Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.
A busy week at work means I haven't been able to watch anything myself but there's been plenty going on.
From a personal point of view, my teams all won!
QPR saw off Reading to go joint top of the Championship, Harrow Borough beat Corinthian Casuals on penalties in the FA Trophy, England's women beat USA 2-1 and my daughter's side also won their game 2-1 too.
How was your week? Did you get to any matches?
The next few days look action packed with the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying something I'm particularly looking forward to on Saturday.
There are several ties around London and they are the sole focus of Saturday's non-league 'Daily Digest' as they deserve to take centre stage, such is their importance.
I hope to make my first visit of the season to Loftus Road on Tuesday lunchtime to watch the U21 game between QPR and Millwall and I might squeeze in another game in the evening or on Wednesday but I might be pushing my luck if I do.
At the time of writing, there are a few tickets knocking about for the games at Fulham and West Ham this week so get on it quick as opportunities to see London's Premier League sides in action without membership are few and far between.
For the groundhoppers among you, there's a chance of a 'triple' on Saturday as Chelsea U21s play Manchester United at 12pm and Watford host Norwich in the Championship at 745pm.
Which 3pm kick-off you sandwich in between is up to you!
Lastly, keep your messages and communications coming in. I love to hear where you're going, where you've been, emails about what to see or corrections when I get it wrong.
This week, I received a photo which features two TLFG reader legends - Liam B and Pie The Non-League Dog.
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| Pie and Liam - friends reunited in Forest Gate |
They were both at the Old Spotted Dog, London's oldest ground, to watch Clapton CFC women beat Denham United 4-1. Thanks a lot for taking the time to send it.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Cup, FA Women's Super League and many other games in our local non-league and women's competitions.
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
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin
TLFG DAILY DIGEST
Monday 10 October
Professional Development League
Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town @2pm - if you're around on Monday afternoon then the Addicks have an U21 game against the Tractor Boys. The match is being played at Dartford's ground
Isthmian League Premier
Carshalton Athletic v Aveley @745pm - the Robins have made a poor start and are in the bottom five. It's unlikely to get much better here as the Millers have been great so far and will go top if they win
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Tuesday 11 October
League One
Charlton Athletic v Exeter City @745pm - winless in eight after drawing at Lincoln City on Saturday, the Addicks worryingly find themselves down in 18th. The Grecians, on the other hand, recorded a very impressive 2-0 win at promotion chasing Barnsley and could find themselves in the play-off places with a win here. Tickets
Premier League International Cup
West Ham United v PSV Eindhoven @7pm - for something a bit more exotic, head east to Dagenham & Redbridge's ground where the Hammers' U21 side take on their counterparts from PSV in this group game
Professional Development League
QPR v Millwall @1pm - want to see two games on Tuesday? Then head to Loftus Road at lunchtime for this decent looking derby. Admission is usually by donation to the club's charitable trust - as it stands, I hope to be at this one
Southern League Premier Division South
Hanwell Town v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - last season, H&YU were the main contenders for the title from the London area but they fell away towards the end and lost in the play-off final. They've lost a considerable amount of that squad and are now only 10th. However, the table is incredibly tight with only five points separating the teams in fourth and fifteenth. This season, newly promoted Hanwell are leading the London charge and are currently the team in fourth. With some great performances in the league, an impressive run in the FA Cup and a win in the FA Trophy on Saturday, the Geordies should start as favourites for what is also a local derby
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Wednesday 12 October
UEFA Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v Eintracht Frankfurt @8pm - with one win, one draw and one defeat, Spurs have made a very mixed start to their Champions League campaign. On Wednesday they welcome German opposition who have also picked up four points from their three Group D games and whom they drew 0-0 with last week. Having won the Europa League last season, Eintracht come into this on the back of a shock 3-0 defeat to the Bundesliga's bottom club Bochum whilst Tottenham won at Brighton to stay in the Premier League's top three. Tickets are only available to members and their guests
Isthmian League Premier
Kingstonian v Brightlingsea Regent @745pm - the best non-league option of the evening is this seventh-tier fixture. After losing the right to play at Kingsmeadow, the K's have led a nomadic existence and our now onto their third groundshare since 2017. Having previously played at Leatherhead and Corinthian Casuals, this season they have begun a new tenancy at Imperial Fields - the home of Tooting & Mitcham United. Such movement is tough for any side, let alone a non-league one, and I fear for the long-term future of one of south-west London's most historic clubs. On Wednesday they welcome Essex club Brightlingsea who are only a couple of points behind them and in the bottom four
