TLFG: 26 October - 1 November 2015

It's been another big week in the world of London football.

Arsenal beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League and then briefly went top of the Premier League. West Ham climbed to third whilst inflicting Chelsea's fifth league defeat of the season to leave the champions in 15th some 11 points off top spot.

Spurs saw off Bournemouth to stay in touch with the top four and Watford won again as their return to the top flight continues to go well.

Aside from Chelsea, only Crystal Palace let the side down with defeat at Leicester.

In the Championship, Fulham completed a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to beat high-flying Reading with four goals in a little over 20 minutes whilst Brentford won the derby at Charlton 3-0 which led to the dismissal of Addicks boss Guy Luzon as a result.

QPR picked up four points from back-to-back home games against Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons and most notably kept two clean sheets in the process.

Millwall picked up an excellent victory at Sheffield United to move within touching distance of the play-off places again and in League Two there were fine away wins for Barnet, Leyton Orient and Wimbledon. Sadly, Dagenham & Redbridge lost at Accrington to remain rooted to the bottom of the division.

There was also a big weekend of FA Cup football and I'd like to say many congratulations to non-league sides Boreham Wood, Staines Town and Wealdstone who all made it into the hat for the first round draw. Grays Athletic and Welling United also fought out a 1-1 draw on Sunday and will replay in midweek to see who goes through.

Said draw will be live on BBC2 at 7pm on Monday where the minnows will be joined by all the clubs in League One and League Two. Boreham Wood v Barnet, Staines Town v AFC Wimbledon, Wealdstone v Wycombe Wanderers are all potential derbyish ties that could come out. The biggest teams available include former Premier League sides Bradford City, Coventry City and Sheffield United and Millwall will also be in there too - a great tie for Welling if they should progress.

We've also got the FA Trophy and FA Vase this week so there's plenty of cup football to enjoy again.

Have a great week. 

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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.

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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Claret pin - Thursday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v Liverpool - this match between two of the Premier League's heavyweights has created some memorable matches over the years with the rivalry particularly fierce when Rafael Benitez was in charge of the Reds. Usually the sides are scrapping for titles and places in cup finals but this year couldn't be more different as both have made poor starts but their high standards. Despite lavishing millions building their respective squads, both lie in the bottom half of the table behind the likes of Leicester, Crystal Palace and West Brom. The Reds have already dispensed with their manager while Chelsea must surely also be thinking about it after suffering their fifth league defeat at West Ham on Saturday. These games are usually tight but Liverpool haven't won in eight attempts in all competitions and I think they'll be happy with a draw here. (Premier League, Saturday 31 October, 1245pm. Ticket info)

2. Crystal Palace v Manchester United - after flying out the blocks and into the league's top four, Palace seem to be coming back down to earth. Although still among the leading pack, four defeats in six have shown them to be vulnerable. Things won't get any easier on Saturday when the Red Devils come to town. Depending on how they do against Manchester City in today's derby, they could be joint top when they arrive. Despite being a match for anyone on home turf, the Selhurst Park club have a bad record against United and haven't beaten them for nearly 25 years. Away win. (Premier League, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Watford v West Ham United - these two must be very happy with where they are right now. Newly promoted from the Championship, the Hornets sit snugly in 13th some two points ahead of reigning league champions Chelsea. With a fine 2-0 win at Stoke on Saturday, they should be in good spirits heading into this derby. The Hammers, on the other hand, seem to go from strength to strength with their weekend win over the aforementioned Blues lifting them into the top three. After their early exit from the Europa League, Slaven Bilic's detractors have now gone very quiet. (Premier League, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Brentford v Queens Park Rangers - to say this west London derby has been hotly anticipated would be an understatement - tickets, certainly for the away allocation, sold out in minutes. The clubs play about four miles apart, either side of the leafy suburb of Chiswick, but haven't met in competition for nearly 12 years. The Bees have spent most of their history flitting between the third and fourth tiers of English football but made it into the Championship last season. They strongly threatened to replace relegated QPR in the Premier League as they made the play-offs but lost out to Middlesbrough. With manager Mark Warburton leaving for Rangers in Scotland, Brentford are already on their second manager of the season with former coach Lee Carsley lifting them away from the bottom three and into midtable just behind the visitors. QPR are the bigger club and have far more to lose in what should be a cracking game. Under-fire manager Chris Ramsey has enjoyed a decent week and a win here will earn him some much needed breathing space. Although QPR's unbeaten record against Brentford goes all the way back to 1965, their recent performances in televised derbies on Friday nights have been atrocious so if things start going wrong they could fall apart. (Championship, Friday 30 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

