TLFG: 16-22 August 2021

Greetings and welcome to this week's TLFG.

I'm at work at the moment and really pushed for time so it's a bit of holding piece from me which I will hopefully flesh out tomorrow.

There are some really great FA Cup ties at the weekend which I haven't yet had a chance to write about but they're all on the maps so have a dig around and see what you find.

Have a great week.         

UPDATE - I've now had a chance to fill things out in the Daily Digest so hopefully you'll find it useful.                                           

THE WEEK AHEAD

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

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 16 August

Premier League 2

There's a really fine selection of U23 games today with West Ham v Arsenal at the London Stadium topping the bill. Tickets are only £5 for adults and can be bought online. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace face Leeds at Selhurst Park and a little to the north of London, Tottenham entertain Chelsea at Stevenage. All details are on the match map above

ECL Division 1 South

Barkingside v Frenford @745pm - if you'd rather put some money into the non-league economy instead, there's an interesting local derby at Cricklefields to be enjoyed

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Tuesday 17 August

Championship

Millwall v Fulham @745pm - after playing QPR on the opening day, the Lions face another derby against the title favourites. The Bermondsey club are unbeaten so far but have drawn both league games whilst the Cottagers crushed Huddersfield 5-1 on Saturday to go top. Tickets

League One

AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham @745pm - the Dons welcomed a full crowd to the new Plough Lane on Saturday as they and Bolton served up a thrilling 3-3 draw. The Gills conceded an 89th-minute goal to lose 1-0 here last season. Tickets

Professional Development League

QPR v Hull City @1pm - earlier in the day there's an U23 match at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. I've had it confirmed that it's free to get in but any donations to the club's community trust will be gratefully received

Southern League Premier Division South

Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - the best non-league option of the day is this derby at Silver Jubilee Park. Both clubs made really impressive starts to their seasons on Saturday with Hayes beating Swindon Supermarine 3-0 and Hendon recording a very impressive 4-0 away win at Truro. Tickets are £10.50 if bought in advance and £11 on the gate

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Wednesday 18 August

SCEFL Premier Division

Erith Town v Erith & Belvedere @745pm - there are some good options in the ninth and 10th tiers on Wednesday but this derby is the standout one in my humble opinion. Both have made decent starts to the season are in the top five after three games

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v West Essex @745pm - a staggering crowd of over 800 packed into Woodford's new ground on Friday night for its first match. If you weren't able to go you've got another chance on Wednesday. The visitors arrive on the back of a spectacular 8-1 win over Sporting Bengal United so should provide stiff opposition

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Thursday 19 August

MCFL Premier Division

CB Hounslow United Reserves v Indian Gymkhana @tbc - for hardcore football addicts I'm aware of only one game on Thursday and it's taking place at Green Lane near Heathrow

UPDATE - there is now also a friendly between District Line and Northern Line as they prepare for the new London Underground League season. The match is at Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow at 3pm

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Friday 20 August

Premier League 2

There's another really decent selection of U23 football on Friday night where the blockbuster fixture between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge tops the card. Tickets are £5 and can be bought online. Elsewhere, Arsenal play Crystal Palace at Boreham Wood's ground and Fulham face West Brom at their training ground

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Walton & Hersham v Guildford City @745pm - for something far more meaningful, the next round of the FA Cup gets underway with this all CCL fixture between two Surrey clubs

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Saturday 21 August

Premier League

Crystal Palace v Brentford @3pm - there's only one top-flight game in London on Saturday and it's a derby. Many might view this as an early six-pointer as both were among the favourites to go down. However, the Bees impressive win over Arsenal in their first game might have changed a few minds. Amazingly this is the first time the sides have played each other in any competition since 1978! Tickets are only on sale to members

Championship

QPR v Barnsley @1230pm - after slightly faltering performances against Millwall and Leyton Orient in their first two games, Rangers notched an impressive 3-0 win at Hull on Saturday which moved them joint top on goal difference. However, that top spot is shared by a whopping 10 clubs as all 100% records have already gone. One of those teams is Barnsley who did very well last season and will be a threat here. Tickets

Fulham v Hull City @3pm - just down the road at Craven Cottage, the team at the top of the table will look to pile further misery on Hull after putting five past Huddersfield themselves on Saturday. This could conceivably be combined with the game at QPR if you have access to a bike or an e-scooter both of which are available to hire in the local area. Cars, buses and trains probably won't get you there in time as the traffic and parking situation will be problematic. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Wigan Athletic @3pm - the Addicks have had quite a tough start and are still looking for their first league win. The Latics haven't been tearing up any trees either but they did record a useful 1-0 win over Rotherham on Saturday. Tickets

National League

Bromley v Grimsby Town @520pm - the fifth tier National League is the final competition to get going and there are several good looking games on offer. I've highlighted this one purely because of its late kick-off which will allow you to combine it with an earlier kick-off like the match at QPR or maybe a game more locally like Beckenham Town's FA Cup game against Hastings. MATCH OFF