FA WNL Division 1 South East
AFC Wimbledon v London Seaward @745pm - there are also some decent women's games on Wednesday, the pick of which is this London derby. Being played at Carshalton Athletic's ground, the Dons will look to break back into the top four with a win. Seaward are currently third and could move level on points with second-place Norwich if they win
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Thursday 13 October
UEFA Europa Conference League
West Ham United v Anderlecht @8pm - with 34 titles, Anderlecht are the most successful club in Belgian league history but they're going through a lean patch. With no silverware since 2017 and nothing in European competition since their heyday in the '80s, the Brussels club are having a mare this season too. Already 17 points behind leaders Royal Antwerp, this season looks to be all about the cups. The Hammers have been pretty underwhelming themselves but the Conference League has been their morale booster with all three games won. They beat the Belgians 1-0 last week so you'd expect them to come out on top here too. Tickets
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Friday 14 October
Premier League
Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion @8pm - since thrashing Manchester United two months ago, the Bees have only managed one more league win and they've now drifted down to 12th. Thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle on Saturday, things must be getting a little worrying for their supporters. Since the departure of boss Graham Potter, Albion have managed a draw with Liverpool and a narrow defeat to Spurs to remain in the top seven. The Sussex club did the double over Brentford last season and they should start as favourites here. Tickets have sold out
ECL Division 1 South
May & Baker v Burnham Ramblers @745pm - for me, the most interesting non-league option is this 10th-tier game. Third place May & Baker welcome leaders Burnham to Parkside. Two points currently separate them but the hosts have four games in hand
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Saturday 15 October
Premier League
Fulham v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - promoted together from the Championship, these two have made much better starts than many predicted. Ninth and eighth respectively and only a point apart, this should be close. Since their 9-0 demolition by Liverpool in August, the Cherries have gone from strength-to-strength under caretaker manager Gary O'Neil and come into this on the back of a 2-1 win over Leicester. The last two matches between these clubs have ended 1-1 and it could well go the same way again. Tickets
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @530pm - as mentioned above, Spurs have made a good start but what about the Toffees? After last season's struggles, it's mainly about consolidation for Frank Lampard and he seems to be doing alright. With only nine goals conceded from nine games, they've got the joint best defence in the league. However, they've only scored eight so midtable it is. When they last played in March, Tottenham won 5-0 but a repeat of that looks unlikely. Tickets have sold out
Championship
Watford v Norwich City @745pm - the demands of satellite television mean this game between two sides relegated from the Premier League last season has an evening kick-off. Rubbish for travelling Canaries fans but great for groundhoppers who can now see three games on Saturday with relative ease. Since seeing his side thrash Stoke City in his first game, new boss Slaven Bilic has seen the Hornets return to losing ways with back-to-back defeats against Swansea and Blackpool. Down in 13th, they could find things tough against current co-leaders Norwich but they are two without a win themselves and lost to Preston on Saturday. Tickets
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Sutton United @3pm - one of the games of the day at any level is this south London derby at Plough Lane. Neither side have been pulling up any trees in the fourth tier so far this season but they're holding their own in midtable. With only two points between them, the Dons will leapfrog the U's with a win. The sides have only met three times since AFC Wimbledon's formation and Sutton have won two and drawn one but their form is poor coming into this - it's anyone's! Tickets
Leyton Orient v Northampton Town @3pm - in the context of League Two, this match is even bigger as two of the title contenders meet at Brisbane Road. The O's were flying but have dropped to second after going two without a win. The Cobblers were all poised to replace them but have lost two at the same time and failed to capitalise. With Stevenage now out in front, these two need to recover their form to keep up. Tickets
Premier League 2
Chelsea v Manchester United @12pm - I mentioned above that you can see three games on Saturday, well this is your first one. Being played at Kingsmeadow, it's only £5 a ticket to see this very interesting looking U21 match. Tickets must be bought online in advance
FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying
A huge moment in the FA Cup, this round is the last one the non-league clubs have to get through before League One and League Two clubs enter the draw. For some, this can lead to the biggest match in their history and help generate transformative funds.
