for an NLD planning meeting.

They've allotted us a whopping 90 minutes for the session which is really pleasing as they're usually hugely productive and give the campaign massive impetus.

I also hope to get out and run between several of the non-league clubs of London who will be hosting matches on the 26 March.

It will be my effort to publicise the day and our partnership with Prostate Cancer UK who launched a risk checker this week to try and find the thousands of men who may have gone undiagnosed during the pandemic. Give it a go, it only takes a few seconds and could save your life.

One strange thing about this week is that there is no senior action on Monday.

UPDATE - as a result of an admin error on another website, no matches were showing up on Monday. That has been corrected and we now have a match at Carshalton Athletic. Many thanks to Kev on Twitter for the update

A YANK TRAVELS TO MANC (HESTER)

Next up we have another piece from American groundhopper Marc Derks who recently travelled 'Oop North' to watch Fulham take on Manchester City in the FA Cup. He also managed to get tickets to Old Trafford where Manchester United hosted Middlesbrough.

Here's how he got on: 

Flush with excitement as a newly minted (half) season-ticket holder, I watched the FA Cup Fifth Round draw eagerly.  I was looking to see where two teams might be drawn.

Manchester United are my first and true love. After all, you can change your wife, you can change your house, but you can never change your team.  And Man U have been my beloved since the treble year of 1999. Even so, having recently relocated to London, I rekindled a casual, on-again, off-again dalliance with Fulham to commit to them as my London club.  I’d been keeping an eye on Fulham since the days of Marcus Hannehman (the heavy metal goalkeeper) and watched with interest as Fulham became Fulhamerica owing to the eleven Americans who have pulled on the black and white strip of the first team.

So as Fulham were drawn against Manchester City at the Etihad, a plan was hatched.  I would go!  With the away fans!  In my obsessive attention to refreshing the Fulham website to see when tickets might be made available to season ticket holders, I failed to notice that United had been drawn also at home against Middlesbrough.  As much as Manchester likes to think it is a big town, its public transportation infrastructure is not capable of supporting both teams at home on the same day.  As a result, United would be at home on Friday night, and City on Saturday afternoon. 

The plan became a scheme.  Could I see both games?  I held my breath and kept Metro Bank’s fraud prevention line on speed dial as I ordered from an on-line scalper (tout, for you Brits).  The reviews were good and the price (£60 plus £20 in fees) was high but not outrageous.  I booked a hotel room and a train ride and all the pieces fell into place.  The Fulham ticket (easily ordered as a season ticket holder) came in the mail. A very legit-looking pdf of the Manchester United ticket arrived in my email.  I packed and was ready to go.

Relative to continental Europe, trains are expensive in the UK and London to Manchester is one of the busiest and therefore most expensive rides there is.  It was nearly £100 for the round trip, but the ride took only two hours and was a pretty pleasant way to start the weekend early.  Manchester is not big (especially in relation to the sprawling Old Smoke) and I found my way to the hotel to drop off my bag.

The trams in Manchester are easy to navigate and I soon found myself for just the second time in the shadow of the Theatre of Dreams.  It’s a big stadium seating 76,000 and while the die-hard supporters say it needs updating, it generally looks in good shape.  As is typical of the older stadiums, there are no concourses inside and the concessions cater to vertical slices of the stands. The seats at Old Trafford are tiny and you will be physically well acquainted with your neighbors by the end of the game.  The Middlesbrough fans were raucous and a doubt crept into my head as to whether I would be able to keep up with my Fulham compatriots the next day.

Setting aside the result (which NONE shall discuss), my pilgrimage was a great one.  I saw McTominay and Pogba. Varane and Maguire.  And Ronaldo live for the first time since 2004 when he was a youngster on that amazing Portugal national team.

The next day, I ventured to the blue side of Manchester.  The Etihad, like London Stadium, is pretty far removed from any neighborhoods or developments, but even so, the tram leaves you just a fifteen minute or so walk away. It’s relatively big, at 53,000, and it was packed out on this rainy Saturday afternoon.  The Fulham section was full as well so even if they don’t travel loud, they travel in good numbers.  A few, relatively random, observations from a very partial observer: City is obsessed with Oasis and Oasis is terrible. Seeing 93:20 on so much merchandise hurt my heart. Old Trafford, generally speaking, was much louder than the Etihad, but the Etihad is much more comfortable with very good sightlines.  The concessions are awash.  Neither was anything to write home about.