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Barking v Ilford @3pm - the first tie to jump off the page for me was this east London derby at Mayesbrook Park. If you don't know the geography of the area they are literally neighbouring districts. The hosts play a level above Ilford so should start as favourites

Uxbridge v Cray Valley PM @3pm - CVPM had their best ever run in the FA Cup last season as they made the First Round, beating several higher-ranked clubs along the way. Uxbridge are celebrating their 150th season so it would make it extra special for them to have a run

Beckenham Town v Hastings United @3pm - I went to the Becks' tie in the previous round so I'm going to focus on them again. After beating Colliers Wood, they now entertain one of the biggest clubs in the draw at this stage. At the time of last season's curtailment, Hastings were top of the Isthmian League South East so will provide a very tough test for Beckenham. They also drew a crowd of almost 1,000 for their season opener against Herne Bay so they should be expected to bring a healthy travelling support

MCFL Premier Division

FC Soma v Sporting Hackney @tbc - for hardcore groundhoppers, this match is taking place at the Bannister Sports Centre in Harrow. The last time I went there was to compete in the Middlesex Schools Cross Country Championships in the early 1990s. I was something like a third reserve, several people dropped out and I came 48th out of 50 in a rather humiliating afternoon of athletic activity! As for this match, Soma are new to this level. Kick-off times are hard to get hold of in this division but they tend to be at 2pm, 230pm or 3pm - check with either of the clubs for the latest before you travel

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Sunday 22 August

Premier League

Arsenal v Chelsea @430pm - after very contrasting fortunes in their opening fixtures, it's hard to see much beyond an away win here. Having said that, I didn't give Spurs a hope against Manchester City and look what happened there! Tickets are not on general sale

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Kensington & Ealing Borough v Romford @3pm - over on the west side of town, at Hanwell Town's ground, one of the only 10th-tier teams left in the competition will play host to a side from two levels above them. With three wins out of four so far, Kensington have begun brightly whilst Romford scraped past lower division opposition in the last round and on Saturday lost their first league game 7-0. There is real cupset potential here and it's where I'm hoping to spend my afternoon

Erith & Belvedere v AFC Croydon Athletic @4pm - the Deres have made a fantastic start to the season, winning their first three league games and upsetting Tooting & Mitcham in the FA Cup. Next up they face the Rams who play in the parallel fifth tier Combined Counties League. They haven't started nearly as well so could have a challenging afternoon

FA Women's National League Southern Premier

London Bees v Crawley Wasps @2pm - The Hive, also home to Barnet, plays host to this game in the women's third tier. London Bees suffered relegation from the Championship last season and began with another defeat at Keynsham Town on Sunday. Crawley recorded a solid 3-0 win over Cardiff so they should fancy their chances. UPDATE - apparently this match is now against Keynsham, not Crawley

FA Women's National League Division 1 South East

Kent Football United v QPR @2pm - in the fourth tier, KFU prepare to host their first home game of the season following a narrow 2-1 defeat at AFC Wimbledon. It looks like they might have to be at the top of their game as newly promoted QPR started their season with a 6-0 win over Stevenage

London & South East Women's Regional League

Dulwich Hamlet v New London Lionesses @2pm - despite playing way down in the fifth tier, Dulwich have the potential to draw the biggest women's crowd of the afternoon so if you're looking for a bit of atmosphere then it shouldn't be quiet at Champion Hill MATCH POSTPONED - Dulwich have now arranged a friendly against West Ham United U21s. It's still at 2pm and free to get in

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: 9-15 August 2021

With my two weeks of holiday coming to an end, I was able to get to another game and visit a ground for the first time.

Despite having the big derby between QPR and Millwall taking place on my doorstep, I just didn't fancy it.

I've been to several of these games, they're usually tense affairs often leading to crowd violence.

It was clear the police felt there would be trouble too as their presence was unlike anything you'd see for any other games at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium with numerous vans and officers, several from the Territorial Support Group, on the streets of W12 from around 10am.

Apart from this, I just couldn't justify the cost of a ticket and thought I'd get better value by 'going non-league'.

Ironically, I found myself speeding past The Den on my way to the game I ended up choosing - the FA Cup tie between Beckenham Town and Colliers Wood United.

Colliers Wood defend a corner during their FA Cup tie at Beckenham

The two Combined Counties League clubs were able to play despite lots of pre-match rain, thanks to a fantastic pitch that looked totally unaffected.

In my preview I suggested the Becks would probably start as favourites and they did have the better of things over the course of the game.

They created numerous half chances but fluffed them all as CWU's keeper was rarely tested.

The moment of the match came midway through the second half when the visitors found themselves being awarded a penalty after a foul in the box.

Sadly for them, it thumped against the woodwork and Beckenham's keeper made a fine save from the rebound.

An injury time free-kick in a dangerous position gave the hosts the chance of a dramatic late win but it came to nothing and the match ended 0-0.

With several goals going in elsewhere in the locality at Crystal Palace, Balham and Croydon my companion for the afternoon Mike suggested we'd picked the wrong game!

Beckenham Town is well worth a visit - a warm welcome on the turnstile, decent food and drink at a reasonable price and, importantly for me, very easy to get to by train as it's round the corner from Eden Park station. 

