TLFG: 30 January - 5 February 2023

Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG as we move into February - it'll be summer time soon!

How has your week been?

After the excitement of the last two or three weeks, I've had a pretty sedate time with a week of late shifts making live football watching impossible.

My clubs QPR and Harrow Borough both suffered dismal weekends, losing 3-0 at Hull City and Hendon respectively.

I'm hopefully going to watch Harrow for the first time this season when they play FC Halifax Town in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night - it's been postponed three times so hopefully it will finally get played.

Leyton Orient host AFC Wimbledon in one of the games of the week - tickets

At the end of the week I intend to be back at Rectory Park to see Actonians take on AFC Wimbledon in the race for the runners-up spot in their division of the FA WNL.

In other news, my wife is trying to find ways for me to monetise this blog.

It's not something I'm particularly bothered about doing but as it takes up the same amount of time as a part-time job, she's getting keener and keener to make it pay!

On that point, a huge thanks to Kjell GJ from Norway and Micahel P from London who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really, really appreciate it.

It's got late once again, so I need to wrap this up.

Enjoy your week and let me know what you get up to.

 THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include a high-profile friendly and games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, 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.

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 - turquoise 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 30 January

Professional Development League

Charlton Athletic v Millwall @1pm - the week begins with this U21 game between two local rivals from south-east London. The match is being played at Darford's ground - make sure you check all the details before you travel

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Tuesday 31 January

Premier League Cup

Arsenal v Burnley @7pm - with the Gunners having already won Group G and Burnley unable to finish higher than third, this is a bit of a dead rubber but hey, U21 games played at Boreham Wood are usually free to get into so there are a lot worse things you could be doing

Professional Development League

QPR v Cardiff City @7pm - the R's U21 side have had a poor season in the PDL and could find the visit of the third-place Bluebirds a bit of a challenge. This is being played at Hanwell Town

FA Trophy Fourth Round

Harrow Borough v FC Halifax Town @745pm - postponed three times, seventh tier Boro haven't been this far in the competition since they got to the semi-finals in 1983. As a result this is quite simply a huge game for the club and will be the biggest match they've hosted since Chesterfield visited in the FA Cup in 2010. The Shaymen made the National League play-offs last season which means they play two levels above Harrow and will start as big favourites. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Beckenham Town v Chatham Town @745pm - another big game to have fallen foul of the weather on several occasions, the Becks welcome the leaders from Kent. Currently four points behind in third, the result will go a long way to deciding whether or not the London club are real title contenders

CCL Premier Division South

Raynes Park Vale v Knaphill @745pm - RPV thumped Camberley 4-0 on Saturday to keep the pressure on leaders Abbey Rangers. Just two points behind the Surrey club but with four games in hand, the club from Grand Drive will go top with a win here. However, the visitors are a top five club with several games in hand themselves

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Wednesday 1 February

Premier League International Cup

Fulham v Wolfsburg @7pm - second in Group A, the Cottagers' U21 side will move level with leaders Valencia if they win here. Being played at the club's training ground in Motspur Park, the German side have only won one of their three games so far

FA Youth Cup Fourth Round

AFC Wimbledon v Leeds United @7pm - with wins over Lewes, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient, the Dons' U18 side have made good progress. Now they welcome Leeds to Plough Lane for their toughest test yet. Tickets are £5

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Friday 3 February

Premier League

Chelsea v Fulham @8pm - after a quiet Thursday, the action returns with a bang on Friday. It's West London Derby time, coming just three weeks after the last time they played. On that occasion, Fulham recorded a famous 2-1 win - their first over the Blues since 2006. Since losing that game, Chelsea have picked up four points from games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool whilst Fulham have lost to Newcastle and Spurs and scraped a draw against Sunderland in the FA Cup. It's likely to be finely balanced again. If Fulham do win, it will be their first success at Stamford Bridge since 1964! Tickets are not available to non-members

Premier League International Cup

West Ham United v Monaco @7pm - there are a couple of U21 games on Friday night but this match at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground is the most eye-catching. If you're in north London, you might find Arsenal's match against Reading to be more convenient

Essex Senior League

May & Baker v Frenford @745pm - if you prefer a non-league option then this top-six clash in the 10th tier at Aveley's ground might be more to your liking

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Saturday 4 February

Premier League

Brentford v Southampton @3pm - there's only one top-flight offering in London on Saturday and it comes at the GTech. If Fulham lose at Chelsea and Brighton fail to beat Bournemouth, the Bees will end the day sixth in the Premier League if they win - you read that right, sixth! An amazing achievement. Their chances of picking up three points here are good as the Saints are bottom. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship

Millwall v Sunderland @3pm - sitting a point apart just outside the play-off places, this match has a fair bit riding on it. With the clubs in almost identical form, Millwall lost the reverse fixture 3-0 at the beginning of December. However, they're unbeaten at home against the Mackems since 1995. Tickets

League Two

Leyton Orient v AFC Wimbledon @3pm - there's a great looking London derby at Brisbane Road which looks well worth considering. The O's are still top but their form is becoming worrying. With only one win in six, their lead at the top is only two points. The Dons have improved a lot and with only one defeat in six, they're now only three points adrift of the play-off places. Tickets

Sutton United v Stevenage @3pm - Orient's main title challengers are Stevenage who travel to Gander Green Lane in the day's other fourth-tier game. With only three defeats all season, the Hertfordshire club are in impressive form. Like Wimbledon, Sutton have improved a lot of late and they're also well placed to make an assault on the top seven. Tickets

Premier League International Cup

Crystal Palace v Dinamo Zagreb @2pm - rather randomly scheduled on a Saturday afternoon, the Eagles' U21 side welcome Croatian opposition to Champion Hill

