TLFG: 29 March - 3 April 2016

With two games attended over the Easter weekend, it's been a busy few days by my standards.

Firstly I can't remember when I last had the whole four days off and to get to see two matches as well was a real bonus.

The main catalyst for this was a visit by my Dutch friend Paul who regular readers will have heard many mentions of.

He's researching his latest book on London football and had/has a really packed schedule of games between Good Friday and Tuesday (tomorrow). 

Originally planning to watch Luton v Dagenham & Redbridge, he saw this postponed but having booked a flight to the Bedfordshire town still paid a visit to an empty Kenilworth Road on his arrival. He then jumped on a train and went, via central London, to Maidenhead United for his first game of the trip where I joined him.

A bumper York Road crowd enjoy an historic win over Bath City

Having raced past York Road countless times on express trains bound for the West Country and Wales, I'd seen the ground but never been.

Although not a London club, it's only just outside TLFG's catchment area and really easy to get to being less than half an hour from Paddington and then only a 200-300m walk from the station.

Loads of clubs also fit this description but York Road's USP is that it is the oldest ground in the world to be in continual use by the same club - Maidenhead have played here since 1871, some achievement. 

On Friday they faced Bath City, another non-league club with great history, in a National League South fixture.

Paul had arrived earlier and been given a full tour by club programme editor Steve. He joined us for the game and provided excellent company, filling us in on club history. Being of a similar vintage to myself, it was also fun reminiscing about more general non-league experiences and sharing how we had both initially got into the game and how we'd seen it develop over the years.

He also informed us that Maidenhead had never beaten Bath in the 50-odd years they had been playing each other so it came as something of a shock when the hosts ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.

As a promoter of the non-league game, it was striking that a large crowd of 899, double their normal average turned out. Encouraged by the great weather and the international break, it was great to see. The atmosphere was also buoyant and very family friendly.

I also lucky enough to meet Maidenhead's chairman after the match. Being a big supporter of Non-League Day it was nice to finally meet him after a few exchanges on Twitter. 

The following day, Paul and I headed out to Ruislip where we met my former colleague Rich. He has recently moved to the area and was keen to make his non-league debut with a visit to his new local club Wealdstone.

Playing in the same division as Maidenhead, they welcomed Kent club Margate who were new to the division.

Unlike the previous day, the weather was poor as Storm Katie began to hit town. Nevertheless, the crowd was good. With free chocolate eggs for the first 200 kids through the turnstiles, the crowd was 100 up on the average. 

The Stones made the most of the conditions and eventually coasted to a 4-1 win to leapfrog their troubled opponents who announced earlier in the week that backer Bob Laslett was standing down as chairman. His investment, rumoured to be around £2.5m over the last two years, powered them to promotion but without this things could now begin to fall apart.

With Paul achieving his goal of meeting the Wealdstone Raider, Rich also enjoyed his afternoon at Grosvenor Vale.

In contrast to Maidenhead, the Wealdstone experience is a much more 'gritty' one with several members of the crowd merciless in their treatment of certain players and officials. Although hardly unique in this respect, it was noticeably different from 24 hours before and could be right up your street if you love a bit of 'banter'.

Looking ahead, there's a special match taking place on Tuesday afternoon at Welling United. The Cumbrian Flood Friendship Trophy will be contested by the England Fans team and a side from the London branch of the Carlisle United Supporters Club. It's £4 adults, £2 concessions and £1 kids with monies raised going to the Cumbria Flood Appeal.

Also don't forget tickets are on sale for Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on Sunday 22 May. FC Halifax Town will play Grimsby Town in the FA Trophy final while Hereford face Morpeth Town in the FA Vase. Apparently Hereford have sold over 10,000 tickets already so a bumper crowd looks possible. #LetsFillWembley

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 70 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
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. England v Netherlands - the Three Lions' recent record against the Dutch is poor with their last win being that famous 4-1 win at Wembley during the group stages of Euro 96. In the intervening 20 years England have managed four draws and two defeats against the Oranje and have achieved nothing of note on the international stage. Contrast this to the Netherlands who have made two European Championship semi-finals, two World Cup semi-finals and even a World Cup final in 2010. So England start as underdogs right? Wrong. Roy Hodgson's side are one Europe's most in-form teams and shocked many by coming from two goals down to beat Germany 3-2 in Berlin on Saturday. Danny Blind's side, however, are one of the weakest the Dutch have fielded for many years and sensationally failed to qualify for Euro 2016 trailing home in fourth behind the Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey. In international terms this is a derby and despite the current Dutch malaise the match has unsurprisingly sold out. (International friendly, Tuesday 29 March, 8pm. Ticket info)