After paying £6 to watch Squires Gate up in Blackpool last week, it was interesting to see that it was £8 here even though they play at the same level.

London prices must play a part in this but it did seem a bit steep for a ninth-tier club.

In other news, regular readers will know I also run the annual Non-League Day event.

After talks this week with various partners, it looks like we might try our first spring event to give us more chance to prepare - apart from anything else, it will stop us clashing with any FA competitions which often causes problems.

Anyway, that's about it from me. I'm back on late shifts this week so won't get to see a game, I hope you have more joy.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include the return of the Premier League, the opening round of the EFL Cup, games in the EFL itself, most of our local non-league competitions and the first week of games in the FA Women's National 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
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 9 August

SCEFL Division 1

SC Thamesmead v Lewisham Borough @745pm - the hosts have made a disappointing start, losing their opening two. Lewisham picked up their first win on Saturday at FC Elmstead so might start as marginal favourites

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Tuesday 10 August

EFL Cup First Round

Millwall v Portsmouth @745pm - after an opening day draw at QPR, the Lions welcome Pompey to The Den for their first home match of the season. The Hampshire club are still in League One but began well with a 1-0 win at Fleetwood. Tickets are on general sale for £20

Charlton Athletic v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - in the other tie of the night, we have a decent south London derby to enjoy. The Addicks started their season with a 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday whilst the Dons notched an impressive 2-1 win at Doncaster. Tickets are a very reasonable £10

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Banstead Athletic v Bearsted @745pm - the rain saw this postponed on Saturday so they'll all try again on Tuesday. Neither side have won a game yet so it should be close

Walthamstow v Crawley Green @745pm - the Stow began their season with an emphatic 5-2 away win at newly promoted White Ensign and they should feel pretty confident of making progress here

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Wednesday 11 August

EFL Cup First Round

Leyton Orient v QPR @745pm - there's another decent derby at Brisbane Road where the League Two O's play host to Rangers of the Championship. As a QPR fan, I know there's been quite a bit of interest in this tie with the initial allocation of away fans' tickets selling out. The omens don't look good for the club from W12 as they've won only two of their last 10 meetings with Orient so a cupset could be on the cards. Tickets are on general sale

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Sporting Bengal United v White Ensign @745pm - based at the Mile End Stadium, United's pitch got waterlogged by the heavy downpours on Saturday so weren't able to play. Both sides play in the Essex Senior League and both have lost their first two league games so it's quite hard to pick a winner

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round Replays

Romford v Harpenden Town @745pm - the hosts are one of only of a small number of eighth-tier teams who are making an unusually early entry into this year's competition. Groundsharing at Barking's stadium, they should have too much for a team from a level below them

Erith & Belvedere v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - the Deres recorded a very creditable 1-1 draw at Imperial Fields on Saturday against the higher-ranked Terrors. Will home advantage give them that little bit extra they need to cause a cupset?

Athletic Newham v Virginia Water @745pm - Newham have caught the eye in pre-season and have made an unbeaten start following their recent promotion to the Essex Senior League. Virginia Water have also just moved leagues from the Hellenic to Combined Counties so play at a similar level. I'm tipping the hosts

Colliers Wood United v Beckenham Town @730pm - CGU went into the original game as underdogs and spent most of it on the defensive. Despite this they had the chance of the match when a penalty came their way but they missed it and it ended 0-0. This could well go to penalties

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Friday 13 August

Premier League

Brentford v Arsenal @8pm - the moment many people have been waiting for is here, the opening match of the new Premier League season. More importantly though, it marks the Bees' first game in the top flight since 1947. To top it all, it's being played at the club's new stadium which many fans still haven't been to. The fact it's also a big derby against the Gunners is just the icing on the cake! Unsurprisingly, the match is sold out

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Stansted @745pm - on the other side of town, it's also a hugely important night for all those associated with Woodford as they play the first game at their new stadium. Covid has delayed this occasion so let's hope no-one among the squads gets pinged between now and then. Tickets are £7 on the gate

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Saturday 14 August

Premier League

Chelsea v Crystal Palace @3pm - after a disappointing start to last season under Frank Lampard, they finished off by winning the Champions League under new boss Thomas Tuchel. As a result of this improvement, the Blues are now second favourites to win the title with most bookmakers. Palace, with new manager Patrick Vieira, are again tipped to struggle so getting anything out of this will be a significant achievement. You'll need to be a member to get a ticket or be able to spend hundreds of pounds on a hospitality package

Watford v Aston Villa @3pm - after suffering relegation in 2020, the Hornets have made an instant return and resume Premier League life with this home game. Villa have sold Jack Grealish but have brought in some decent talent with the fee and are 7-1 to finish in the top six. Watford, however, are seen as the club most likely to finish bottom. Tickets are on general sale

Championship

Millwall v Blackburn Rovers @3pm - both of these sides faded in the second half of last season to finish some way off the top six. The Lions picked up a very solid point at QPR on Saturday while Blackburn began with a win over Swansea. Rovers have become a bit of a bogey team for Millwall, losing only one of their last 11 games against them. Tickets are on general sale 

