TLFG: 29 February - 6 March 2016

It's been a hectic old weekend, hence the very late publication of this week's piece - apologies. I hope those of you on Twitter got the link to this week's midweek match map which I put out earlier so you could make plans for tonight as there's a few things on.

This week has been spent in more meetings than usual with discussions ongoing about how to make Non-League Finals Day on 22 May as good as it can be. If you've missed previous mentions of this, it will see the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals being played on the same day at Wembley for the first time ever and we at the Non-League Day team are hoping that as many fans of the game at that level will turn out whether their teams are involved or not. With adult tickets only £25 and kids for a quid, I think that seems like pretty good value. The Vase semi-final line-up got confirmed over the weekend and the Trophy quarter-finals also took place producing one replay so we're almost there too. Tickets are already on sale and you can get yours here.

On Saturday I went to one of the games of the day in the Isthmian League where promotion contenders Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock United locked horns.

The visitors looked very solid and absorbed what little Dulwich threw at them with relative ease. Midway through the second half they opened up a commanding 2-0 lead and with the game into injury time, the points seemed destined to be heading to Essex.

However, the hosts kept going and amid somewhat controversial circumstances salvaged a draw with two last-gasp goals. The second came from the penalty spot after the assistant referee spotted a deliberate handball which the man in charge had missed. With Ashley Carew calmly converting with the last kick of the match, the referee had to be escorted off by security as East Thurrock's players and management vented their frustration.

The trip to Champion Hill also provided me with a chance to meet representatives from a couple of companies who are keen to make a positive impact on the non-league game and perhaps become partners of Non-League Day. Before reading the following, I'd like to make clear that no agreements have been made or monies changed hands and these are my honest opinions.

Firstly, I got to see the Goalshouter app in action. 

Hailing from Italy, it's a handy device for clubs at all levels to provide live text commentaries of their games but also be able to include photos and other rich content. It also has the ability to drive revenue back into clubs by linking up parts of the commentary with digital sponsors.

Although it was only a test and there were one or two factual errors, I think it looks and performs pretty impressively - you can see the feed for the game here. There was talk of offering some clubs a free trial so get in touch with me and I'll put things in motion.

I also got to meet a representative of Tifosy - a specialist football club crowdfunding website. They have or are working with several professional clubs including Bradford City, Oldham Athletic and Portsmouth in England and Parma in Italy. So far, they've managed to raise over £500,000 for the various causes. They are also keen to partner with non-league clubs who may have projects that they need to raise funds for be it new goalposts, a pitch, floodlights, changing rooms, a whole new ground or whatever. Take a look at their website and see if they're right for your club.

Lastly, I had the pleasure of helping Peter and his son Pier from the Netherlands attend QPR's match against Birmingham on Saturday.

Aside from advising him on where to sit and when to buy, I also arranged for a welcome message to be put up on the big screen before the match and at half-time. 

All of that went smoothly but apparently things went even better than any of us could have imagined.

Pier meets Tjaronn Chery on his visit to QPR

Before arriving in England, Peter had told me he was a Groningen fan and was therefore keen to see former player Tjaronn Chery in action for QPR. By chance they ran into him outside the ground, had a good chat, got a photo and then watched as he produced a man-of-the-match display to win the game.

Not only that but Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies randomly picked out his son in the crowd at the end of the game and gave him his gloves! What an afternoon and one that will live in their memories for a very long time. 

I only played a small part in this but I'm really chuffed with how it went so do get in touch if you think I might be able to help you in some way. Be warned, I'm under increasing pressure from my wife to charge for these services but I'm stubbornly resisting for now.

Have a great week and, as always, enjoy your football.

