TLFG: 25 March - 1 April 2024

Greetings and welcome to the Easter Special of TLFG.

After all the excitement of Non-League Day on Saturday, I haven't had time to produce anything other than the match maps which is pretty poor for an Easter Special.

Having a chat with Jeff Stelling across the Premier League trophy on Non-League Day

The maps going through to Easter Monday are below and full of all the essential info you need to plan your week.

I fully intend to add more detail as the week progresses but forgive me if I don't.

Right, I've got to get to work. 

UPDATE - I've now produced a guide for Friday to Monday, see below

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.

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

EASTER WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

TLFG EASTER WEEKEND DIGEST

In the following section, I list 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.

Friday 29 March

Championship

Milwall v West Bromwich Albion @1pm - with two games over the long weekend, these four days can often have a huge impact on a club's season. With the Lions looking to get well clear of the relegation zone and the Baggies needing to make sure of their play-off place, this game has plenty riding on it. Tickets are available but there aren't many left

QPR v Birmingham City @3pm - with the sides only a point apart and sitting precariously just above the bottom three, this game is arguably even bigger. The R's form is significantly better than that of the visitors but Gary Rowett has just returned to the Blues' dugout on an interim basis and should make them a lot tougher to beat. Tickets have sold out

Watford v Leeds United @8pm - the big matches keep on coming in the second tier. Although the Hornets no longer have much to play for, Leeds definitely do. Coming down from the Premier League at the end of last season, the Yorkshire club are in a thrilling title race with Ipswich and Leicester. With only one point between them going into the weekend, every match is now going to be crucial. Tickets have sold out for this one too

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Harrogate Town @3pm - the Dons' draw at Crewe on Saturday saw them drop out of the play-off spots again. Still only a point adrift of that all-important seventh place, a win over midtable Harrogate should definitely be achievable. I'm afraid to say this has sold out too!

National League

Boreham Wood v Dagenham & Redbridge @3pm - as one of the smallest clubs in the division, The Wood have massively punched above their weight since moving up to this level in 2015. Reaching the play-offs three times and going on some great FA Cup runs, they've given a great account of themselves. This year is looking worrying though. With six games to go they're in the relegation zone after losing four on the trot. Although just a point from safety in a very tight bottom half, they've got to start winning soon. With only one defeat in five, the Daggers are up in 12th but are still only six points clear of the relegation zone so could do with a couple of wins to make sure of their place in the fifth tier. Tickets

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Tonbrigde Angels @3pm - if Boreham Wood do lose their place in the National League then they could be replaced by H&RB. Fourth and with games in hand on all of those above them, they're very well placed for a promotion push. However, they're now two without a win and with sides like Farnborough powering up the table, their position can't be taken for granted. Kent club Tonbridge look set for a midtable finish but took a point off the hosts when they played earlier in the season. Tickets

Welling United v Dover Athletic @3pm - the Wings' transformation under Rod Stringer has been stark, moving out of the bottom four and four points clear. Winless in two, though, there's still work to do. Dover have been pretty abject this season and if they lose here then they'll be relegated. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Wanderers v Chatham Town @3pm - it's got to that stage of the season where the hosts can enjoy their football and look forward to moving to their new ground for the 2024/25 campaign. Since the turn of the year, Cray have put 16 points between themselves and the relegation zone to calm any nerves they may have had. Chatham, on the other hand, look destined to finish second and will want to keep the points coming in to make sure they carry good momentum into the play-offs. Tickets

Haringey Borough v Hastings United @3pm - twelve points adrift with seven games to go, things are looking pretty terminal for Haringey. With only five wins from 35 games, the writing appears to be on the wall. With only one win from their last six league games, Hastings' promotion hopes seem to be fading. Now seven points adrift of fifth place, they've got to start closing the gap soon. Adult tickets are £10 on the gate

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Stanway Rovers @745pm - if you can get yourself over to north-east London on Friday night then do. This match at Ashtons gives you the chance of doing a double but the club have made it FREE ENTRY for everyone. There'll be all kinds of other Easter themed activities going on too and there might be chocolate available. On the pitch, it should actually be a great game too. Woodford are second and mathematically in with a chance of the title, whilst the visitors are also in the top eight

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Saturday 30 March

Premier League

Chelsea v Burnley @3pm - down in 11th, the Blues' league campaign has been a bit of a disaster. However, they're unbeaten in four and a Europa Conference League spot is now only five points away. A win over the relegation threatened Clarets looks a certainty even for this Chelsea side. Regular tickets have sold out but hospitality packages are available from £450

Tottenham Hotspur v Luton Town @3pm - although the sides are at opposite ends of the table, this match should be fun. Both teams like to leave it all out on the pitch and have scored over 100 goals between them this season. With the Hatters coming from Bedfordshire, just to the north of London, this will have a derby feel to it too. Tickets are only available to members

Brentford v Manchester United @8pm - the Bees are winless in six and thankful that Nottingham Forest were recently deducted four points for financial issues. Five points above the relegation zone, they need star striker Ivan Toney to score the goals to get them over the line. The visitors are not the side they once were but are still a top-six outfit and should start as strong favourites here. Tickets are not available 

Isthmian League Premier

Dulwich Hamlet v Billericay Town @3pm - with seven wins from their last 10 games, the hosts seem to be timing a run to the play-offs to perfection. Now just two points outside the top five, they've got six games left to make sure of their place in the post season. Billericay were also in contention in mid-February but a seven game winless run has seen them slide to eighth. If they do win here, they'll move level on points with the Hamlet. This game, like most at Champion Hill, will probably sell out so make sure you buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment and turn up early to get a decent view

Hornchurch v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - there's also a big game at Lodge Avenue in the far east of London. The Urchins look more and more certain to be champions as each week passes. Now 14 points clear with seven games to go, only a most spectacular collapse would see them miss out. On Saturday, they welcome W&F who are one of the smallest clubs at this level. Despite this, they've been in the top five for months as they've confounded most people's expectations. As we approach the final games of the season, their position in that elite group is under real threat from Dulwich so they can't afford many slip ups. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Chertsey Town v Westfield @3pm - we've got a very similar match-up in the eighth tier too where the leaders entertain top-six opposition in what is also a derby. The Curfews are 12 points clear with six games to go so their position at the summit would seem to be pretty secure. Westfield, who hail from Woking, are currently sixth but have games in hand on all of the teams above them. Chertsey have been getting average crowds of nearly 600 and I'd expect at least that for this game. Tickets are available in advance and I'd advise getting one

CCL Premier South

Abbey Rangers v Farnham Town @3pm - just down the road from Chertsey, near neighbours Abbey Rangers have a big game too. The visitors sealed promotion and the league title on Saturday so will arrive in triumphant mood. The hosts are fourth and will hope to join them via the play-offs but having played more games than the five teams immediately below them, they've got to keep winning. Tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Premier North

Broadfields United v Hilltop @730pm - elsewhere in the eighth tier we've got a late kick-off which allows you to do a double and get Tithe Farm, home of Rayners Lane, ticked off your list of grounds (despite spending many years of my life living about a mile from here, I've still never been for a game - shocking). The hosts are coasting along in midtable whilst the visitors are making up lots of games in hand and trying to avoid the drop. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