League One

AFC Wimbledon v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - the Dons are another club in a new stadium which many fans have yet to visit so demand for tickets will be high. When I looked there were a number still available but it was unclear whether you needed to be a member, you certainly need to set up a ticket account at the very least

League Two

Leyton Orient v Exeter City @3pm - both sides managed top-half finishes last season, with City narrowly missing the play-offs. If I were a betting man I'd go with the Grecians here as they're unbeaten in eight against the O's. Tickets are on general sale

Friendly

Aldershot Town v Brentford B @1pm - a bit of a random one this but if you're looking for an early kick-off, the Shots have moved this game to Glebe's ground in south-east London. Aldershot coach Anwar Uddin used to be manager of Glebe so that might have something to do with the location

National League South

Dulwich Hamlet v Chippenham Town @3pm - for the second season running, Covid caused the premature end of the season in the sixth tier. However, with fewer games played there was no PPG resolution to the campaign and no-one got promoted or relegated. Prior to the pandemic, neither of these sides were exactly challenging for honours but the Hamlet were still pulling in some of the biggest crowds nationally at this level. A trip to Champion Hill is one of the best you can get at non-league level in London. Tickets are available online and you're advised to buy in advance as the small ground does fill up

Isthmian League Premier Division

Cray Wanderers v Lewes @3pm - it's quite hard to pick a stand-out game in the seventh tier as they're all much of a muchness at this stage of the season so why not head down to Bromley to watch London's oldest club Cray in action? They were fourth at the time of last season's curtailment and are fancied to do well this time. Former fifth-tier club Lewes have had a mixed few years, moving up and down the divisions but are a fine bunch and will hopefully do well this year. Tickets can be bought online but it's not essential

Isthmian League South Central

Staines Town v Chertsey Town @3pm - there's a derby to enjoy at Wheatsheaf Lane. Staines are another side who have enjoyed better times, being a sixth-tier side when I started this blog. Financial issues have plagued the club in recent years as they've dropped to the eighth tier but I get the feeling there's renewed confidence about their prospects. Chertsey found themselves at the wrong end of the Combined Counties League when Dave Anderson took over in early 2018. He went on to keep them up and then win the league and FA Vase in 2018/19 before stepping down. The Curfews were, therefore, a club very much on the up but will Covid end that momentum?

Combined Counties League Premier Division South

Cobham v Jersey Bulls @130pm - the Bulls only began playing competitively at the start of the 2019/20 season which they dominated but had promotion taken away from them by Covid. Last season also ended early but the FA decided to promote them because of their great record. They began life at the higher level last week with their first ever league defeat at Beckenham Town. However, they absolutely demolished Horsham YMCA 10-1 in this weekend's FA Cup tie so it will be interesting to see how they get on at Cobham

Combined Counties League Division 1

London Samurai Rovers v Hillingdon Borough @3pm - with their roots unsurprisingly in London's Japanese community, LSR have just moved up to the 10th tier and begin life at Hanworth Villa's ground with this fixture against another west London club

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Sunday 15 August

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @430pm - after an unsettling off-season which eventually saw the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as manager, Spurs come into the new campaign with the future of star striker Harry Kane still undecided. Such uncertainty would be unfortunate at any time but not when you're preparing to play the reigning league champions and favourites for the title. Despite drawing with Chelsea and beating Arsenal in friendlies this week, it's hard to see the hosts getting anything out of this. Tickets are on sale to members only but they can bring guests

FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division

Hounslow v Ipswich Town @2pm - the hosts took QPR's place in the third tier when the club cut the women's funding a couple of years ago. Since then they've really struggled, with Covid preventing their relegation. A recent 5-0 friendly defeat at home to the lower-ranked Actonians would suggest they still have problems. Ipswich have just been promoted to this level and I'd expect them to win

FA Women's National League Division 1 South East

QPR v Stevenage @2pm - the R's are a club on the up following their somewhat controversial promotion from the fifth tier at the expense of Dulwich Hamlet. They're also starting a new groundshare at Hanwell Town which is really easy to get to by car, Tube (Perivale) or bus so hopefully that'll mean a good attendance

Actonians v Cambridge United @2pm - I'm going to be really torn this season as Actonians, who my daughter plays youth football for, are in the same division as QPR who I've always supported. Nowhere near the big name that Rangers are, Actonians have been playing at this level for longer and are run by a hard-working group of volunteers. The players also pay their own subs so they're doing really well to be one of the most competitive sides in this division. Playing at the Middlesex FA's Rectory Park facility in Northolt, the spectator experience isn't great as there's little cover but I can confirm that the tea bar is very good

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 August 2021

Greetings from Lancashire dear readers.

I've been up in Lytham St Annes on holiday this week so have been away from all the goings on in the capital.

I'm told there have been some more terrible downpours which have caused all kinds of flooding - I hope you weren't too adversely affected.

The weather here has also been disappointing but it's been more grey and overcast than anything else.

One of my objectives during this trip was to see at least one match locally.