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

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. Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - it wasn't hard to decide which match should fill the number one slot this week. The two north London giants contest what is arguably the derby in the capital with even more resting on it than normal. For a change, Spurs are higher up the table and in with a real shot at the league title. However, the Gunners are just behind and will draw level if they beat Swansea on Wednesday and Spurs slip up at West Ham. Form is very much on Tottenham's side at the moment with six consecutive league wins and they're also undefeated in three league matches against Arsenal. It should be a humdinger! (Premier League, Saturday 5 March, 1245pm. Ticket info)

2. Watford v Leicester City - I make a point of not listing one team twice in the Top 10 hence not including West Ham v Spurs this week (but give it a go if you can get a ticket). The next best game in my opinion is this one between two teams who are relative newcomers to the top flight. The Hornets are enjoying a dream return to the Premier League after several years away and have confounded many, including myself, in comfortably asserting themselves in the division. The Foxes came up the season before, also after an extended break, and managed to stay up after an impressive late run. This season nothing was expected of them but somehow they come into March as the country's top ranked club - a position they have held for several months. The bubble looked to have been burst at Arsenal two weeks ago but they rallied to beat Norwich this weekend and stay two points clear. With nearest rivals Tottenham and Arsenal possibly cancelling each other out this weekend, they have a great chance to extend that lead. (Premier League, Saturday 5 March, 530pm. Ticket info)

3. Brentford v Charlton Athletic - it seems to be derby season in the Championship at the moment with all our local clubs playing each other within a matter of weeks. The latest one pits the Bees against the Addicks. All our local clubs in this division have fired their managers this season. At QPR, my club, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has taken some real stick since taking over but when you see how Brentford, Fulham and Charlton's bosses have fared you really wonder why. New Brentford boss Dean Smith took over from caretaker Lee Carsley, who was doing a decent job, in November and gone on to lose nine out of 17 games. Whoever has been in charge at Charlton hasn't made a difference as off-field problems have caused havoc and they're bottom of the league. They put up a good fight against Reading on Saturday but still lost 4-3. There could be a few nerves on Saturday as confidence will be low on both sides but Brentford should just about edge it. (Championship, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Wigan Athletic - it's been a traumatic time for both these clubs in recent seasons as relegation has hit. Despite winning the FA Cup in 2012/13, that season was a bitter sweet one for the Latics as it also saw them relegated after many years of punching above their weight in the Premier League. They made the Championship play-offs the following season but lost to QPR and then suffered relegation to League One a year later after an horrific campaign. Thankfully the rot seems to have stopped under manager Gary Caldwell and they're now well on course for automatic promotion back to the Championship. The Lions came down with them but they've also responded well and are in the top five too. It ended 2-2 when they last met in September and it should hopefully produce another entertaining game. (League One, Tuesday 1 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley - head down to Kingsmeadow on Saturday if you fancy seeing a game between sides scrapping for a League Two play-off spot. Given the size of some of the clubs in the division, these two have done well to get themselves into the top eight. With their unspectacular midtable performances since returning to the Football League, the Dons have been something of a surprise package in being as well placed as they are. Even more impressive though are Accrington. The Lancashire club are up in fourth and averaging crowds of just 1,500 - the second lowest in the division. Boxed in between Blackburn and Burnley and with several other much bigger clubs in the area, it's no surprise they struggle for support. It's therefore of real credit to manager John Coleman that he's got them into this position. Historically, Accrington have a good record against Wimbledon but they've lost the last two, conceding six in the process. (League Two, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Bromley v Welling United - there's another derby over in south-east London on Tuesday night in the National League. It's been a time of struggle for these two local rivals over the last few months. Bromley are new to the division, made a great start but then tailed off sharply and recently replaced manager Mark Goldberg with coach Neil Smith. After a shaky start, he's managed to mastermind back-to-back wins over Woking and Kidderminster to shore things up. The Wings narrowly avoided relegation last season and have been even worse this time round. With Loui Fazakerley recently ushered out, replacement Dean Frost has seemingly made little impact as the defeats have continued. Now eight points adrift of safety, things are looking terminal and wins need to start materialising fast. (National League, Tuesday 1 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Canvey Island - there's no real stand-out game for me in the Isthmian Premier this week but with the title race twisting week after week, you might as well check  out the current leaders Hampton. Despite losing at fellow contenders Tonbridge on Saturday, Hampton retained their two-point lead after Dulwich's dramatic fightback against East Thurrock. Essex club Canvey are on a half decent run at the moment, collecting 10 points from five games so will arrive with a bit of confidence. However, they lost the reverse fixture just last month by 4-0 so there would appear to be a bit of a gulf in class. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Club info)