5. Leyton Orient v Accrington Stanley - after their wobble of recent weeks, the O's steadied the ship on Saturday with a much needed 1-0 win at fellow promotion contenders Morecambe. The result keeps them in League Two's top six just two points behind second placed Portsmouth in what is a very congested table. Another side in the mix are Accrington, who on attendances, are the smallest club in the division. The former non-league side average less than 1,500 a game so to achieve a place in the top seven is no mean feat. Both sides are among the division's highest scorers so a high-scoring draw could ensue. (League Two, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Welling United v Grays Athletic - after the weekend's FA Cup excitement, there's only need for one replay in the London area. Isthmian League side Grays were on the verge of causing a significant upset until Welling found a late equaliser in Sunday's tie. The National League side, two divisions above Grays, spared their blushes and get another chance to make sure of a place in the First Round Proper on Tuesday. With the draw live on BBC2 on Monday at 7pm, the sides will know who awaits them should they win. (FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay, Tuesday 27 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Harrow Borough v Dulwich Hamlet - with the FA Cup out of the way, this weekend sees the FA Trophy and FA Vase take centre stage as many of our local clubs get plunged into cup action again. The Trophy is the more senior competition and includes sides from the top four levels of non-league football - in other words, the fifth to the eighth tiers nationally. The teams in the eighth tier contested the Preliminary Round and now the survivors are joined by teams from the seventh tier. Two such clubs are Harrow and Dulwich. Both from the Isthmian Premier, it's a David v Goliath contest with midtable Boro and their select group of fans playing host to league leaders Dulwich whose crowds often top 1,000. Despite these differences, the games between them have been competitive in recent years and I even witnessed a 3-1 win for Harrow at Earlsmead on Non-League Day 2013. The hosts made a shockingly good start to the season but have slipped back of late so will very much start as second favourites as they set out along another 'Road to Wembley'. (FA Trophy First Qualifying Round, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Club info)

8. AFC Hornchurch v Metropolitan Police - after narrowly losing at National League outfit Boreham Wood in the FA Cup on Saturday, the Urchins welcome The Met to Bridge Avenue as they look for another extended cup run. Having pushed an opponent from three divisions above them so hard, the visit of a team from the lower reaches of the division above won't faze them. The visitors also exited the FA Cup against a team from a parallel level to Hornchurch so they've got form when it comes to being 'cupset'. (FA Trophy First Qualifying Round, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Ilford v AFC Kempston Rovers - in the FA Vase, a competition primarily for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers which also finishes at Wembley, we have a tie between two of the better teams in the Essex Senior League and United Counties League. The hosts, who featured in my Non-League Day match two weeks ago, have had a very solid start to the season and have climbed to fourth. Kempston have an almost identical record in the parallel UCL so couldn't be much better matched in that regard. These games are a useful indicator of what leagues are strongest at this level with clubs from the Northern League (Newcastle/Sunderland region) dominating in recent years. (FA Vase First Round Proper, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Club info)

10. Edgware Town v Whitton United - after some time away, Edgware reformed last year and moved to a new ground in Hendon. After consolidating their position in the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1, they are firmly going after the title this season. Having won 10 of their 11 league games, they've pretty much made it a two-horse race with Crawley Green already. Whitton, who hail from the Ipswich area, play at a level above them but are struggling and could be there for the taking. (FA Vase First Round Proper, Saturday 31 October, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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

TLFG: 19-25 October 2015

After all the craziness of last weekend's Non-League Day (NLD), the last few days have been spent tying up a few loose ends and generally taking a breather.

I've watched no football and have been doing late shifts at work getting home well after 11pm most nights.

It's been really interesting to see how many articles were written by people attending the match at Clapton last week - be it bloggers like me or national media outlets like the Daily Mirror. I hope this shows that NLD is getting people interested in the game at this level and without doubt, the immediate future looks really bright for the Tons and their Ultras.