National League

Boreham Wood v Chesterfield @3pm - the pick of the games in the fifth tier is this match between two sides who did non-league clubs proud in the FA Cup this season. Both sides put up good fights in getting to the Third Round, with Chesterfield just seconds away from beating West Brom. The hosts sit three points outside the play-off places, whilst the Spireites are fourth

National League South

Welling United v Dartford @3pm - there's only one game in the sixth tier but it's a biggy as two local rivals from the south-east side of town do battle at Park View Road. Two consecutive defeats have put a real dent in the Darts' title ambitions so they badly need to beat the midtable Wings to avoid losing too much ground on leaders Ebbsfleet

Isthmian League Premier Division

Wingate & Finchley v Cray Wanderers @3pm - in the seventh tier I'd go for this match which is of importance to clubs at either end of the table. Wingate are one of the smallest clubs in the division but have managed to keep their heads above water at this level for over 10 years now. Cray, London's oldest club, are just a point off top spot in an incredibly tight title race

Isthmian League South Central

Tooting & Mitcham United v Basingstoke Town @3pm - it's a similar story in the eighth tier but here it's simply a case of bottom versus top. With only three wins from 21 games, it's been a pretty miserable season for the Terrors

SCEFL Premier Division

Phoenix Sports v Erith & Belvedere @3pm - there aren't any real standout fixtures in the ninth tier but this game between two of the top five in the SCEFL should suffice. The Deres appear to be the best TLFG team at this level. A whopping 23 points clear at the top after 23 games, a return to the Isthmian League looks a certainty

CCL Division 1

RB Kensington v Langley @3pm - formerly known as Kensington & Ealing Borough, the club merged with Rising Ballers over the summer to take on this new name. Now playing at North Greenford United's ground, they're up in the top six and welcome the leaders on Saturday

MCFL Premier

Shepherds Bush v Clapton CFC @3pm - for connoisseurs of 11th-tier football, there's a hugely important game between the top two at Rectory Park in Northolt. The hosts are two points behind CCFC who also have a game in hand. Both sides have applied for promotion but only one of them can go up. It's quite likely that this game could draw more supporters than several games in the ninth and 10th tiers 

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Sunday 5 February

Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @430pm - a lot has been made of how well Spurs tend to do against City but that all came crashing down a couple of weeks ago when they let a 2-0 lead slip before losing 4-2. However, at home they've won the last four and with the visitors not at their indestructible best, they could pull off an upset again. Tickets are not available to non-members

FA Women's Super League

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea @1230pm - earlier in the afternoon, the women's team have the chance to try and pull off an unlikely victory against the joint league leaders. Dumped out of the League Cup by the Blues last week, Spurs are also bottom of the WSL form table so it really looks like being a very tough afternoon for Rehanne Skinner's team

West Ham United v Arsenal @645pm - the final match of the weekend pits a dangerously unpredictable Hammers side against the Gunners who are prone to dropping the odd point here and there. Both sides made it through to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup this weekend and almost any result is possible here

FA Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Coventry United @2pm - the gulf between divisions was exposed really clearly at times during Sunday's FA Cup ties. The Addicks and Coventry United both played top fourth-tier clubs (AFC Wimbledon and Hashtag United) and demolished them 5-1 and 4-0 respectively. Given Coventry are bottom with only one league win all season, this was a bit of surprise to me. On paper, this should be a fairly comfortable home win

London City Lionesses v Sunderland @2pm - last week I predicted LCL to give Spurs a run for their money in the FA Cup but they lost 5-0. Losing so heavily to the WSL's most out-of-form team must serve as a huge wake-up call to the Championship leaders and make them think hard about what they'll need to do to survive next year if they do go up. The Black Cats, on the other hand, aren't having a particularly great season but turned in one of the performances of the round as they narrowly lost 2-1 to WSL leaders Manchester United. In theory, LCL should return to winning ways here but you never know

FA WNL Southern Premier

Watford v Ipswich Town @2pm - two of the top four meet at Grosvenor Vale as they bid to close the gap on the leading pair. The Hornets have fallen eight points behind leaders Oxford but have two games in hand - they can't really afford to lose here

FA WNL Division 1 South East

Actonians v AFC Wimbledon @2pm - on Sunday the A's demolished Chesham United 9-0. With the Dons in FA Cup action and Norwich losing at London Seaward, the west London club moved up to second for the first time this season. Having played more games than most of those immediately below them, it is a slightly false position but it's still one they should take great pride in. If they are to have any chance of claiming that runners-up spot or even coming third, then getting something out of this huge match against AFC Wimbledon will be absolutely crucial. The reverse fixture at Plough Lane in September saw the hosts enjoy a fairly comfortable 2-0 win

LSE Women's Regional League Division 1 North

SL Benfica v Clapton CFC @2pm - I thought I'd also include this big game in the sixth tier as it's taking place on the adjoining pitch to the Actonians match at exactly the same time at Rectory Park in Northolt. You can go to one and look through the fence at the other or flit between the two. I'll be at the Actonians game in the company of TLFG reader Liam who is a big fan of both the Dons and the Tons so he can't believe his luck!

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 January 2023

Apologies one and all for the tardy publication of this week's piece.

On Sunday I decided to be selfish and go and watch a game rather than stay home and write this.

Normally I would have written things up on my return and although I started it, it got to 10pm and I just didn't have the energy to continue.

Knowing I had the day off on Monday, I thought I'd finish it today and I duly have.

The game in question was my first Actonians match of 2023.

Despite the chilly conditions, it was still bright and sunny.

