Bank Holiday greetings dear readers and welcome to the first guide of the autumn as we move into September.
Did you manage a 'double' or even a 'triple' of games on Monday?
I've been working all weekend so haven't seen anything.
As a result, I've only had time to produce the match maps so you'll have to do the digging yourself to find out what's on - if I get the chance to flesh things out a bit later in the week then I will.
I'll hopefully get down to Loftus Road tomorrow lunchtime to watch QPR U23 take on Barnsley at 1pm - it's free to get in although they do have someone with a bucket at the entrance on South Africa Road asking for donations to the club's community trust.
They usually open a tea bar too and allow you to sit in the best seats in the house so it's a pretty good deal.
On Saturday it's my plan to enjoy a bit of FA Cup action at Harrow Borough as they welcome Kent club Ramsgate to Earlsmead. Will this be the year Boro make it to the First Round? It's been five years since the last time...
On the subject of FA competitions, the FA Youth Cup starts this week and there are ties every day so you'll have plenty to choose from even though it's an international break.
UPDATE - I've now written a few previews for the some of the weekend's best games, see below
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Friday fixtures - black pin
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Saturday 4 September
League One
AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United @3pm - this week's international break means that the Dons' match against Oxford tops the bill in London. It shouldn't disappoint either as a close to capacity crowd is expected with the U's among the third-tier pacesetters once again. Tickets are pretty much gone but the club said that a few more may get released
National League
Boreham Wood v Stockport County @3pm - I always bang on
about how small a club The Wood are for this division but that's to highlight
their impressive achievements. Once again they've come sprinting out of the
blocks and are joint top after winning all of their opening three games.
Stockport were an established EFL side not that long ago and should bring a
decent away following. Tickets for non-members
are £20 which is possibly why their crowds are smaller than they could be
Dagenham & Redbridge v Wealdstone @3pm - one of the other sides with a 100% record are the Daggers who currently sit in first place on goal difference. The Stones picked up their first point of the season against Southend on Monday and will hope for more joy against another opponent from Essex. Tickets are available from £15 and there are various deals available on kids tickets for the international break
National League South
Welling United v Slough Town @3pm - neither of these sides have
made a great start and are in the bottom four, giving this the look of an early
season six-pointer. Tickets are £14
FA Cup First Round Qualifying
With the Extra Preliminary and Preliminary Rounds behind us, what is effectively the third round of the FA Cup takes place this weekend. At this point, all seventh-tier clubs enter the draw - that's Isthmian Premier and Southern Premier South teams for us. There are lots of ties around London, the ones below are those that have most caught my eye
Hayes & Yeading United v Bognor Regis Town @3pm - the hosts have made a spectacular start to the season, winning all five of their league games to sit top of the Southern League. On Saturday they enter the FA Cup and will look to make the First Round proper for the third season in a row, which would be some achievement for a seventh-tier club. Last year they lost on penalties to Carlisle United and the previous season 2-0 to a very decent Oxford United side. Bognor are one of the bigger sides in the parallel Isthmian League but they haven't made the First Round since 1995 and got stuffed 5-0 by Hayes last season. Tickets are £10 and available on the gate
Walthamstow v Berkhamsted @3pm - I was always going to include this tie as Walthamstow are a club on the up who draw some lively crowds, making Wadham Lodge a good place to visit for any FA Cup tie. However, having now done a bit of research, this is most definitely one of the standout ties of the round. The Stow are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Essex Senior League having won all six of their games whilst Berko also have a 100% record in the Southern League Division 1 Central, one level up. Combined with the decent crowd, this could be a real rip-roarer!
Uxbridge v Chesham United @3pm - the hosts are celebrating their 150th year and have begun their league campaign well. Chesham play a level above them and don't come from that far away so this has all the ingredients to make a decent cup tie
Broadfields United v South Park @3pm - currently groundsharing with Rayners Lane, Broadfields have been making steady progress over the last few years. By beating Cribbs and Reading City, they've made it to the First Round Qualifying for the first time ever and I can see them giving South Park, who play a level above them, a run for their money
Harefield United v Hastings United @3pm - I started off watching Beckenham Town in the Extra Preliminary Round and if I'd followed their route through the draw then I would be heading to this match. Hastings vanquished the Becks in the last round and now head to Harefield where they should start as strong favourites again. Although there's only a division between them, Harefield will have to be at their best to win
Oxhey Jets v Kingstonian @3pm - the David v Goliath tie of the round with ninth-tier Oxhey hosting the side who are currently top of the division two levels above them. The Hertfordshire club have only got past this round twice in their history whereas the Ks have made it all the way to the Fourth Round before. An Oxhey win would be one of the stories of the day
Spelthorne Sports v Bedfont Sports @3pm - back in west London there's a derby to be enjoyed not far from Heathrow. The Spelly play a division below the visitors so will start as underdogs
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Barking v Ilford @3pm - after a very late stewards' inquiry, this tie is being played again after Ilford were adjudged to have fielded an ineligible player in their surprise win. As a result of the late notice, there won't be a replay so penalties will be employed if necessary. The winners will play Aveley
Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City @3pm - the women's top flight returns this weekend and it brings with it some great opportunities for groundhoppers. This match is being played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium so if you still haven't been, then you won't get many better chances. Adult tickets are only £6.50
Women's Championship
Watford v Liverpool @2pm - in the women's second tier, the Hornets are staging this game at Vicarage Road. Somewhat surprisingly, tickets for this are a hefty £12
Friendly
England Fans v Lalaha FC @730pm - if one game isn't enough or you're not free in the afternoon, then head down to Bedfont Sports for a bit of Saturday night fun. Lalaha are a side made up primarily of Afghan players and it's free entry too
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Sunday 5 September
Fifa World Cup qualifier
England v Andorra @5pm - in theory the biggest match of the week takes place at Wembley on Sunday evening. Having crushed Hungary 4-0 on Thursday amid disgraceful scenes of racist abuse in Budapest, the Three Lions could rack up a cricket score against international minnows Andorra. Tickets are still available
FA Cup First Round Qualifying
Erith & Belvedere v Chertsey Town @12pm - one of the ties of the round, this should draw a decent crowd to Park View Road. The Deres have won all four of their league games and claimed the scalp of the higher-ranked Tooting & Mitcham United in the opening round. Chertsey famously won the FA Vase at Wembley in 2019 so know quite a bit about putting a cup run together. They play a level above the hosts but it really is a tough one to call. Tickets are a very reasonable £8 on the gate
Balham v Merstham @3pm - elsewhere in south London, Balham will look to make it to the Second Qualifying Round for only the second time in their history. They've landed a tough draw though, with Isthmian Premier club Merstham likely to provide very tough opposition. With the hosts playing their matches at AFC Croydon Athletic's ground, it's only a short journey for the visitors so hopefully they'll bring a few fans
FA Women's Super League
Arsenal v Chelsea @1230pm - one of the biggest footballing events of the whole week is this clash of two of the giants of women's football at the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea won the league and made the Champions League final last season so will start as favourites. Tickets are available online for an incredibly reasonable £7.65
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