Once again, if you can get over to one of their games at The Old Spotted Dog then I really urge you to give it a go. On Tuesday they have a derby againt east London rivals Barking which should be well worth going to. I doubt anywhere near the 800 we saw last week will come but 300-400 would be a great achievement and quite possible.

It's FA Cup weekend again - which clubs will continue along the Road to Wembley?

Aside from the big games in the Champions League, Premier League and Football League this week, we've also got the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round to look forward to.

I explain more below but essentially this is the final hurdle the remaining non-league clubs have to jump before going into the draw for the 'First Round Proper' against sides from League One and League Two. This means AFC Hornchurch, the lowest ranked TLFG side still in the competition, could end up playing former Premier League sides like Bradford City, Coventry City or Sheffield United which would be quite something.

One other thing about the blog itself - for the first time in about three years I've brought back the 'Midweek Match Map' so you've now got two maps to scour for games. Hopefully it will make things less cluttered and easier to find. I originally ditched it because I didn't have time to do two maps but things have changed and the process is much quicker.

Have a good week of football watching. I'll be at QPR v Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, which sounds a bit odd, where former R's and Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has returned to the Loftus Road club's coaching staff. Mr Ramsey's days look numbered.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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.

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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Bayern Munich - two games into this year's Champions League campaign and it's already looking grim for the Gunners. With back-to-back defeats against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos they now really need to beat Bayern to stay in with a chance of making it through. Easy, right? Wrong. With three UCL final appearances in the last six years and 12 wins from 12 games in all competitions this season they couldn't really be facing much tougher opponents. However, Arsene Wenger has overseen a win and a draw over the German giants in recent seasons but both were away from the Emirates where they lost both return games. (Champions League, Tuesday 20 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. West Ham United v Chelsea - back in the Premier League we've got a very interesting East versus West derby. The Hammers have made a great start and continued it with an impressive 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday to move back into the top four. They are now unbeaten in six and will really fancy their chances against the Blues who have been in poor form of late. Jose Mourinho's side did manage to beat Aston Villa this weekend but anything less would've been a disaster given how poor the Brummie outfit are right now. Nothing should be taken for granted though as Chelsea have only lost once in the last 19 meetings between the two sides and still have star players coming out of their eyeballs. (Premier League, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Charlton Athletic v Brentford - just across the river we've got another derby going on. This time it's in the Championship but between two of the strugglers. Things looked good for Charlton when they beat QPR on the opening day but things have gone downhill since then and they're perched just two points above the relegation zone. Brentford made it to the play-offs last season but the owner fell out with the manager and the two parted company. Sadly the replacement boss wasn't up to the job and now coach Lee Carsley is filling in. On Saturday the Bees managed to arrest a poor run with a crucial win over Rotherham, another side at the wrong end of the table. In essence this is a derby and an early season 'six-pointer' - plenty to play for. (Championship, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Fulham v Reading - elsewhere in the division, two former Premier League sides do battle in their attempts to get back up. The Cottagers came down last season and had a pretty rough time but kept their heads above water to stay up. They have made a satisfactory start and are anchored in midtable just behind local rivals QPR. The Royals also had a forgettable time in the league last season but did make the FA Cup semi-finals where they gave Arsenal a run for their money. This campaign has been very different though and with only two defeats from 11 they're right up in second. The last four games between the two have been highly entertaining, generating a whopping 18 goals and looking at this season's stats we could well have more of the same. (Championship, Saturday 24 October, 130pm. Ticket info)

5. Bromley v Eastleigh - this weekend sees one of the high points of the non-league calendar - the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round. At this point all the teams that have battled through up to five previous rounds go into the hat with the big boys of the National League (the top division in the non-league pyramid). The winners get £12,500 in prize money and the right to go up against a club from League One or League Two - something which can be the pinnacle of a club's history. After a tough week which saw them take only one point from matches against Cheltenham and Aldershot, Bromley welcome the Spitfires for one of the ties of the round. The Hampshire club have a decent budget and were expected to do well this year. Although not rampaging through the division, they beat leaders Forest Green on Tuesday and drew with second placed Cheltenham on Saturday to stay firmly in touch with the play-off places. It will be close and I'm sure there'll be a monster crowd to compliment this great looking game. (FA Cup, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Boreham Wood v AFC Hornchurch - the Wood are playing in the National League for the first time and will start as big favourites against the Urchins who play three levels below. As one of the smallest sides in the division, Boreham Wood have struggled this season and have just seen their manager step down. Although Hornchurch play at a much lower level, they are in form, have momentum and should have a 'nothing to lose' attitude which can cause upsets at this stage. (FA Cup, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Grays Athletic v Welling United - two divisions separate these teams with the hosts starting as underdogs. Grays finished strongly last season and have continued to produce good results since August meaning they are up among the frontrunners in the Isthmian League. The Wings escaped relegation from the Conference by a whisker last season and are in the lower reaches again so could be there for the taking. (FA Cup, Sunday 25 October, 2pm. Ticket info)