New signing Anna Shimizu playing for Actonians against Cambridge United

I got to meet up with a few people I haven't seen for several weeks and several months in some cases, so that was very pleasing.

Anyway, the match itself was an FA WNL game against Cambridge United who were only two points behind the hosts at the start of play.

The visitors spurned an excellent early chance before Actonians' Japanese star player Natsumi Kanno opened the scoring once again after winning a penalty which she promptly converted.

It was one way traffic until shortly before half-time when the visitors scored from a corner which the home defence failed to clear.

With the sides tied at the interval, the second half was a totally different affair with the sides rattling in another five goals as the hosts held on for a thrilling 4-3 win.

Now only a point behind Norwich City and AFC Wimbledon who drew to stay second and third, Actonians play the latter in their next game in two weeks time.

One of the highlights of this game for me was getting to see new signing Anna Shimizu in action.

Joining Kanno and Chihiro Ebine, Actonians now have three Japanese players in their starting line-up.

Playing at right-back, I was impressed with how tenaciously she stuck to Francesca Partridge throughout - much to her frustration!

I think that's about it from me, so have a great week and enjoy your football.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include a high-profile friendly and games in the FA Cup, Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Vase, Women's FA Cup 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.

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 - 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 23 January

Premier League

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur @8pm - the week begins with a London derby which should keep us all royally entertained. After being predicted to struggle again, Fulham fans must be having the time of their lives. Up in seventh, they can actually move ahead of Spurs into the top five with a win here. Although Tottenham are unbeaten in eight against the Cottagers, they really look vulnerable here. Only hospitality packages appear to be available at this stage

Isthmian League Premier

Aveley v Hastings United @745pm - for most fans, non-league football will provide a more realistic option on Monday. If you're on the east side of town then a trip to Parkside could be for you. The Millers lost their big game against Cray on Saturday, a result which saw the visitors go level on points with leaders Hornchurch. However, with only five points between first an eighth, sixth-placed Aveley are still very much in contention. Promoted at the end of last season, Hastings could still easily get themselves in contention too if they put a good run together

Carshalton Athletic v Lewes @745pm - a narrow win over Bowers & Pitsea on Saturday saw the Robins join the title-chasing group of eight. Like Hastings, Lewes are in the next group of teams looking to emerge from midtable. When the clubs met earlier in the season, it was the club from Sussex who won 2-0

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Tuesday 24 January

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Walsall @745pm - the Dons aren't losing many at the moment but they're not winning very much either. The Saddlers sit just a point above them in the table so present a decent chance to get a good run going again. Tickets

National League

Bromley v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - the Ravens came from behind to earn a draw against Aldershot on Saturday, a result which saw them leapfrog the Daggers into the play-off places. The east London club  have won their last three against Bromley, including a 4-1 win back in August

National League South

Dulwich Hamlet v Ebbsfleet United @745pm - the Hamlet missed a good chance to climb the table by losing a thrilling game at Slough on Saturday. Tuesday night sees them visited by the leaders who will look to build a lead over title rivals Dartford

Isthmian League Premier

Enfield Town v Billericay Town @745pm - two of the leading group in the Isthmian League lock horns at the QEII Stadium on Tuesday as they look to keep pace with Hornchurch PITCH INSPECTION AT 6PM

Isthmian League South Central

Northwood v Binfield @745pm - the hosts saw their game against Uxbridge postponed on Saturday, allowing Basingstoke to win at Sutton Common Rovers and knock them off the top for the first time in weeks. Next up they face Binfield who have the games in hand to make themselves title contenders too MATCH MOVED TO WEDNESDAY

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Wednesday 25 January

FA WSL Cup Quarter-Final

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea @745pm - having seen their matches postponed or abandoned on Sunday, both these sides will hope Leyton Orient's pitch is up to it on Wednesday. With Spurs in terrible form, the Blues will start as strong favourites

Isthmian League South Central

Southall v Basingstoke Town @745pm - the best non-league offering on Wednesday would appear to be this match between two of the top eight in this eighth-tier division. As mentioned above, Basingstoke went top at the weekend and they'll look to keep hold of that position with a win here

Surrey Senior Cup Second Round

Colliers Wood United v Balham @730pm - there's a south London derby to be enjoyed at Wibbandune where near neighbours on the Northern Line do battle in the county cup

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Thursday 26 January

FA WSL Cup Quarter-Final

Arsenal v Aston Villa @745pm - in this competition's brief history, it began in 2011, the Gunners have been the most successful club with five wins. However, it's been five years since their last triumph. In theory, they're still on for the quadruple but this would definitely be their lowest priority. Villa have never made the final but with Arsenal legend Jordan Nobbs among a number of recruits joining them in the last few weeks, they should have more than a chance of doing something here

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Friday 27 January

Premier League 2

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - the biggest game of the day is undoubtedly the U21 version of the North London Derby. It's being played at Boreham Wood's ground but as yet, I've found no details about admission. Arsenal U21 games are usually easy enough to get into but the normal rules often don't apply when they play Spurs. Check the club's website for the latest

Chelsea v West Ham United @7pm - no such problems exist for your alternative U21 derby game. Taking place at Kingsmeadow, tickets are £5 and can be bought online or when you arrive

Premier League Cup

QPR v AFC Bournemouth @7pm - the feast of U21 football continues with this match at Hanwell Town's ground. There is usually a small charge, no more than £5, which can be paid on the gate

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Romford @745pm - there are also a couple of ESL games if you prefer a non-league option, with this one just about shading it for me. The hosts get some of the best crowds in the division and a win here could take them up to third