8. AFC Hornchurch v AFC Sudbury - in the division below we have a top-four clash at Bridge Avenue. The Urchins have had a topsy turvy few years with promotions, play-off finals and relegations lifting them as high as the National League South and now down to the Isthmian 1 North. The side from the far east of the District Line have responded well to last season's relegation and have been top or in the play-off spots all season. Currently fourth, a place in the end-of-season shoot-out to which they've become regulars is the best they can hope for as they trail current leaders Sudbury by 17 points. The Suffolk club have had a cracking season and were always desperate to go one better after losing in last year's play-offs. Having only been formed as recently as 1999, the Suds have never played above the eighth tier so this season could be an historic one for them. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Raynes Park Vale v Colliers Wood United - we love a derby at TLFG and we've got another one at Prince George's Fields on Saturday. The A3 derby on the south-west side of town features two clubs who play approximately 1.5 miles apart along the major road of the same name. Greatly overshadowed by the likes of Chelsea, Fulham, AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian, these ninth-tier clubs are often overlooked. RPV have only been in existence for a little over 20 years making them young upstarts compared to CWU who are one of the oldest clubs in the city having been around in some shape or form since 1878. Although the hosts are a few points behind CWU in the table, they've barely played in 2016 and have accrued five games in hand over their opponents which indicate things are closer between them than a first glance at the table might suggest. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Club info)

10. Dulwich Hamlet v FC Assyria - last up this week I'm going with something slightly different. Over the last couple of years, Dulwich have grown massively in prominence on the non-league scene with part of the reason being their major efforts to engage with the local community and charitable causes. Having previously held a match against Stonewall FC to highlight the issues surrounding homophobia in football, on Wednesday they are hosting a 'Syrian Refugee Support Game' against Middlesex County League side FC Assyria who hail from west London and have been in existence since the 1960s. Tickets are only £5 for adults, £2 for concessions and U12s free. All the money raised will go to the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum and the British Red Cross Syria Appeal. (Benefit match, Wednesday 2 March, 745pm. Club info)

UPDATE 01/03/16: Since yesterday's publication I have been made aware, by our friends at the Southern Amateur League, of an extra game on Saturday. Over at Uxbridge FC you can see the semi-final of the FA Inter League Cup between the Southern Amateur League and the Teesside League. The eventual winners of the cup go on to form the England 'D' team which takes part in the Uefa Regions Cup. Tickets are £4 for adults, £2 concessions.

Also, I forgot to mention in the Top 10 that it's also the Croydon derby on Saturday between AFC Croydon Athletic and Croydon in the Southern Counties East League which should be well worth a watch if you're on the south side of town.

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: 22-28 February 2016

It's been another busy week at Chez TLFG hence I'm putting this out much later than I'd like to.

I didn't get to see any live football as work got in the way again but I did get to take my three-year-old to her first football/sport session laid on for free by the QPR Community Trust at our local leisure centre. To say it was like herding cats for the coaches would probably be an apt description but with only three and four-year-olds taking part, you couldn't really expect much more. Everyone had fun which was the main thing.

On Saturday I'm hoping to make my first visit of the season to Champion Hill to see the big Isthmian League match between Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock United. I'm all set to take some Italian visitors for what I think will be their first English non-league experience so let's hope it's a decent game.

Generally it's a big week for football in London with some massive European and domestic fixtures meaning it's an exciting time to be in town. There are also some cracking ticket deals on offer in the Football League details of which can be found in the 'Top 10' below or on the ticket page.