2. Arsenal v Watford - after being humiliated by the Hornets in their recent FA Cup quarter-final at the Emirates, the Gunners get an almost immediate chance to avenge that defeat with this league match. Since that humbling, Arsenal then exited the Champions League to Barcelona but responded well by recording a 2-0 win at Everton to leave them third in the Premier League. Aside from that cup success, Watford's league form has become decidedly iffy with three consecutive defeats reminding them that they aren't quite safe from relegation just yet. However, a repeat victory here will almost certainly secure them another season in the top flight. They know they can do it so why not? (Premier League, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. West Ham United v Crystal Palace - we've got another derby to look forward to at the Boleyn Ground. A huge match for both teams who are scrapping for points at either end of the table. In this season of upsets, a place in next season's Champions League is very much within the Hammers' grasp with a win here potentially putting them in the top four. Unbeaten in five and very unlucky to only draw at Chelsea last time out, Slaven Bilic's side will start as favourites as Palace are struggling. Despite making it to the FA Cup semi-finals, the Eagles are in woeful league form, not winning since before Christmas. Thankfully they had a strong start to their campaign which means they have a seven-point buffer between themselves and the bottom three but they are far from safe and in desperate need of a win. (Premier League, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough - thanks to the TV gods we've got a bit of Friday night football to kick off a weekend of football watching. QPR's mini-revival over recent weeks had got a few supporters giddily thinking a play-off spot could somehow be back on the cards. However, a last-minute goal saw two points dropped at Preston in their last match and the gap to the top six became 11 points again. Although Rangers realistically have little to play for, they are in the best form they've been in for some time with several players looking to impress new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as he looks to build his squad for next season. Boro, on the other hand, are very much in the title race and consequently have it all to play for. After some recent infighting which saw manager Aitor Karanka on the verge of resigning, the Teesside club recorded a crucial win over promotion rivals Hull to stay third. Aside from one aberration in 2009, QPR's recent home record against Middlesbrough is good. One of the most sensational wins I ever saw as a Rangers fan was the 5-0 drubbing in 1998 of a Boro side packed with stars who ended up getting promoted to the Premier League. QPR were pretty hopeless at the time and eventually avoided relegation to the third tier by just one point - Manchester City went down instead! (Championship, Friday 1 April, 745pm. Ticket info)

5. Fulham v MK Dons - a couple of miles south the following day, we have a proper relegation 'six-pointer'. Relegated from the Premier League, the Cottagers found life tough on their return to the second tier but they stayed up fairly comfortably in the end. This season nothing has changed, in fact things seem to be getting worse. With eight games to go they are only one point above the bottom three and are six without a win. MK Dons are the team immediately below them so they really must win. Newly promoted, I personally expected a lot more of the Buckinghamshire club but things haven't worked out and they've only managed nine wins from 38 games so far. With Bristol City and Rotherham United now resurgent it looks like it could come down to a fight between these two for the last relegation place. The stakes are high. (Championship, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Dartford v Maidenhead United - all our League One and Two clubs are away this week and nothing is stirring me in the National League so next we head to Princes Park. Way out on the south-eastern edge of TLFG's catchment area, Dartford are mounting a promotion challenge a year after suffering relegation. Having moved up and down quite a bit this season, they're still in touching distance of the play-off places and held leaders Ebbsfleet to a 1-1 draw in Monday's derby in front of nearly 2,500 fans. On Saturday they welcome Maidenhead who followed up Saturday's win over Bath with a 5-2 victory over Hayes & Yeading in their groundshare derby on Monday. The result moved the Magpies into the top five making them the target team that Dartford have to catch. As above, there's plenty to play for. (National League South, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Dulwich Hamlet v Bognor Regis Town - the match of the week in the Isthmian League sees two promotion rivals go head-to-head at Champion Hill. Dulwich were title contenders but form began to desert them in February and now the play-offs are the best they can realistically hope for. An important win over third-placed Tonbridge Angels on Monday will have restored some confidence which they will need against a strong Bognor side. Having made it to the FA Trophy semi-finals, the Sussex club are fourth with five games in hand on all those above them. Win them all and they'll be six points clear at the top. The reverse fixture in November saw Dulwich edge to a 3-2 win. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. AFC Hornchurch v Brightlingsea Regent - with only five games to go, the one automatic promotion place in Isthmian League Division 1 North is pretty much AFC Sudbury's. The race for the play-offs, however, is very much alive. Only a spectacular collapse in form will see Thurrock and Harlow Town fail to make end-of-season shoot-out, while fourth-placed Cray Wanderers will probably secure a place too. Which means the final place will be the most hotly contested. The Urchins are the current incumbents but are ahead of Cheshunt and Brightlingsea by virtue of goal difference only. The hosts were up in the sixth tier three years ago so are well used to bigger and better things. Fellow Essex outfit Brightlingsea have only been in existence for 11 years and only joined the Isthmian League last season so another promotion would take them to the highest level in their history. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Clapton v Tower Hamlets - while West Ham and Palace will be fighting out a derby at the Boleyn Ground, a stone's throw away there'll be an all East End affair taking place at The Old Spotted Dog - the oldest ground in London. The very antithesis of all things Premier League, a visit to Clapton is an experience most football fans never forget. Despite its history, the ground is a shabby and neglected place but it drips with character and is, in my opinion, a must visit for all lovers of the sport. I would've said this regardless of the recent rise of the politically left-wing Clapton Ultras who have added a huge amount to match day proceedings in Forest Gate. Aside from local bragging rights, there is little to play for in this match and the relationship between the clubs is cordial meaning there'll be a fun air surrounding this game. I went to the reverse fixture on a chilly Friday night in November - Clapton took well over 300 fans who sang their hearts out for the 90 minutes and beyond. They watched their side dominate but lose 1-0 and then gave their opponents a rousing reception as they clapped them off the field. Some find the whole thing contrived or simply not to their liking and can't handle it at all but I can't recommend a visit enough. (Essex Senior League, Saturday 2 April, 3pm. Club info)