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Saturday 28 January

FA Cup Fourth Round

Fulham v Sunderland @3pm - everyone's favourite cup competition is back. The Cottagers saw off Hull City in the last round and have landed another Championship side this time. Given their current form, Fulham could be dark horses for the FA Cup this season and I'd like to hope Marco Silva won't rest too many players. A point off the top six in the second tier, the Mackems should present a slightly sterner test than Hull but they'll do incredibly well to force a replay. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers @1230pm - three wins in a row have hauled the Addicks away from the relegation zone they were getting dangerously close to. Next up they face a talented Trotters side who are among the leading pack. Wanderers boss Ian Evatt has only been in management for a little over four years but has won promotions with Barrow and Bolton and could be set to complete another one in a few months time - definitely one to watch. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Stockport County @3pm - newly promoted County should be a fairly similar opponent to Walsall as they're just a point ahead at the time of writing. The most notable thing about this game is that all tickets are £5 so snap one up 

National League

Barnet v Chesterfield @3pm - without doubt, the game of the day in the fifth tier sees two from the top five meet at The Hive. Although they've only drawn their last two, the Bees have still built a seven game unbeaten run to put them right back in promotion contention. The Spireites have made a lot of headlines in the FA Cup, taking Championship side West Brom to a replay in the Third Round. Their form is marginally better and they won the reverse fixture 3-1

National League South

Dulwich Hamlet v Eastbourne Borough @3pm - although not quite as daunting a prospect as Ebbsfleet, Eastbourne should be tough opponents for the Hamlet too. With just goal difference keeping them out of the play-off places, the Sussex club will fancy themselves to take at least a point

Isthmian League Premier Division

Hornchurch v Aveley @3pm - by the time this kicks off, this could be first against third. To top it all, it's also a local derby. The Millers won the last game 1-0 back in November in front of a crowd of nearly 700 so this should be well worth a watch

Isthmian League North

Grays Athletic v AFC Sudbury @3pm - it's third versus first at Parkside, meaning this is the pick of the action in the eighth tier. We few TLFG clubs in the North, this provides you with a rare chance to go and see a match of such importance in this division

FA Vase Fourth Round

This knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 clubs. There is one tie locally:

Egham Town v Peacehaven & Telscombe @3pm - the Sarnies made it to the last 32 last season too and will look to win here to set a new club record for progress in the competition. Currently third in the ninth tier CCL Premier North, they look very evenly matched against Sussex club P&T who are fifth in the parallel Southern Combination 

ECL Division 1 South

Frenford v Stanway Pegasus @3pm - the standout game in the 10th tier is this top-two clash not far from Gants Hill Tube station. The hosts have been top for a long time but got toppled on Saturday after Stanway beat Newbury Forest 3-1. The visitors now lead by a point but Frenford have four games in hand

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Sunday 29 January

Women's FA Cup Fourth Round

With no men's Fourth Round ties taking place in London, why not watch a women's game instead? This is the round that the WSL teams join the draw and most of our biggest local sides are in action

Tottenham Hotspur v London City Lionesses @12pm - with Spurs in terrible form at the moment and LCL currently top of the Championship, this game has got cupset written all over it. The match is being played at Leyton Orient

Chelsea v Liverpool @1pm - after seeing the WSL game between these two on Sunday abandoned in the sixth minute because of a frozen pitch, they will try again in the FA Cup. The Blues have won the last two FA Cups and are very strong favourites to succeed here

Arsenal v Leeds United @2pm - despite failing to win this competition since 2016, the Gunners are the most successful club in its history with 14 titles. Leeds have made the final twice in their history but not since 2008 and they now play in the fourth tier. A home win looks almost certain

AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic @3pm - the Dons, another fourth-tier team to get this far, are having a decent season. Beating higher-ranked opposition Billericay Town and Gillingham in the previous two rounds, the challenge of Charlton doesn't look insurmountable. Nonetheless, the Addicks are fourth in the Championship, on a good run and will expect victory 

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: 16-22 January 2022

Well, well, well - what a week I've had.

After missing out on all the Christmas action, I had one of the best football experiences of my life!

On Monday morning, I set off with a group of friends and flew to the Basque country after being invited by some of the directors of Athletic Bilbao.

We were treated like kings.

Picked up from our hotel, we were driven to their start-of-the-art training ground at Lezama where we were given a full tour of the 13 hectare (32 acres) complex.

Our comprehensive tour of Lezama took us onto the roof terrace

We saw the training pitches, the swimming pool, gym and canteen. We even went on the roof terrace!

And that was just the first team area. We then went on to look around the academy and women's team facilities where several players were in the process of training and also met former captain Carlos Gurpegui, a veteran of over 300 games, who led Athletic to the Spanish Super Cup in 2015.

After this we were taken back into town to visit the club's HQ which sits in an old silk trader's house near the river.

It was quite simply stunning with valuable Basque art on the wood panelled walls which went all the way up to a glass ceiling.

With this part of the trip over, we walked to San Mames where we were treated to a night in the President's Box watching their La Liga game against Osasuna.

Athletic and Osasuna do battle at San Mames

Whilst there, we were introduced to the recently elected president Jon Uriarte which was quite a privilege.

After enjoying some metaphorical prawn sandwiches, we took our seats for what turned out to be a "good 0-0" with the hosts having enough chances to win comfortably.

The following day we headed back to San Mames for a tour of the museum and the stadium itself.

Again our contacts came through and the museum's director took us on a tour with a very knowledgeable young lady acting as translator.

The exhibition was really immersive and packed with things to see and buttons to press.

Did you know that Athletic are one of only three sides, alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid, to have never been relegated from the Spanish top flight which began in 1929?

