TLFG: 30 April - 7 May 2018

Well we're almost there - the season is nearly over and for many non-league teams it already is.

On Saturday the National League, Bostik League and Evo-Stik Leagues' regular seasons came to an end and it's now all about the play-offs.

Aside from some crucial games in the Premier League and EFL, these highly entertaining games will take centre stage and I highly recommend that you take in as many as you can.

The games start on Tuesday and run through every day (except Friday) to Bank Holiday Monday which is also included in this blog.

The National League have added an extra round to their play-offs this year meaning the finals will all happen the weekend after that.

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We've also got some county cup finals to look forward to and the Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley which looks like getting its biggest attendance - I'm taking my daughter along for what will be my first women's football match. 

So what, if anything, has been achieved by our local clubs over the past week?

Not all that much unfortunately.

Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their Europa League match against Atletico Madrid which given it was at home and their opponents had 10 men for 80 minutes feels like a defeat in many ways.

The performance of the week arguably came from Crystal Palace who all but confirmed their place in next season's Premier League with a 5-0 thrashing of Leicester City. A great deal of credit should be given to Roy Hodgson for what he has achieved.

In the Championship, Fulham chalked up another win over Sunderland to ensure they have a chance of automatic promotion going into the final game but they'll need to better second placed Cardiff's result to avoid the play-offs where they came unstuck last season. Sadly Millwall and Brentford both lost and their promotion dreams now look over (the Lions have a very slim mathematical chance).

Charlton Athletic chalked up a crucial win over Blackburn but they still need to do a bit more to secure a play-off spot in League One. At the other end, AFC Wimbledon need just a point from their last two games to stay up.

Barnet, under Martin Allen, have also given themselves a chance of pulling off a miraculous escape with a win over Morecambe but will still need to rely on other results even if they do win their final game.  

The Conifa World Football Cup is coming told London - find out more

Don't forget that the CONIFA World Football Cup is coming to London soon.

The tournament which runs from 31 May - 9 June is for teams representing 'nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories' which are not recognised by Fifa.

Competitors in the 16-team tournament include Ellan Vannin (aka the Isle of Man), Northern Cyprus, Panjab, Tamil Ealam and Tibet.

Full information about fixtures and tickets can be found here.

Finally this week, it's nice to report some good interactions with you dear readers.

On Monday I went to Loftus Road to watch QPR U23's take on Crewe Alexandra. While there I met long time TLFG reader Nick G from Australia who also gave a generous donation to the TLFG coffee-drinking fund. Thanks again sir!

On Saturday, Felix from Germany also got in touch through Facebook in desperate need of a ticket for QPR v Birmingham which was only on sale to members and those with a booking history. I wasn't around but set him up with a friend who sorted him out and he seemed to get a pretty decent game with a very young R's side winning 3-1.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 60 matches in the London area over the next eight days. The highlights include some big games in the Premier League, EFL and National League and there also some important play-off games and county cup matches too.

As always, 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 (orange 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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin
Bank Hoilday Monday fixtures - yellow pin

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 30 April

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Watford @8pm - as we approach the end of the season, there's still quite a bit riding on this match. If Spurs lose this derby, they'll be only two points ahead of Chelsea with three games to go, meaning their place in the top four could be in real jeopardy. The Hornets have reached the magic 38-point mark which is normally enough to keep teams up and they almost certainly will survive but a point here would be useful

Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Erith Town v Beckenham Town @745pm - there are a handful of non-league options on Monday but none of them are of any great significance. This will be the final match of the season for both sides - Erith have had an uninspiring campaign but managed to avoid the drop whilst Beckenham have had their best season for a while and will finish fourth

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Tuesday 1 May

Professional Development League
Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest @7pm - if you haven't managed to get to Selhurst Park so far this season then this U23 match could be your chance. Adult tickets are only £5 and can be bought online now

Surrey Senior Cup Final
Leatherhead v Merstham @745pm - two Bostik League sides from just outside London head to Sutton United's ground to fight it out for a decent bit of silverware

Bostik League South Division play-off semi-final
Cray Wanderers v Walton Casuals @745pm - the hosts claimed third place with a final day 4-0 win over Guernsey whilst the visitors recorded an impressive 4-1 victory at Ashford United to pip Hythe Town to the last play-off spot. Most non league play-off games are contested over only one leg so this game could go to penalties
Greenwich Borough v Corinthian Casuals @745pm - unlike the two sides above, this couple limped into the play-offs with Boro losing their final game and Casuals grabbing a last-minute equaliser in their match. The winners of these two ties will meet in the final on Saturday - the team who finished the regular season in the highest position will host

Middlesex Premier Cup Final
Broadfields United v Harefield United @745pm - Broadfields won this competition last year and will attempt to defend their crown against a side they groundshare with. This will be played at Harrow Borough's ground
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Wednesday 2 May

National League South play-off elimination round
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Truro City @745pm - these sides met in the final league game of the season on Saturday and secured their play-off places with a 1-1 draw. As a result they've been paired up in this match meaning another lengthy journey for Cornish side Truro. Although this is also a one-legged affair, the National League play-offs have three rounds for the first time this year. The winners of this will go through to the semi-finals and then there will be a final after that so these two still have a long way to go

Bostik League North Division play-off semi-final
Haringey Borough v Heybridge Swifts @745pm - these two both recorded 2-1 wins on the final day to finish fourth and fifth. Boro won their last eight games of the season which followed their last meeting with Heybridge - a game which produced a thrilling 3-3 draw. This could be a humdinger - the winners head to the play-off final on Sunday

Evo-Stik League East Division play-off semi-final
Hayes & Yeading United v Cambridge City @745pm - after the last few years of disappointment which saw Hayes suffer three relegations, it's really pleasing to see them settled in a new stadium with a team that's doing well. H&YU have won their last three, scored 12 and managed to beat eventual champions Beaconsfield in the process so they arrive in the 'post-season' in fine form. They also did the double over Cambridge over the course of the regular season so should strongly fancy their chances here

A bit further afield
If none of the games above float your boat or you've ticked off all these grounds already then there are also play-off matches at Aldershot Town (National League), Hemel Hempstead Town (National League South),  Slough Town (Evo-Stik League Premier Division) and Bowers & Pitsea (Bostik League North Division) which are all in reasonably close proximity to London

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Thursday 3 May

Nattional League play-off elimination round
Boreham Wood v AFC Fylde @7pm - much has been made on TLFG over the last few years of how successful The Wood have been given how small a club they are. Financially very well run, the club have been able to punch well above their weight and with average crowds of just 655 now find themselves in the play-offs, only three wins away from a place in the EFL. A 3-1 win over bottom club Guiseley saw them finish fourth way above the likes of Leyton Orient, Hartlepool United and Wrexham. Lancashire club Fylde have also climbed rapidly through the divisions in recent seasons and got to showcase their fine stadium on national television when they held former Premier League side Wigan Athletic to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup back in December. League meetings between the two this season saw Boreham Wood come out on top with a 1-0 win and 2-2 draw - it should be close

Bostik League Premier Division play-off semi-final
Dulwich Hamlet v Leiston @745pm - finishing second and fifth respectively, neither had a cracking final day with the Hamlet scraping a 1-1 draw with Margate and Leiston lost at home to Hendon. Dulwich are the favourites to progress and are the form team of the division but their play-off record is pretty dreadful - this is the fourth consecutive year that they've made it and they'll be desperate to avoid another failure. Leiston have never got this far, despite a number of strong starts to seasons, and face a long journey down from Suffolk to Tooting & Mitcham's ground where this match will be played
Hendon v Folkestone Invicta @745pm - in terms of attendance, Hendon are the smallest of the four clubs taking part in the play-offs so it's a great achievement for them to make it again. With four wins from their last six matches, the Greens arrive in the 'post-season' in good shape especially when compared to Folkestone who have only won two in the same time. Invicta head to Silver Jubilee Park off the back of bruising encounters with champions Billericay and runners-up Dulwich so should be battled hardened and well supported by their sizeable fan base