10. Arsenal v Notts County - with the FA Women's Super League now in full swing, I end this week by recommending a trip to Boreham Wood for this Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final. With 13 wins to their name, the Gunners are by far the most successful club in this competition. Last year, however, they went out at this stage to eventual champions Chelsea so they will be looking for an improvement on that showing. Notts County made it to the final where they lost to the Blues but it was a tight affair with only one goal in it. It's all about women's football on Sunday in London so if this game is tricky to get to, Chelsea are playing Aston Villa in another tie at Staines Town. (Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final, Sunday 3 April, 2pm. 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: 21-28 March 2016

It's Easter once again and with it we get one of the best weekends of the year to watch football in London.

Strangely, though, the very full programme of fixtures will be missing all of the capital's biggest clubs as there's an international break. I can't remember this ever having happened before over the long weekend but that's the position we find ourselves in.

Don't be too downhearted though as we've still got over 130 matches to look forward to over the next eight days (I've included Easter Monday in this week's blog too). There are top-of-the-table clashes, cup semi-finals, local derbies and relegation six-pointers so we shouldn't be short of drama. 

I'm planning to take in at least one non-league game with my Dutch friend Paul. He's coming over to research his latest book about London football. We're intending to go to Wealdstone v Margate on Saturday to see one of the capital's main non-league sides and chat to a few people and get some stories. He really wants to meet the Raider but if you're a Stones fan with a few funny or interesting anecdotes who would like to appear in his book then please get in touch (Twitter: @matchdaysboek). That also goes for fans of AFC Wimbledon and Millwall whose matches he will also be visiting during his stay. 

On the subject of international weekend - if you're reading this and your club are running a special offer or promotion to get new fans in then please get in touch ASAP and I'll help promote it.

Aside from this blog, my focus over the next couple of months will be firmly on helping to promote Non-League Finals Day on Sunday 22 May at Wembley.

Join us at Wembley for the first ever Non-League Finals Day

The line-ups were confirmed on Saturday with Hereford meeting Morpeth Town in the FA Vase and National League sides FC Halifax Town and Grimsby Town going head-to-head in the FA Trophy.

A joint ticket for both games is just £25 adults, £10 concessions and £1 kids and represents a great chance to spend a whole day at Wembley, seeing two finals.

Somewhat controversially, the powers that be have also scheduled an England friendly against Turkey in Manchester the same afternoon causing many in the non-league community to feel more than a little sidelined.

My response is to challenge non-league fans to step up, turn out in huge numbers and show how vibrant and important the game at our level is. Many people think and expect little of clubs and fans outside 'The 92' but they will surely take notice if Non-League Finals Day outsells the England game.