As for being an away fan among the Fulham support, there were more women and children among the Cottagers than I’ve seen in any group of away fans and certainly more than with the ‘Boro contingent the day before.  I had little trouble keeping up with the singing, but if I had been with the ‘Boro fans at Old Trafford, I’m not sure I could have said the same thing.  There was still plenty of drama, as a fair few Fulham supporters were dragged out by the police and many (many many many) insults were hurled between the two groups of fans.  Still, perhaps my favorite chant by the relatively affluent Fulham support was “We pay your benefits.” Snort.

It probably goes without saying in Manchester that it was cold and rainy. But it was. Cold. And rainy.  Having had my fill of exposure to the elements, I didn’t really dally the next morning in heading back to London.  Neither did anyone else and the train that I caught was full to the brim.  As a result, I paid £50 to sit on my bag in a doorway for the ride back to Euston.  I still would not trade it for anything. I am a groundhopper.

----------------------------------

Lastly from me, many thanks this week to James W from Hertfordshire and Wayne C from Nevada, USA for donating to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. I really really appreciate it.

THE WEEK AHEAD

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

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
Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list, 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 21 February

Isthmian League Cup Fourth Round

Carshalton Athletic v Corinthian @745pm - the week begins with this cup tie at Colston Avenue. The Robins play a level above Corinthian so should be expected to win

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Tuesday 22 February

Champions League

Chelsea v Lille @745pm - very unusually there's no senior football of note anywhere in London on Monday which means you'll have to wait until Tuesday to see a match. Top of the bill is this Champions League last 16 first leg match at Stamford Bridge. It sees the reigning European and World champions Chelsea host last season's French league winners.Sadly for the visitors, they're a shadow of the team they were last season and are currently 10th in the Ligue 1 standings. It's hard to see anything other than a home win here. If you know a season-ticket holder or member then there are some tickets left but they will have to buy them for you

League One

Charlton Athletic v MK Dons @745pm - the Addicks' 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Oxford on Saturday was their third defeat in a row and means they still can't quite rule themselves out of the relegation dogfight. MK Dons are just above Oxford in the table and going for automatic promotion too so it looks set to be another tough evening for Johnnie Jackson's side. Tickets are available

League Two

Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers @745pm - the O's form has plummetted of late so it was possibly a relief to see Saturday's game at Harrogate postponed. It's getting on for three months since they last won a game and their play-off push has now morphed into a fight to stay out of the bottom two who are only five points behind them. Back-to-back wins over Stevenage and Sutton have got Rovers thinking of a play-off spot again and a win here could put them within touching distance of the top seven. Tickets are available

National League

Dagenham & Redbridge v Woking @745pm - another team who could reignite their play-off ambitions are the Daggers. They were top early on in the campaign but inconsistency has cost them as they have dropped to 10th. A win against midtable Woking will put them back into contention for seventh but with Wrexham, Notts County and Grimsby Town all just above them it's going to be tough. Tickets are available

Southern League Premier South

Hayes & Yeading United v Truro City @745pm - with Farnborough having their match postponed on Saturday, H&YU took full advantage as they beat Poole Town 6-1 to return to the top of the league. The title race is beautifully poised with the top four within four points of each other so the run-in should be exciting. Truro have been among the frontrunners in recent seasons but playing all their home games miles away in Plymouth can't have helped and they're down in ninth

Middlesex Premier Cup Semi-Finals

Bedfont & Feltham v British Airways @745pm - there are plenty of other league and county cup games on Tuesday night but I've gone for these as there's a place in a final up for grabs. The first game is a landlords versus tenants clash, right next to Heathrow Airport - meaning you can watch the game and pretend you're hosting Big Jet TV at the same time

Rayners Lane v FC Deportivo Galicia @745pm - with 184 goals from 57 games between them, the two highest-scoring sides in the CCL Division 1 meet for the second time in three days. Let's hope it's less one-sided this time as the Lane won 7-0

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Wednesday 23 February

Premier League

Watford v Crystal Palace @745pm - the Hornets picked up their first win under Roy Hodgson by beating Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park. The victory was absolutely crucial but still left them four points adrift of safety. The Eagles narrowly lost at home to Chelsea as their winless run in the league extended to a sixth game. Consequently, both sides could do with a win here. Tickets are available

Championship

Fulham v Peterborough United @745pm - on paper there can be only one winner as leaders Fulham entertain a struggling Posh who are battling to stay off the bottom. But this is the Championship and literally anything can happen. The Cottagers lost at home to Huddersfield on Saturday and are due another wobble. Tickets are available