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
Purple 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. Arsenal v Barcelona - the match of the week pits the title-chasing Gunners against the runaway leaders of the Spanish league in this eye-catching Champions League tie. Arsene Wenger's side had a poor group stage, scraping through on goal difference ahead of some fairly mediocre sides. In Barca they face a real step up in class and they are huge underdogs to progress over the two legs. The two have met in this competition seven times, including one final, since 1999 and Arsenal have only managed one win but that came the last time they met at the Emirates five years ago. Undefeated in their group and with only two defeats in the league, Barcelona are the top side in Europe right now and they'll take some beating. (Champions League, Tuesday 23 February, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Liverpool v Manchester City - at the weekend over at Wembley we have our first bit of domestic silverware up for grabs. The Reds and City are League Cup royalty with 11 wins between them - in fact Liverpool have won it more times than anyone else but it's been four years since their last success. Over the last few years Manchester City have usurped the once great Liverpool and become an established member of the 'top four'. However, despite their waning powers, the Reds are a bit of a thorn in City's side and have beaten them several times, most impressively by 4-1 at the Etihad in November. On paper Manuel Pellegrini's side should win but they've fallen apart of late, losing three on the bounce and conceding 10 goals in the process - a well motivated Liverpool could undo them again. (League Cup Final, Sunday 28 February, 430pm. Ticket info)

3. Tottenham Hotspur v Fiorentina - there was much talk heading into the weekend of Spurs repeating their famous double of 1961 but they came unstuck at home to a badly out of form Crystal Palace to end their FA Cup hopes. However, they are also still in the Europa League so a double is still on. With the competition entering its knockout stage, Uefa's often derided lesser tournament is looking pretty healthy with some big teams still fighting to win it. Spurs are among the favourites but they've got a tough draw here. The Viola are third in Italy at the time of writing and beat Tottenham at the same stage last season. While Spurs were losing to Palace, the Tuscan side were warming up with a 3-2 win at Atalanta. The first leg in Italy ended 1-1 so it's a hard one to call. (Europa League, Thursday 25 February, 805pm. Ticket info)

4. Charlton Athletic v Reading - there may be better Championship sides playing in London this week but I've gone for this as the Addicks are running their 'Football For A Fiver' promotion. Yes, you read that right, it's only £5 to watch this almost derby match between the division's bottom club and the Royals who are drifting around in midtable. Fan unrest is still the backdrop for goings on at The Valley with owner Roland Duchatelet as unpopular as ever. This might explain why tickets for the match are still available and it might be something you want to bear in mind if you decide to head to this one. (Championship, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Dagenham & Redbridge v Yeovil Town - there are also some fantastically cheap tickets to be had on the east side of town too where it's 'Daggers Against Racism Day'. Prices for this crucial match between the bottom two in League Two start at just £2.50 for adults. Things have gone badly wrong for Dagenham this season with defeats in their last four leaving them six points adrift of safety. It's been a struggle for a few seasons now so relegation wouldn't be a huge shock. It's a different story for the Glovers, however, who were the fairytale side who made it from non-league to the Championship. The Somerset club only managed one season in the second tier and got releagted at the end of 2013/14. Last season they got relegated again and they're currently on course for a third successive relegation which would take them back to life outside the Football League for the first time since 2003. The last match between them produced an entertaining 2-2 draw so hopefully there'll be a few more goals here.  (League Two, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Margate - although Sutton suffered the disappointment of losing their FA Trophy replay at Bognor, their season is still very much alive. Currently third and without a league defeat in nearly four months, a play-off place is looking almost certain. The team leading the charge to get into the top five with them are Margate who, like Kent rivals Maidstone, came up from the Isthmian League last season and have settled really well. After a bad start which saw them fail to win any of their first nine games, the Gate have taken 19 points from their last seven to surge up the table and should be a match for anyone. (National League South, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Dulwich Hamlet v East Thurrock United - the Isthmian League title race took some more twists this week meaning it's now East Thurrock's turn to have a spell at the top. A solid midweek win over Met Police coupled with a draw against fellow contenders Bognor has put them ahead of Hampton on goal difference. Dulwich had the chance to make some real headway over the last couple of weeks with fixtures against a host of strugglers but they failed to win any of them. Saturday's postponement saw them lose further ground and they now find themselves fourth, six points off top spot but with a game in hand. If they want to stay in the hunt then they really must win this. Given the importance of the game, another 2,000+ crowd could pack into Champion Hill and I'm hoping to be among them. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Egham Town v Royston Town - in the Southern League, the local focus still remains on the Sarnies who got through another two games this week without defeat. The four points gleaned against Ware and Uxbridge left them in third with four games in hand on the leaders. They were supposed to play fourth placed Royston recently but bad weather intervened so they're going to try and go again on Tuesday. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Tuesday 23 February, 745pm. Club info)