Lower Breck defend during their 1-0 win at Squires Gate

There have been a great selection over the last few days with the Fylde and wider Lancashire area a famous hotbed of football.

On Tuesday Blackpool narrowly lost 1-0 to Burnley, on Friday Fleetwood beat Leeds 2-1 and on Saturday Preston were supposed to play Manchester United until Covid intervened.

However, I didn't see any of these and went to watch my first North West Counties League match instead.

About two miles from St Anne's, very close to Blackpool airport, you'll find three clubs almost side-by-side all in their own grounds.

From west to east they are AFC Blackpool, Blackpool Wren Rovers and Squires Gate. 

I went to see the latter play host to newly promoted Lower Breck who hail from the Anfield neighbourhood of Liverpool - something that was very evident in the players' accents.

For this ninth-tier game I paid a very reasonable £6 to get in and it was free for U12s like my daughter. 

The match was fiercely contested but provided few clear-cut chances.

It was no surprise that a second-half penalty for the visitors would prove to be decisive in their 1-0 win.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit but one thing to note - parking was a problem. 

With BWR also hosting a game, the car park was overflowing with people double and triple parked.

By the time we got there it was carnage and my friend, with a disability, who drove us had to park away from the ground and walk back so bear that in mind.

A must-buy for all FA Cup fans

I'm heading back to London on Monday afternoon and hope to see a game or two over the next few days. 

Hayes & Yeading United v QPR U23, New Salamis v Kenisngton & Ealing Borough and another game on Saturday are all on my wishlist but I think I'll be lucky to get more than one of them.

There is plenty to choose from this week so fill your boots!

PS - one final thing from me, the FA Cup gets underway this week and there's a new book by Phil Annets packed with stats and facts about the competition and the clubs who enter it. I shall definitely be using some of his nuggets in some of my FA Cup previews - thanks Phil.

PPS - for those of you who rely on public transport to get to games, please be aware that there is set to be strike action by some Tube drivers which could affect you if you're going to a game on Tuesday or Thursday night. Thanks to TLFG reader Chris H for a reminder about this. Update - this strike has now been cancelled.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include the FA Community Shield, return of the EFL, the opening round of this season's FA Cup and numerous friendlies which feature Premier League and European teams.

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
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 August

A bit further afield

K Sports v Tunbridge Wells @745pm - unusually for a Monday, there's very little action anywhere at all. I heard chat about a St Panteleimon friendly possibly taking place at Enfield Town's ground but couldn't find confirmation of it anywhere. The only match in the south east that I'm aware of is this SCEFL Premier Division match not far from Maidstone. If you know of anything else, let me know

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Tuesday 3 August

Friendlies

Boreham Wood v Chelsea XI @730pm - the Wood continue their pre-season with another high profile friendly. The Blues are playing Spurs on Wednesday so this is likely to be an U23 squad. Tickets are £12

Hayes & Yeading United v QPR XI @745pm - having thrashed Enfield Town 7-1 on Saturday, the hosts should feel confident ahead of this meeting with QPR's U23 side. Tickets are £7

West Ham United U23 v Huddersfield Town B @7pm - the youngsters from these two sides meet at the Hammers' Rush Green facility in Romford. Check with West Ham on the day for the latest details

Hanwell Town v Brentham @7pm - there's a rare chance to see a football match at Ealing Trailfinders rugby club on Tuesday as these two local teams meet for a friendly

Beckenham Town v Crawley Town @7pm - ninth tier Beckenham have pulled off a bit of a coup by landing a friendly against League Two Crawley. It's listed as the Sussex club's final first-team friendly. Tickets are usually £8

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Wednesday 4 August

Friendlies

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @745pm - these two clubs and Arsenal are currently taking part in a high profile triangular pre-season tournament called The Mind Series which is raising funds for the 'Mind' mental health charity. The Blues beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates in the opening game on Sunday so should start as strong favourites here. Tickets are only on sale to season-ticket holders and members but they can buy some for guests 

Barking v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - in east London we have a derby that's been branded The Borough Cup. The Daggers won the inaugural game last year so the hosts will look to cause an upset and get revenge. Tickets are £8 and you can pay on the gate

AFC Wimbledon v Portsmouth @8pm - if you'd prefer some women's football then these two will be warming up for the forthcoming Women's National League season with a game at Carshalton Athletic's ground

A bit further afield

Southampton v Levante @7pm - less than 90 minutes on the train from Waterloo will bring you to the Hampshire port city of Southampton where the local Premier League side entertain some Spanish opposition. Tickets are on general sale for £15

Southend United v Brentford B @7pm - if you don't want to go that far, you could spend a day on the Essex coast before heading to this friendly in the evening. Details are a bit sketchy at the moment so check with Southend on the day for the latest info

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

Thursday 5 August

Friendly

North Greenford United v Pitshanger Dynamo @730pm - thanks to TLFG reader Chris H for alerting me to this friendly between two sides who groundshare. With little else on, get yourself down to Berkeley Fields!