8. Staines Town v Gloucester City - the Swans suffered the trauma of relegation from the Conference South last season and have had to readjust to life in the seventh tier. They've made a reasonable start and with games in hand could well push towards the play-off spots if results go their way. Gloucester, by a quirk of geography, ply their trade a level above in the National League North. Despite being a West Country side, they are deemed 'northern' enough to play games against sides from Lancashire and Yorkshire which must incur a lot of travelling. Coupled with the fact they play all their home games in Cheltenham could be a reason why they currently find themselves in the bottom three. As above, great chance of a cupset. (FA Cup, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Wealdstone v Bognor Regis Town - if this game were taking place at Bognor's Nyewood Lane then I'd really fancy their chances. However, it's not so the Stones should start as favourites. Hailing from the National League South, the Ruislip-based club should have too much for their Isthmian League opponents. The Rocks are doing well this season though and should make the play-offs. They also stuffed Oxford City, one of the best teams in Wealdstone's division, in the last round and are well supported so shouldn't be underestimated. (FA Cup, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

10. Glebe v Gravesham Borough - last up this week, we drop down to the 10th tier for a top of the table clash in the Kent Invicta League. Glebe only stepped up to this level of senior football last year, having been mainly famous for their youth teams, and held their own. This season they have moved to a ground of their own in Chislehurst where they have taken the division by storm, opening up a five-point lead over Saturday's visitors. Gravesham were also new to the league last season and finished just behind Glebe in midtable. With eight wins from 11 and a game in hand, this game could have a huge bearing on whether they'll be title contenders or not. (Kent Invicta League, Saturday 24 October, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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

TLFG: 12-18 October 2015

Non-League Day (NLD) is all over for another year.

The last two weeks have flown by as we've tried to cram as much prep in as possible to make things as good as they could be.

Making sure the match map was correct, giving interviews to people who wanted them, making sure t-shirts got to their buyers and keeping across all messages and stories of support to guarantee we made the most of them.

A first for me was being invited to appear on the set of Sky Sports News for an interview with Adam Leventhal on Friday afternoon. I've worked in the BBC newsroom before so it wasn't a totally alien environment but it's been a while and I'd never been the guest before so going into make-up alongside Hayley McQueen and Tony Wrighton was a new experience.

Fully powdered up, I was taken through the questions I would face before being sat on the sofa ready for action.

Adam Levanthal quizzes me about Non-League Day

I was pretty nervous from the moment the interview was booked but as soon as the questioning began I switched into game mode and it went fairly smoothly.

Not long after getting out of the Sky complex in Isleworth I was contacted by a friend saying the NLD site had been taken down.

Our developer made several calls to our host's support team but they took an age to answer. When they did, we discovered the site had been subject to a 'DOS attack' - I felt kind of privileged to have been regarded as important enough and the site was up again shortly after.

On the day itself, #nonleagueday soon established itself in Twitter's UK trend list and was third or fourth for most of the time. It even briefly charted in the USA and Canada.

After doing another interview for BBC London, I met my friend James and we headed east to watch the derby between Clapton and Ilford.

The Tons are based at the Old Spotted Dog - possibly the best named and certainly the oldest ground in London. For the latter reason alone, football fans living in the capital or visiting it should go.

I hadn't been for three or four years but it was in a pretty similar state of disrepair to how I remembered it.

There was, however, one main difference - a crowd.

On my previous couple of visits there had been no more than 20 people there and it looked like the proud old club, formed in 1878, was on its last legs.