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Friday 4 May

Professional Development League 2 play-off final
Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @7pm - I don't normally cover U18 football in TLFG but there's nothing else on, it's a big game and it's being played at The Valley so there's a lot going for it. Adult tickets are also only £3

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Saturday 5 May

Premier League
Watford v Newcastle United @3pm - if the Hornets get anything from their match at Spurs on Monday then this will become a fairly meaningless end of season midtable jolly up. If that is the case, the pressure will be off for both sides and we could get a really entertaining game. Watford are also developing a bit of a dominance over the Magpies with four consecutive wins in all competitions

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bury @530pm - unbeaten in five, the Dons can secure their place in League One if they draw or win their midweek game at Doncaster. If they slip up then it will all come down to this match against bottom club Bury who were relegated some time ago

League Two
Barnet v Chesterfield @3pm - it's also a huge day for the Bees but unlike Wimbledon, their destiny isn't in their own hands. Since recently returning to the club, manager Martin Allen has had a huge impact and has given the north London club a great chance of surviving the drop, something which looked unthinkable a few weeks ago. Three wins from five, including victory over fellow strugglers Morecambe on Saturday have left them two points adrift going into this final game. Chesterfield have already finished bottom and will no doubt want to take Barnet down with them

Women's FA Cup Final
Arsenal v Chelsea @530pm - if you want to a 'double' on Saturday then you could combine the Barnet game with this cup final at Wembley. The two grounds are only a short journey apart on the Jubilee Line so it's very doable. At £15 for adults and free for kids, tickets for this match are also cheap so it's a great way to take in a game at the national stadium. So far, over 40,000 tickets have been sold which is a new record for this match. As for the game itself, Chelsea are currently the top team in English women's football so will start as favourites.

Bostik League South Division play-off final
Corinthian Casuals v Walton Casuals @3pm - these sides finished fifth and sixth in the table but both came through their semi-finals on Tuesday causing a bit of an upset in the process. The hosts have been in the top six all season and lost on penalties in last year's play-off final so they'll be desperate to go one better this time. Walton have also been competitive for most of the campaign but only just squeaked into the play-off spots on the final day. If they do go up they have a fine new stadium and facilities which would be more than capable of hosting football at a higher level

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Sunday 6 May

Premier League
Arsenal v Burnley @430pm - this time last year, this match would've been important but for very different reasons with the Gunners trying to secure a top-four finish and the Clarets trying to avoid the drop. By the time this comes round, this could go a long way to deciding which of the two finishes sixth - a quite amazing change in fortunes. A lot will depend on how Arsenal fare at Manchester United today but if they lose then it'll be all to play for come Sunday
Chelsea v Liverpool @430pm - at the same time in south-west London, the biggest game of the week will see the Blues try and keep their push for a Champions League place alive. If Tottenham drop points against Watford on Monday then they'll have a decent chance of catching them. Liverpool could still do with a point or two to make absolutely sure of their top-four finish

Championship
Brentford v Hull City @1230pm - this game could have been a lot more important if recent results had gone differently. The Bees headed to Barnsley on Saturday knowing a win would place them right on the cusp of the play-off zone with one game to go and would have everything to play for going into this one. Sadly they lost and their promotion hopes ended. Hull have been fighting the drop all season but have managed to secure survival despite some indifferent results of late - in essence there's nothing riding on this
Millwall v Aston Villa @1230pm - there also looks like being a tale of heartbreak elsewhere in London where the Lions also look like falling at the final hurdle. Neil Harris's side have been superb in 2018 and went on a storming run which saw them surge into the play-off places a couple of weeks ago. Sadly their form has dipped at the crucial moment and they come into their huge final game against Villa on a three-game winless streak. This means that only a win over one of the division's top sides will do and they'll need Derby to lose by a hefty margin at home to relegation threatened Barnsley - in other words, mission almost impossible

National League play-off semi-final
Sutton United v Boreham Wood @3pm - the U's secured third place in the National League this season meaning, under the new system, that they received a bye to the semi-final stage of the play-offs. Their opponents saw off AFC Fylde on Thursday night and now travel to Gander Green Lane for this south versus north London derby to battle it out for a place in next Sunday's final at Wembley - a massive game

National League South play-off final
Dartford v Braintree Town @3pm - the Darts went toe-to-toe with Havant & Waterlooville all season and ultimately lost the divisional title on goal difference. As runners-up they receive a bye to the semi-finals. If they win this tie they will host the winner of the other semi-final at Princes Park in the final. Braintree got this far by beating Hemel Hempstead on penalties on Wednesday evening

Bostik League North Division play-off final
Haringey Borough v Canvey Island @3pm - Boro made comfortable progress through the semis, seeing off a very decent Heybridge side 2-0 in front of nearly 442 spectators - a fantastic attendance for an eighth-tier game. Canvey caused a bit of an upset by winning 2-0 at Bowers & Pitsea in an Essex derby so will be very dangerous opponents

Friendly
Surrey v Barawa @430pm - somewhat overshadowed by all the other important games going on in and around London, the newly formed Surrey international side are playing their first ever game. Like Yorkshire, the English county have formed their own team, affiliated themselves to CONIFA and have lined up this friendly against African side Barawa. The match will take place at Fisher's ground in Rotherhithe so can be combined very easily with the match at Millwall

Capital Women's Senior Cup Final
Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @2pm - if women's football is your thing then this county cup final between two south-east London rivals should be well worth a watch. It is being played at Bedfont Sports next to Heathrow Airport

A bit further afield
A short journey into Essex will get you to the other National League South play-off semi-final between Chelmsford City and Hampton & Richmond Borough


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Monday 7 May

Bostik League Premier Division play-off final
Dulwich Hamlet v Hendon @3pm - Gavin Rose's side finished as runners-up this season and should go into this game as favourites. However, their play-off record is poor and they only edged past sixth-placed Leiston 1-0 on Thursday. The Greens, on the other hand, demolished Folkestone 4-0 in their semi-final to extend their winning run to four games. They also beat Dulwich at Champion Hill in the regular season, drew with them at home and they possess 40-goal striker Niko Muir so they look like very dangerous underdogs indeed. Don't forget that this match will be played at Tooting & Mitcham United's ground

Middlesex Charity Cup Final
Hanworth Villa v Spelthorne Sports @3pm - there are a few non-league games on Bank Holiday Monday with this county cup final at Northwood's ground among the best on offer. Credit should be paid to these two Combined Counties League sides who have upset the form book and some much bigger clubs to make it this far. There are also a number of Combined Counties League games which kick-off at 1130am and can easily be combined with this, the nearest being the match between AFC Hayes and North Greenford United

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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 23-29 April 2018

The big story of the week from a London perspective had to be the announcement that Arsene Wenger is to step down as Arsenal manager after 22 years at the helm.

As someone who doesn't support the Gunners but has a soft spot for them, I have a lot of respect for the Frenchman, what he has achieved over the years and the grace with which he's done it.

I agree that it's definitely the right time for him to go and he probably should have gone well before now but I've found it rather unedifying to see so many Arsenal fans celebrate his departure in a way that seems unwarranted given his huge commitment to the club.