Did you also know that they've achieved this by only fielding players of Basque heritage? Around 80-90% of their current first team came from their academy which is staggering when you think how competitive they are.

On the tour with Dulwich Hamlet legend Francis Duku

After leaving the stadium, we did a brief bit of non-football sightseeing.

With the Guggenheim and several other high quality museums to enjoy, this clean and vibrant city has a lot going for it.

The people were friendly, English was fairly widely spoken and the food and drink were great too.

I've certainly got myself a La Liga club to support now and I heartily recommend you make a trip there too.

Hopefully I'll be able to go into a bit more detail about this trip in the coming weeks and with a bit of luck I'll be able to get out there again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include a high-profile friendly and games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, FA Vase, FA Youth Cup, Women's Super League, Women's Championship 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.

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 - 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 16 January

Premier League 2

Crystal Palace v Fulham @7pm - the week gets underway with some U21 football at Champion Hill, home of Dulwich Hamlet. The Eagles will move into third if they win, just a point behind leaders Manchester City

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Tuesday 17 January

National League

Barnet v Yeovil Town @745pm - a game of importance at either end of the table. With a decent unbeaten run starting to build, the Bees now have the top four in their sights. The Glovers are only five points above the relegation zone so defeat could leave them in a very precarious position

Dagenham & Redbridge v Eastleigh @745pm - if Barnet slip up, then the Daggers have the chance to catch them as they're only three points behind. If they lose, then Eastleigh will catch them - our local clubs have little room for error

Wealdstone v Oldham Athletic @745pm - I'm sure there's quite a few Stones fans who are still pinching themselves that they're playing week in, week out against sides like Oldham. The Latics were a Premier League side as recently as 1994 but have suffered all kinds of off-field trauma since. This is the first season they've spent in non-league football and they've struggled. However, they've started to pick up some points and they're out of the relegation zone

FA Trophy Fourth Round

Harrow Borough v FC Halifax Town @3pm - postponed from Saturday, seventh tier Boro haven't been this far in the competition since they got to the semi-finals in 1983. As a result this is quite simply a huge game for the club and will be the biggest match they've hosted since Chesterfield visited in the FA Cup in 2010. The Shaymen made the National League play-offs last season which means they play two levels above Harrow and will start as big favourites. Tickets

Professional Development League

QPR v Charlton Athletic @7pm - if you fancy a slightly earlier start, this U21 match at Hanwell Town could be the one for you. A short walk from Perivale Tube station and just off the A40, this is one of London's more accessible grounds

London Senior Cup Second Round

Hendon v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - last week it was Erith & Belvedere who made all the headlines in this competition as they hosted a Brentford side which included Romeo Beckham. To top it all, his father David made an appearance in the crowd. There's unlikely to be any such stardust at Silver Jubilee Park for this but given their struggles in the league, the Greens will probably welcome this distraction

SCEFL Challenge Cup Third Round

Stansfeld v Glebe @745pm - if you're in south-east London then you might like the look of this groundshare derby. Stansfeld are the tenants, are higher in the league than Glebe but they can't buy a win at the moment - it should be close

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Wednesday 18 December

Premier League

Crystal Palace v Manchester United @8pm - a run of five consecutive league wins has seen the visitors surge up to third in the table, just a point behind Manchester City who they beat on Saturday. Palace have games in hand on all around them which if won could lift them into the top half. However, given current form, they'll do well to get anything here. Tickets are not available to non-members

Premier League Cup

Arsenal v Burnley @7pm - the Gunners' U21 team welcome their counterparts from Turf Moor to Meadow Park, home of Boreham Wood. These matches are often free but never more than £5

Middlesex Premier Cup Quarter-Final

Park View v Enfield Borough @745pm - for me, the best non-league option of the night is this cup match between two north London clubs. Being played at the New River Stadium on White Hart Lane, just across the road from Haringey Borough, these sides are currently in midtable in the tenth tier ECL Division 1 South

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Thursday 19 January

FA Youth Cup Fourth Round

AFC Wimbledon v Leeds United @7pm - with wins over Lewes, Swindon Town and Leyton Orient, the Dons' U18 side have made good progress. Now they welcome Leeds to Plough Lane for their toughest test yet. Tickets are £5

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Friday 20 January

Premier League 2

West Ham United v Manchester United @7pm - get your weekend underway with some U21 football at the Hammers' Rush Green facility near Romford. It's usually £5 to get in but check all the details on the day

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Enfield FC @745pm - the best non-league option appears to be this cracker between two of the top four in the ESL. Usually well supported at home, Woodford should draw an even bigger crowd than normal for the visit of the leaders

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Saturday 21 January

Premier League

West Ham United v Everton @3pm - one of the most important games of the weekend takes place at the London Stadium where two of the bottom three meet for a relegation six-pointer. Locked together on 15 points alongside bottom club Southampton, it really doesn't get much bigger for the clubs involved. Some tickets are available via the club's exchange service

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United @530pm - after back-to-back games against Chelsea and Manchester United, the Eagles next face another title contender in what looks like being an incredibly tough week. With only one defeat in six against the London club, Newcastle should start as favourites. Tickets are not available to non-members

Championship

QPR v Swansea City @3pm - locked together in midtable only a point apart, this looks like being a cagey encounter. Both sides are models of inconsistency so they could both do with a win. The R's fought back from 2-0 down to draw at Reading on Saturday whilst the Swans won at Sunderland. Tickets

Watford v Rotherham United @3pm - the Hornets kept their promotion bid on track with a comfortable 2-0 win over struggling Blackpool. On paper, you'd expect them to despatch the Millers with relative ease too but they surprised many by thrashing Blackburn 4-0 on Saturday. Tickets