This time there was an obvious procession of people from Forest Gate station, down Upton Lane to the ground. As we came round the final bend, I had to rub my eyes with disbelief as there was a queue to get in! Possibly the longest one I've ever seen at any non-league match. 

The queue to get into the Old Spotted Dog

It must have been at least 100 long and snaked around several bends to the turnstile - it must have taken us 15-20 mins to reach the front because the game was already underway by the time we got in.

So long was said queue that the turnstile didn't stop clicking people through until the latter stages of the first half.

The fact there was a decent turnout wasn't really a huge surprise. Over the last couple of years, the club has been adopted by the anti-fascist group the Clapton Ultras.

Much has been written by myself and others about their fantastic support but I'd never been to see them in person - they were not a let down.

Singing loudly from well before kick-off, I could hear them while I queued just like being at a 'big game'. Once inside, they sang solidly until well after the final whistle - pausing only briefly for half-time refreshments.

There were a couple of naughty smoke bombs and flares which have threatened to get the club into trouble with the FA but it's what I and doubtless many others wanted to see.

Overall the atmosphere was fantastic. Men, women, children and dogs from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities made up a crowd of 761 which must be the highest attendance the club have had for quite literally years. When you consider the average turnout for matches in the Essex Senior League, in which this was played, is around 60 it puts it into context how big an occasion this was.

Much of this was down to the Ultras' offer of 'solidarity tickets' for the unemployed, those on benefits and also refugees and asylum seekers which had made the headlines in many national and local publications. 

Aside from this, there was the aforementioned derby to enjoy too. 

Forest Gate, Clapton's home, and Ilford are neighbouring suburbs and the two have a long and friendly rivalry. Thousands would probably have attended games between them in decades past.

The hosts took an early lead before going 3-1 down but had pulled it back to 3-2 at half-time. They grabbed an equaliser in the latter stages of the second half and came close to stealing it after a flap by Ilford's substitute keeper led to a frantic goalmouth scramble right at the death.

The Ultras celebrate with a flare after Clapton (red) make it 3-3

With the game finishing 3-3, both teams were then invited to line up in front of the Ultras who then proceeded to salute both in a truly sporting way. With Ilford heading back to the dressing room, Clapton then engaged in some further rituals with their supporters which ended with them walking round the edge of the pitch shaking hands with everyone in the crowd who reached out to them. I get the impression this happens after every match and must build a strong bond between the two groups. 

Non-League Day was obviously a rip-roaring success here but was it a success nationwide?

It's hard to say. Some crowds were very significantly up. In the London area clubs like Bromley, Enfield Town, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Hanwell Town, Thamesmead Town and Wingate & Finchley all had crowds which were well above average to name just a few.

Nationally there were also winners but there were a few disappointing turnouts too.

As a general rule, the more clubs put into the day, the more they get out of it. 

There are so many factors to consider when trying to draw conclusions about attendance numbers that it almost becomes a pointless exercise but the general feedback has been good and there are calls to do it all again next year.

We still haven't got things quite right and possibly never will unless we get some miraculous scheduling help from the FA. Probably our biggest challenge comes from the naysayers within the non-league community itself. Although small in number, they are the most critical of what we do.

The Premier League and its member clubs couldn't have been much more helpful this year and the FA assisted us more than ever before. Hats off also to all the Football League clubs who supported us too, especially those in League One and League Two who had games of their own but still promoted their local sides nonetheless. Teams at this level could do with a special day of their own but that's another story.

Right, that's enough about my adventures. We've got another packed week of games to look forward to in London so read on and find out what's in store.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found in the following match map. If you've never used it 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 left side 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 (white 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.

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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Claret pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below. 

TLFG TOP 10

1. Crystal Palace v West Ham United - there are four Premier League games in the capital this week and I'm going to list them all, something I never do, as they are all significant. First of all we've got this derby between two teams who have made a very encouraging start to the season and who will both start this game in the top six. The form of both is quite even at the moment and although the Hammers have been hard to beat of late, they haven't won as many as the Eagles. They are, however, far more free-scoring with over two goals a game. The south-east London club have only lost two of their last 10 against West Ham so I'm predicting them to edge it by no more than a single goal. (Premier League, Saurday 17 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