Ian Holloway isn't doing a great job at QPR and I wouldn't be devastated if he got replaced at the end of the season but as a someone who lives and breathes the club, I'd give him the respect he deserves were he to go.

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Aside from that, a lot of big games got played over the weekend with two London clubs heading to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals - sadly Tottenham didn't make it through but Chelsea did and they will face Manchester United in a blockbuster final on 19 May.

In the Premier League, Arsenal responded superbly to the news of Wenger's departure with a 4-1 win over West Ham which put them back in the top six and left the Hammers needing to do a bit more to avoid the drop.

Crystal Palace also picked up a point at Watford - this result also means the Eagles aren't quite out of the woods yet whilst the Hornets reached the mythical 38-point mark which usually signals survival.

It was derby weekend in the Championship where Fulham stole the show with a sensational 3-0 win at Millwall on Friday to briefly move into the top two. In west London, Brentford beat near neighbours QPR 2-1 to move to within a point of the play-offs with just two games to go.

A superb away win at Portsmouth saw Charlton keep hold of fifth place in League One as the season nears its end whilst AFC Wimbledon extended their unbeaten run to four games with a draw against Oldham to stay just above the relegation zone.

Harrow fans make their way home via the mean streets of Needham Market

Martin Allen's return to Barnet continues to reap rewards with only one defeat in five giving them a fighting chance of survival. Their win over Newport on Saturday means they are still four points adrift of safety with two games to go but it's still possible.

For the second Saturday running I managed to get out to a Harrow Borough game.

The match against Suffolk side Needham Market had been in the diary for a long time as I have an old school friend who now lives near Norwich and we agreed this would be a good one to catch up at.

Back in the early '90s we used to travel all over watching Harrow when we could but this was probably his first time watching in 25 years.

Having enjoyed a smooth train ride up from London through some beautiful sun-drenched Essex countryside, I met him outside the station from where it was only a short walk to the ground.

Bloomfields is well located and has a modern well appointed clubhouse with decent facilities.

Luckily for us, the club were only charging £5 to get in as a final game of the season promotion. Once through the turnstile, we were greeted by a well stocked and reasonably priced tea bar which was very well run by a lady who I presume was called Dani as she had it embroidered on her polo shirt.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Over the course of the afternoon, I enjoyed a couple of drinks and a slice of homemade 'Hemmingway Lime Cake' which was very tasty indeed. I don't think I even spent £3.

The game itself was pretty entertaining.

Boro have been in decent form of late and raced out of the blocks creating a number of chances before Ryan Moss swept in George Moore's low cross in the eighth minute to get us all punching the air with joy.

Woodwork was hit and both keepers made at least three top class saves each as the sides pushed hard for more goals but none materialised as the plucky team from Middlesex picked up another away win to move to the heady heights of 13th with one game to play.

There's a good chance I'll go to QPR to watch the U23s on Monday and then that will probably be it until the 5 May when I hope to take my daughter to the women's FA Cup Final at Wembley.

The Conifa World Football Cup is coming told London - find out more

Don't forget that the CONIFA World Football Cup is coming to London soon.

The tournament which runs from 31 May - 9 June is for teams representing 'nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories' which are not recognised by Fifa.

Competitors in the 16-team tournament include Ellan Vannin (aka the Isle of Man), Northern Cyprus, Panjab, Tamil Ealam and Tibet.

Full information about fixtures and tickets can be found here.

We're also lucky enough this week to have another video piece from our friends at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game'.

This time, our intrepid duo headed to Surrey to check out the new facilities at Bostik League club Walton Casuals who continued their promotion push against Corinthian Casuals.

Lastly from me I'd like to thank Glidden L from Texas, USA for a very generous donation to TLFG's Coffee Drinking Fund - much appreciated!

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the Europa League, Premier League, EFL and National League and there also some important county cup matches too.

As always, 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 (orange 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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

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 23 April

Professional Development League
There are five U23 games taking place in the capital on Monday with four of them set to take place at the clubs' main stadiums. If you've never been to Charlton Athletic, Millwall, QPR or Watford now's your chance to visit on the cheap. However, as with all youth games, please check all details as they are subject to change at short notice

National League South
Wealdstone v East Thurrock United @745pm - the most high profile non-league game of the day can be found at Grosvenor Vale but there's little riding on it. The Stones looked like being a good outside bet for a play-off spot but since suffering the disappointment of their FA Trophy semi-final defeat, their form has disintegrated and they'll finish in midtable. East Thurrock aren't a huge club and have done really well to survive another season at this level - a win here will see them move above Wealdstone in the table

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Stansfeld v K Sports @745pm - head south-east to Chislehurst for a game of far more importance. The hosts were new to the division this year and have comfortably held their own but they'll have to be at their best for this one as K Sports arrive knowing a win will hand them the divisional title. With leaders Punjab United completing their fixtures on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Holmesdale, K Sports were left two points behind and now have the chance to clinch the title by winning here

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Tuesday 24 April

National League
Bromley v Barrow @745pm - this match will have a big bearing on what happens at either end of the table come the end of the regular season on Saturday. With Wealdstone wilting after their FA Trophy semi-final defeat, Bromley have bloomed after winning theirs and come into this match with real momentum as they look to nick a play-off place at the death. If results go their way elsewhere on Tuesday, then a win should see them end the night in the top seven. Barrow had one of their best seasons for a long time last year and were really tough to beat, this year has been almost exactly the opposite and they currently find themselves just above the relegation zone courtesy of better goal difference only - a huge game for both teams

National League South
Welling United v Bath City @745pm - the Wings looked like finishing among the play-off places a few weeks ago but only one win from five games has left their promotion hopes looking slim. With two games to go, a top-seven finish is possible but a defeat here, against a side with little to play for, will end their season

Bostik League South Division
Corinthian Casuals v Guernsey @745pm - the hosts have been right up there all season but Saturday's surprising home defeat by Herne Bay saw Casuals drop out of the play-off places for the first time in months. Thankfully for them, the table is ridiculously tight and if they win this game in hand against midtable Guernsey they'll jump back up to fifth going into the final game

Combined Counties League Premier Division
AFC Hayes v Bedfont Sports @745pm - with the season approaching its climax for many non-league clubs this is another one where both sides need something out of the game. The hosts have had a disappointing season and find themselves just above the relegation zone. Thankfully they have a nine-point cushion over the team below them but they still have five games to play so they are catchable. Bedfont, on the other hand, will get promoted if they can secure the runners-up spot. They are the current incumbents but are only two points ahead of Sutton Common Rovers so really must be targeting a win

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Southend Manor @745pm - the Motormen were top for a long time but only one win from five has left them trailing behind. With three games to go, they know they have to win here or their title hopes will end. However, finishing second and gaining promotion will still be a possibility

FA Women's Super League 1
Arsenal v Liverpool @730pm - with Chelsea and Manchester City being so dominant, it's really a case of who's good enough to finish third. These two are probably the most likely contenders so this game could have a big effect on how the league table ends up

A bit further afield
There are two big non-league games a few miles beyond London's borders which are well worthy of your consideration. Up in Essex, Billericay Town will finally clinch the Bostik League title if they manage to beat county rivals Harlow Town. Whilst to the south east of the capital you could catch the Kent Senior Cup Final between Maidstone United and Folkestone Invicta at Maidstone's ground - on paper the hosts should win as they play two divisions above their opponents
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Wednesday 25 April