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Friday 6 August

Friendly

Boreham Wood v Arsenal XI @730pm - after a fallow Thursday, the action returns on Friday with a very decent selection of games. A young Gunners XI saw off Hendon with relative ease last week but should face a tougher evening against The Wood who play two levels higher. Tickets are £12

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

The moment many of you have been waiting for has arrived, the start of the 2021/22 FA Cup. A total of 348 clubs will be taking part in this opening round with the winners of each tie banking £1,125 and the losers £375. 

New Salamis v Kensington & Ealing Borough @745pm - the hosts, who play at Haringey Borough, only entered the FA Cup for the first time last season and made it through two rounds before bowing out. Kensington & Ealing were only formed in 2012 and are making their debut in the competition. They play a level below New Salamis but play some good football and the two should provide an entertaining game. Tickets are £8 and will be available on the gate

West Essex v St Panteleimon @745pm - this will be the first competitive match for West Essex as they begin their new groundshare at Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow. The east London club were eighth in the Essex Senior League when it got curtailed last season whereas St Panteleimon finished fourth in the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 to get promoted. In other words, the clubs now play in parallel ninth tier divisions so this should be another close one. Tickets should be around £8 too

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Saturday 7 August

FA Community Shield

Manchester City v Leicester City @515pm - the annual season curtain-raiser at Wembley between the winners of the Premier League and FA Cup is here once again. There appear to be quite a few tickets available in the Manchester City end mostly in the very reasonable £20-25 price bracket

Friendlies

Brentford v Valencia @530pm - the Bees move a week closer to life in the Premier League with this final eye-catching pre-season game against one of the biggest clubs in Spain. Tickets are on general sale at various prices between £15-25

Crystal Palace v Watford @3pm - there's an all Premier League encounter at Selhurst Park. The last five meetings between these two at this stadium have finished either 1-0 or 2-1 so expect a close game. Tickets are £15 if bought in advance or £20 on the day

West Ham United v Atalanta @3pm - six years ago I went to watch QPR play an unheralded Atalanta side in a pre-season game. The Italian club had filled in at short notice for another Serie A club but still brought thousands of fans and created a fantastic atmosphere as the sides drew 1-1. Fast forward to now and the Bergamo club have become one of the top sides in the country finishing third last season and making the Champions League quarter finals the year before. The Hammers also had one of their best seasons for many years in 2020/21 and will compete in Europe themselves. Tickets are available from £15

A bit further afield

Southampton v Athletic Bilbao @3pm - the Saints welcome some more Spanish opposition on Saturday. The Basque club finished 10th in La Liga last season. Tickets are £15

Brighton & Hove Albion v Getafe @7pm - the Seagulls also entertain a club from Spain and do it at a very accommodating time of 7pm meaning you can watch a great selection of games in London at 3pm before heading south for this one. Tickets are £15 in advance and £20 on the day

Championship

QPR v Millwall @3pm - if all that friendly nonsense isn't for you then get yourself along to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium where the EFL season gets underway with this humdinger of a London derby. The R's have been playing some great stuff in pre-season beating Manchester United and drawing 3-3 Leicester along the way but the Lions will present a totally different challenge and they and their infamous fans are usually really fired up for this one. There is often crowd trouble at this fixture and I'm surprised it wasn't moved forward to a lunchtime kick-off. Tickets are on general sale

League One

Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday @530pm - the Addicks suffered the heartbreak of missing a play-off spot by no more than goal difference last season, meaning they're starting off in the third tier again. Wednesday, another former top-flight club, also find themselves at this level after finishing bottom of the Championship last season. The Yorkshire club have a decent record at The Valley and have only lost on one of their last five visits. Tickets are on general sale

Pitching In Super Cup

Hornchurch v Warrington Rylands @1245pm - if you've got a ticket for the FA Community Shield at Wembley later in the day, you could start by watching this game between the winners of the FA Trophy and FA Vase at lunchtime. I think I'm right in saying that this match is not the brainchild of the FA who've missed a trick here. Rather than the national stadium, this match is being played at Hornchurch and tickets are £10

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Tooting & Mitcham United v Erith & Belvedere @3pm - the opening round of the FA Cup is usually reserved for clubs in the ninth tier and below. This year a few eighth-tier sides have been put into the draw with The Terrors among them. The south London club have a proud record of getting to the Fourth Round proper in 1976 where they lost to Bradford City after beating Swindon Town in the previous round. The Deres have never made it out of the qualifying competition and play a level below their opponents so the smart money is definitely on the hosts

Beckenham Town v Colliers Wood United @3pm - I'm expecting big things the Becks this season. They started their league campaign by inflicting the newly promoted Jersey Bulls first ever league defeat in front of a healthy crowd of 325 which makes them one of the best supported sides in London at this level. Colliers Wood have lost in this round for the last three seasons so their luck must change soon but it'll be a bit of an upset if they manage it here 

Broadfields United v Cribbs @3pm - this match stands out for me as it provides you with a very rare chance to watch Bristol club Cribbs play in London. I'm genuinely quite surprised the clubs find themselves in the same part of the draw with West Country teams usually kept apart from other regions to minimise travel but they must have been right on the boundary line