9. Epsom & Ewell v Hartley Wintney - the hosts, who groundshare at Chipstead, are regularly among the frontrunners in the Combined Counties League. This season is proving to be no exception with the Surrey club up in third. On Tuesday they welcome the current leaders who are looking increasingly like champions elect. Three points clear of Ashford Town and with three games in hand, it's going to take quite a collapse to stop them. And what of E&E? Although third, they're 12 points back so this match is pretty much their last realistic chance to mount a challenge. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Tuesday 23 February, 745pm. Club info)

10. CB Hounslow United v Worcester Park - in the division below it's a case of first versus third. Regular readers and CCL watchers will know that CB have been pretty poor over the last few years so this season's dominance has come as quite a shock. Top for some time now, the club who play next to Heathrow Airport thrashed Sandhurst 5-0 on Saturday to remind us what they're capable of. Worcester Park haven't lost for three months and with their game in hand, pose a real threat. (Combined Counties League Division 1, Sunday 27 February, 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: 15-21 February 2016

Hello there one and all and welcome to TLFG.

Hope it's been a good week for you and you got to see some football.

After a last minute shift change I managed to get a ticket for the west London derby between QPR and Fulham. I wish I hadn't bothered as Rangers' performance was woeful. 

Some Dutch friends attended and even they conceded Fulham were made to look good by our inept display. The second half was better but the game was already long gone and it ended 3-1.

It continued QPR's amazingly poor run against their neighbours with now only two wins from 11 attempts. Hopefully just a bad day at the office.

Tickets are on sale now

In other news, the FA have released tickets for Non-League Finals Day on Sunday 22 May at Wembley. It will be only £25 for adults and £1 for kids to see the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals back to back which to me seems a very fair price.

Lastly we've got another ground review from our friends at 'Two Men...' - this week they've been to visit Isthmian League club Redbridge over in east London.

There are over 100 matches this week so there's plenty to choose from - enjoy!

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
Purple 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 Manchester City - it's all about the FA Cup this week, with this the stand-out game by far. With the competition down to its last 16, things are getting serious and in this tie we have two potential winners. Much has been made of Chelsea's failure in the Premier League this season so this competition represents their best chance of domestic silverware. The last time Guus Hiddink played a cameo role as Blues manager he won the FA Cup and with their results improving all the time, the Stamford Bridge club must be among the favourites. City, on the other hand, have just lost back-to-back games against two of their main rivals for the league and are clearly far more vulnerable than in previous seasons. The announcement that boss Manuel Pellegrini will step down at the end of the current campaign obviously hasn't inspired his players and they will start as second favourites in my book. (FA Cup Fifth Round, Sunday 21 February, 4pm. Ticket info)

2. Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace - one of the sides to beat City in the last week are Spurs who recorded a superb 2-1 win at the Etihad on Sunday to move into second and become London's top-ranked club. Tottenham haven't won the league since 1961 when they also completed the double. A whopping 55 years later and they're well positioned to repeat that feat. Being just two points off top spot in the league and facing a Palace side in woeful form in this cup tie, a quarter-final place looks assured. The visitors are winless in nine in the Premier League but it's been a totally different story in the FA Cup where they have negotiated two potentially very tricky ties against fellow top-flight sides Southampton and Stoke City. Spurs should still have too much for them though, having beaten them twice already in the league. (FA Cup Fifth Round, Sunday 21 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Fulham v Charlton Athletic - after comfortably beating QPR in their west London derby on Saturday, the Cottagers next welcome the Addicks for another derby on Saturday. This match is arguably more important as the two are both battling the drop. The hosts' win at Rangers has given them a bit of breathing space but Charlton are in all kinds of trouble both on and off the field with the fans desperate to replace the current owner. However, five points from the last four games isn't a bad return for a side in the bottom three and this should be close. Charlton's record at Craven Cottage, however, is pretty awful with their last win coming 30 years ago. (Championship, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Peterborough United - the Lions have back-to-back home games to look forward to this week with this, to me, the more attractive of the two. At the time of writing, Millwall are the form team of League One with five wins from six propelling them into the play-off places. Peterborough, often contenders themselves, are a bit further back but there's still plenty of time for them to mount a challenge. Located less than an hour's train ride north of London, their fans should travel in reasonable numbers and we'll hopefully get a decent game. Posh acquitted themselves very well against Premier League side West Brom in the FA Cup on Wednesday (losing on penalties) but then got drubbed by Bradford on Saturday which kind of sums up their inconsistent midtable season. (League One, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Barnet v AFC Wimbledon - it's derby time in League Two as north faces south. Both sides enjoyed great weekends with the Bees winning at Dagenham & Redbridge and the Dons thrashing Luton. As a result, Barnet moved 13 points clear of the relegation zone while Wimbledon kept their dreams of a play-off place alive. The head-to-head between these two is pretty tight with Neal Ardley's side winning the reverse fixture 2-0 back in October. (League Two, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Boreham Wood v Torquay United - the Wood's fight for National League survival continues with this crucial game against fellow strugglers Torquay. The Hertfordshire club are, in terms of attendance, the smallest club in the division and it's highly impressive they made it up to this level for the first time this season. Unsurprisingly they find themselves in the bottom four but that's primarily because they've drawn too many games - 11 so far, the joint highest. Their recent results have seen them take points off Grimsby, Eastleigh, Tranmere and even league leaders Cheltenham so they're more than a match for anyone on their day. The Gulls were a Football League club until 2014 but off-field upheaval and budget cuts have seen them really struggle this year. Currently 10 points adrift of safety and with eight defeats in 10, Boreham Wood won't get a better chance to record a precious win. (National League, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Kingstonian v Tonbridge Angels - no matches really scream 'pick me' in the Isthmian League this week but I've got a good feeling about this one. Both sides had looked like promotion or even title contenders a while back but some dodgy results knocked them back. However, both have regrouped and got themselves right back in it. The K's have taken 13 points from their last five games to move up to seventh and with two games in hand can still harbour outside ambitions of pushing the very top clubs. Fourth placed Tonbridge have managed three wins on the bounce since claiming a dramatic draw at leaders Hampton and Richmond and with two games in hand too, they are very much in the race for top spot. The last match between the pair ended in a 1-1 draw. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Enfield Town v Wingate & Finchley - in the Isthmian League Cup we have a tie between two north London rivals. Enfield are historically the much bigger club, currently drawing about three times more supporters through their turnstiles. They are, however, neck and neck in the league with the hosts just two points ahead. The table is very tight and a string of wins would put either of them in the top five. Launched just over 40 years ago, the original Enfield club won the cup twice in its early days while Wingate triumphed in 2011. Enfield have already won the two league games between the sides this season so you would expect them to start as favourites here. A trip to Kingstonian awaits the winners. (Isthmian League Cup Quarter-Final, Tuesday 16 February, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Egham Town v Uxbridge - the Sarnies' quest for promotion stayed on track on Saturday as they won 1-0 at Potters Bar. The result means they've now won seven out of eight, leaving them fifth and eight points off top spot. But, and it's a big but, they have four games in hand on the leaders and two or three on all those above them. They begin the week by hosting Ware, before local rivals Uxbridge head to the Runnymede Stadium at the weekend. The ball is pretty much in Egham's court, they've just got to keep winning. Uxbridge are having the ultimate midtable season and seem in no danger of doing anything particularly noteworthy at either end of the table. They'll just really want to avoid a repeat of the 7-0 thrashing they suffered when playing Egham at home in September. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Club info)

10. Erith & Belvedere v Sheppey United - if the two big FA Cup ties on Sunday aren't for you, you could always head to Park View Road in Welling to see this Kent Senior Trophy semi-final instead. The Deres play in the Southern Counties East League a level above Sheppey from the Kent Invicta League. However, Sheppey are an up and coming club. Currently joint top and with crowds exceeding some sides three tiers above them, they look like a side to watch. E&B often challenge for the SCEFL title but it's not happening this year and they could be vulnerable. (Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final, Sunday 21 February, 3pm. Ticket 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: 8-14 February 2016

First off I'll begin by apologising for the late publication of this week's piece. Work schedules got in the way and I'm off again shortly so I'll keep this brief.