SC Thamesmead v Croydon @3pm - in the 10th tier there's a game of real importance at either end of the table. The hosts are six points adrift of safety but have eight games left, more than any of their relegation rivals. The Trams, on the other hand, moved above Lewisham Borough into the play-off places with a 1-0 win over FC Elmstead on Wednesday. With only two points between the teams in fifth and eighth, the battle for that last spot in the post season looks like being a fierce one. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Sunday 31 March

Women's Super League

West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm - despite it being Easter Sunday, there's no let up in London where women's football takes centre stage for the day. In the WSL we should get a pretty evenly matched game between two sides in the bottom half. Although the Hammers have had a disappointing run of late and are near the foot of the table, they have a six-point cushion over Bristol City and with only one team going down they should be alright. Having won two of their last three, Brighton are in no danger and are now eyeing a seventh-placed finish. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge. Tickets

Women's Championship

Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City @1pm - only one team go up in this division and the battle for the title is incredibly tight with four points separating the top five. Two of those clubs meet here for what will be a huge game for both. Although both have a game in hand on leaders Sunderland, a defeat here with three games to go could leave them nine points adrift and effectively end their hopes. This is being played at The Valley. Tickets

Watford v Sunderland @2pm - there is also a midtable clash at London City Lionesses but this match at Vicarage Road is much more important. As mentioned above, Sunderland are top and could potentially open a four-point lead if they win here and other results go their way. The chances of them doing that look pretty good as the Hornets are bottom and three without a win. The Hertfordshire club could be all but down if they do lose so they really need something out of this. Tickets

FAWNL Southern Premier

Hashtag United v Cardiff City @3pm - the Tags have had a great debut season at this level and beat Newcastle United to win the League Cup at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. When it comes to the league, it looks like they'll finish second as Portsmouth have pulled away. Eight points behind the Hampshire club with four games to go, it's not mathematically over but any slip ups and it soon will be. Cardiff are in midtable and have little to play for. Tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Division 1 South East

AFC Wimbledon v Norwich City @3pm - with these two seemingly in a fight to the death for the title for most of the season, I'd really been looking forward to this match and there's a good chance I will probably go. However, in recent weeks, the Canaries' challenge has faltered with a number of crucial draws. Consequently they're now 10 points behind the Dons and although they have two games in hand, they don't look like catching them. Although the stakes aren't quite as high as they were, this is still effectively a title decider. This is being played at Carshalton Athletic and tickets will be available on the gate

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Monday 1 April

League One

Charlton Athletic v Stevenage @3pm - new boss Nathan Jones has definitely improved things since taking over at The Valley but with six games to go they are still only seven points above the relegation zone. With 21st place Port Vale showing signs of improvement, the Addicks can't rest on their laurels just yet. The visitors have been in play-off contention all season but they've hit a bad patch at a terrible moment and slipped out of the top six after only drawing with Bolton on Friday. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Peterborough United @3pm - with only one win from five, the O's find themselves six points adrift of the play-off places. It's not an insurmountable gap and it will be made somewhat easier if they can beat Posh who are fourth. Darren Ferguson's side suffered a shock 3-1 home defeat to bottom club Carlisle on Friday so they're not at their best. Tickets

League Two

Sutton United v Swindon Town @3pm - in the relegation zone for most of the season, the U's were certainties for the drop in most people's minds. However, Friday's win at Salford was their third in a row and they're now only one point shy of safety. Swindon are in the bottom six so they've got another great chance to pick up some points. Tickets

National League

Bromley v Woking @3pm - there are four games in the fifth tier on Monday but if I had to pick one to go to it would be this as it affects teams at either end of the table. In this division, the teams who finish second and third receive a bye through the first round of the play-offs. The hosts are currently third but Gateshead and Altrincham just behind them are closing the gap. At the other end, the bottom four go down and the Cards sit four points above that group. As a reminder of just how tight things are, only eight points separate the teams between 15th-23rd. Tickets

National League South

Dartford v Eastbourne Borough @3pm - at Princes Park we've got a huge relegation six-pointer to look forward to. Only goal difference is currently keeping the Darts out of the bottom four at Taunton's expense. Eastbourne are just two points behind them so defeat to the Sussex club will put them in the drop zone. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Carshalton Athletic v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - in the seventh tier, this game between two south London clubs really stands out for me. In this division the top team go up automatically whilst the teams in second to fifth play off. These sides are currently sixth and seventh and both three points behind Horsham in fifth. The Robins are currently third in the form table so should start as marginal favourites. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Beckenham Town v Phoenix Sports @3pm - there should be a significant amount of tension at Eden Park Avenue where two south-east London clubs who are battling the drop contest three very precious points. After pushing strongly for promotion last season, the Becks have fallen apart this year and have been bottom for a while. Nine points from safety with eight games to go, it's starting to look like last-chance saloon time. A victory for the visitors could see them move 10 points clear of the bottom two and pretty much secure their place in the division. Tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Premier South

Balham v AFC Croydon Athletic @1230pm - in one of the day's early kick-offs we've got this mouthwatering groundshare derby between sides who are fighting to get into the play-offs. Similar to other divisions, the teams in second to fifth play-off. At the time of writing, only four points separate the teams in fourth to ninth so it looks like being a great contest to the end. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

Croydon v AFC Whyteleafe @3pm - the Trams enjoyed a solid 3-0 win at SC Thamesmead on Saturday to keep hold of the last play-off spot. On Monday they face a visit from the leaders who are suffering a bit of a wobble after failing to win any of their last three games. Still eight points clear, the Leafe should be fine but defeat here could see someone preparing to smash the glass on the alarm bells. Tickets will be available on the gate

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, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 18-24 March 2024

Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG's Non-League Day Special.

I can't quite believe it's that time of year again, the weeks fly by so fast but here we are with just five days to go.

Every year I wonder how much further myself and the team can take the event but something new keeps cropping up to move things to another level.

Last year it was La Liga giants Athletic Bilbao getting involved, something which is very much continuing this weekend too.

This time round it has been my employer South Western Railway committing to do more or less whatever they can to help raise awareness.

The last few days have seen signs promoting NLD on screens at London's Waterloo station and many others around their network. 

Yesterday I started receiving reports of posters appearing too - both things we could have only dreamed about in the early years.

This year's Non-League Day is on Saturday

Then there's all the work that's being done around the 10-year anniversary celebrations of our partnership with Prostate Cancer UK.

There will be 10 showpiece games around the country and many more smaller events at other clubs.

In fact, at the end of last week, the National League came out and said every one of its clubs would be getting involved to give the partnership some publicity on the day so the overall number is now much higher.

The sale of our merchandise will also be generating funds for the charity too.

The t-shirt below is just one of a range of many designs that are available so have a look, there are hoodies and badges too.

Get NLD merchandise in your club's colours now!

Apart from all the prep, I managed to squeeze two games in this week and both required lengthy trips up to north London.