QPR v Blackpool @745pm - one side who are currently enduring a wobble are QPR. A place in the top two seemed to be theirs for the taking when they crushed Reading 4-0 at the end of January. However, February has not been kind as they suffered FA Cup and league defeats to Peterborough and Barnsley, the bottom two, and failed to beat Middlesbrough, Millwall or Hull City in their other games. The visitors haven't been in great form either but have shown more spirit, holding Fulham to a draw and narrowly losing to Bournemouth. Tickets are available

London Senior Trophy Semi-Final

Lewisham Borough v Tooting Bec @745pm - postponed from last week, these two SCEFL Division 1 sides will do battle for a place in the final against either AFC Cubo or Hilltop who play in the other tie next month

Inter-Services Match

RAF v Army @2pm - if you're looking for something a little different then head to Tithe Farm where Rayners Lane play host to this U23 match on Wednesday afternoon 

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Thursday 24 February

Premier League

Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers @745pm - there's a bit of bonus Premier League action on Thursday night courtesy of Amazon Prime who hold the rights to this match and are responsible for its unorthodox scheduling. By the time this match comes round, it could be sixth versus seventh and as such we should get a pretty intriguing game. However, don't expect it to be high  scoring - recent matches between the two have been close and Wolves are scoring less than a goal a game despite doing so well. Tickets are only available to members

FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final

Chelsea v Blackpool @7pm - if you've never been to Stamford Bridge before and want to do it on the cheap, then this is your chance as the Blues' U18 side welcome their counterparts from Lancashire. Adult tickets are just £5 and appear to only be available in advance with sales closing at 4pm on the day

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Friday 25 February

Arsenal v Liverpool @7pm - get your weekend underway with this eye-catching U23 match at Boreham Wood's ground. The Gunners are currently third in the PL2 and should start as favourites. Matches like this are often free entry but check with the club on the day

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Saturday 26 February

Premier League

Brentford v Newcastle United @3pm - with Newcastle dramatically improving and the Bees going in the other direction, only two points now separate these teams. A hugely important game at the wrong end of the table, it could have significant ramifications for several clubs in their fight to stay up. The sides produced a thrilling 3-3 draw when they last played in November so we'll hopefully get something similar and maybe a Brentford debut for Christian Eriksen. Tickets are only available to members

Crystal Palace v Burnley @3pm - if Palace lose to Watford in midweek then they'll be only five points above the relegation zone. After their convincing win at Brighton, it's conceivable that the Clarets could beat an inconsistent Spurs on Wednesday to make things even tighter at the bottom. Burnley are unbeaten in four against the Eagles and also drew 3-3 on the same November day as Newcastle and Brentford. Tickets are only on sale to members

Championship

Millwall v Sheffield United @3pm - with three wins from their last five games, both sides are in reasonable form. While the Lions have probably left it a little late to get back into play-off contention, the Blades are now back in the top six. The Den is a tough place to go for most teams but this Yorkshire club have won on their last two visits - we could have a decent match on our hands. Tickets are available

League One

AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers @3pm - the Dons' run of big home games continues with this match against one of their fellow strugglers. Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Bolton means they are now 14 games without a win in all competitions and this match against the side in 23rd is an absolute must win. Although Rovers have lost 10 more games than Wimbledon this season, they are showing signs of improvement and have enjoyed away wins over Lincoln and Sunderland in recent weeks. Tickets are available

League Two

Leyton Orient v Carlisle United @3pm - as mentioned above, the O's form is pretty terrible at the moment but Carlisle's is even worse. When it comes to form, these are the bottom two in the division. It won't be pretty but it could be hugely important. Tickets are available

Sutton United v Scunthorpe United @3pm - sitting just above Orient and Carlisle in the form table, Scunthorpe are also having a season to forget. In the real table that matters, the Iron are bottom and heading for non-league. In other words, promotion-chasing Sutton won't get a much better chance to win. Tickets are available

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round

Chelsea v Leicester City @1pm - if you're looking for a lunchtime kick-off then this cup tie at Kingsmeadow could be for you. The Blues won last season's delayed FA Cup Final at Wembley in December and are well on the way to retaining their title. Leicester are new to the Super League this season but have struggled and should be beaten. Tickets are available

National League

Boreham Wood v Eastleigh @3pm - currently third with games in hand on both of the top two, the Wood are really well placed to challenge for the title. With FA Cup wins over AFC Wimbledon and AFC Bournemouth in recent weeks, confidence must be sky high. Against midtable Eastleigh, complacency is probably going to be their biggest enemy. Also, with Everton at Goodison Park just a few days later, will the players be as committed as normal??? Tickets are available