League Two

Sutton United v Crawley Town @3pm - after a recent uptick in form, the U's returned to losing ways at promotion-chasing Salford. The visitors are four without a win and could end up in the bottom two if they lose heavily here. Tickets

National League

Bromley v Aldershot Town @3pm - if results go their way in midweek, the Ravens will have the chance to move into the play-off places with a win here. A run of four straight wins has seen the Shots slide down the table and they're now just four points above the relegation zone

National League South

Dartford v Taunton Town @3pm - my pick in the sixth tier, I suggest going to watch the Darts as they continue their push for the NLS title. Three points clear of local rivals Ebbsfleet but having played three games more, they badly need to win this game against one of the division's strugglers MATCH OFF

Isthmian League Premier Division

Aveley v Cray Wanderers @3pm - head to Parkside for my match of the day in the seventh tier. The hosts were top earlier in the season and with only five points separating first from sixth, they're currently fifth and still very much in contention. Cray could well be joint top by the time this game kicks-off so it could be a real humdinger!

Isthmian League South Central

Tooting & Mitcham United v Walton & Hersham @3pm - we've got an ampersand derby at Imperial Fields where teams at opposite ends of the table badly need to win. The Terrors have had a very disappointing season and having recently spoken to one of their longest-serving fans, optimism is in short supply. The Swans slipped to third after having their match postponed on Saturday so they'll be keen to make up the ground on Basingstoke Town who moved ahead of them

FA Vase Fourth Round

This knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 clubs. There is one tie locally:

Egham Town v Peacehaven & Telscombe @3pm - the Sarnies made it to the last 32 last season too and will look to win here to set a new club record for progress in the competition. Currently third in the ninth tier CCL Premier North, they look very evenly matched against Sussex club P&T who are fifth in the parallel Southern Combination MATCH OFF

CCL Division 1

FC Deportivo Galicia v Berks County @3pm - FCDG kept the pressure on leaders Langley with a 2-0 win over Rayners Lane on Saturday. They're back at home again this weekend against another one of their promotion rivals. It's a wonder that Berks are where they are as they've barely played in the last couple of months

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Sunday 22 January

Premier League

Arsenal v Manchester United @430pm - the week comes to an end with a real clash of the titans at the Emirates. With both sides winning their big derby matches this weekend, they became the top two in the Premier League's form table. The Gunners' victory at Spurs means they're now eight points clear and starting to look more and more like champions. However, their one league defeat this season came against an out-of-sorts United side at the beginning of September. Erik ten Hag has made the Old Trafford outfit a far better team since then so this really should be some game. Tickets are not available

Premier League 2

Fulham v Chelsea @230pm - there's a random bit of U21 action at the Cottagers' training ground in Motspur Park on Sunday afternoon. Please check the club's website for admission details  

FA Women's Super League

Chelsea v Liverpool @1230pm - Sam Kerr scored a priceless 89th-minute equaliser at The Emirates on Sunday to deny Arsenal the chance of catching them at the top. The Reds, on the other hand, lost heavily at Manchester United to stay in lower midtable. Although a home win looks almost certain, Liverpool inflicted Chelsea's only league defeat of the season back on the opening weekend

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @2pm - Beth England scored on her Spurs debut but it was not enough as they lost 2-1 at Aston Villa. The loss means they're now bottom of the form table after Leicester picked up their first win of the season against Brighton on Sunday. If Tottenham don't win here, some serious questions are likely to be asked of coach Rehanne Skinner MATCH OFF

FA Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Lewes @2pm - the Addicks saw their game at Blackburn postponed this weekend and they fell five points behind leaders London City Lionesses as a result. If they eventually win that game in hand, then they'll be right back in the title race. Lewes got a useful win at Southampton which means another three points here could put them in the top five

FAWNL Cup Quarter-Final

Watford v MK Dons @2pm - with wins over Norwich City, AFC Wimbledon and Hashtag United, the Hornets have beaten the best that the division below them can offer. Now they go up against a team from the same division as themselves. Being played at Wealdstone's ground in Ruislip, the hosts should start as firm favourites

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Actonians v Cambridge United @2pm - sitting just behind the leading trio mentioned above are the A's. Danny Harrigan's side played their first match for five weeks on Sunday and came away from Champion Hill with a very satisfactory 2-0 win over Dulwich Hamlet in the Capital Women's Cup. Cambridge sit a couple of points behind them in the table and come into this on the back of two straight defeats. Last season, Actonians beat them 7-0 on aggregate over the two games but I think it will be a bit closer this time

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 January 2023

Greetings and happy new year to you all, I hope 2023 finds you in good form.

Did you cram loads of games into the last three festive weeks?

I'm disappointed to say that I didn't see a single game as all my plans were scuppered by a broken boiler (it finally got replaced shortly before Christmas) and illnesses that consecutively affected both my kids and wife.

At one point on Christmas Day I was chasing an antibiotics prescription at one of the only open pharmacies in this part of town.

A few days later, my eldest daughter was being swabbed for Strep A such was her parlous condition but thankfully we all came through and should hopefully be alright for the next few weeks.

Welling United are offering discounts to trade union members on Saturday

The next couple of days will almost certainly make up for all that disappointment when I head to Spain to preach the Non-League Day (NLD) message to some of the directors of a La Liga club who have invited myself and my team to let them know how to do it.

I guess I'm now a football consultant, for a couple of days at least.

The itinerary they have planned for us is jaw dropping and I'll fill you all in on it next week when I get back.

The other thing I did recently was finally register an account on groundhopping app 'Futbology'.