Bostik League North Division
Romford v Grays Athletic @745pm - the best game on Wednesday should be this Essex derby. The hosts simply have to win or they will be relegated with a game to spare. This will also be the penultimate game at Thurrock's Ship Lane ground before it closes to Bostik League action so if you haven't been, this might be your last chance

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Balham v Colliers Wood United @730pm - there's very little riding on this other than bragging rights as the two south-west London clubs groundshare. On this occasion it's a case of tenants against landlords

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Thursday 26 April

Europa League Semi-Final First Leg
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid @805pm - with Arsene Wenger having finally announced his departure after 22 years as manager, the Gunners' players will hopefully come into this hugely important match with even more motivation to win than they might previously have had. Winning a major European trophy would be a great send off for the Frenchman and it would seem very possible given they way they've breezed through the previous rounds. However, Atletico are currently second in the Spanish league, are the favourites to win this and consequently will be incredibly tough to beat

Evo-Stik League East Division
Egham Town v Beaconsfield Town @745pm - the Sarnies' season ended a while ago but they can still have a big impact on who ultimately wins the title. Beaconsfield are second at the time of writing and have games in hand on all the other sides in the top five so in many ways they're the favourites for the divisional title. On Saturday they lost a huge game against promotion rivals Hayes & Yeading but have another match prior to this so could be top by the time this kicks-off

Middlesex Charity Cup Semi-Final
Hanworth Villa v Hampton & Richmond Borough @745pm - with a place in a county cup final against Spelthorne Sports awaiting the winner, you'd like to think the competing clubs would take this pretty seriously. With their season effectively over Hanworth will probably throw everything at it but with the Beavers wanting to make sure of a third-place finish in the league, they might rest a few players

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Friday 27 April

Championship
Fulham v Sunderland @745pm - the Cottagers have been selected to star on Sky Sports for the second Friday running. After comfortably seeing off Millwall in last week's game to keep themselves in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Premier League, it's no surprise that they've been picked again. Maybe the schedulers thought Sunderland would've had a bit more about them and might still have been fighting to stay up but sadly that's not the case as the Black Cats confirmed their relegation to League One on Saturday. Given the way Fulham have been playing, they should sweep the Mackems aside with relative ease

FA Youth Cup Final First Leg
Chelsea v Arsenal @745pm - with adult tickets for the match above starting a £35, you might find a night out at Stamford Bridge costs you a lot less - that's a sentence you won't hear very often! Once again, the Blues' all-conquering U18 side have made it to the final of this prestigious youth competition and should start as strong favourites to win again. Chelsea have made it to seven of the last eight finals and have won six of them. Arsenal's last appearance in the final came in 2009 when they beat Liverpool. Tickets are on sale now and are only £5 for adults - please note that you must buy before 4pm on the day of the match or you will not get in

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Saturday 28 April

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Leicester City @3pm - the Eagles picked up another useful point in their fight against relegation in the derby game at Watford on Saturday. Now six points clear of the relegation zone with three games to go, things are looking promising for Roy Hodgson's side. On Saturday they welcome a useful Leicester team who look well placed to claim a top-eight finish. It's highly unlikely they'll end up any higher than that but they could drop a few places if they take their feet off the gas in the final few games so will want to avoid any complacency

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City @3pm - after a long and pretty fruitless campaign, QPR prepare to host their final home game of the season. With their place in next season's Championship secured several weeks ago, Ian Holloway has been rotating the squad frequently to give a few youngsters and reserves a chance to impress. The results have been hugely mixed but of little consequence. Birmingham, however, still need points to ensure they survive and have completely sold out their allocation of tickets so there should be a decent atmosphere and perhaps even a little naughtiness (the away fans don't have a great reputation and QPR's often invade the pitch after the final home game with several trying to reach the travelling support so let's see what happens...)

League One
Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @3pm - if you're a neutral looking for a game on Saturday I'd strongly advise you to pick this one over the two above. These two former Premier League clubs have endured a tough few years that have seen them both fall as low as the third tier. After a significant wobble, the Addicks are firmly back in play-off contention after impressive back-to-back away wins over promotion rivals Shrewsbury and Portsmouth. These wins have moved them up to fifth but that's as far as they can go with just two games remaining. With a number of sides snapping at their heels they can easily fall back out of the leading group and must win their final fixtures to have any chance. Sadly, a title chasing Blackburn side are the next on their fixture card and they'll seal automatic promotion with a win here so should be hugely motivated to get a result themselves

National League
Boreham Wood v Guiseley @1230pm - the Wood could head into their final game of the season knowing a win will earn them a place in the play-offs. A lot will depend on Bromley and Ebbsfleet's midweek fixtures as to whether Luke Garrard's side will start the day in the top seven but there's a very good chance they will. If the Hertfordshire club do make the play-offs it will be a huge achievement as they have such a small fan base - the smallest in the National League (average 653). It was a surprise when they made it out of what is now the Bostik League a few years ago so to now be pushing for a place in the EFL is hard to comprehend. In Guiseley they face the perfect opponent for such a crucial game - bottom for most of the season and relegated a while ago, the Yorkshire side are pretty hopeless but will the pressure get to the hosts?
Sutton United v Aldershot Town @1230pm - on the south side of town there's an even bigger game between the sides battling to finish third. Sutton currently have it but Aldershot are just a point behind in fourth. The format of the NL play-offs have changed this year meaning that there are three rounds - firstly the teams finishing 4th-7th face a game each (4th v 7th & 5th v 6th), then the winners of those games travel to the sides finishing second and third before the winners of those games meet in the final at Wembley. Therefore finishing third will see you play one less game and have home advantage for the one legged semi-final. Macclesfield have already won the title and Tranmere have secured second place

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Truro City @3pm - the same play-off system is in place in this division too and like Sutton, Hampton are currently third and looking to stay that way as the top two are uncatchable. Truro were top at one point but have fallen just outside the top seven with only goals scored keeping them out of that elite group so it's a particularly crucial game for them

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Margate @3pm - if Billericay somehow fluff their lines against Harlow in midweek then it could give second placed Dulwich a sniff of the title. The Hamlet have a midweek game themselves which could put them only a point behind heading into the final game but there are a lot of ifs and buts about how important this game will be for the south London club. What we do know is that Dulwich can't finish lower than second whilst Margate should come into the game knowing a win will give them an excellent chance of clinching a play-off spot
Harrow Borough v Burgess Hill Town @3pm - it makes a change to head into the final day as a Harrow fan knowing your side are safe and you have the power to relegate someone. Burgess Hill and Tooting & Mitcham are locked together on points at the foot of the table and only one of them will go down. Burgess Hill are currently ahead on goal difference so know that they just need to match Tooting's result to stay up. Boro suffered relegation on the final day of last season after losing at Lowestoft and then seeing the Hillians score a 98th-minute winner in their match to edge them out. Thankfully Harrow got reprieved but I'm sure there will be one or two who'd be more than happy to see the visitors suffer in a similar way
Metropolitan Police v Tooting & Mitcham United @3pm - as explained above, it's not looking great for Tooting heading into the final day. After earning a useful point at Harrow last week, the Terrors put themselves in pole position to stay up but then lost at home to fellow strugglers Harlow on Saturday to hand the initiative back to Burgess Hill. To re-cap - they have to better whatever the Hillians achieve at Harrow so even a win may not be enough
Staines Town v Thurrock @3pm - depending on midweek results, the Swans may come into this looking to secure a play-off spot. Whatever happens, this will be a sad day for Thurrock as it will be their last game before they resign from the league for financial reasons