Although a big ask it is by no means impossible - the Etihad Stadium has a capacity of around 55,000 and the FA Trophy final alone drew 53,000 to Wembley in 2007. This year we have three sizeable clubs all heading to Wembley with Morpeth also hopefully attracting a few extra fans from the wider Northumbria area.

It is a time, in my opinion, to come together and celebrate what we have as a community and put partisan feelings aside for the day. Rugby fans of both codes often put rivalries aside to turn out for big matches and doubleheaders - over 84,000 packed into Wembley to watch Saracens v Harlequins last season for a league match, setting a world record in the process. Why can't non-league fans try and emulate this and produce some kind of record of our own? 

I'm up for it and will be contacting all non-league clubs in the Greater London area over the next few weeks to help me promote the day. If you want to help as a club rep get in touch and I have some official resources I can share with you and also a little something as a thank you for your help.

Some are calling it a 'put up or shut up' moment for those who've had enough of the non-league game being sidelined and overlooked and I can see where they're coming from. It is undoubtedly a great opportunity to make a point but also one to celebrate what we have and enjoy a great day out. It could be a defining moment. Be part of it.

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 130 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

EASTER WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Black pin - Good Friday fixtures

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Easter Sunday fixtures
Orange pin - Easter Monday fixtures

TLFG TOP PICKS

Usually in this section I select 10 games which I think could be worth a watch. However, because it's Easter there a lots more which should seriously be considered so I've highlighted a few by date.

Monday 21 March

Wealdstone v Sutton United @745pm - London derby in National League South with Sutton pushing for promotion

QPR v Sheffield Wednesday @7pm - U21 action at Loftus Road

Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town @2pm  - U21 action at The Valley

Watford v Barnsley @7pm - U21 game provisionally at Vicarage Road but not confirmed

Tuesday 22 March

Enfield Town v Kingstonian @745pm - Isthmian League play-off hopefuls meet at QEII Stadium

Harrow Borough v Bognor Regis Town @745pm - Boro welcome FA Trophy semi-finalists and Isthmian title contenders Bognor

Tooting & Mitcham United v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - London Senior Cup semi-final and big south London derby

Crystal Palace v Leeds United @1230pm - U21 match at Selhurst Park

Wednesday 23 March

Romford v Harlow Town @745pm - the hosts welcome play-off chasing Harlow in the Isthmian 1 North

Arsenal Ladies v Reading Women @745pm - the Gunners' FA Women's Super League 1 campaign gets underway at Boreham Wood

London Bees v Watford Ladies @745pm - these two local sides begin their FA Women's Super League 2 seasons at Barnet

Thursday 24 March

Charlton Athletic v Bristol City @2pm - U21 game at The Valley

Friday 25 March

Dartford v Bishop's Stortford @3pm - the Darts look to revive their National League South play-off bid

Millwall v Watford @130pm - U21 match being played at Bromley's ground

Saturday 26 March

Wealdstone v Margate @3pm - highest level match in London that day

Kingstonian v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm - local derby and promotion battle in Isthmian Premier, huge game at that level

Enfield Town v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - two teams hoping to also make Isthmian play-offs, both have lively sets of fans so there should be a good atmosphere

AFC Hornchurch v Thurrock @3pm - Essex derby between sides scrapping for an Isthmian 1 North play-off place.

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Hartley Wintney @3pm - long-awaited top-of-the-table clash between sides who have led the Combined Counties League for some time

Barking v Clapton @3pm - East End derby, hosts still have outside Essex Senior League title chance

Oxhey Jets v Sun Sports @3pm - non-league derby in the Watford area 

Glebe v Bearsted @3pm - first versus third in the Kent Invicta League

Sunday 27 March

Millwall Lionesses v Everton Ladies @2pm - first home game for Millwall in FA WSL2, being played at The Den

Monday 28 March

Millwall v Burton Albion @745pm - fifth against first in League One, late kick-off makes it ideal for combining with another earlier game like the one at Dulwich Hamlet

AFC Wimbledon v Portsmouth @1245pm - two former FA Cup winners now fighting for League Two play-off places, early kick-off means it could be combined with Isthmian League games at Hampton & Richmond Borough or Corinthian Casuals although you might miss the first few minutes

Barnet v Luton Town @3pm - little to play for but effectively a north London derby in League Two with the Hatters located just outside the capital