On Saturday I took my youngest daughter and TLFG readers Christoph and Liam up to Donkey Lane to watch the Isthmian League match between Enfield Town and Horsham who had travelled up from Sussex.

An important fixture in the battle for a play-off spot, the hosts won a tight game 2-1.

Everyone had a good time and my five-year-old accumulated a fantastic collection of sticks which kept her well entertained.

What impresses many people is the way the club have adapted superbly to having a running track around the pitch.

Instead of the stands being miles away from the action, they've built terraces within the track right behind each goal and gates swing across the track forming a neat fence around the pitch - we were stood right next to a corner flag within touching distance of the players for most of it.

Fun for all at Enfield Town

On Sunday I then made my way up to Wood Green to watch Haringey Borough host Actonians in the semi-finals of the Capital Senior Cup.

Despite falling behind after only 18 seconds, the Boro fought back well and eventually won the game 3-2 bringing the A's cup run to a disappointing end.

So back to this week's NLD Special - the format is different.

All the matches are on the maps as normal but rather than have a weekend map, there's now one for Saturday (NLD) and one for Sunday.

The other significant difference is that there is no 'Daily Digest', it's all about what you can see on NLD and this will probably get added to as clubs announce their plans once their midweek games are out of the way.

It's also quite possible I could miss a deal or event here or there so please let me know.

Anyway, I'm all set to go to Eastleigh v Hartlepool United on the day as there is a lot going on there that I really should be present for.

I really hope you can make it to a game - I look forward to catching up again next week.

 THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got international friendlies, a game in League Two and some Women's Super League but for me the focus is Non-League Day on Saturday. 

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

NON-LEAGUE DAY MATCH MAP

SUNDAY MATCH MAP

    

NON-LEAGUE DAY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the day and give some brief reasons for my choice. Updates will follow as the week progresses. Check the maps above for kick-off times, club info and directions.

Saturday 23 March

National League

Barnet v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - the Bees are second in the fifth tier and currently London's highest ranked non-league club. On Saturday, we'll almost certainly see leaders Chesterfield clinch the title as they're 24 points ahead. This means that for Barnet it's now all about making sure they finish second or third as these positions get a bye through the first round of the play-offs. This is by no means certain as the chasing pack are all closing in. The battle to avoid relegation is still wide open with only seven points separating the clubs in 12th to 23rd. Dorking are currently second bottom but they thrashed Chesterfield recently and took a point off Solihull Moors, another top side, on Saturday. Tickets

Bromley v York City @3pm - it's a very similar story at Hayes Lane where the Ravens sit just behind Barnet in third. Only two points ahead of Solihull Moors they need to keep winning to stay in the top three. York, like Dorking, are in the relegation zone but could get out of it with a win here. Tickets

Dagenham & Redbridge v Oldham Athletic @3pm - the Daggers thrashed Maidenhead 4-1 on Saturday to pull themselves into the top half but they're still only six points above the relegation zone. The Latics blew a two-goal lead in their big match with leaders Chesterfield but still earned a creditable 2-2 draw which leaves them one point adrift of the play-off places. Apparently, the hosts have never beaten Oldham - could it be an historic NLD for them? Tickets

Wealdstone v Kidderminster Harriers @3pm - seven points from their last three games has made things look a lot more promising for the Stones. Still only three points above the relegation zone, it will be absolutely massive for them if they can beat Kiddy who are in the bottom three. Wealdstone were the first ever club to offer an NLD Special Deal back in 2010 and they've come up trumps again slashing prices for everyone and offering a concessionary rate of £5 to fans heading to Wembley for England v Brazil and all Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders - however these prices only apply if booked online in advance so don't miss out

National League South

Aveley v St Albans City @3pm - the game of the day in the sixth tier takes place at Parkside where two of the top eight continue their quest for a play-off place. Non-League Day is celebrating 10 years of its partnership with Prostate Cancer UK and this is one of 10 feature games taking place around the country. The Millers have lots of fun stuff planned including local stalls, a raffle, face painting and a penalty shoot-out. I've even heard rumour of a race between the two clubs' mascots but I can't confirm that just yet. Tickets 

Dartford v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - the other game in the division doesn't have a huge amount going for it as it features the two teams at the foot of the form table. With the Darts losing five of their last six and Hemel eight of their last nine, it's hard to know who will win here. Dartford are in the relegation zone so have a more immediate need for a win. Starting on Saturday, admission prices have been reduced to £10 for adults for the remainder of the season. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

In a quirk of the fixtures there are no Isthmian Premier games in London on Saturday so all the action in the seventh tier is in the Southern League where every club is offering a great deal to get you in

Harrow Borough v Hungerford Town @3pm - after being reprieved from relegation last season, the Boro were always likely to struggle in this campaign. With a tiny budget (leaders Chesham are reportedly paying one player as much as the whole Harrow squad), it's no surprise to find them second from bottom. However, Jordan Berry's side have battled hard and have often only lost games by narrow margins and to very late goals. They're eight points adrift of safety with eight games to go so the task is not impossible. The visitors are eighth and still have an outside chance of the play-offs. NLD Special Deal - free entry to NHS & Emergency Services, half price for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders and those going to England v Brazil. Again, these discounts only apply if booked online in advance

Hayes & Yeading United v Swindon Supermarine @3pm - there's a relegation six-pointer at the SkyEx which looks well worth your time if you're in west London. I spent the initial NLD in 2010 at Hayes & Yeading's old ground watching them play Histon in a National League game - things have changed quite radically for those clubs since then. NLD Special Deal - "Pay What You Want", simply turn up and make a donation. The usual rate is £12 for adults and I'd encourage you to get as close to that as possible

Hendon v Winchester City @3pm - eleventh at the time of writing, the Greens are coasting along nicely in midtable with promotion and relegation both looking unlikely. Hampshire club Winchester are a couple of places above them but have the games in hand which could put them back in play-off contention. Hendon won the reverse fixture 2-0 so they should be capable of getting something here. NLD Special Deal - it's "Pay What You Want" here too and again the usual adult price is £12

Southern League Division 1 Central

Hadley v Hertford Town @3pm - things were looking pretty worrying for the hosts as their early-season form was poor. However, they're now seven points clear of the relegation zone and have games in hand on most of those below them. Hertford are in midtable but it's tight and a play-off spot is well within their grasp. NLD Special Deal - £5 for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders and also England v Brazil ticket holders

Isthmian League South Central

Corinthian Casuals v Badshot Lea @3pm - CCs have played a big part in this year's NLD campaign. Not only were they kind enough to host myself and the media team from SWR to film our promotional video, they're also teaming up with Athletic Bilbao to promote the day here and in the Basque Country. The La Liga giants have also sent them some goodies to raffle off on the day. The club who gave rise to Corinthians in Brazil, have had a disappointing season and will hope for a bit of NLD magic against midtable opposition. Adult tickets are £12 on the gate

Sutton Common Rovers v Chipstead @3pm - there's a Surrey derby to be enjoyed at Whyteleafe's ground. Although both sides are in the bottom six, they have decent gaps between themselves and the two at the foot of the table who will go down. NLD Special Deal  - £5 for Premier League or EFL season-ticket holders. There will also be lots of extra activities for kids