Bostik League North Division
Barking v Potters Bar Town @3pm - as with so many other games on Saturday, a lot will depend on midweek results. Either way, Potters Bar will start the game looking to clinch the second automatic promotion spot with Bowers & Pitsea, Haringey Borough and Heybridge Swifts all likely to be mounting a challenge too on what should be a nail-biting final afternoon
Romford v Mildenhall Town @3pm - if they win in midweek then this will be Romford's last chance to avoid relegation and only a win will do to stand any chance

Bostik League South Division
Carshalton Athletic v VCD Athletic @3pm - with automatic promotion already secured, the Robins can go one better and win the divisional title here. With a one-point lead over Lewes going into the final game, they just have to match the Rooks' result to be crowned champions
Cray Wanderers v Guernsey @3pm - with the automatic promotion places already accounted for it's now all about who will finish in the top six. As we head into the final day, Cray are currently fourth and given they have the best goal difference and are the highest scorers in the division then they'll want to pip Greenwich to third to make sure of home advantage throughout the play-offs

Evo-Stik League East Division
Hayes & Yeading United v Barton Rovers @3pm - the hosts have already secured a play-off spot but where they finish in the top six remains to be seen. With several clubs around them having midweek matches to play, the table could change a lot before Saturday. If Beaconsfield and Hartley Wintney lose their midweek games in hand then Hayes could still finish second and go up automatically but that's highly unlikely. Barton are second from bottom but with only one going down, have little to play for

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Bedfont Sports v Walton & Hersham @3pm - this could be the match which confirms Bedfont's promotion but depending on other results, the visitors could still be in with a shout too


Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Cray Valley PM v Whitstable Town / Erith Town v Sevenoaks Town @3pm - because of the all permutations and the fact that it's 0135 as I write this and I'm running out of steam, I'm going to conflate these two into one entry. It's possible that the SCEFL title will be decided at one of these two games so check the midweek scores and league table to see how significant these games will be - Sevenoaks are currently top and Whitstable second

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Edgware Town v Berkhamsted @3pm - the visitors have been in second for a while and could well make the runners-up spot their own with a victory here, provided midweek results go their way

Southern Amateur League Challenge Cup Final
Polytechnic v Winchmore Hill @3pm - if you've enjoyed one of the amateur cup finals of recent weeks then you've got another chance on Saturday. Polytechnic are currently well clear at the top of the SAL and will probably complete the double as Winchmore Hill are bottom. The match will be played at the Bank of England sports ground in Roehampton and it's free to get in

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Sunday 29 April

Premier League
West Ham United v Manchester City @215pm - the Hammers could still do with another win or two to make absolutely sure of their place in next season's Premier League but they're unlikely to get one against the newly crowned league champions. City celebrated their title triumph with a 5-0 demolition of Swansea on Sunday and could just as easily take West Ham apart here

FA Women's Premier League Southern
There are two women's games at 2pm on Sunday - QPR entertain Charlton who are one of the favourites to win the division whilst West Ham welcome Lewes

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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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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TLFG: 16-22 April 2018

Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

With the season reaching its climax, titles are being clinched and issues of promotion and relegation are being settled.

We've probably all seen by now that Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions again on Sunday and barring any spectacular collapses, the top four clubs look pretty settled too.

Chelsea and Arsenal will still want to finish as high as possible and still have cups to win so the air of gloom coming from many of their supporters is a bit bemusing to the rest of us.

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At the other end, Crystal Palace and West Ham look like they're probably going to survive so all in all it looks like being a pretty positive one for London's top flight sides.

It's a huge week in the Championship with our four local sides playing each other in a couple of cracking derbies - both are close to selling out with Millwall v Fulham looking like an absolute cracker on Friday night.

In League One and League Two - Charlton, AFC Wimbledon and Barnet face a frantic finish as they scrap for every point in the battle for a play-off place or to avoid relegation.

There also looks set to be plenty of drama in the National League too where Sutton United and Boreham Wood should make the play-offs but Bromley and Dagenham & Redbridge have an outside chance too.

Dartford are involved in a thrilling fight to the finish with Havant & Waterlooville in the National League South title race whilst it was very pleasing to see AFC Hornchurch and Carshalton Athletic both confirm automatic promotion from the Bostik North and Bostik South on Saturday - many congratulations to them.

On Saturday I finished work earlier than expected and headed out to the suburbs with a colleague to watch Harrow Borough take on relegation threatend Tooting & Mitcham United in the Bostik Premier.

The Terrors won promotion last season and many thought they would comfortably hold their own but it hasn't proved to be the case and they've been down at the wrong end of the table for most of the season.

In recent weeks they've slipped to the very bottom but with only one team going down this year because of restructuring they've stayed within touching distance of safety.

Harrow (red) and Tooting do battle in the Bostik League

As a result of problems on the Central Line, I missed the first 15 minutes and heard Harrow score the opener as I approached the ground.

The rest of the half wasn't a classic with few good chances at either end.

With Harrow already safe in the division for another season, I was impressed with how disciplined and determined they were particularly in defence as they thwarted the growing number of Tooting attacks after the break.

Eventually an equaliser came and it was stunning, lashed into the top left corner from distance to spark wild celebrations from the travelling support, some of whom ended up on the pitch!

Two further fantastic chances fell to Tooting in the closing stages but a combination of brilliant goalkeeping and some spectacular last-ditch defending kept them out and it ended 1-1.

With their main relegation rivals Burgess Hill losing at Leiston, Tooting climbed off the bottom and now know a win in their next game against Harlow could be enough to keep them up.

The Conifa World Football Cup is coming told London - find out more

Since I last wrote, the build-up to the forthcoming CONIFA World Football Cup here in London, has continued.

The big news this week was that Enfield Town will host the final on 9 June.

A number of teams have also released their kit designs which are pretty decent and are on sale now providing, in some cases, funds for teams to travel to the event.

The tournament which runs from 31 May - 9 June is for teams representing 'nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories' which are not recognised by Fifa.

Competitors in the 16-team tournament include Ellan Vannin (aka the Isle of Man), Northern Cyprus, Panjab, Tamil Ealam and Tibet.

Full information about fixtures and tickets can be found here.

You may have noticed that a friendly between CONIFA members Barawa and Yorkshire took place at Haringey Borough's ground on Sunday. Yorkshire only formed a team a few months ago and ended up winning 7-2.

We're also lucky enough this week to have another video piece from our friends at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game'.

This time, our intrepid duo went to the wilds of north London to see Bostik League club Haringey Borough continue their promotion push against Mildenhall Town.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the FA Cup, Premier League, EFL and National League and there also some important county cup matches too.

As always, 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 (orange 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.