No football for me this week but there have been some ongoing discussions about FA Trophy/Vase finals day at Wembley on 22 May and there will hopefully be some news on it later this week.

There have also been some Non-League Day (NLD) discussions going on with the foundation of an NLD-style event possibly starting in another major European country.

This week 'Two Men...' pay a visit to Gander Green Lane

There are some more great games in London this week and I've outlined a few in TLFG's Top 10 towards the bottom of the page. If you can't get a ticket for any matches involving Premier League teams then I thoroughly recommend the West London derby between QPR and Fulham on Saturday at 1230pm. There are tickets still available so check out our ticket page for more details. The early kick off also means you can also combine it with another match. I have some Dutch friends who will be strolling down to Chelsea v Newcastle at 530pm for example. You could also check out a local non-league match at Southall  or North Greenford United which are both within walking distance of Perivale and Greenford Tube stations on the Central Line from White City.

Lastly, if you've enjoyed the ground reviews by 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' they are back with a visit to Sutton United, a side who are well on course for promotion this season and could even make it to Wembley.

Enjoy your 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 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 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

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 Leicester City - the Foxes' fairytale continued over the weekend when they saw off title rivals Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad. Not only did they beat arguably their toughest rivals, they did it at a canter and moved five points clear. Next up they travel to Arsenal who are part of the chasing pack. I'm sure a draw would be a satisfactory result for Claudio Ranieri's team but they shouldn't fear anyone anymore and the Gunners, on paper, look far more beatable than the City side they disposed of. However, Leicester have only suffered two defeats this season and one of them was a comprehensive 5-2 home loss to Arsene Wenger's side back in September. If anyone knows how to beat this impressive unit from the East Midlands it's Arsenal. (Premier League, Sunday 14 February, 12pm. Ticket info)

2. West Ham United v Liverpool - both sides suffered disappointing weekends in the league but the prospect of this FA Cup replay will hopefully perk them up a bit. Although West Ham still have a chance of qualifying for Europe through the league, this competition represents their only chance of silverware so they should really go for it. Liverpool have already made it to the League Cup final but they have a great history in the FA Cup too and will sorely want to win it given that their Premier League campaign is going nowhere. The sides have met three times already this season and the smart money would seem to be on the hosts who won both the league matches and then drew the original tie at Anfield all without conceding a goal. It's also worth noting that if West Ham lose, this will be the last ever FA Cup match played at the Boleyn Ground. (FA Cup Fourth Round Replay, Tuesday 9 February, 745pm. Ticket info)

3. Queens Park Rangers v Fulham - you'll find it pretty tough to get tickets for any top-flight matches this week so this Championship game should provide a great alternative. A west London derby between two former Premier League sides who play just over two miles apart also got the TV schedulers interested hence the 1230pm kick-off. Neither side are having a great year although there are signs that Rangers could be turning a corner with new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink making a few changes in the transfer window. Although only beating promotion chasing Ipswich 1-0 on Saturday, reports suggest it was a well deserved win with some of the new players looking lively. The Cottagers are only four points above the relegation zone but managed a decent draw against Derby who are also among the division's best teams. QPR look favourites to win but their recent record against Fulham is poor with only two wins from their last 10 meetings. When they last played in September, Rangers were humiliated 4-0 in another TV game. (Championship, Saturday 13 February, 1230pm. Ticket info)