Boreham Wood v Dover Athletic @3pm - game between teams battling for points at either end of the National League

Bromley v Forest Green Rovers @3pm - hosts welcome National League title contenders

Dulwich Hamlet v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - Isthmian Premier play-off rivals meet at Champion Hill

Wingate & Finchley v Hendon @3pm - north London derby in Isthmian Premier

Thurrock v Cray Wanderers @3pm - second versus third in Isthmian 1 North

Chipstead v Whyteleafe @3pm - a derby featuring teams from the capital's Deep South in the Isthmian 1 South

Corinthian Casuals v Carshalton Athletic @3pm  - as above but more south-west and not so much of the Deep

Chelsea Ladies v Liverpool Ladies @2pm - the reigning FA WSL champions welcome the Reds to Staines Town for their first home game of the season

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: 14-20 March 2016

Been very pushed for time this week (bought a flat on Friday) so at this stage it's little more than the match maps.

I fully intend to come back and flesh things out on Monday and Tuesday but the maps are there so you can see what's going on and make plans accordingly.

Check back later in the week for more - cheers.

UPDATE: 14/03/16 - despite the best efforts of an unwanted Windows 10 installation to sabotage my attempts to 'flesh things out', I've managed to add a Top 10 at the foot of the page.

Over the last week I managed to get to QPR's 2-0 win over Derby County and then savoured the 3-0 derby win over Brentford from home as work didn't finish in time for me to make kick-off.

It seems Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink might be starting to get through to his players, they just need to start turning up for away games.

Help our audacious attempt to get a non-league match to outsell an England game - tickets on sale now

The build up to Non-League Finals Day at Wembley on Sunday 22 May has continued this week. With the FA also confirming England will play Turkey in Manchester on the same day, I've decided to throw down the gauntlet to the non-league community and challenge them to outsell the national team.

It's a huge challenge but one that will make a powerful statement if it somehow comes to pass. Look out for #NonLeagueFinalsDay and #LetsFillWembley on Twitter and use them yourself to help spread the message if you feel so inclined.

We also got a step closer to finding out who will be playing on the day with Grimsby and FC Halifax recording first leg wins in the FA Trophy semi-finals while both FA Vase semis were left very finely balanced after two close games in that competition.

With a joint ticket for both finals costing £25 adults, £10 concessions and £1 kids - it's a pretty good value day out. The adult tickets halve in price to just £12.50 if you can bring a group of 12 or more. Remember, wristbands are being issued too so you can come and go from the stadium throughout the day.

Hope to see you there!

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
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v West Ham United - although the Blues have improved significantly under Guus Hiddink, the last week or so has been hugely disappointing. A draw with Stoke at home was followed by defeats to PSG and Everton which saw them knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup in quick succession. With the league title also way out of reach, their only target now is try and get into Europe next season. Fourth place is still 11 points away, so even making the Europa League will be some achievement. If they are to get anywhere near then they'll need to beat the Hammers who are fifth and in the kind of form that makes them a real threat. With three wins on the trot in the league and a draw at Manchester United in the cup, they will arrive with a certain amount of confidence. A fine West-East derby looks very much on the cards. (Premier League, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