I've flirted with it for ages but have finally taken the plunge. 

Recording all the games I've ever seen will probably be impossible as I don't always buy programmes and plenty of them merge into one but I'll try and get all the grounds on there - eventually!

Lastly, many thanks to Michael P and Kevin O who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund - I really appreciate it.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include a high-profile friendly and games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, FA Vase, FA Youth Cup, Women's Super League, Women's Championship 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.

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 - 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 9 January

FA Youth Cup Fourth Round

Watford v Everton @7pm - the country's most prestigious U18 competition is now down to its last 32 and this tie gets the fourth round underway on Monday night. It's being played at Vicarage Road and adult tickets are £5

Essex Senior Cup Fourth Round

Romford v Hornchurch @745pm - there's an east London derby to be enjoyed in the last 16 of this county cup. Being played at Barking's ground, the visitors should start as strong favourites as they play two levels above the hosts

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Tuesday 10 January

National League

Wealdstone v Chesterfield @745pm - it looks like being a tough evening for the Stones as they welcome a side who are going well in the league and were just seconds away from beating Championship club West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup on Saturday. Eventually having to settle for a 3-3 draw, the Spireites will be hoping to make it a third win in a row over Wealdstone. However, Stuart Maynard's side are on a decent run themselves and back in the play-off places. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Beckenham Town v Ramsgate @745pm - with at least a game in hand on all around them, the Becks have the chance to climb to third if they win here. Whether they do is another matter entirely as the visitors are top. However, they lost 2-0 at promotion rivals Cray Valley PM on Saturday so they're by no means unbeatable

London Senior Cup Second Round

Erith & Belvedere v Brentford B @745pm - there are lots of great county cup ties on Tuesday night but this one just about edges it for me. The Bees' second string are the current LSC holders and have made three of the last four finals. Park View Road could be an awkward place to go as the Deres are running away with SCEFL and will be looking to cause an upset

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Wednesday 11 December

Friendly

Welling United v Leyton Orient @7pm - to keep things ticking over, the Wings have organised a friendly against the League Two leading O's. How strong a side the visitors will bring remains to be seen but it's £10 to get in

Premier League International Cup

Fulham v Porto @7pm - the Cottagers' U21 team continue their European exploits with this eye-catching game against Portuguese opposition. Being played at the club's Motspur Park training ground, I haven't seen any admission details yet but you can usually get in. Check with the club over the next few days

SCEFL Division 1

Forest Hill Park v Lewisham Borough @745pm - if you're looking for a non-league option then head to the Ladywell Arena for this groundshare derby. Both clubs are in the bottom three and in desperate need of a win

Women's League Cup

Charlton Athletic v Crystal Palace @730pm - as the group stage comes to a close, only the Addicks can make the next stage but they'll have to win big to have any chance and hope that Bristol City fail to get anything against Lewes later in the week

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Thursday 12 January

Premier League

Fulham v Chelsea @8pm - it's derby day in west London where two very local rivals meet at Craven Cottage. The Blues' dominance of this fixture is total with Fulham now 21 games without a win against them in all competitions. Their last victory came against them in a league game back in 2006. However, much to everyone's surprise, it's the recently promoted Cottagers who are having the better season. Up in seventh and through to the next round of the FA Cup, morale should be high among Marco Silva's squad. Chelsea, on the other hand, are down in 10th and struggling to find their rhythm following the appointment of Graham Potter. Tickets are not available to non-members 

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Friday 13 January

U21 Development Football

With matches in Premier League 2 and the Premier League Cup, there's a really fine selection of games to choose from today. With Crystal Palace kicking off at 1pm against Sheffield United (at Dulwich Hamlet), it will be easily possible to see two games. Arsenal, Chelsea and QPR all have games at 7pm and if you want to travel a bit further afield, head to Woking where Brentford take on Aston Villa

ECL Division 1 South

May & Baker v Stanway Pegasus @745pm - the best non-league game on offer takes place at Parkside in Aveley where two of the divisions top six meet. The visitors will go second if they win

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Saturday 14 January

Premier League

Brentford v AFC Bournemouth @530pm - after suffering the disappointment of losing to West Ham in the FA Cup on Saturday evening, the Bees return to league action with what would appear to be a very winnable game. After humbling Liverpool in their last Premier League match, Thomas Frank's side come into this in ninth. The Cherries seemed to be more than holding their own a few weeks ago but a worrying run of results sees them now just one point above the relegation zone. Tickets have sold out

Championship

Watford v Blackpool @3pm - the Hornets are fourth and still TLFG's top club in this division. With only two wins from their last five, they're doing well to stay up there given how tight the table is. Blackpool are down in the bottom three but caused one of the shocks of the round in the FA Cup on Saturday, thrashing Premier League Nottingham Forest 4-1 while Watford lost 2-0 at Reading. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Barnsley @3pm - two wins on the trot have seen the Addicks climb back into the top half of the table. If they still harbour dreams of a play-off place then they'll need to beat the the Tykes who currently occupy sixth. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City @3pm - after grinding out a goalless draw at Crewe on Saturday, the Dons climbed to 13th. A place in the top half will almost certainly be theirs if they win here but the Bantams are going well under Mark Hughes and will be tough to beat. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Barrow @3pm - the biggest game of the day in the fourth tier takes place at Brisbane Road where the leaders welcome the side in sixth. The O's have built a five-point lead at the top and they'll be keen to extend that as their nearest challengers Stevenage have a game in hand. With only three points separating the teams between fourth and twelfth, the visitors know anything less than a win could see them drop out of the play-off places. Tickets 

