Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest TLFG.
It's a bit of a rush job this week as domestic events combined with Covid wreaking havoc on the early fixtures has kept me incredibly busy.
Getting info on Step 6 and women's matches has been tough so hopefully I'll add more as the week goes on.
I can't stress enough to check every detail with clubs before you travel as the situation is so changeable.
If things do go according to plan, there are some really great games to look forward to with most, even some of the biggest on sale to non-members.
I'll finally get to watch a game this week, unless I get pinged.
Harrow Borough host a QPR XI on Wednesday night so I'll be heading to Earlsmead for that.
Earlier in the week I also landed some Women's Euro 2022 tickets and I saw that many of you did too.
Anyway I've now got to dash to work for a hot and sweaty eight hours or so on trains with no air conditioning! Back home at 2am - urgh.
Enjoy your week.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include numerous friendlies which feature a handful of Premier League and EFL teams and lots of non-league ones too.
As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. 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.
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 - turquoise 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 19 July
Friendly
Aveley v East Thurrock United @745pm - the pick of Monday night's action would appear to be this local derby on the east side of town at Aveley's impressive Parkside ground
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Tuesday 20 July
Friendlies
Boreham Wood v Brentford @730pm - after losing 3-1 to Luton Town on Saturday, the Wood welcome Premier League new boys Brentford who look set to send a strong side to Meadow Park.
Tickets are available for £12 Bromley v Watford U23 @730pm - the Ravens held an U23 side from Fulham to a 1-1 draw in their last match and next face some of the Hornets' youngsters.
Tickets are £15 Dulwich Hamlet v Crystal Palace U23 @7pm - after playing near neighbours Millwall last week, the Hamlet take on another local club on Tuesday.
Tickets are £12 Enfield Town v Tottenham Hotspur U23 @7pm - the Towners opened their current ground with a friendly against a Spurs side, now the N17 club are back again.
Tickets are £10 Haringey Borough v Sutton United @745pm - elsewhere in north London, Haringey play host to one of the EFL's newest clubs. Not sure of the ticket price but it's usually £10
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Wednesday 21 July
Friendlies
Harrow Borough v QPR XI @7pm - my two favourite clubs meet again at Earlsmead in what is usually quite a fun evening. The last time I went in 2011, QPR played their full Premier League side and scraped to a 1-0 win. R's winger Albert Adomah started his career at Harrow so he is highly likely to put in an appearance.
Tickets are £12 - maybe see you there
A bit further afield
Reading v West Ham United @7pm - about 30 miles west of London, just off the M4 you'll find this decent looking friendly between one of the better sides in the Championship and Europa League contenders West Ham.
Tickets are £10
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Thursday 22 July
Friendly
Erith & Belvedere v Stansfeld @730pm - these two south-east London clubs provide the entertainment on Thursday but a lot could change before then
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Friday 23 July
Friendly
Hampton & Richmond Borough v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - the Beevers lost matches against two different opponents to Covid on Sunday and their game against Ashford on Tuesday has gone too. Hopefully this match against local League One opponents will still go ahead. At the moment ticket sales have been paused
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Saturday 24 July
Friendlies
Watford v West Bromwich Albion @3pm - after only one season in the Championship, the Hornets are back in the Premier League. Their first home friendly is against a side who they've swapped places with.
Tickets should be available but their site was down for maintenance when I tried to find out
QPR v Manchester United @3pm - arguably the match of the week takes place at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. The R's had a great second half to last season and narrowly missed the play-offs. Man Utd made the Europa League final and are quite simply one of the biggest clubs in the world so this is quite a coup for QPR.
Tickets are £20 and available to non-members
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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.
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!
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