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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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

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 16 April

Premier League
West Ham United v Stoke City @8pm - the week begins with a big game at the wrong end of the table. A win would take the Hammers to 37 points and pretty much see them secure their top-flight status for another season. The Potters have had a terrible season and have to get something out of the game but even if they do, it will surely only be delaying the inevitable

FA Youth Cup Semi-Final Second Leg
Arsenal v Blackpool @7pm - the Gunners' U18 side have a chance to shine on the Emirates pitch as they look to clinch a place in the final against Chelsea who powered past Birmingham City 7-0 on aggregate in their semi. This one is far more tightly poised with the sides battling out a 2-2 draw in the first leg. Tickets can be bought online up until 3pm - none will be on sale on the night so do not turn up without one

Bostik League North Division
Aveley v Haringey Borough @745pm - the best non-league option sees promotion chasing Haringey travel to Essex looking for a win which will leave them just one point off the automatic promotion places

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Stansfeld v Punjab United @745pm - with two games to go, only one point separates leaders Punjab and their nearest challengers K Sports. Therefore, every game is crucial for the visitors right now

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Tuesday 17 April

National League
Bromley v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - these London rivals were among the promotion pacesetters earlier in the season and they could be again. Currently six and seven points adrift respectively but with two games in hand each, one of them could make great strides towards the top seven with victory here

Middlesex Senior Cup Final
Hendon v Staines Town @745pm - we've got an all-Bostik Premier clash for county honours at Uxbridge's Honeycroft ground on Tuesday night. On current form you'd have to marginally favour Hendon but both also have their minds on securing a play-off place so hopefully this won't be seen as too much of a distraction. The Greens have won the cup 14 times as opposed to only 11 wins for Staines but the Swans have been more successful in recent years with Hendon not having won it since 2004

Bostik League North Division
AFC Hornchurch v Mildenhall Town @745pm - the Urchins finally clinched a very well deserved promotion on Saturday. It's now all about them sealing the divisional title - a draw here against lower midtable Mildenhall will be enough

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Wednesday 18 April

FA Women's Super League 1
Arsenal v Reading @730pm - the Gunners booked their place in the Women's FA Cup Final with a last-minute winner at Everton on Sunday. Next up is this league fixture against the Royals who are just above them in the table

A bit further afield
After two previous postponements, they're having another go at playing the Southern League Cup Final between Hitchin Town and Didcot Town. The match is being held at Hitchin's Top Field ground

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Thursday 19 April

Professional Development League
Crystal Palace v Hull City @2pm - two of the best sides in the third tier of U23 football meet at Palace's training ground as the competition heads towards its play-off stage. Check all the details with the club before you travel, including whether or not the match will be open to the public

Bostik League Premier Division
Metropolitan Police v Staines Town @745pm - the Met have once again punched above their weight and earned another comfortable midtable finish - with three games to go, they have nothing left to play for. The same is not true for Staines who, with four matches remaining, can still make it into the top six

Middlesex Charity Cup Semi-Final
Spelthorne Sports v AFC Hayes @745pm - two CCL Premier Division rivals go head-to-head for a place in next month's final. They will meet the winner of the other tie between Hampton & Richmond Borough and Hanworth Villa

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Friday 20 April

Championship
Millwall v Fulham @745pm - it's a blockbuster weekend of London derbies in the Championship and the TV companies have obligingly moved this one to Friday night so you could potentially see both. Aside from leaders Wolves, Millwall and Fulham are the two hottest teams in the division right now and consequently both are well on course to claiming a play-off spot. At the time of writing, tickets were pretty much sold out but check with the club in case they have any left

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Arsenal @7pm - if you can't get in at The Den then this U23 match at the London Stadium would seem like a fine alternative. Tickets are only £5 but you are strongly advised to book in advance as only a small section of the ground will be open

Bostik League North Division
AFC Hornchurch v Aveley @745pm - if the hosts don't get the point they need for the title against Mildenhall on Tuesday then they'll get another chance here

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Saturday 21 April

FA Cup Semi-Final
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur @515pm - the biggest match of the week takes place at the supposedly neutral venue of Wembley Stadium but with Spurs playing their home games there they should have a bit of an advantage. Both sides had disappointing weekends and both have to play midweek away games ahead of this one so neither will be particularly rested. Apart from Arsenal, these two are the most successful teams in the history of the FA Cup but I still find it very sobering, as a child of the '80s, to get my head around the idea that Tottenham haven't won it for 27 years - they seemed to do it all the time when I was growing up!

Premier League
Watford v Crystal Palace @3pm - tickets for the match above will be very hard to get so try this London derby instead. The Hornets are pretty much safe for another season but Palace are fighting for their lives to avoid the drop so it should be a good game. At the time of writing there were literally a handful of tickets remaining so get in quick via Watford's website if you want to go

Championship
Brentford v Queens Park Rangers @3pm - I mentioned it was derby weekend in the Championship and this is the second of the two games. Friday's game at Millwall is the far more significant of the two in terms of league position but geographically and historically, this is more of a derby. If the Lions slip up against Fulham then Brentford will have a great chance to get into the play-offs themselves with victory here. QPR are the bigger club but have nothing to play for other than bragging rights which could free them up to enjoy their football and make them a more dangerous proposition than the table might suggest

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Oldham Athletic @3pm - the Dons gained an absolutely crucial 3-2 win at fellow strugglers Walsall on Saturday to leave themselves four points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go. Mathematically, any of the bottom 15 clubs could find themselves in League Two next season but realistically clubs like Wimbledon and 20th placed Oldham are among the most likely. This is an absolutely huge game for both clubs and some tickets are still available

League Two
Barnet v Newport County @3pm - the Bees have definitely improved following the return of manager Martin Allen but he will still have to work a miracle to keep them up. Five points adrift of safety with three games to go, they simply have to win every game. Prior to Saturday, Newport looked like a good team to play as they were in poor form but they then beat Swindon to give themselves an outside shot at making the play-offs so they should arrive with some motivation

National League
Bromley v Boreham Wood @3pm - these two pushed each other all the way in the National League South a couple of years ago and they both ultimately went up. As we head into the final weeks of this season, they both stand a big chance of making the play-offs again. The Ravens are a little way back but, as mentioned above, have games in hand that could make them a threat. It's still staggering to think that The Wood, with average crowds of 653, could be playing in the EFL next season but it's a very real possibility after their win over Chester on Saturday lifted them to fourth. The title is beyond them but a top three finish is quite possible
Leyton Orient v Wrexham @3pm - in terms of attendance, the biggest crowd of the day in the National League is likely to come at Brisbane Road where two of non-league's biggest clubs meet for a game which is of huge significance to the visitors. Currently clinging to the final play-off place and with the four clubs immediately below them all having games in hand, the Welsh club really need to win

National League South
Dartford v Bath City @3pm - the Darts extended their winning run to six games on Saturday to remain top. However, Havant & Waterlooville also won to stay second on goal difference and it's a difference of only one goal! With three games to go, neither can afford a slip up. Bath are a canny side who are still pushing for a play-off place so this could be extremely tricky

Bostik League Premier Division
Thurrock v Kingstonian @3pm - on paper this midtable clash isn't of huge interest but I've gone for it as it will be Thurrock's last home game before they sadly have to leave the league on financial grounds. With the club's benefactor having had some health issues, he has decided to stand down at the end of the season and no-one has been found to replace him. The club have resigned from the league and it's a credit to all involved that they've kept going and remained competitive in recent games
Tooting & Mitcham United v Harlow Town @3pm - with only one team going down, Saturday's results confirmed that only Tooting and Burgess Hill are now in the relegation reckoning. With only one point between them going into the final two games, the Terrors could stay up if they win this. Harlow have also been poor this season and only secured their place in the division with a win over Brightlingsea at the weekend

Bostik League North Division
Haringey Borough v Witham Town @3pm - with AFC Hornchurch already having claimed one of the two automatic promotion places on offer, any of the top six could still end up with the other. Haringey are the London club with the best chance and they should have too much for Witham who the Urchins thrashed on Saturday to go up

Bostik League South Division
Walton Casuals v Cray Wanderers @3pm - with the automatic promotion places already going to Lewes and Carshalton, these two are battling for play-off places and all important home advantage. Currently, Walton are just outside the top six and are the only team capable of breaking into it. Cray are third and with much better goal difference than everyone else, have effectively booked a place in the 'post-season' but they could still surrender home advantage if they lose their way in the last two games