Uxbridge v Guernsey @130pm -  if you need an early kick-off then head to the far west where the recently overhauled Honeycroft could be an ideal place to spend the afternoon and it's always fun to watch a bit of 'international' football. NLD Special Deal - free entry for Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders. It's also worth noting that there's a second game here in the evening as Hilltop take on Bedfont Sports in the Combined Counties League at 745pm so you will definitely be able to see two games in London on NLD

Isthmian League South East

Cray Valley PM v Hythe Town @3pm - if you're in south-east London then think about a visit to the Artic Stadium. CVPM made headlines earlier in the season when they took local EFL club Charlton Athletic to a replay in the FA Cup. Since then, their good form has continued and they're locked in an exciting title battle with Ramsgate. The visitors are ninth but have the games in hand to put them up among the frontrunners so there's plenty to play for for both. NLD Special Deal - £6 for Premier League, EFL or National League season-ticket holders or a Greenwich One Card holder. It's also 'Pie & A Pint' for £5 and there's 20% off on all merchandise

Erith & Belvedere v Horndean @3pm - five points adrift of safety, the Deres badly need a win here against midtable opposition from Hampshire. The Deans had a massive impact on the title race earlier in the week when they beat then leaders Ramsgate 1-0, allowing Cray Valley to replace them. NLD Special Deal - bring a tin for the foodbank collection and get in for £5

CCL Premier North

Rayners Lane v North Greenford United @3pm - in the ninth tier there's an enticing looking derby between the leaders and a side who made the FA Vase quarter-finals. The hosts had a commanding lead but are now only top on goal difference and, with only one going up automatically, badly need to win. As a result of their great cup run, NGU have games in hand on all of those above them so their current fifth place could conceivably become third. Tickets will be available on the gate

Hilltop v Bedfont Sports @745pm - as mentioned above, this game is worth a second mention because of its late start time. This means you can see a match pretty much anywhere else in London and have the best part of three hours to make your way to Uxbridge's ground (nearest station West Drayton) for this. As for the sides - Hilltop are notable for having their roots in the capital's Somali community and although in the bottom three, they've got lots of games in hand after also enjoying a good run in the FA Vase. Bedfont Sports are third which is as high as they're likely to get given how far ahead the leading pair are. Tickets will be available on the gate, £7 adults

CCL Premier South

AFC Croydon Athletic v Tadley Calleva @3pm - neck-and-neck in the table and sitting just outside the top five, this is a huge game in the race for a play-off place. The Rams made headlines in the summer when a consortium including Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy took over. In recent weeks, former Crystal Palace, Fulham and QPR striker Andrew Johnson has become director of football. NLD Special Deal - all adult tickets reduced to £5 and kids for free

SCEFL Premier

Erith Town v Whitstable Town @3pm - the Dockers are having a fine season. Currently fifth in the league and through to two cup finals, it's a great time to be watching the south-east London club. With only five points separating the sides in fifth and tenth, the battle for the last play-off place is intense. Whitstable are also in that group so there's a lot riding on this match. NLD Special Deal - in an effort to get a crowd of 300+, the club are offering £5 admission to Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders

CCL Division 1

British Airways v Amersham Town @3pm - there's a mouthwatering game in the 10th tier where the top two meet at Bedfont. The visitors have been out in front for ages and with a 17-point lead over BA, this could effectively be a title decider. If the hosts somehow win, then they'll have nine games left to close a 14-point gap. Tickets will be available on the gate

FC Deportivo Galicia v Oxhey Jets @3pm - just over the fence at Bedfont Sports, a club with connections to northern Spain would like to welcome you through the door. FCDG play a good brand of football and they're always one of the highest scoring teams in the division. On Saturday they take on Oxhey who sit just below them in the table. I'm assured pin badges and limited edition wristbands will be available. Tickets are usually £5 on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

Lewisham Borough v Meridian VP @3pm - the hosts ended their losing run with a fine draw against promotion rivals Staplehurst Monarchs. Still fifth, it's all to play for for the south-east London club and they'll start as favourites against a side in the bottom three. NLD Special Deal - free alcoholic or soft drink if you arrive before 230pm

MCFL Premier

Shepherds Bush v Pitshanger Dynamo @3pm - in the 11th tier there's a top-of-the-table clash at Harefield United's ground which is home to the Bushmen this season. Although the hosts are three points clear at the top, Pitshanger have three games in hand. When you look a bit further down the table, you realise there's only three points between the top four! 

KCFL Premier

Peckham Town v Cuxton 1991 @245pm - there's nothing particularly remarkable about this midtable game but as 11th-tier clubs go, Peckham are well run and you could believe you were watching at a higher level. They are also well known for having former England Lioness Mary Phillip as manager. With neighbouring Dulwich Hamlet playing away at Bognor there's a reasonable chance a few of their fans could head here. This match also provides you with an opportunity to check out the World's Smallest Stand

Surrey South Eastern Combination

Wanderers FC v Sutton High @12pm - although well down the pyramid, I'm not even certain what level this is (possibly 14th or 15th), the hosts are one of the most historic clubs in the world. Established in 1859, they were founder members of the FA and won the first two FA Cup Finals. They play very close to Peckham Town so you can definitely combine this match with theirs and then go on to Hilltop in the evening to complete a hat-trick of games

AFA Senior Cup Semi-Final

Civil Service v Old Carthusians @1pm - in the amateur game, two more of the world's most historic clubs meet in a big cup match at Kings House Sports Ground in Chiswick. The hosts have been another one of Athletic Bilbao's featured clubs this week having played them in the past. The winners will play Actonians in the final

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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, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 11-17 March 2024

Welcome to this week's TLFG.

It's been another busy few days on the Non-League Day (NLD) preparation front with things looking very positive in several areas.

On Wednesday I headed down to Corinthian Casuals in Tolworth to film some promotional material with the press team from South Western Railway (SWR) who are partnering us for the first time this year.

I'm sure you'll see bits of that appear on social media at various points over the next couple of weeks.

Probably one of the most fun things about that was a huge rail ticket they'd had been produced with 'Non-League Day 2024' printed on it.

This year's Non-League Day is now less than two weeks away

Initially it went back to head office but my wife and kids were adamant that I should bring it home so I picked it up on Friday.

With some protective cardboard wrapping around it, it was even bigger!

As I made my way to the nearest Tube station, the wind got up and I struggled to keep control - I think I even got pinned to a building by it at one stage.

Sheltering down an alleyway, I gave in and booked a taxi - it was the only way home in one piece.

The sale of our merchandise received a boost on Thursday when comedian Charlie Baker invited Paul, our merch man, onto his show on Talksport and gave it a great plug - thanks to all for that.

Get NLD merchandise in your club's colours now!

Aside from all that, I managed to get out on Tuesday night to watch Actonians.

With their normal home at Rectory Park booked up, they switched their match against Chesham United to Bedfont Sports which I think most of us in attendance prefer because it's a proper non-league ground.