2. Watford v Arsenal - the Hornets went into the international break on what some may have seen as a disappointing draw at Bournemouth. Meanwhile, the Gunners were recording their result of the season seeing off Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates. That result propelled Arsene Wenger's side up to second and they'll undoubtedly start as hot favourites here. Recent games between the two have always gone Arsenal's way but back in the '80s when Watford were an established top-flight side, the Highbury outfit hardly got a look in as the team built by Graham Taylor regularly saw them off. (Premier League, Saturday 17 October, 530pm. Ticket info)

3. Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - traditionally two of the biggest names in England's top division, this is always a fixture which catches my eye. Both sides may be well past their best years and both are having disappointing seasons. The Reds were so unhappy with their progress, despite being only a win away from a place in the top four, that they sacked manager Brendan Rodgers last weekend and brought in Jurgen Klopp instead. The German brought great success to Borussia Dortmund and his highly fancied to do well on Merseyside. This will be his first game in charge so the football world will be watching closely. (Premier League, Saturday 17 October, 1245pm. Ticket info)

4. Chelsea v Aston Villa - I can't believe I'm about to describe this match as an early season relegation six-pointer but that's what the league table suggests. The fact Villa have made a poor start and are in the bottom three isn't a huge surprise as they struggled last season too but Chelsea? The Blues have, by their lofty standards, had an horrific opening to their campaign. Down in 16th, they have won just two of their eight league games as divisions have sprung up within the camp. What's going on is unsure but the results are bad and if this one doesn't yield three points then Mr Mourinho's days will surely be numbered. (Premier League, Saturday 17 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Leyton Orient v Oxford United - nothing is really grabbing me in the Championship or League One this week so next we have this encounter between a couple of promotion-chasing clubs in League Two. The O's began strongly and became early leaders but have wobbled significantly of late, winning only one of their last seven. Despite this, they are still only five points off top spot so a win against third-placed Oxford will get them right back in it. Although Orient have a decent record against Oxford, the visitors are on a fine run and have only lost once all season. (League Two, Saturday 17 October, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Bromley v Cheltenham Town - Mark Goldberg's side enjoyed the perfect Non-League Day cramming in nearly 2,500 spectators who cheered them on to a resounding 5-0 win over Barrow. The result pushed them up to fourth in the National League to keep them firmly ranked as the top non-league club in London. On Tuesday they face one of their toughest challenges of the season as fellow title contenders Cheltenham visit Hayes Lane. Recently relegated from League Two, the Robins are on course for at least a play-off spot. They should really be top but a very iffy run has seen them win only one of their last five allowing local rivals Forest Green Rovers to pull five points clear at the top. The sides are the two highest scoring in the division too so this really could be a corker. (National League, Tuesday 13 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Sutton United v Hemel Hempstead Town - it wasn't a great weekend for London clubs in the FA Cup with several bowing out. Sutton are one side that have got another bite at the cherry after drawing 1-1 with the Tudors. Both currently lie midtable in the National League South and also drew in the league game at Gander Green Lane last week so are very evenly matched. A strong crowd of over 700 attended the original tie and over 900 went to the league game. Depending on Monday's fourth qualifying draw, we could see a four-figure crowd for this one. (FA Cup Third Qualifying Round Replay, Monday 12 October, 745pm. Ticket info)

8. Thamesmead Town v Cray Wanderers - these two have had a rocky couple of years, getting relegated together from the Isthmian Premier at the end of the 2013-14 season. Cray looked like suffering another relegation last year but turned things round late on to avoid the drop. Thamesmead simply consolidated. This year, they are both among the frontrunners. The Mead are sitting nicely in fourth while Cray are six points clear at the top, extending their lead yesterday while their nearest rivals took part in the FA Cup. Cray's resurgence has coincided with the appointment of Tony Russell who recently took VCD Athletic from the ninth to seventh tiers in successive seasons and he looks to be working his magic again. Thamesmead enjoyed a good Non-League Day in terms of result and attendance and will look to secure any new fans who might return with a good result here. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Tuesday 13 October, 745pm. Club info)

9. Hanworth Villa v Camberley Town - during the time I've been writing this blog, Hanworth have usually been one of the better sides in the Combined Counties League so it came as a bit of surprise to see them struggle so badly last season. They avoided the drop and have come back much stronger, climbing into the top five after 10 games. Camberley finished runners-up to Molesey last time and are second, three points behind leaders Ashford, at the time of writing. They'd dearly love to go one better this year and look perfectly capable of doing so. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Saturday 17 October, 3pm. Club info)

