TLFG: 5-11 September 2016

Hi there, hope you're well. After the rigours of the last few days, putting together and promoting Non-League Day, I'm going to initially keep this very brief.

The maps and Daily Digest are all done but the ticketing info page needs a refresh and my own pre-amble telling you how NLD went will have to wait. In other words, all the really crucial stuff is further down the page.

I'll try to flesh things out a bit more later in the week but time has beaten me for now.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next week as the season gets into full swing.

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 - something which often happens at this time of year. 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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 5 September

Professional Development League 2
Charlton Athletic v Coventry City @2pm - a chance to watch a game at the Valley as the clubs' U23 sides do battle, the early kick-off allows you to watch two games in a day

National League
Wealdstone v Weston-Super-Mare @745pm - a win for the Stones could put them into the top five in the National League South

FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay
Carshalton Athletic v Worthing @745pm - the Robins did really well to hold the higher ranked Worthing to a 3-3 draw on Saturday and now have home advantage to try and claim a notable scalp

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Tuesday 6 September

National League
Dartford v Welling United @745pm - it's derby night at Princes Park. Why this is being held on a Tuesday night in September is unclear as it would normally be a Bank Holiday or Boxing Day special. This National League South match is definitely the game of the night.

Ryman League
Corinthian Casuals v Guernsey @745pm - the hosts could go top of Division 1 South with a win against the Green Lions
Whyteleafe v Tooting & Mitcham United @745pm - it will only happen if current leaders Tooting slip up in this south London derby

Southern Counties East League
Meridian VP v Bridon Ropes @745pm - in Division 1 we have a groundshare derby

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 Cup
Broadfields United v Harefield United @745pm - another groundshare derby but this time on the far west side of town

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Wednesday 7 September

Ryman League

Romford v Phoenix Sports @745pm - early strugglers Romford welcome Phoenix who are currently one point clear at the top of Division 1 North

Southern Counties East League
AFC Croydon Athletic v Fisher @745pm - another south London side to have started well are the Rams who top the SCEFL after five games
Forest Hill Park v Lewisham Borough @745pm - in Division 1 we have yet another groundshare derby, this one at the Ladywell Arena

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Thursday 8 September

Friendly
Brentford B v Liverpool XI @7pm - the Bees' second string welcome a side from Anfield for an interesting friendly a Griffin Park

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Friday 9 September

Premier League 2
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @705pm - the respective U23 sides of these two London giants do battle at Stamford Bridge in what looks like a very entertaining way to kick-off a weekend of football watching
West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers @7pm - in slightly less glamorous surroundings you can enjoy this fixture at Dagenham & Redbridge

FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Cray Valley PM v Glebe @745pm - if you'd prefer a bit of senior competitive football then this south-east London derby should appeal
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Saturday 10 September

Premier League
Arsenal v Southampton @3pm - neither side has got off to a flying start so will want to rectify things here
Watford v West Ham United @3pm - for the third game in a row, the Hornets come up against London opposition and are badly in need of a first win - they could get it here against a Hammers side who have been inconsistent to say the least

EFL
Fulham v Birmingham City @3pm - the Cottagers come into the game in second but face a tough challenge from the Blues who have lost only one of their five games
Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers @3pm - Rangers can move ahead of Fulham if they win against Rovers who are the only winless side in the Championship
AFC Wimbledon v Sheffield United @3pm - the Dons welcome the pre-season League One title favourites who are only just above them in the table
Millwall v Coventry City @3pm - the Lions were also fancied to do well and are living up to their billing, currently well on course for a play-off spot at the very least

National League
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Bath City @3pm - the Beavers are one of the hottest sides in London at the moment and they welcome fellow National League South promotion contenders Bath on Saturday

FA Vase First Qualifying Round
Hanworth Villa v Bedfont Sports @3pm - a local derby between teams who both hail from the Combined Counties Premier - they've both started reasonably well and know each other inside out

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Sunday 11 September

FA Women's Super League 1
Arsenal v Manchester City @2pm - end the week with this big game at Boreham Wood as the Gunners, in third, welcome runaway leaders City

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.