Located a 10-minute walk from Hatton Cross Tube station, on the edge of Heathrow Airport, it's also pretty simple to get to if you live in the Acton, Ealing or Hammersmith area which most A's fans do.

The A's were expected to triumph after winning the away game 5-0 but the Generals were more spirited than I remember.

Although going 2-0 down fairly quickly, they kept pushing, pulled one back and it took a goal-line clearance to stop them equalising right on the stroke of half-time. 

The second half began evenly with goals exchanged to make it 3-2 to Actonians but with a number of first-choice players coming off the bench, following a bit of initial squad rotation, the goals started to flow.

Eventually it finished 6-2 with young striker Tori St Clair scoring another hat-trick - you can see her third goal which I caught from a particularly good angle on TLFG's YouTube channel.

Right that's it - I'm about to go an address SWR's board and lots of other managers about NLD on the company's weekly video call. Wish me luck!

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, National League and Women's Super League as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.

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 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 11 March

Premier League

Chelsea v Newcastle United @8pm - a late goal saw the Blues salvage a 2-2 draw in last weekend's derby with Brentford. It means the big spenders are now unbeaten in three league games but they remain stuck in the midtable doldrums. The Magpies are also having an underwhelming season after enjoying a top-four finish last year and are now just a place above Chelsea after slipping below Brighton and Wolves in recent days. Eddie Howe's side have gone four without defeat against the Stamford Bridge club and won the reverse fixture 4-1 in November. As a sign of the malaise that has set in among Chelsea fans, tickets for this match are on general sale

U21 Matches

There are also three games at this level over the course of the day. The action begins at Dartford's ground at 1pm where Charlton Athletic host QPR. If you fancy something a bit more central then Millwall take on Watford at The Den at 2pm. Finally, in the evening, Crystal Palace entertain Aston Villa at Sutton United's ground at 7pm. Tickets for all should be available on the gate and be no more than £5 

National League South

Aveley v Tonbridge Angels @745pm - just when the Millers seem to be getting firmly back into the play-off race, they go on a poor run again. Saturday's loss to Weymouth made it three without a win. However, all is not lost as they're still just a point outside the top seven. The visitors are about as midtable as it's possible to be with little chance of getting promoted or relegated. Tickets

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Tuesday 12 March

Champions League

Arsenal v Porto @8pm - the Gunners have been virtually untouchable in 2024, winning all eight of their Premier League games since late January. There has been one fly in the ointment during that time though, a 1-0 loss in the first leg of this Champions League knockout tie last month. The visitors are currently third in the Portuguese league and are on a four-game unbeaten run which saw them thrash old rivals Benfica 5-0 at the beginning of the month. Tickets are only available to members 

League One

Leyton Orient v Port Vale @745pm - a fantastic run of results made it look like the O's were heading for the top six but back-to-back defeats to Bristol Rovers and Wigan Athletic have left them seven  points adrift. The visitors are second from bottom and in poor form so should be beaten. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham @745pm - there's a really important game at Plough Lane where the teams in seventh and sixth do battle over the last play-off place. With the Gills based in Kent, pretty much every game against London opposition is a derby for them so they should travel in reasonable numbers. Having taking seven points from three games, the Dons come into this in good form. Tickets

National League

Barnet v Eastleigh @745pm - having lost their big FA Trophy match to Bromley on Saturday, the Bees can now refocus on getting promoted. Currently second and a whopping 20 points behind leaders Chesterfield, the runners-up spot is the best they or anyone else can hope for. Hampshire club Eastleigh recently took on former Southampton player Kelvin Davis as manager as they look to make sure of staying in the division. Tickets

Wealdstone v Bromley @745pm - there's an all-London affair at Grosvenor Vale where teams with very contrasting fortunes go head-to-head. The Stones were going along nicely in midtable until manager Stuart Maynard got headhunted by Notts County. After a reasonable start, new boss David Noble has found things a struggle and they're now only two points above the relegation zone. The Ravens, on the other hand, are flying. Third in the league and through to the FA Trophy semi-finals, they'll start as strong favourites here. Tickets

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Welling United @745pm - the hosts went on a lengthy unbeaten run through the autumn and winter which turned them into title contenders but then their form dipped and they fell away. Wonderfully for them, it seems to have come back and Saturday's win over Chippenham put them back in the top four. The Wings are a proper Lazarus story. Seemingly destined for relegation, Rod Stringer came in at the end of January and has pulled off a number of fantastic results including a 1-0 triumph at leaders Yeovil Town at the weekend. Now three points clear of the bottom four, they've still got work to do but they have a fighting chance. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Hanwell Town v Plymouth Parkway @745pm - although it might not immediately look like it, this is kind of a relegation six-pointer. The Geordies are currently six points clear of the visitors, who are the team at the top of the drop zone but the Devon club have SEVEN games in hand on most of the clubs above them, nine in one case. If they just win a couple of them, then they're back where they need to be and Hanwell and the teams below them are back in real trouble. Tickets

Isthminan League North

Walthamstow v Heybridge Swifts @745pm - both in the top eight and locked together on 45 points, these sides need to make up a gap of seven points to get into the play-off places. A win for either would keep them in the hunt but a defeat could effectively end their hopes. Tickets will be available on the gate for £10

SCEFL Premier

Erith Town v Snodland Town @745pm - the Dockers have gone a bit under my radar over the last couple of months but they're very much back on it thanks to a five game winning run which has lifted them back into the top five. With games in hand on most of those above them, they've got an outside shot at the title although Deal Town have even more games in hand than them. Snodland won the Division 1 title last season and have a chance of breaking into the top five themselves so there's plenty to play for here. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Wednesday 13 March

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Wanderers v Potters Bar Town @745pm - the highest level match of the night is this one at Bromley's ground. Cray are London's oldest club and have successfully banished any fears of relegation with an eight game unbeaten run which came to an end against Whitehawk in their last match. PBT are six points behind them but have games in hand so this could be close. Tickets

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Little Oakley @745pm - the hosts are leading the charge for London-based clubs in this division. Currently second on level points with Romford, who now play outside the capital, catching leaders Tilbury looks unlikely. If they are to win the title, they'll probably need to win all nine of their remaining games so they can't slip up here against midtable opposition. Tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Southern Premier

Hashtag United v Billericay Town @745pm - there are some really key games on the women's side of things on Wednesday. The Tags have had a brilliant debut season in the third tier but it looks as if they will come up short and miss out on a second consecutive promotion. Currently second, if they beat bottom-four club Billericay, they'll end the day six points behind leaders Portsmouth with five games to go. Tickets will be available on the gate

London Bees v Chatham Town @745pm - two go down from this division and these are the sides currently filling those positions. To be fair, they've been there pretty much all season, neither team have won a game and they will both go down whatever happens here. What we do know for sure though is that London Bees will get relegated if they lose this. Tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Division 1 South East

AFC Wimbledon v Haywards Heath Town @745pm - it's looking increasingly likely that the Dons will be the side coming up to replace them. With title rivals Norwich City only managing a 1-1 draw with Worthing on Sunday, Wimbledon will go eight points clear if they beat bottom club HHT. This is being played at Carshalton Athletic and tickets will be available on the gate