Premier League 2

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @12pm - if you want to head out of London for a bit of groundhopping then this U21 game is taking place at Stevenage's ground. The early kick-off means you should be able to catch a 3pm match too. If you've got a car, Luton Town should be within your reach or there are numerous non-league clubs in the area too

FA Trophy Fourth Round

This knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 clubs. There are two ties in London:

Dagenham & Redbridge v Maidenhead United @3pm - despite losing to Woking and surrendering their play-off place on Saturday, the Daggers should start as favourites here. Maidenhead are also in the fifth tier but are on a poor run and suffered an embarrassing 3-0 loss to bottom club Scunthorpe this weekend. Tickets have been reduced to £10

Harrow Borough v FC Halifax Town @3pm - seventh tier Boro haven't been this far in the competition since they got to the semi-finals in 1983. As a result this is quite simply a huge game for the club and will be the biggest match they've hosted since Chesterfield visited in the FA Cup in 2010. The Shaymen made the National League play-offs last season which means they play two levels above Harrow and will start as big favourites. Tickets

National League South

Welling United v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - there are some good options in the sixth tier but I've gone for this as it's a derby. Not only that but the club are holding a Trade Union Day with members of any union offered discounted entry on production of their membership card. On the football side of things, only four points separate the clubs in midtable so it should be close. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Division

Hornchurch v Canvey Island @3pm - the game of the day in the seventh tier pits the leaders against the side in sixth. Both clubs have been doing Essex proud this season with the Urchins potentially opening up a six-point lead if they win here

Isthmian League South Central

Northwood v Binfield @3pm - there's no standout game in the eighth tier for me so I suggest going to check out leaders Northwood to see if they can hold on at the top. A big part of their success this season was based on star striker Sydney Ibie but he was offered the chance to turn pro with Dagenham & Redbridge just before Christmas and they now have to manage without him. A win at Tooting & Mitcham kept them top on Saturday but Walton & Hersham and Basingstoke Town are hot on their heels and they can't afford any slip ups. Binfield are back in seventh but have four games in hand so are still title challengers too

FA Vase Fourth Round

This knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 32 clubs. There is one tie locally:

Egham Town v Peacehaven & Telscombe @3pm - the Sarnies made it to the last 32 last season too and will look to win here to set a new club record for progress in the competition. Currently third in the ninth tier CCL Premier North, they look very evenly matched against Sussex club P&T who are fifth in the parallel Southern Combination

CCL Division 1

FC Deportivo Galicia v Rayners Lane @3pm - FCDG have always been an entertaining team but haven't quite managed to do enough to get promotion. With five wins in a row lifting them to second, could this be their year? The visitors were also unlucky not to go up last season and they're in the top six again

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Sunday 15 January

Premier League

Chelsea v Crystal Palace @2pm - after what should be a challenging derby at Fulham on Thursday, the Blues have another match against local opposition on Sunday. On paper Chelsea should win as they historically dominate this fixture too - they've won the last 11 but we know they're vulnerable at the moment. With a lengthy injury list and a new manager who is yet to settle, the Eagles have their best chance of winning at Stamford Bridge since they last did it in 2017. Tickets have sold out

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @430pm - the biggest game of the week is saved until last. North London derbies are always huge affairs but when both are in the top five and one is going for their first title in almost 20 years, it's even bigger than usual. In recent years, Spurs have built a decent home record against the Gunners. Now unbeaten in eight league games in N17 against their biggest rivals, they've won six of those matches. Arsenal are definitely in better form at the moment but they'll have to be at their best to win here. Tickets are sold out

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Wanderers v Bishop's Stortford @3pm - if non-league football's more your thing then one of the best matches of the weekend at this level is taking place at Hayes Lane. At the time of writing, these clubs are second and third in the seventh tier Isthmian Premier so it should be a cracker

FA Women's Super League

Arsenal v Chelsea @12pm - it's a huge day in north London. Not only are the Gunners men's team playing Spurs but the women are hosting title rivals Chelsea at the Emirates. The Blues are currently three points clear at the top of the table, but Arsenal will draw level with a win and then still have a game in hand to play. Tickets are £12 

West Ham United v Manchester City @645pm - another evening kick-off  (there are others) means there are all sorts of two-match combinations in London on Sunday. The Hammers have made a good effort to bridge the gap between the 'Big Three' and the rest and begin 2023 in fifth. City were always part of that elite group but rivals Manchester United have pushed them down to fourth. Gareth Taylor's side have to get something here or they could end the day six points adrift of third. Tickets

FA Women's Championship

Crystal Palace v London City Lionesses @6pm - having lost only once all season, LCL travel to Hayes Lane as leaders for this derby with Palace. They may have only suffered one defeat but it was at home to the Eagles on the opening day so are the south-east London club their bogey team? Only one point ahead of Bristol City, who have a game in hand, they must win to keep control of top spot. As you may have noticed, this is taking place at the same ground as Cray Wanderers' match earlier in the afternoon so you can easily combine the two but you'll have to go in and out between games. Tickets

Capital Women's Senior Cup

Dulwich Hamlet v Actonians @2pm - there are a number of ties around London on Sunday but this may well draw the biggest crowd. Although only a fifth-tier club, the Hamlet made it to last season's final, regularly draw three-figure crowds and they'd love to get one over an A's side who play in the division above

QPR v Enfield Town @2pm - the R's won this competition in 2021, beating Actonians on penalties in the final. With the Towners suffering relegation to the fifth tier at the end of last season, QPR will start as favourites

Sutton United v Arsenal Academy @2pm - the U's aren't having a great season in the fifth tier so they could struggle against a Gunners' development side

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