10. Edgware Town v Wodson Park - the north-west London suburb of Edgware lost its club in 2008 and after an absence of six years it reformed and set up again a short journey down the road in Hendon. Year one back in the Spartan South Midlands League was steady but unspectacular but now standards have markedly improved. With 24 points from nine games they're tucked nicely in second just three points behind Crawley Green who still have a 100% record. Wodson Park are not far behind in fourth so this could be a good indicator of who the real promotion contenders are. (Spartan South Midlands League Division 1, Saturday 17 October, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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

TLFG: 5-11 October 2015

Welcome to TLFG's Non-League Day special.

Sorry for the delay but it's been quite tough trying to compile this, put on a national football event and do a full-time job that's seen me getting up at around 4am for the last few days.

Anyway, that's enough excuses for one week.

If you didn't know, there's an international break this week which means there's no Premier League or Championship football nationwide. In London, there's also nothing in League One and only one game in League Two (Barnet v Accrington which, with all due respect, has more than a non-league feel to it). There is the small matter of an England game at Wembley on Friday night if you want to see some top-level football but that is it.

To fill the void, the last five years have seen me mount a campaign to go and watch semi-professional and amateur sides instead in an attempt to inject some well needed extra cash into such sides.

Thankfully the campaign has grown year-on-year as we have become more established and accepted.

We're still a long way off from where I'd like to be though and I'm still anxious to see how things turn out on Saturday.

Everton and England's Leighton Baines sports an NLD t-shirt

The last few days have seen good support from some of the biggest clubs in the land with Manchester United mentioning us in their programme for the Wolfsburg game and we also made it into the one for Sunday's Everton v Liverpool derby match. In the London area, Crystal Palace also featured us so a huge thanks to them all.

Hopefully there will be a few website articles by the end of the week and I'm aware of some big media organisations who plan to give us coverage too.

Wherever you are in London on Saturday, you won't be too far from a game with all sides of the city having something going on. Whether it's 'Pay What You Want', free entry for all or cheap food and drink, there should be something for everyone.

Aside from the special deals and events, there are also a handful of really decent looking FA Cup ties. Competition rules mean it's really hard for clubs to offer discounted tickets so most don't try but some will still be running special events to mark the day.

The winners of each tie will pocket £7,500 in prize money which is a substantial amount at this level. Such a result will leave them only one win away from the First Round Proper when all the League One and Two clubs come in - in other words there's a lot riding on these matches.

It's the final countdown - please help us promote the campaign

Please also remember you can do your bit to help support NLD. We've got some new t-shirts available with part of the proceeds going to our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK. There are also downloads and banners which you can print off or add to your website to help us promote it.

I'm undecided which game I'll go to yet but I'm getting close. Let me know where you're thinking of heading and if you hear of any more deals I don't know about please fill me 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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

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

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found in the following match map. If you've never used it 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 left side 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 (white 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.

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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MATCH MAP
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Claret pin - Friday fixtures
Blue pin - Saturday (Non-League Day) fixtures

TLFG NON-LEAGUE DAY RECOMMENDATIONS

Here's the pick of the games as I see it. Going on my experience of previous years, the list of deals could grow longer as the week goes on as clubs release more information so keep checking for updates.

FA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND

AVELEY v HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE - Isthmian League Aveley have landed a challenging tie against National League South side Havant. Neither have had a fantastic season but there is a gulf of two divisions separating the clubs which might be too much to bridge for the hosts. Club info

ENFIELD TOWN v HITCHIN TOWN - it's Isthmian League versus Southern League in this tie at Donkey Lane. The two sides should be pretty evenly matched and could well produce one of the games of the day. Club info

HANWELL TOWN v GRAYS ATHLETIC - this time it's Southern League versus Isthmian League. However, Grays play at a level above and have made a strong start to the season and should be big favourites to win. Club info

UXBRIDGE v CHIPPENHAM TOWN - the Reds, who play in the same division as Hanwell, will also start as underdogs as they welcome Chippenham from the division above. Like Grays, the visitors are among the leading pack in the seventh tier and will take some beating. Club info