Essex Senior League
Sporting Bengal United v Redbridge @12pm - the Motormen are the main London club challenging for honours in this division this year. Currently five points off top spot with four games remaining, it's going to be tough. Sporting Bengal have had to switch a few games recently and luckily for Redbridge they will be playing this 'away' game at their own ground. Note also the early kick-off which will allow you to combine it with another match in the area - the Ilford derby is probably walkable while Leyton Orient is a short ride away on the Central Line
Ilford v Barkingside @3pm - the aforementioned Ilford derby between two clubs who groundshare doesn't have a huge amount riding on it this year but a derby's a derby and it can be easily combined with the match above

Combined Counties League Division 1
Worcester Park v Bedfont & Feltham @3pm - depending on midweek results, the hosts will probably have the chance to win the title if they enjoy another victory here

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Holmesdale v Punjab United @3pm - if the visitors win in midweek, then they will just need to match K Sports' result against Erith & Belvedere to win the title. Even if they lose in midweek, a win here and defeat for K Sports will also see them finish top

Arthur Dunn Cup Final
Old Tonbridgians v Old Carthusians @3pm - lovers of amateur football and historians of the game will appreciate this match which is being played at Merchant Taylors' School near Watford. Named after one of the great amateur players of the game back in Victorian times, Dunn won the FA Cup and earned England caps before dying at the age of 41 shortly after proposing this competition to preserve the amateur roots of the game which he saw as being under threat from professionalism. At the time of writing, these two are second and third in the Arthurian League and have won the cup once each over the last two years so there's little to choose between them


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Sunday 22 April

FA Cup Semi-Final

Chelsea v Southampton @3pm - Saturday's semi-final looks pretty evenly matched and tough to call but this one looks like a certain win for the Blues. Even though Chelsea have been far from their best this season, the Saints have been way off their recent standards and look almost certain to go down. To make matters worse for the Hampshire club, the two met on Saturday at St Mary's in the league with the London club coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 so their chances of making progress look bleak to say the least but this is the FA Cup and you never know what might happen. If you want to go, Southampton do have some tickets available to people with a previous purchasing history and this could open to general sale later in the week so keep checking their website for the latest

Premier League
Arsenal v West Ham United @130pm - you could see a far more entertaining contest at the Emirates where two clubs in need of the points at either end of the division do battle in this derby. Defeat to Newcastle this weekend has left the Gunners in grave danger of being leapfrogged by Burnley and ending the season in seventh. The Hammers probably need one more win to make sure of their place in the top flight and they could and probably should get that earlier in the week against Stoke

Uefa Women's Champions League Semi-Final First Leg
Chelsea v Wolfsburg @605pm - having beaten Manchester City on Sunday to reach the Women's FA Cup Final, the Blues face an even bigger match in Europe as they take on the two-time champions from Germany. It's been four years since Wolfsburg last won the Champions League but they were runners-up two years ago and are currently top of the Bundesliga so they should provide Chelsea, who have never been this far, with a very stern test

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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 9-15 April 2018

After two-week break for Easter, TLFG is back.

How was the festive period for you? Did you manage a groundhop triple on Easter Monday or visit any grounds for the first time?

As I mentioned, I had to work the entire four-day weekend so didn't get to see anything then. I've also been away visiting relatives and working late shifts so I finally got my chance earlier today (Sunday).

After several years partnering with Prostate Cancer UK on Non-League Day, I was very lucky to receive an invitation to the EFL Trophy Final at Wembley between Lincoln City and Shrewsbury Town.

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Traditionally contested by sides in League One and League Two, the last couple of seasons have seen the controversial introduction of U21 sides from Premier League and Championship clubs too.

Thankfully no academy sides have yet made it to Wembley so today's game was significant for both competing clubs.

With Lincoln playing a division below the Shrews, they started as underdogs but roared on by a larger following they took a 16th-minute lead which they ultimately never relinquished.

As well as getting a ticket to the game, I was also treated to full hospitality in the Bobby Moore Room which was quite an experience.

Lincoln celebrate their victory at Wembley

Treated like five-star guests, we enjoyed a three-course meal before kick-off, tea and coffee at half-time and afternoon tea following the game.

The seats on the half-way line, just behind the dugouts, were amazing and we could have touched the players as they made their way to and from the royal box to pick up the trophy at the end.

I was also seated alongside representatives from Altrincham, Brentford and National League sponsors Vanarama so there were some interesting discussions too.

As a new member of the prawn-sandwich brigade, I can see how watching a game in this way can really appeal and I could get used to it but the formality/dress codes etc could get a bit stifling - definitely best as a once in a while treat.

The Conifa World Football Cup is coming told London - find out more

Since I last wrote, the build-up to the forthcoming Conifa World Football Cup here in London, has continued.

The tournament which runs from 31 May - 9 June is for teams representing 'nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories' which are not recognised by Fifa.

Competitors in the 16-team tournament include Ellan Vannin (aka the Isle of Man), Northern Cyprus, Panjab, Tamil Ealam and Tibet.

We've now got a pretty clear idea of all the venues except the one for the final which is being kept under wraps - it surely can't be much longer though.

Full information about fixtures and tickets can be found here.

There's also a game taking place between two Conifa members on Sunday when Barawa play Yorkshire at Haringey Borough's ground. Yorkshire only formed a team a few months ago and this will be their first ever away game so it's an historic occasion.

We're also lucky enough this week to have another video piece from our friends at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game'.

Held over from a couple of weeks ago, our intrepid duo went to Imperial Fields to see Dulwich Hamlet play their first league game following the, hopefully, temporary move to share with Tooting & Mitcham United.

Lastly this week I'd like to thank Rod S from the USA for another generous donation to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - it's very much appreciated, I hope you enjoyed your visit to Crystal Palace.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days. The highlights include some big games in the Premier League, EFL and National League and there also a number of minor cup finals too.

As always, 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 (orange 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.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

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.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - magenta pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

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 9 April

Professional Development League
There are a number of U23 games on Monday lunchtime. To top it all most of them are at the clubs' main stadiums so if you've never been to Charlton, Millwall or Watford this is a great opportunity to see a game at a fraction of the normal cost - as always, check the details before you travel as they could change at short notice

A bit further afield
There are two games of huge significance in the Bostik League and Evo-Stik League title races as Billericay Town host Staines Town (who have promotion ambitions of their own) and Hitchin Town take on the mighty Hereford whose climb back up the divisions after re-forming looks set to continue
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Tuesday 10 April

Championship
Fulham v Reading @745pm - the Cottagers' push for automatic promotion back to the Premier League takes centre stage as they welcome the Royals for what is effectively a derby. Aside from a draw in the recent game against QPR, Fulham have been winning for fun and now find themselves only two points behind second placed Cardiff. On paper they should beat Reading who have been poor but with two wins from three as they look to avoid the drop, they could be tricky opponents
Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday @745pm - neck and neck in midtable, neither of these sides have got much to play for. The Owls arrive in Shepherd's Bush in pretty good form with only one defeat from five and Loftus Road is a ground they also do quite well at with only three defeats from their last 10 visits. If you're thinking of going, you should be able to get a cheap ticket via the Twickets re-sale site - at the time of writing there are 'Platinum' seats next to the Directors' Box available for £20 and other more normal tickets for even less (I think purchases have to be made before match day so don't delay)

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic @745pm - some of the hottest tickets in town on Tuesday will be for this derby in the third tier. Not only are the clubs crosstown rivals but they're both in desperate need of the points at either end of the table. With the match all-ticket and limited to people with at least a previous purchasing history, you'll stand more chance of getting in at the two games above