National League South

Dulwich Hamlet v Braintree Town @3pm - when people look for a first non-league experience in London, I often point them in the direction of The Hamlet. It might not represent a typical afternoon out at the level, but it should be a good one. Often sold out on Saturdays, Champion Hill is one of the most welcoming, lively and colourful grounds in the capital and is well worth trying out. The big crowds are not to everyone's taste and I have friends who support Dulwich who now only go to away games. At the time of writing, the hosts are just about holding on to a play-off spot and should beat a struggling Braintree side. If you do want to go, you're strongly advised to buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 30 minutes before kick-off to get a good view

Southern League Premier South

Harrow Borough v Taunton Town @3pm - all the games in the seventh tier are much of a muchness so I'm recommending this as it's where I plan to be. Aside from a frankly bonkers 6-3 win over Truro three weeks ago, it's been pretty tough going for Boro in 2022. Still 12 points clear of the relegation zone, hopefully they've done enough to stay up but they need a few more wins to be sure. Taunton are fourth, very much in the title race and crushed Harrow 7-1 in the reverse fixture just before Christmas. However, the hosts signed Neymar and Ronaldo's body double last week so it could be a very different story!

Isthmian North

Aveley v Dereham Town @3pm - unbeaten in 11, the Millers are going along really nicely and are currently third just three points behind leaders Stowmarket. Dereham are also in the top six so you'd think they would present a very stern test, but it ended 4-0 to Aveley when they last played

Essex Senior League

Walthamstow v Stansted @3pm - probably the easiest pick of the day, it's first versus second in the ninth tier ESL. Given that The Stow are already 14 points clear, a win here could effectively give them the title. However, Stansted have two games in hand, so if they win then things could get a lot tighter a few weeks down the line. The hosts have been averaging crowds of nearly 300 this season, which is exceptional for this level, and I'd expect a few more to turn up for this one

CCL Division 1

British Airways v Bedfont & Feltham @3pm - again, nothing really stands out in the 10th tier so for the second time this week you have the chance to see these two groundsharers do battle. This time it's the tenants who have 'home' advantage

MCFL Premier Division Cup Semi-Final

Clapton CFC v Cricklewood Wanderers @130pm - there's a double of sorts over at Wadham Lodge where The Tons go for cup glory on the pitch alongside the main stadium where Walthamstow will be playing at 3pm. Although down in the 11th tier they often get lively crowds of 350-400 so are well worth experiencing. With the slight overlap in kick-off times between the two games, you'll have to leave one early or turn up late for the other but with Clapton CFC games being pay what you want, you can't really go wrong  

Surrey South Eastern Combination

AFC Whyteleafe v Earlsfield United @3pm - hands up, I admit being slow to the party on this one as I rarely cover football in the 12th tier. But with some great results and healthy crowds, phoenix club AFC Whyteleafe have become too hard to ignore. Still playing at Church Road, a ground capable of hosting at least seventh-tier football, the Leafe are well worth investigating especially if you're on the south side of town

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Sunday 27 February

EFL Cup Final

Chelsea v Liverpool @430pm - the first major final of the domestic season is upon us and for the first time since 2017, Manchester City will not be involved. The final we do have though is still big box-office stuff with two more of England's biggest clubs taking part. Neither have won this for several years although the Reds are the most successful club in the competition's history with eight wins from their 12 appearances in the final. Any remaining tickets will be for members only

Premier League

West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers @2pm - it looks all set to be a big week for Wolves as they play two of the sides just above them in the table. If they do beat Arsenal and win at the London Stadium, then a top-four place will be very much on the cards. The Hammers are still in with a shout themselves, of course, but they've played 2-3 games more than three sides immediately below them and a Europa League spot looks a more realistic objective at this stage. Tickets are available

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round

Charlton Athletic v Everton @1pm - there's only one tie in London on Sunday and it could provide a cupset as the second-tier Addicks look to get the better of the Toffees who are second from bottom in the Super League and really struggling for form. The match is being played at VCD Athletic's ground and adult tickets are £5

FA Women's Championship

London City Lionesses v Bristol City @2pm - with Liverpool 10 points clear at the top, it looks like everyone else will be fighting for second. LCL, who play at Dartford, currently occupy the runners-up spot while the Robins are just a couple of points behind in fourth

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!

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