WINGATE & FINCHLEY v WESTON-SUPER-MARE - there's a good chance of a cupset here as Wingate welcome WSM from the National League South. The visitors have made a poor start to their campaign and W&F will almost certainly be well up for this one. There are also a few special events going on for NLD. Club info

SPECIAL DEALS/EVENTS
(updated 08/10/15)

AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC v HOLLANDS & BLAIR - the Rams want you to bring along any old football shirts as it's also #KitAmnesty Day on Saturday. The donated items will be sent off to kids and adults around Africa. On the field, H&B are currently top of the Southern Counties East League and looking for back-to-back promotions so are ones to watch. Club info

BARKINGSIDE v MALDON & TIPTREE - Ilford-based Barkingside are really throwing everything at trying to get a good crowd for this game. The Isthmian League match is 'Pay What You Want' for adults and free for kids. It will also be free for armed forces and emergency service personnel. It doesn't end there, food and drink prices will also be slashed and there's half-price entry to the next game on Monday. Club info

BOREHAM WOOD v WELLING UNITED - in the National League we've got a north versus south London derby. The game should be pretty even and it's also one of our show piece games which Kick It Out will be present at. The Wood have also cut admission prices for Premier League and Football League season-ticket holders, there is a coaching session for kids and radio station talkSPORT will be present. Club info

BROMLEY v BARROW - the Ravens are currently the top ranked non-league team in the Greater London area. Newly promoted to the National League, they've won seven of their last eight games to move into top five. For the visit of midtable Barrow they've reduced admission prices across the board, are doing kids' football coaching in the morning and doing all kinds of things in their clubhouse which will open at 1230pm. Club info

CLAPTON v ILFORD - we've got a cracking East End derby to look forward to at the Old Spotted Dog, London's oldest ground. The Tons are currently second in the Essex Senior League and Ilford aren't far behind so it should be a good game. U18s and senior citizens get in for free and there are deals on beer too. The Clapton Ultras, a fan group, have also offered to pay for any people on benefits or refugees/asylum seekers. Club info

FISHER v SEVENOAKS TOWN - the Fish, who share Dulwich Hamlet's Champion Hill, are another side with a lot planned for NLD. They have lots planned including half-price admission of £3.50 for SE16 residents and pro club season-ticket holders. Club info

HAMPTON & RICHMOND BOROUGH v HENDON - there's a decent game in the Isthmian Premier to look forward to at the Beveree. Not only this but the hosts are running a Family Day with all kinds of discounts for groups and individuals. There's also free face painting for kids and various other entertainment. Club info

HARINGEY BOROUGH v TILBURY - if you're based in north London then this could well be the match for you. It could be of particular interest if you're a Spurs fan as Haringey are based on White Hart Lane. The best thing of all about this Isthmian League match is that everyone is being let in for free - it doesn't get much better than that. Club info

KINGSTONIAN v BILLERICAY TOWN - just across the Thames from Hampton, the K's are offering free entry to season-ticket holders from any sports club whether you're into football, rugby, cricket or whatever. Anyone U18, who hasn't already got one, is also entitled to claim a free K's season-ticket on arrival - a fine deal that's been in place for a year or two. Kingstonian also groundshare with AFC Wimbledon so the facilities are of Football League standard. Club info

METROPOLITAN POLICE v NEEDHAM MARKET - there's a multi-sport extravaganza taking place at Imber Court on NLD with various police sides from all over the world playing each other at rugby on the adjoining pitch. There's a police dogs display team performance and then there's some football too in the Met's very decent football stadium. There's plenty of charity action taking place too. Entry for the whole day's action, starting at noon, is just a tenner. Club info

NORTH GREENFORD UNITED v CHALFONT ST PETER - west Londoners NGU welcome a number of local dignitaries for this Southern League fixture as they also attempt to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Club info

SUTTON COMMON ROVERS v CHESSINGTON & HOOK UNITED - season-ticket holders from any other football club whatever the level will only have to pay £1 to see this game. SCR moved to groundshare with Sutton United over the summer so this will be a good chance to check out the new 3G pitch. There's also a match between two of SCR's youth teams beforehand. Club info

THAMESMEAD TOWN v ROMFORD - the Mead have given away a load of tickets to local children and will also be holding a fans' penalty shoot-out for prizes. This could be the game for you if you're in south-east London. Club info

If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or email.