Redbridge v Ilford @3pm - another one to leap off the page at me is this east London derby at Oakside. Very easy to get to with the ground right next Barkingside station

Walthamstow v Crawley Green @3pm - the Stow pulled in some sizeable crowds in the early rounds last season as they increased their supporter base during the lockdown of the big clubs last autumn. Many readers have reported enjoyable visits to Wadham Lodge so give it a go if you're anywhere near E17

ECL Division 1 South

Buckhurst Hill v Halstead Town @3pm - after 13 years in the Essex Olympian League, the Hill have moved up to the 10th tier becoming one of TLFG's newest clubs in the process. They've had to upgrade their Roding Lane ground to play at this level and they play their first competitive match there on Saturday

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Sunday 8 August

Friendly

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @2pm - the Mind Series concludes with this monster of a match at the THS on Sunday. Prior to this week, Spurs have been unbeaten in games against Leyton Orient, Colchester and MK Dons so back-to-back games against Chelsea and Arsenal could be a shock to the system. The clubs' women's teams will also be playing each other at 445pm. Tickets are on sale to season-ticket holders and members but they can bring guests

Championship

Fulham v Middlesbrough @130pm - if the weather's good then you might find the prospect of watching a competitive game on the banks of the Thames in one of London's most desirable neighbourhoods more appealing than the one above. The Cottagers are currently the bookies' favourites to win the title this season, which I find quite surprising, and Neil Warnock's Boro are also fancied to do well so this match has real potential. Tickets are on general sale

Women's friendly

Dulwich Hamlet v Enfield Town @2pm - aside from the North London Derby above, this match at Champion Hill is for me the pick of the women's action. Last weekend the Hamlet got 231 through the gate to see them play London Seaward and they're hoping for more on Sunday. Adult tickets are £4

A bit further afield

If you don't mind heading out of town there are three more FA Cup ties being played in Arlesey and Hertford to the north and Windsor to the west - full details are on the weekend match map

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: 26 July - 1 August 2021

Greetings TLFG readers, I hope you're all well and haven't suffered too much with the extreme weather that we've experienced this week.

Be it the high temperatures at the beginning of the week or the torrential rain that's flooded several London neighbourhoods this evening.

Have you managed to get a game or two?

I made it up to Earlsmead for Harrow Borough's pre-season game against QPR U23s.

Lead by former Boro player Albert Adomah, the Ghana international was given a warm welcome and a guard of honour on his return to the north-west London club where he began his career.

He put in a ceremonial 20-minute performance before being subbed off to applause from around the ground.

That was pretty much the highlight of the evening for Harrow fans, as the R's youngsters took total control and won 4-0 in front of a healthy crowd.

For me, it was good to catch up with some long-time readers of this blog and meet some others for the first time.

Putting this week's blog together has been another struggle as Covid has caused several fixtures to be cancelled or re-arranged at very short notice - please forgive any mistakes or errors.

Tomorrow I head up to Lancashire for a week's holiday with the family - annoyingly the weather looks like the poorest it's been for a long time so we'll probably be looking for some beach alternatives.

There's a really good selection of friendlies in the region over the next few days but I'm unlikely to get a pass out to watch them.

However, the North West Counties League season begins on Saturday and I will hopefully get to see one of those matches.

 THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include numerous friendlies which feature a handful of Premier League and EFL teams and lots of non-league ones too, including the opening competitive match in several local leagues.

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 26 July

Friendly

Hendon v Hampton & Richmond Borough @745pm - the pick of Monday night's action sees Gary McCann return to his former club with the Beavers

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Tuesday 27 July

Friendlies

Crystal Palace v Charlton Athletic @6pm - the action kicks off early at Selhurst Park as these two local rivals meet for a bit of friendly fun. Tickets are not on general sale

Bromley v Arsenal U23 @745pm - the Ravens thrashed Ebbsfleet 4-0 at the weekend and next face a young Gunners side. Tickets are £15 and must be bought in advance

Dartford v Sutton United @730pm - having beaten AFC Wimbledon 1-0 on Saturday, the Darts will feel confident ahead of this meeting against League Two Sutton. Tickets are £10

A bit further afield

Stevenage v Watford @745pm - there are a number of decent friendlies just beyond London's borders on Tuesday but for a sniff of Premier League quality you should head to Stevenage for this Hertfordshire derby. Tickets are £20

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Wednesday 28 July

Friendly

West Essex v Sporting Hackney @745pm - to my knowledge this is the only game on in London today. The hosts are about to begin their first season as tenants at Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow and they welcome some fellow east Londoners for this one

A bit further afield

MK Dons v Tottenham Hotspur @745pm - about 50 miles north of London, just off the M1 you'll find this decent looking friendly between one of the League One Dons and Premier League big boys Spurs. Tickets are available from £20

Wycombe Wanderers v Leicester City @730pm - the Chairboys won a lot of admirers for their plucky approach to life in the Championship but ultimately they got relegated. Arguably the highlight of their pre-season is this match against last season's FA Cup winners Leicester. The ground is small and tickets priced at £20 are selling well so buy in advance if you want to go