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Thursday 14 March

Europa League

West Ham United v Freiburg @545pm - after fighting back from 2-0 down to draw with Burnley on Sunday, David Moyes' side will head into this tie in better spirits than looked likely. Weirdly, West Ham played German club Freiburg in the group stage so it's strange to see them paired with them again in this knockout tie. The Hammers lost the first leg 1-0 so this is very delicately poised. Tickets

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Friday 15 March

Women's Super League

Chelsea v Arsenal @7pm - games don't come much bigger than this and consequently it's being played at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have seemingly won everything for years and with boss Emma Hayes off at the end of the season, they could still win the quadruple. They are top coming into this but only on goal difference from Manchester City. If they lose to the Gunners, as they did in the reverse fixture, then all three teams will go level on points to set up an even more thrilling title race with six games to go. Tickets

Premier League 2

Chelsea v Nottingham Forest @7pm - the Blues men's U21 team are also in action on Friday night. Being played at Kingsmeadow, the hosts will move into the top four if they win. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Saturday 16 March

Premier League

Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur @530pm - the only top-flight match on Saturday takes place in the early evening at Craven Cottage. Spurs have totally dominated the recent history of this derby, currently unbeaten in 11 against the west London club. In fact Fulham's record against Tottenham at home is worse than it is in N17 with their last win coming way back in 2011 when they thrashed them 4-0 in an FA Cup match.You have to go back to 2008 for their last league win at the Cottage. With Ange Postecoglu's side recording a hugely impressive 4-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend, they look highly likely to extend that unbeaten record. Tickets are only available to members

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Newport County @3pm - there are slim pickings in the Premier League and there's even less in the EFL with this match at Plough Lane being your only option. The Dons beat Gillingham on Tuesday to break back into the play-off zone. Welsh club Newport enjoyed a thrilling 5-3 win over one of Wimbledon's promotion rivals Morecambe on Tuesday and are now five points off a top-seven place. Tickets

National League

Bromley v Kidderminster Harriers @3pm - there are three games in the fifth tier but this one shades it for me. In this division, the teams who finish second and third get a bye through the first round of play-off games. The Ravens are currently third but Solihull Moors could jump above them if they don't win here. Kidderminster are fighting the drop but they're much improved under former Hull City boss Phil Brown. The sides drew 0-0 when they last met. Tickets

National League South

Dartford v Maidstone United @3pm - in the sixth tier, this all-Kent affair should generate a decent crowd at the well-appointed Princes Park. After finishing second last season, the Darts are having a shocker in 2023/24. Defeat on Tuesday saw them slip into the relegation zone and this game should be tough again. Maidstone famously beat Ipswich Town in the FA Cup in January and beat second placed Chelmsford in midweek. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Hornchurch v Billericay Town @3pm - there are some great options in the seventh tier ILP. First up at Bridge Avenue, the leaders welcome fourth placed Ricay who make the short journey from Essex. The Urchins are nine points clear with three games in hand over nearest rivals Chatham Town so they're going to take some stopping. With four points separating the clubs in third to seventh, the play-off race is looking far more interesting. Tickets

Enfield Town v Horsham @3pm - in the far north of the city, two of those play-off contenders meet at Donkey Lane. The Towners have been doing London proud in the FENIX Trophy this season and picked up a fine 4-1 win over BK Skjold in Denmark last week. They followed it up with a league win over Lewes which kept them in the hunt for a top-five spot. The Hornets are currently fifth and made headlines earlier in the season when they took League One club Barnsley to a replay in the FA Cup. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central

Raynes Park Vale v Southall @3pm - in the eighth tier, Grand Drive would appear to be the place to be where two of the top five look to strengthen their grip on a play-off place. I'm pretty sure both of these sides were top at one point this season but with current leaders Chertsey Town now well clear of them with nine games to go, neither are likely to get back there. RPV's place in the top five is looking far more perilous than that of the 'All and they need the win more as a result. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Premier

Erith Town v Faversham Town @3pm - after seeing their midweek match against Snodland postponed, you've got another chance to see the Dockers on Saturday. Still fifth, despite the postponement, they take on former leaders Faversham who are just above them in the table. The London club won the reverse fixture 4-3 back in November, let's hope for some more of the same. Tickets will be available on the gate 

SCEFL Division 1

Lewisham Borough v Staplehurst Monarchs @3pm - the hosts' form has nosedived at a terrible point in the season. Pushing AFC Whyteleafe for the title at one stage, they've now lost four on the bounce and have slipped to fifth. Teams like FC Elmstead and Canterbury City are just a win away from knocking them out of the play-off places so this match against the team in second is very important and incredibly tough. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Sunday 17 March

FA Cup Quarter-Final

Chelsea v Leicester City @1245pm - we're down to the last eight in the FA Cup and the Blues are the only London club left in the competition. This will be the first time they've played the Foxes in this competition since they lost to them 1-0 in the 2021 final. Things have a changed a lot for both sides since then, with Chelsea no longer the top-four power they once were and Leicester in the Championship. Although the visitors are top of the second tier, their form has been iffy of late and if they were to win, it would still represent a big upset. Tickets are only available to members

Premier League

West Ham United v Aston Villa @2pm - both these sides enjoyed resounding wins in European games on Thursday with the Hammers smashing five past Freiburg and Villa four against Ajax as English clubs enjoyed a great night. Both sides are also in the top eight in the Premier League and yet the jury is still out for many fans on whether David Moyes is the right man to take West Ham forward - something which boggles the mind of supporters of pretty much every other club. Villa have been playing some great stuff under Unai Emery and are fourth at the time of writing. However, they got thrashed 4-0 by Spurs in their last league game and will want to avoid that happening again at all costs. Tickets

Women's Super League

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @2pm - Spurs caused the upset of the round in last weekend's FA Cup games, beating Manchester City on penalties to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history. They've since drawn Leicester in that last-four tie and will enjoy a dress rehearsal for that big game here. That's not to say this isn't important too. Tottenham have broken into the top six this season but a poor run of four without a win means the Foxes will go above them if they win. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Tickets should be available on arrival

Women's Championship

London City Lionesses v Sunderland @2pm - LCL gave their hopes of staying up a boost by winning at Reading in their last game. Still only three points above the relegation zone, they've got a lot of work still to do. The Mackems are having their turn at the top of what is incredibly tight table with only four points separating the top four, two of whom have games in hand on the leaders. In essence, both sides really need to win! This is being played at Dartford. Tickets

Capital Senior Cup Semi-Final

Haringey Borough v Actonians @2pm - playing in the fifth tier, the hosts are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and they did superbly well to beat an academy side from near neighbours Spurs in the last round. The A's also claimed the scalp of a big local rival in Fulham to set up this tie. Although Haringey play a level below Actonians, they're second and clearly a decent side. Tickets will be available on the gate

Capital Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v London Seaward @2pm - if you can't get to north London, then this much postponed match near Heathrow could be for you. Having seen this held up by bad weather, these two fourth-tier sides will look to finally sort out who will make the last four. The hosts are above Seaward in the table so should start as favourites. The winners will play AFC Wimbledon in the semis. Tickets will be available on the gate

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, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

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

TLFG: 4-10 March 2024

Welcome to TLFG for the first full week of March - spring is finally here, well at least it's been quite sunny today.