4. AFC Wimbledon v Luton Town - with Millwall away this week, we next drop into League Two for this derby of sorts. Although not a London club, Luton play a short journey from the capital so most matches against TLFG sides have a derby feel to them. A top flight, League Cup winning side in the late '80s, it's fair to say the Hatters have known much better times. Playing in England's second tier until 2007, things fell apart rapidly as financial problems took their toll and they plunged down the divisions into non-league football two years later. It took several attempts to get out of the Conference but they are in the Football League again. On Saturday they travel to Wimbledon - another club to be big in the late '80s. Before the season started, I would've expected Luton to be the more likely promotion contenders but it's the Dons who are better placed at present. The ground should be packed for this but there are still a few tickets available. (League Two, Saturday 13 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet - elsewhere in League Two we do have a genuine TLFG derby as east plays north. I was intending to say that it's also a relegation 'six-pointer' but although both are in the division's bottom seven, there's a whopping 13-point gap between them as the Daggers and fellow strugglers York have started to become cut off from the rest. The hosts have struggled in recent years but have always managed to stay up. This season is looking dodgy again and they come into this one four points adrift of safety. Barnet are a similar size club who also come from non-league origins but Martin Allen seems to be doing enough to keep them up which is an achievement. Games between the two are normally pretty close with the Bees winning 3-1 earlier in the season. (League Two, Saturday 13 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Bromley v Grimsby Town - outside the Football League, Bromley are TLFG's best supported and highest-ranked club. Playing their first ever season in England's fifth tier, the Ravens started superbly but have tailed off badly, turning from brief title contenders into lower midtable also-rans. Being a team of semi-pros in a league made up of many full-time teams, no-one would've expected much more. However, the board decided otherwise and asked manager Mark Goldberg to stand down last week. Some may have found that harsh but only one league win since October is the sort of run that would put any boss under pressure. Assistant manager Neil Smith has been put in interim charge and will go in at the deep end somewhat against perennial promotion contenders Grimsby Town. Like the aforementioned Luton, Grimsby are arguably too big for this division and were a second tier side until 2003. Prior to losing at Gateshead last weekend, the Mariners were in great form so Bromley will do well to get anything here. (National League, Tuesday 9 February, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Hendon v Hampton & Richmond Borough - for me, the match of the week in the Isthmian League is this derby from the western hemisphere of town. It's north-west versus south-west at Earlsmead on Saturday as the Greens play host to current league leaders Hampton. The title race took another twist on Saturday as Dulwich and East Thurrock both suffered shock defeats while Hampton saw off fellow contenders Leiston in a seven-goal thriller at the Beveree. The result put Alan Dowson's side back on top, two points clear with a game in hand. Hendon were title contenders themselves for much of last season but couldn't quite see it over the line and sadly for them, that successful squad, for one reason or another, has been broken up and they've struggled. Bad weather has robbed them of a few games recently and they looked out of sorts as they lost 3-0 at Metropolitan Police on Saturday. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 13 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. North Greenford United v Hanwell Town - in the eighth tier we have a very local derby also on the west side of London. I'm pretty sure this Southern League game has been postponed about 23 times this season (joking) but it just seems to keep coming up. Playing either side of the A40 about 10 miles from central London these two old rivals must be looking forward to finally getting this game on. Both sides are having a bit of a stinker this season so I think it's fair to say this is a relegation 'six-pointer'. Neither side has been cut adrift or come anywhere near ensuring safety so there is plenty to play for. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Tuesday 9 February, 745pm. Club info)

9. Glebe v Sutton Athletic - not much of note in the ninth tier this week so we finish off with a rare double bill of 10th tier action. First up is this Kent Invicta League title clash. If you haven't noticed, the top of the KIL has become very congested of late with only one point separating the top four. Glebe are currently third, a point behind leaders Sutton but they have a game in hand - it couldn't be a lot tighter. A lot of TLFG's recent focus at this level has been on Glebe and their achievements but Sutton, another local side, have had a great year too. A crowd of 100+ could easily turn out for this one which is exceptional for a midweek game at this level. (Kent Invicta League, Tuesday 9 February, 745pm. Club info)

10. Worcester Park v Eversley & California - it's also competitive over in the Combined Counties League Division 1 where seven points separate the top four. Games in hand for some mean that things could get even closer. CB Hounslow United are currently leading the way with these two in second and third respectively. Worcester Park often challenge for the title and have won it in recent years but their relatively basic facilities mean promotion isn't an option. The strikingly named E&C come from a Hampshire village sandwiched between Farnborough and Wokingham and have had much expected of them since Eversley and California football clubs merged in 2012. As yet they haven't quite cracked it. Could this be their year? (Combined Counties League Division 1, Saturday 13 February, 2pm. 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.