2. Crystal Palace v Leicester City - the Eagles safely made it past Reading on Friday to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals against Watford. Quite how they've managed such a great cup run is something of a mystery when you consider they haven't won a league game since 19 December. If it wasn't for their great start to the season, then their 12-game winless run would surely have seen them mired in the bottom three. As it is they have a decent eight-point cushion between themselves and the real strugglers but they need to get a win or two or things could turn sour. Sadly it's not likely to get any easier as league leaders Leicester are next up. The Foxes stayed five points clear with a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Monday but it's getting to that point of the campaign where nerves could get the better of them. Although they are winning games, it's been by small margins. Could this be the time Palace start to turn things around? (Premier League, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund - if Spurs hadn't made such a mess of the first leg then I'd have made this game of the week as it pits the number two ranked teams from England and Germany against each other. With several players rested, the north London side lost 3-0 to pretty much concede the tie. Although they got back to winning ways at Aston Villa on Sunday, boss Mauricio Pochettino is unlikely to throw caution to the wind here as winning the domestic title is clearly a higher priority. For the record, Borussia are the only challengers to Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga crown this season and are unbeaten in nine. (Europa League, Thursday 17 March, 805pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Sheffield United - the Lions kept themselves in the top five over the weekend with a draw at Swindon but it could've been so much better as they let a two-goal lead slip. Overall though, things are looking good as they're now unbeaten in five and very much in the hunt for a play-off place. The Blades, as one of League One's biggest clubs, are underachieving. It must be really tough supporting this particular Yorkshire club who have never really recovered from their highly controversial relegation from the Premier League in 2007. Since that disaster befell them, they've suffered one further relegation and four failed play-off attempts. This season they seem to have taken a step backwards and are down in 11th some six points off the top six. Despite this, they should still bring a large and vocal following so the atmosphere should be good if nothing else. (League One, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Barnet v Oxford United - the Bees haven't created many headlines this season as they haven't done much of note. Floating around lower midtable, they've largely kept themselves out of trouble which is commendable for a club of their size. However, in recent weeks, Martin Allen's side have started to build up a head of steam, losing only twice in 10 games. Although still only in 15th, they are 20 points clear of the relegation zone but only nine points off the play-offs. Could an unthinkable run into the top seven be on the cards? If so, Oxford simply must be beaten. Second at the time of writing, the U's are having a good year and have also made it to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final so will be formidable opponents. (League Two, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Billericay Town - much has been made of the twists and turns in the Isthmian League title race of late and for good reason as they keep on coming. Two weeks ago, Hampton lost to fellow contenders Tonbridge giving the advantage back to East Thurrock who had been held by Dulwich. Since then, Borough have won three on the bounce and opened a five-point lead at the top. Are they the team to finally break away and make sure of that one automatic promotion spot? While the aforementioned clubs were all fighting among themselves, Essex club Billericay have climbed back into the top five and although probably too far back to mount a meaningful title challenge, they've still got plenty to play for and can make it difficult for the others. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Club info)

7. Cray Wanderers v Thurrock - with leaders AFC Sudbury almost home and dry, the battle for the play-off places is really starting to hot up. While visitors Thurrock are second and in possession of a nice nine-point cushion over sixth place, Cray are looking more vulnerable in fourth. Both these sides are used to bigger and better things with Thurrock a sixth-tier side until as recently as 2012. To me, Cray's relegation from the Isthmian Premier in 2014 also came as a little bit of surprise. I'm hoping for some goals on Tuesday as they are the two highest scoring teams in the division with 170 goals from 76 games. One other notable fact - Cray Wanderers are the oldest team in TLFG's catchment area having been formed in 1860. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Tuesday 15 March, 745pm. Club info)

8. Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Camberley Town - the game of the week in the Combined Counties League takes place just to the south of Heathrow Airport, not far from Terminal 4. Ashford have been in a two-horse race for the title with leaders Hartley Wintney for some time now. Although on level points, the Hampshire club have four games in hand courtesy of their decent run in the FA Vase. As a result, second is looking increasingly likely to be as good as it's going to get for Ashford. Only the top team have any real guarantee of promotion but to have any chance, then second must be kept hold of. Camberley finished second last year, just ahead of Ashford, and are up in fourth at the moment. They too have several games in hand so the top four could well get a lot tighter. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Club info)

9. Sporting Bengal United v Clapton - both are coasting along fairly nicely in midtable which although unexciting is a marked achievement for sides who have often struggled in recent years. I've gone for this as it's an East End derby and will probably produce one of the best atmospheres at any ninth-tier game in the country this weekend. The hosts play at the Mile End Stadium and were formed, unsurprisingly, by the members of the large local Bengali community. Although the team isn't restricted to Bengalis alone, the club's roots are evident. Clapton have created loads of headlines over the last couple years for the growing band of left-wing, anti-fascist ultras that follow the team around east London and Essex. I've been to two of their games this season and they just never stop singing. On the last occasion I went, they played Tower Hamlets (who groundshare with SBU) and took well over 300 fans to a Friday night away game - something many Football League clubs would struggle to do. Located at probably the most centrally located non-league ground in London, give this one a go if you're looking for something a little different. (Essex Senior League, Saturday 19 March, 3pm. Club info)

10. Rayners Lane v Penn & Tylers Green - the Lane are a bit of a forgotten club as this blog goes. By some quirk of geography, the club within a stone's throw of Harrow Borough have somehow ended up in the Hellenic League Division 1 East where they must be the most easterly club by some distance. Primarily for teams in the Thames Valley and Gloucestershire, it's really weird how they've ended up where they are. Despite this, they often seem to win the title. Although not quite there this year, they are still in fifth and in with a mathematical chance of honours. On Saturday they welcome the leaders so if they are going to challenge, this is the time to strike. (Hellenic League Division 1 East, Saturday 19 March, 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: 7-13 March 2016

I'm pleased to say it's been a less hectic week so this is coming out a bit earlier than last week's piece.