Premier League International Cup Semi-Final
Arsenal v Villarreal @7pm - given Wimbledon's ground is so small, there might actually be a bigger crowd at the Emirates to watch this U23 game. Tickets to watch Arsenal are usually hard to get hold of or very expensive so this match gives you a great opportunity to visit one of the capital's top stadiums on the cheap. It's only £4 a ticket but you must order online by 3pm on matchday - do not turn up without one

FA Youth Cup Semi-Final Second Leg
Chelsea v Birmingham City @7pm - over on the west of town, you've alternatively got the chance to get in to Stamford Bridge for a fraction of the normal price to see the Blues' all-conquering U18 side. Enjoying a 3-0 lead after the first leg, Chelsea should cruise through

National League
Boreham Wood v Macclesfield Town @745pm - with only two wins in five, the Wood's promotion charge is starting to wobble. Currently in fifth, the three teams immediately below them are only two points behind. On Tuesday they welcome leaders Macclesfield for a huge game. Things have been tight at the top all season but over the last couple of weeks the Silkmen have opened up a surely title winning 10-point gap as nearest challengers Sutton have faltered but with a couple of clubs having games in hand, it's not over yet

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Tonbridge Angels @745pm - with title favourites Billericay having used up all their games in hand on main rivals Dulwich, the final title battle can properly get underway. Given they had about eight games to make up, you would think they'd be miles out in front by now but it hasn't panned out that way and their advantage is only three points. If the Essex club slip up on Monday, the Hamlet have a great chance to pull level. Tonbridge are usually pretty strong but their season finished a long time ago and have little to play for here

Essex Premier Cup Final
Buckhurst Hill v Catholic United @745pm - there's some silverware up for grabs at Thurrock's ground where two 11th tier clubs meet for a shot at county cup glory

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Wednesday 11 April

Velocity Trophy Final
Billericay Town v Metropolitan Police @745pm - also known as the Isthmian League Cup, at the semi-final stage this looked like being a cracker but the Met dumped out Billericay's main title rivals Dulwich to make the final instead. The Essex club won this competition last year and should start as strong favourites here - the match is being played at Aveley's ground

London Senior Trophy Final
Erith & Belvedere v Phoenix Sports Reserves @745pm - the cup finals are coming thick and fast now with two south-east London neighbours from the 10th tier contesting this one at Haringey Borough's ground

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Thursday 12 April

Bostik League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Dorking Wanderers @745pm - with so many clubs suffering postponements over the last month, many are having to play three or more times a week to complete their fixtures. The Hamlet continue their promotion push against their Surrey opponents and admission is by donation to the club's '12th Man Fund' so it's effectively pay what you want
Staines Town v Folkestone Invicta @745pm - alongside Dulwich, these two sides are also scrapping for a play-off spot. Folkestone could even win the title but they've played more than those around them so it's probably an outside chance at best

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Friday 13 April

Development matches
There's a superb selection of U23 football on Friday with Chelsea v Tottenham at Stamford Bridge topping the bill. Arsenal also play Swansea at the Emirates whilst Fulham entertain Southampton, albeit at the club's training ground. Although only a friendly, Brentford B also welcome a squad from Belgian giants Anderlecht to Griffin Park and admission is free

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Saturday 14 April

Premier League
Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm - there are two top-flight games in London on Saturday and they both have the potential to absolute belters! First up is the 'derby' between Palace and Brighton which is usually lively whatever the occasion. A win for the struggling Eagles is pretty much a must whilst three points for the Albion should secure their place in the division for a second season
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @745pm - the day comes to an end with a huge game at Wembley which could go a long way to deciding the title. After spectacularly losing to Manchester United on Saturday, City know that if they win and the Red Devils somehow lose to bottom club West Brom on Sunday then the title will be theirs. Spurs are almost certain of a Champions League spot so they'll be under relatively little pressure compared to the visitors

Championship
Fulham v Brentford @530pm - if you can't a ticket for either of the above then this west London derby should provide you with a mighty fine alternative. As mentioned previously, Fulham are going all out for automatic promotion but the Bees are also in with a shot at a play-off spot themselves so both sides badly need to win. Tickets are on sale to non-members and there are a few left
Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End @3pm - a short distance to the north, this game pales into insignificance alongside the match at Craven Cottage. QPR's season is over and although Preston could get into the top six, they're in terrible form and are unlikely to be in the Premier League next season - one for groundhoppers or those looking for a cheap ticket

League One
Charlton Athletic v Scunthorpe United @3pm - the Addicks are firmly back in play-off contention so this match against one of their promotion rivals should provide more of a spectical than the one at Loftus Road and should be cheaper than Fulham

National League
Sutton United v Hartlepool United @3pm - if the U's are to have any chance of winning the title then victory against a side who were playing in the EFL last season is the only option. Hartlepool, on paper, should be beaten with relative ease but Sutton's good form is starting to desert them at precisely the wrong time

Bostik League Premier Division
Staines Town v Margate @3pm - at the time of writing, these two sit either side of the line which decides who will and who will not make the play-offs. Although Margate have a healthy six-point advantage, Staines have three games in hand so this could be a highly significant encounter

Bostik League South Division
Carshalton Athletic v Whyteleafe @3pm - the battle for the South Division title has been exciting but as we approach the final few games, it appears to have become a two-horse race between current leaders Lewes and south London club Carshalton. At present there are only two points in it but the Robins have a game in hand. This match against fellow south London side Whyteleafe should have a big bearing on where the trophy ends up going

Evo-Stik League East Division
Hayes & Yeading United v Egham Town @3pm - the hosts suffered an unexpected defeat at Aylesbury United on Saturday which left them clinging on to second place on goal difference alone. Main challengers Beaconsfield are looking good and to make matters worse have four games in hand. In fact Hayes have played more games than all of the top six so finishing sixth should still be seen as a good achievement. The Sarnies have made the play-offs for the last two seasons but are nowhere this time round and will no doubt want to to thwart their opponents' hopes

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Epsom & Ewell v Westfield @3pm - the visitors have had a great season and will be crowned champions if they win their midweek game against Chertsey. If they somehow slip up, then they'll get another chance here against E&E who are bottom of the table

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Forest Hill Park v K Sports @3pm - again, depending on midweek results, we could see a divisional title won here. K Sports are currently two points clear of Punjab United and it could be five by the time this game comes round - another win could see them over the finish line

AFA Senior Cup Final
Old Meadonians v Old Actonians @3pm - as the season comes to an end, it's always nice to throw in a few major matches from the world of amateur football. Being played at the HSBC Sports Ground in Beckenham, these two west London rivals will battle it out purely for the love of the game. With it being amateur, entrance is free

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Sunday 15 April

Friendly

Barawa v Yorkshire @5pm - this has to be one of the most unusual fixtures I've listed in TLFG over the last few years. Organised as and recognised by Conifa as an 'international' friendly it sees one of the favourites for the upcoming World Football Cup take on the newly formed Yorkshire side in their first ever away game. The match is being played at Haringey Borough's ground and I believe adult tickets are £10, available on the gate

Women's FA Cup Semi-Final
Chelsea v Manchester City @330pm - there are several women's games in London on Sunday but this is by far the best on offer as the top two sides in the country meet for a place in the final at Wembley next month. The match is being played at the ground they share with AFC Wimbledon and adult tickets are only £6. If you are interested, I would buy in advance as the ground is small and a healthy crowd is expected to attend

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 in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here