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Thursday 29 July

Friendly

VCD Athletic v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - there are three games to choose from on Thursday and this game between a couple of south-east London clubs is probably the best in my humble opinion

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Friday 30 July

Friendlies

Hendon v Arsenal XI @730pm - with the Greens branding this match 'The Real North London Derby' how can you not spend your Friday night in NW9? Tickets are £7 and can be bought online

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Saturday 31 July

Friendlies

Brentford v West Ham United @3pm - the Bees, one of the Premier League's newest teams, come into this derby on the back of a midweek game at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Sadly unless you're a member, you're going to find tickets for any Brentford games very hard to get this season

Watford v Barnsley @4pm - the Hornets were held to a 0-0 draw by West Brom at Vicarage Road on Saturday and they will face further Championship opposition in the Tykes on Saturday. Tickets are £10

QPR v Leicester City @3pm - the R's created one of the stories of the day on Saturday by coming from behind to beat Manchester United 4-2 at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. They face a trip to League One side Cambridge on Tuesday before entertaining the Foxes. Tickets are £15

A bit further afield

Reading v Crystal Palace @3pm - the Royals welcome more Premier League opposition from London and tickets are £10

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

Sunday 1 August

Friendly

Arsenal v Chelsea @3pm - the biggest match of the week and of pre-season so far is the opening fixture in The Mind Series. This new blockbuster triangular competition, also featuring Spurs, will raise funds for the mental health charity it's named after. Being played at The Emirates, tickets are not going on general sale

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: 19-25 July 2021

Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest TLFG.

It's a bit of a rush job this week as domestic events combined with Covid wreaking havoc on the early fixtures has kept me incredibly busy.

Getting info on Step 6 and women's matches has been tough so hopefully I'll add more as the week goes on.

I can't stress enough to check every detail with clubs before you travel as the situation is so changeable.

If things do go according to plan, there are some really great games to look forward to with most, even some of the biggest on sale to non-members.

I'll finally get to watch a game this week, unless I get pinged. 

Harrow Borough host a QPR XI on Wednesday night so I'll be heading to Earlsmead for that.

Earlier in the week I also landed some Women's Euro 2022 tickets and I saw that many of you did too.

Anyway I've now got to dash to work for a hot and sweaty eight hours or so on trains with no air conditioning! Back home at 2am - urgh.

Enjoy your week. 

 THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include numerous friendlies which feature a handful of Premier League and EFL teams and lots of non-league ones 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 19 July

Friendly

Aveley v East Thurrock United @745pm - the pick of Monday night's action would appear to be this local derby on the east side of town at Aveley's impressive Parkside ground

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Tuesday 20 July

Friendlies

Boreham Wood v Brentford @730pm - after losing 3-1 to Luton Town on Saturday, the Wood welcome Premier League new boys Brentford who look set to send a strong side to Meadow Park. Tickets are available for £12

Bromley v Watford U23 @730pm - the Ravens held an U23 side from Fulham to a 1-1 draw in their last match and next face some of the Hornets' youngsters. Tickets are £15

Dulwich Hamlet v Crystal Palace U23 @7pm - after playing near neighbours Millwall last week, the Hamlet take on another local club on Tuesday. Tickets are £12

Enfield Town v Tottenham Hotspur U23 @7pm - the Towners opened their current ground with a friendly against a Spurs side, now the N17 club are back again. Tickets are £10

Haringey Borough v Sutton United @745pm - elsewhere in north London, Haringey play host to one of the EFL's newest clubs. Not sure of the ticket price but it's usually £10

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

Wednesday 21 July

Friendlies

Harrow Borough v QPR XI @7pm - my two favourite clubs meet again at Earlsmead in what is usually quite a fun evening. The last time I went in 2011, QPR played their full Premier League side and scraped to a 1-0 win. R's winger Albert Adomah started his career at Harrow so he is highly likely to put in an appearance. Tickets are £12 - maybe see you there

A bit further afield

Reading v West Ham United @7pm - about 30 miles west of London, just off the M4 you'll find this decent looking friendly between one of the better sides in the Championship and Europa League contenders West Ham. Tickets are £10

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Thursday 22 July

Friendly

Erith & Belvedere v Stansfeld @730pm - these two south-east London clubs provide the entertainment on Thursday but a lot could change before then

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Friday 23 July

Friendly

Hampton & Richmond Borough v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - the Beevers lost matches against two different opponents to Covid on Sunday and their game against Ashford on Tuesday has gone too. Hopefully this match against local League One opponents will still go ahead. At the moment ticket sales have been paused

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Saturday 24 July

Friendlies

Watford v West Bromwich Albion @3pm - after only one season in the Championship, the Hornets are back in the Premier League. Their first home friendly is against a side who they've swapped places with. Tickets should be available but their site was down for maintenance when I tried to find out

QPR v Manchester United @3pm - arguably the match of the week takes place at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. The R's had a great second half to last season and narrowly missed the play-offs. Man Utd made the Europa League final and are quite simply one of the biggest clubs in the world so this is quite a coup for QPR. Tickets are £20 and available to non-members

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

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