TLFG: 31 October - 6 November 2011

As I write this I'm recovering from doing a sponsored walk from QPR's Loftus Road ground to White Hart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspur. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I was raising funds for the QPR Tiger Cubs - a football team for children with Down's syndrome. To find out more about the team and perhaps donate, click here. It took six hours and involved a lot of hills but the views from places like Hampstead Heath, Highgate and Alexandra Palace were excellent. For one reason or another I couldn't actually stay for the game which Spurs went on to comfortably win 3-1 so as a Rangers fan I don't think I missed much.

Yesterday, however, I did see a match. After coming close to going to an FA Cup tie, I actually ended up heading down towards Heathrow Airport to watch the top of the table clash in the Combined Counties League Division One between Bedfont Sports and Guernsey.

There are several quirky things about a visit to the Recreation Ground. Firstly it is located right next to Evostik League Southern team Bedfont Town - the pitches are almost touching. Although they were away from home, Town also groundshare with Feltham who were in action against Warlingham. As a result there were two Combined Counties League Division One games going on side-by-side at the same time which can't happen too often elsewhere.

To top it all, both clubs lie only a little over 600 metres from the Heathrow runway so if you enjoy plane spotting  as well as football you'll be in seventh heaven with a flight coming in every couple of minutes!

The action on the pitch was pretty reasonable too with four goals and two red cards (one per side) as the team from the Channel Islands ran out 3-1 winners to extend their lead at the top to a whopping 14 points.

Putting the last few days behind, the week ahead is unusual too in that there are matches every day including Friday. In fact there's a blockbusting 85 games taking place in the Greater London area so you're going to be totally spoilt for choice.

So without further ado, here are this week's match maps.

MIDWEEK MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures


View London midweek match map 31 October - 4 November 2011 in a larger map

WEEKEND MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Red pin - Sunday fixtures


View London weekend match map 5-6 November 2011 in a larger map

If you're not sure what game to go to this week, here are a few suggestions:

TLFG TOP 10


FULHAM v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (Sunday 6 November, 4pm)
I've put this match top this week primarily because it's a west versus north London derby. The visitors are on a fine run of form and are on the verge of getting back into the Champions League places. The Cottagers by comparison have had a pretty rocky start but a tidy 2-0 win at Wigan on Saturday should boost their confidence ahead of this one.

QPR v MANCHESTER CITY (Saturday 5 November, 530pm)
Having played Chelsea and Spurs in their two previous fixtures, it won't get any easier for Rangers when they welcome the Premier League's top side to Shepherd's Bush on Saturday. City have been scoring at will in recent weeks and will probably expect to net a few more in W12. However, Chelsea probably had similar ideas last week and look what happened to them.

ARSENAL v MARSEILLE (Tuesday 1 November, 745pm)
One of the biggest clubs in England take on arguably the biggest club in France for control of Group F in the Champions League. The Gunners will fancy their chances after winning the reciprocal fixture a couple of weeks ago.

WEST HAM UNITED v BRISTOL CITY (Tuesday 1 November, 745pm)
I've gone for this match primarily because it could mark the Hammers' ascent to the top of the Championship. If Southampton slip up against Peterborough, a win for Sam Allardyce's side over the struggling Robins will put them in pole position.

AFC WIMBLEDON v BARNET (Saturday 5 November, 3pm)
How things have changed for the Dons of late. Three weeks ago they were a win away from topping League Two, now they're twelfth some 11 points off the pace. Their opponents, another former non-league club, are doing even worse and start the game in the relegation zone having shipped 10 goals in their last three games. It is, however, a London derby so it should be worth a go.

STAINES TOWN v SUTTON UNITED (Saturday 5 November, 3pm)
Both sides come in to this in need of points but for different reasons. After being crowned Ryman League champions last season, Sutton have quickly adjusted to life in the Blue Square Bet South and are second, six points behind Woking. The Swans have found things much tougher but could move out of the bottom three if they triumph in this one. The distance between the two clubs isn't great either so there should be a decent crowd too.

ENFIELD 1893 v WITHAM TOWN (Saturday 5 November, 3pm)
This was a very simple one to recommend as it sees first play second in the Essex Senior League Premier Division. The hosts are the reigning champions and come in to this on the back of four straight wins as do Witham. Notably the visitors have put nine past Basildon and seven past Clapton during this run so there could be fireworks in this one.

BETHNAL GREEN UNITED v LONDON APSA (Saturday 5 November, 3pm)
The Mile End Stadium  is one of the most centrally located grounds in London and it plays host to this East End derby on Saturday. United were challenging for top spot in the Essex Senior League a few weeks back but have lost their way a bit recently and will be hoping to get back to winning ways.

COLLIERS WOOD UNITED v GUILDFORD CITY (Friday 4 November, 730pm)
Two things make this game stand out - it's the only one in the London area being played on Friday this week and it also gives you the chance to run the rule over Combined Counties League Premier Division leaders Guildford City. They won the title last season and look like retaining it.

STAINES LAMMAS v FELTHAM (Saturday 5 November, 3pm)
Finally this week I'm going for this match in the Combined Counties League First Division. Neither side have their own ground but the ones they do use are roughly located at each end of the Heathrow Airport runway so it is a derby. A win for the hosts could see them go third.

Please share any stories or photos from your visits this week either on here or our Facebook page. Also get in touch if I've made any mistakes or if you'd like any further information or advice about going to a match in London. You can contact TLFG through Twitter or email.