There still seems to be a lot going on nonetheless. 

The big match of the week saw Spurs and Arsenal cancel each other out, allowing Leicester to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League. 

London team of the moment, though, are West Ham who won three games in a week to stay firmly in the hunt for a surprise Champions League place.

In the Championship it was a fairly forgettable week for most of our sides except struggling Charlton who managed to claim a precious derby win at Brentford to give their beleaguered fans some hope of avoiding the drop.

Millwall stayed on course for a play-off spot in League One after drawing with title contenders Wigan and then disposing of Blackpool in comfortable fashion on Saturday.

Tickets are now available

In the fourth tier, AFC Wimbledon jumped above Leyton Orient into the play-off places after holding fellow promotion hopefuls Accrington to a 0-0 draw. At the bottom, seemingly doomed Dagenham & Redbridge ground out a crucial 1-0 win over fellow strugglers York. They also picked up a point against Notts County in midweek but they are still seven points adrift with 12 games to go.

Of our local non-league clubs, Sutton United kept hold of second place in the National League South with a win at St Albans while Hampton & Richmond Borough thrashed Canvey Island to stay second in the Isthmian League Premier Division. Dulwich Hamlet picked up a point at Wingate & Finchley to stay in the play-off places but their title challenge seems to be fading.

In the eighth to 10th tiers, loads of our local teams are doing well so it looks like being a pretty decent year for London clubs.

I'm off to see QPR v Derby County on Tuesday and depending on work commitments (I won't find out until 36 hours before) and ticket availability, I might make it to the derby against Brentford. Failing that, there are potentially one or two non-league games I could make it to as well.

It's also been great this week to receive a few emails from readers asking for help and advice with planning their trips to London. Keep them coming.

Lastly, a quick mention for the charity match at Champion Hill between Dulwich Hamlet and FC Assyria - the game was supposed to happen last week but got rained off. They're having another go on Wednesday so pop along if you're free.

I think that's it from me, time to get ready for work.

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 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 Paris St Germain - for the second week running, the top match was an easy pick. Two of the richest clubs on the planet meet for this delicately poised Champions League tie. The French side hold a slender 2-1 aggregate lead after winning the first leg in Paris. Although Chelsea have massively improved under Guus Hiddink, they are still some way off their best as demonstrated by their failure to beat Stoke at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. PSG are dominating Ligue 1, opening a 23-point lead, but they've suddenly gone winless in two to show some weakness. The bookies see them as favourites and they also knocked Chelsea out at the same stage last season. (Champions League, Wednesday 9 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Arsenal v Watford - following their replay victory at Hull, the Gunners will play the Hornets in the next round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon. Normally you'd expect the hosts to win, especially since they've won every meeting between the clubs since 1988, but this year it could be different. Arsene Wenger's side are on paper a great one but they're going through a wobbly patch right now with the victory over Hull ending a five-game winless streak. Although down in midtable, Watford are more than a match for anyone this year and with very little pressure on them could very conceivably cause an upset. You'll need membership to sit with the Arsenal fans but getting some for the away end looks possible because Watford have been given a whopping 9,000 tickets. After Hornets members have had first pick, the rest will go on general sale at 4pm on Thursday. I'm tempted. (FA Cup Quarter-Final, Sunday 13 March, 130pm. Ticket info)