Barnet v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - on paper the Bees, who play two levels above the visitors, should start as favourites. However, the National League side have conceded 20 goals in their last four games to give them the worst defensive record in the fifth tier. Weston, on the other hand, have only conceded seven in nine games and are second in the Southern League with a game in hand. This has real cupset potential. Tickets
Beckenham Town v Dagenham & Redbridge @3pm - the Becks, who play in the eighth tier, are the lowest-ranked club left in the competition from the London area. Beginning their run in the Extra Preliminary Round, they've had to win five games to get this far and have banked over £13,000 in prize money already. National League South promotion hopefuls Dartford were their most notable victims in the Second Round Qualifying but the Daggers should represent a further step up in quality. Although in better form than Barnet, the east London club do have a leaky defence which the hosts will need to target to have any chance. Tickets are £10 on the gate - cash only
Boreham Wood v Wealdstone @3pm - after meeting in the league at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday, these two local rivals will play again in the FA Cup at Meadow Park. The Wood took the honours with a 2-1 win to move up to third on Saturday and with home advantage, should start as favourites again. Tickets
Bromley v Hereford @3pm - there should be a bumper crowd at Hayes Lane for this. The Ravens are among the early-season pacesetters in the NL and have the recent experience of a successful cup run, having won last season's FA Trophy. Hereford are the phoenix club that followed the collapse of former league club Hereford United. As a result, they have a substantial fan base and should bring a good number of them. They play a level below Bromley so will start as underdogs. Tickets are cheaper if bought online in advance
Hendon v Chippenham Town @3pm - struggling in the Southern League, the FA Cup has provided the Greens with some light relief this season. They're now only 90 minutes away from making the First Round, something they have a proud tradition of having done 20 times since 1952 - no mean feat. They famously made it all the way to the Third Round in 1974 and took Newcastle United to a replay. Chippenham aren't quite in that league but they do play a level above and they'll do well to beat them. Tickets are cheaper if bought online in advance
Hornchurch v Oxford City @3pm - the Urchins caused a shock in the last round by beating Braintree Town of the National League South. Oxford play in that division too and haven't won a league game since August. They also made a meal of beating Southern League strugglers Plymouth Parkway in the last round so a cupset looks very possible here. Tickets can be bought online or on the gate
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Sunday 16 October
FA Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @2pm - the WSL returns after the international break and Spurs are playing their first game at Leyton Orient's ground, which will be their main home this season. Both these sides have begun with a win and a loss so they're hanging around in midtable. On paper, Tottenham should beat the newly promoted Reds. Tickets
FA Women's Championship
Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @12pm - there's an early kick-off in the second tier where the Addicks could go top if they beat Rovers who are struggling to get going
Crystal Palace v Sunderland @12pm - if Charlton slip up, the Eagles could claim top spot for themselves as they face a Mackems side who are also towards the wrong end of the table
FA Women's National League Southern Premier
London Bees v Gillingham - up at The Hive, the hosts could also break into the top three with three points here. Gillingham have only managed one win this season and are second from bottom
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!
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