It's been another busy few days on the Non-League Day (NLD) preparation front with things looking very positive in several areas.

Our showpiece game, which several of our partners will be focusing on, looks like being the National League fixture between Eastleigh and Hartlepool United down near Southampton.

It's one of 10 games around the country which our charity partners Prostate Cancer UK will be having a presence at.

This year's Non-League Day is now less than three weeks away

As anyone browsing the NLD website may have noticed this week, a major corporate partner has appeared on our website for the first time.

The press team at South Western Railway (SWR), my employer, contacted me about a month ago saying how the company wanted to get involved.

Having had a couple of meetings, their plans are pretty exciting with a decent amount of resource being thrown behind the campaign in a way I could only dream of.

A few things have still to be signed off so I won't go into further details but their big launch will be on 11 March.

As part of the preparations, I'm off Corinthian Casuals on Wednesday to record a short promotional film as part of the SWR build-up.

We picked them as they're on the train company's network and the line passes right next to the ground offering a great photographic opportunity.

Anyway, that's all for the future.

Earlier today, Sunday, I went to the Emirates with TLFG reader Liam B to watch the derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the WSL.

Despite being a regular watcher of women's football, I'd never been to a top-flight game before so with a seat on the Clock End going for £15 I couldn't say no.

We travelled up on the Piccadilly Line from Hammersmith and ended up missing the first 10 minutes.

So many people were using Arsenal station that trains were backed up all the way to Holborn where we sat for several minutes. 

Whilst waiting at Caledonian Road, we were told the two trains in front of us hadn't even been allowed to stop at Arsenal because the crowds were too large.

Thankfully ours was but the queues to actually get into the sold out game were immense so that slowed us down even more.

It was my first visit to the Emirates for a match since 2012 when I went in the away end to watch QPR lose 1-0 in a Premier League game.

The match itself wasn't exactly thrilling as underdogs Spurs set up to defend and did a pretty good job, making it to half-time without conceding a goal.

Liam and I (left) at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday

Sadly for them, Alessio Russo found a way through soon after the break and that was about it - I can't remember either keeper having to make any stunning saves at any point.

The overall experience is so different to a men's game, the atmosphere is much flatter than a men's North London Derby but far less threatening with fans of both teams sitting together - we had a couple next to us who were supporting opposing teams but there were no issues whatsoever.

The seats we had were superb - in the upper tier directly behind the goal.

For £15 the view was fantastic, the legroom was great and the seat was padded - the same seat for the men's game against Tottenham is about £100!

The rest of the afternoon saw us pop into a local mosque, grab a coffee and walk a circuit of Finsbury Park and finish with a meal in a Uyghur restaurant which went down very well indeed.

Aside from the continuing NLD preparations, I'm hoping to get down to Bedfont Sports on Tuesday night to see Actonians play Chesham United in their next Women's National League game.

Lastly, if you want to help the NLD cause, check out our full range of merchandise which can be customised to your club's colours, an example of which can be found below:

Get NLD merchandise in your club's colours now!

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we've got matches in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, FA Vase and Women's FA Cup as well as all the other non-league and women's competitions which our local clubs compete in.

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.

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Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - 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 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 4 March

National League South

Aveley v Yeovil Town @745pm - the Millers are having a very tough few days. On Saturday they played second placed Chelmsford City and lost 2-0 to fall out of the play-off places. Just over 48 hours later they're back in action against the leaders. The Glovers were a Championship side as recently as 2014 so it's fair to say the last 10 years have been pretty traumatic for them. However, it looks like the sixth tier is as far as they're going to fall as they've dominated for large parts of this campaign. Tickets

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Tuesday 5 March

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Grimsby Town @745pm - there were wild scenes at Plough Lane on Saturday when a last-minute goal saw Wimbledon beat their bitter rivals MK Dons for the first time since 2017. The result lifted Johnnie Jackson's side into the top 10, four points shy of the play-off places. On Tuesday, they have a great chance to pick up some more points as the visitors are in the bottom four. Tickets

Professional Development League

QPR v Millwall @7pm - most U21 games don't mean a huge amount but this one has quite a bit riding on it. The Lions were crowned PDL champions last season and look very well placed to do it again as they went back to the top of Group South last week. They replaced the R's at the summit so this is a top-two clash. Being played at Hanwell Town, tickets are £5 on the gate

National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Eastbourne Borough @745pm - the Beavers kept their place in the top seven despite seeing their game at St Albans City postponed. On Tuesday they face an Eastbourne side who are fighting to avoid the drop. Of the sides in the bottom four, they're in the best form but that's not saying much. Tickets

London Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Charlton Athletic U23 v Barking @745pm - with wins over Cockfosters and Welling United in the opening two rounds, the Addicks' development team are through to the last eight of this county cup. With AFC Wimbledon, Brentford, Leyton Orient and QPR already out, Charlton are the only pro club with a squad left in the competition. Barking are among the frontrunners in the Essex Senior League and claimed the scalp of Orient in the opening round so this could be close. This match is being played at Dartford - tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Premier North

North Greenford United v Rayners Lane @745pm - with virtually the whole programme of games washed out in this division on Saturday, there wasn't much change in the table. Both of these local rivals are having a fine season. NGU are fifth but because of their great run in the FA Vase (they play in the quarter-finals on Saturday), they have games in hand on all of those above them. Rayners Lane are top but only by virtue of having a slightly better goal difference than Flackwell Heath. It's a big game and hopefully the pitch will be ok. Tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Division 1

British Airways v Berks County @745pm - with leaders Amersham Town 15 points clear at the top, the battle to see who finishes second looks far more interesting. As it stands, these two are second and third with just a point between them. This match is being played at Bedfont and tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Actonians v Chesham United @745pm - literally just over the fence at Bedfont Sports, we've got this fourth-tier women's match. With their usual home at Rectory Park presumably booked up, the A's have moved this game to the Heathrow area. Actonians have been a club in transition this season after seeing Danny Harrigan, their most successful ever manager, move on in the summer. After a rocky start to the current campaign, new boss Kieran Beesley has steadied the ship and a top-six finish is a very realistic goal. Chesham are in the bottom four and lost the reverse fixture 5-0 back in September. Tickets will be available on the gate for £5

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Wednesday 6 March

Championship

QPR v West Bromwich Albion @8pm - the R's recorded one of the results of the weekend by beating leaders Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium. It extended their winning run to three games and kept them out of the relegation zone. However, it was generally a good weekend for all the strugglers so only goal difference is keeping them out of the bottom three. The Baggies are another one of the division's top clubs and they've only beaten them twice in the last 10 attempts so it looks like being a challenging evening at Loftus Road. Tickets