3. Queens Park Rangers v Brentford - after a wait of nearly 13 years, it was also very easy to pick the game of the week in the Football League. Usually separated by a division or two, this is the first season in a while that these two west London rivals have competed against each other at Loftus Road. It was the fixture that both sets of fans were looking out for back in June when the dates were published. The match at Griffin Park in October was duly picked up and shown live by Sky with the upstarts from Brentford edging to a 1-0 win over their bigger cousins from up the road. Things looked pretty rosy for the Bees around then with caretaker boss Lee Carsley doing a great job after the season had started so badly under Marinus Dijkhuizen. However, he was replaced by Dean Smith a month later and things have tailed off badly again. Although in no immediate danger of relegation, they have lost 10 of the 18 games since Smith took over. QPR have also switched managers since the last derby with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink coming in from Burton. He too has failed to carve out many wins but there have instead been plenty of draws. On paper Rangers should win but they have a hopeless record in derby matches in recent years and with the Brentford end sold out and likely to be very lively, the pressure is very much on them. There are a few tickets still available. (Championship, Saturday 12 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Fulham v Burnley - the Cottagers have had a torrid time since relegation from the Premier League with both seasons outside the top flight proving to be a struggle. Down at the wrong end of the Championship for most of this campaign, things seem to be gradually improving under Slavisa Jokanovic. Recent derby wins over QPR and Charlton have lifted spirits but they are still only five points above the relegation zone. This week they have two tough and very important home games. On Saturday they play host to relegation rivals Bristol City but before that they entertain the Clarets who currently reside at the top of the table. Relegated from the Premier League last season, the Lancashire side have responded fantastically as you would probably expect. A well run club with a very level-headed manager in Sean Dyche, they have been the most consistent team going. Unbeaten in 12 in the league, their last defeat of any kind came at the Emirates where they narrowly lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup. The reverse fixture at Turfmoor in November saw a 3-1 for the hosts. (Championship, Tuesday 8 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

5. Charlton Athletic v MK Dons - the Championship gets a third game this week as there's not much on in League One and Two this week. This game at the Valley is a proverbial 'six-pointer' between two sides desperate not to return to the third tier. It's been four years since the Addicks were last down there but MK have only just come up. The visitors will start the game just above the bottom three having enjoyed a 2-0 win over QPR on Saturday in what is close to being a derby for the two sides. Things are looking much more grave for Charlton who, despite getting a great win at Brentford on Saturday, remain seven points adrift of safety. A crucial game for both. (Championship, Tuesday 8 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Weston-Super-Mare - as mentioned above, there's little on in the next few divisions so next we focus on the promotion race in the sixth tier. South London club Sutton are the form team in the National League South at the moment, recently climbing above Maidstone into second place. Unbeaten in the league since 7 November, it's looking really promising for the Gander Green Lane club. To gain automatic promotion, however, they need to finish top and leaders Ebbsfleet are a whopping 11 points clear. The good news is, Sutton have three games in hand so the title race is still alive. Down in the bottom three, WSM should provide an excellent opportunity to pick up another three points. (National League South, Saturday 12 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Wealdstone v Maidstone United - the same afternoon over on the north-west side of town we have the 'Battle of the Stones'. Both sides have pretty illustrious pasts, having both been kings of the non-league scene in the '80s when their rivalry would've been at its peak. Maidstone made the jump up to the Football League at the end of that decade but folded soon after. The current side began in 1992 and they've gradually climbed the divisions to now find themselves on the verge of a return to the fifth tier. As mentioned above, they are currently third and will start as favourites against Wealdstone who are loitering around midtable. I'd expect it will produce one of the biggest crowds of the season at Grosvenor Vale. (National League South, Saturday 12 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Northwood v Egham Town - in the eighth tier, Egham continued their promotion push with victory over Arlesey on Saturday. This week they have back-to-back derbies against Hanwell and Northwood. While Hanwell are struggling, the Woods are chasing a play-off place themselves and will be dangerous opponents. With four wins on the bounce and the knowledge they held the Sarnies to a draw at the Runnymede Stadium earlier in the season, they should come into this with some confidence. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Saturday 12 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Corinthian Casuals v Hastings United - TLFG's focus on the Isthmian League has largely been held by the thrilling title race in the Premier Division but with relatively little happening in that in our area this week, we take a look at a couple of teams in Division 1 South. Alongside coastal rivals Worthing and Folkestone, Hastings are one of the biggest teams in the division and really should be in the top flight. With Folkestone running away with the title, it's looking like a play-off spot is the best the Arrows will be able to hope for. Currently fifth, the last play-off place, they are in with a good chance but it is tight. Corinthian Casuals, down in eighth, are London's main challengers and are only two points behind so will leapfrog them if they win here. The away game produced a 3-3 draw so more of the same would obviously be nice. (Isthmian League Division 1 South, Tuesday 8 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

10. Sutton Athletic v Glebe - lastly in the 10th tier, two title rivals meet in the Kent Invicta League. It's third versus first with Glebe five points ahead of their hosts but Sutton have a game in hand. A win for Sutton will therefore make the already tight battle even closer while defeat could effectively knock them out. Both sides also have midweek games so the picture could change before this takes place. (Kent Invicta League, Saturday 12 March, 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.