Watford v Swansea City @745pm - with the form of teams towards the bottom improving significantly, teams in midtable are starting to look over their shoulders with some anxiety. Although 15th, Swansea are now only four points above the relegation zone and even the Hornets in 12th are now much closer to the drop zone than the play-off places. Watford won 1-0 when they last played in October. Tickets

Women's League Cup Semi-Final

Arsenal v Aston Villa @715pm - after beating Spurs in the WSL at the Emirates on Sunday, the Gunners head back to Boreham Wood to continue the defence of the trophy they won last season. With the top two of Manchester City and Chelsea meeting in the other tie, it's far to say Arsenal got the best draw they could have. Villa have been really inconsistent this season and got stuffed 4-1 at home by Liverpool on Sunday - a home win looks highly likely. Tickets

SCEFL Division 1

Lewisham Borough v Croydon @745pm - the best non-league option of the night, for me, is this 10th-tier match between clubs from neighbouring boroughs in south London. Now four without a win, the hosts' title hopes seem to be over but a play-off place is very much there for the taking. The Trams are in eighth but are still 10 points adrift of the top five so to have any chance of going up, they must win games like this. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Thursday 7 March

Youth & Development matches

Thursday is, once again, all about the youngsters. The highest level matches are a trio of U23 games at Abbey Rangers, Erith Town and Molesey

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Friday 8 March

Premier League 2

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @7pm - there are a couple of games in this U21 competition on Friday but this one clearly stands out. Currently third and first respectively, it should be a great game. It's being played at Boreham Wood but, at the time of writing, I'm unaware of any admission details so check the club's website as the week progresses. Elsewhere, West Ham are playing Fulham at Rush Green

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Saturday 9 March

Premier League

Crystal Palace v Luton Town @3pm - with four points from their last three games, Palace have moved eight points clear of the relegation zone but they still probably need another three or four wins to make sure of staying up. Despite being a club in the bottom three, a match against the Hatters always seems to be a tricky one. They give it their all against whoever they play and only tend to lose games when they run out of steam in the closing stages. Worryingly for the hosts, Luton didn't tire enough in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road and won 2-1. Tickets are only available to members

Arsenal v Brentford @530pm - in the day's late game we've got a derby at the Emirates. The Bees famously beat the Gunners in one of their first ever Premier League games back in 2021 but have failed to win any of the five matches between them since. Mikel Arteta's side are third in the league and top of the form table after winning seven games in a row, scoring a staggering 31 goals in the process! Brentford's star striker Ivan Toney has been regularly linked with a move to north London so he should be looking to impress. Tickets are only available to members

Championship

Millwall v Birmingham City @3pm - all our local second-tier teams are at home on Saturday with this big relegation six-pointer topping the bill. With struggling clubs like QPR and Sheffield Wednesday really hitting form at this crucial point of the season, sides like Millwall and Birmingham have been pulled right back into the relegation dog fight. Only six points separate the teams in 14th-23rd so who will go down, other than Rotherham, is anyone's guess! Tickets

QPR v Middlesbrough @3pm - the R's have a had a good few days, winning 2-1 at league leaders Leicester on Saturday and coming from behind to draw 2-2 with West Brom on Wednesday, picking up four points from two games many would've predicted them to lose. Boro have lost three of their last five to put a big dent in their play-off hopes. The hosts won 2-0 at the Riverside earlier in the season and they should be confident of getting at least another point here. Tickets

Watford v Coventry City @3pm - the Hornets sit 13th just below Boro in the table and are actually significantly closer to the relegation zone than the top six. In recent months, their target was definitely promotion, but now avoiding the drop has become the most immediate priority. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Carlisle United @3pm - after dropping like stones under former manager Michael Appleton, new boss Nathan Jones has steadied the ship. Losing only one of the seven games he's presided over, they've moved up to 14th and are seven points clear of the relegation zone. Carlisle are bottom and seemed doomed to go down, so there should be some more points for the Addicks. Tickets

League Two

Sutton United v Grimsby Town @3pm - despite netting four points from three games, the U's are still bottom and six points adrift of safety. If they're to have any chance of staying up, they simply have to win this game against another one of the bottom four. Tickets

FA Trophy Quarter-Finals

This national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers, which has its final at Wembley, is down to its last eight. We're lucky enough to have two of the four ties in the capital:

Bromley v Barnet @3pm - these two London clubs are third and second respectively in the fifth tier so it's the biggest tie of the round by far. Only two points separate them in the league and their recent FA Trophy pedigree is impressive with the Ravens winning it in 2022 and the Bees making it to the semi-finals last year. The visitors are unbeaten in three against Bromley and won 2-0 at Hayes Lane in August which makes them marginal favourites in my book. Tickets

Wealdstone v Solihull Moors @3pm - things were starting to look worrying for the Stones but four points from two games has made sure they've stayed outside the relegation zone. Solihull, on the other hand, are fourth and pushing for promotion so it looks tough for the hosts who last won the Trophy in 1985. Tickets

FA Vase Quarter-Final

This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and 10th tiers, which has its final at Wembley, is down to its last eight. We've got one of the four ties in the capital:

North Greenford United v Romford @3pm - if I wasn't working then this is probably where I'd be spending my Saturday afternoon. NGU are having a great season, pushing for a play-off place in the CCL Premier North and 90 minutes away from a place in the Vase semis. They've gone a whole three rounds further in the competition than they ever have before and impressively won at Essex Senior League leaders Tilbury in the last round. Next up they face another side from the ESL who've also never been this far before. Currently second to Tilbury, they should pose a very similar challenge to the one offered by the Dockers in the last round. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Sunday 10 March

Premier League

West Ham United v Burnley @2pm - David Moyes' tenure as Hammers manager looked like it was coming to an end but the board stuck with him and they enjoyed back-to-back wins over Brentford and Everton. However, this was followed by a 1-0 loss to Freiburg in Germany in the first leg of their Europa League tie on Thursday. The doubters at the London Stadium are still many in number and nothing less than a win against relegation certainties Burnley will do. Tickets

Women's FA Cup Quarter-Final

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City @3pm - featuring two of the WSL's top six, this would appear to be the tie of the round. Unlike the men's side, Spurs women have very little pedigree in this competition with investment into the side being a relatively new thing. Having already lost to them in the WSL and League Cup, City were probably the last team Robert Vilahamn's side wanted to see come out of the hat. However, after defending well against Arsenal at the Emirates and only losing 1-0, they should be able to give the visitors, who played in midweek, a good game. This is being played at Leyton Orient. Tickets should be available on arrival

Women's Championship

Crystal Palace v Sheffield United @12pm - the Eagles are second but only on goal difference from Southampton and local rivals Charlton Athletic. They have two games in hand on leaders Sunderland who are four points clear. The Blades are eighth and still need some wins to guarantee staying up. This match is notable for being played at Selhurst Park. Tickets

FAWNL Division 1 South East

QPR v Cambridge United @2pm - why not celebrate Mothers' Day at Loftus Road where the R's are throwing open the turnstiles and letting everyone in for free. The match itself should be closely contested with the sides three points apart in the top six

Normally I would write more previews for the weekend's games but I've simply run out of time - apologies

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If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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