TLFG: 27 August - 1 September 2024

The bank holiday weekend is over and by the end of this week, we'll be into September - where did the summer go?!

So how has your week been? Did you do a double on Monday?

Since an enjoyable trip to St Neots last Sunday, I've endured a barren spell as I've worked pretty constantly since then.

Overall, my teams had a pretty decent weekend.

Harrow Borough impressed the most.

After the disappointment of losing their FA Cup replay at Ashford United on Tuesday, they recovered to beat Guernsey 3-0 in the Channel Islands before a fine derby win over Uxbridge by the same scoreline on Monday.

Two Premier League sides meet in the EFL Cup on Wednesday - tickets 

This means they've won all three of their league games and are now joint top - long may it continue.

Actonians followed up their hard-fought 1-0 win at Cambridge United last weekend, with another 1-0 victory over Chatham Town on Sunday.

The Chats have just come down from the third tier and asked plenty of questions of the A's defence with German goalkeeper Elisa Dogor pulling off a number of spectacular saves before Dior Knorr scored again late-on to earn the win.

Lastly, QPR took an early lead against Plymouth Argyle but saw them equalise shortly before the half hour.

 

However, a minute later, the Devon club were reduced to 10-men as they were at Loftus Road last season.

Annoyingly they repeated the feat of keeping us out, as they did in December, but on this occasion they finished with nine players as another saw red in the final minute and it ended 1-1.

This week the R's have back-to-back games against old rivals Luton Town - at home in the EFL Cup on Tuesday and then away in the Championship on Friday.

Hopefully I'll be at Actonians' cup match against London Bees on Thursday, maybe Harrow Borough's game at Metropolitan Police on Saturday AND Actonians' game at AFC Sudbury on Sunday.

I say hope as a family schedule makes seeing so many games in such a short time close to miraculous but I'm pretty confident - wish me luck!

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include action in the Premier League, EFL, National League and the next rounds of the FA Cup and EFL Cup too.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

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.

Tuesday 27 August

EFL Cup Second Round

Crystal Palace v Norwich City @8pm - all the Premier League clubs, bar the ones in European competition, enter the draw at this stage. The Eagles have made it to the last four numerous times but have never made it to the final. The Canaries, on the other hand, have made it four times, winning the EFL Cup twice although the last appearance was in 1985. Palace are the sort of side that should give this a good go but who knows whether they'll bother. The best thing about these early ties is that they often give non-members a good chance of getting a ticket to watch a game at a top-flight stadium which is usually off limits. Tickets

Millwall v Leyton Orient @745pm - there's a derby at The Den between two of London's most out-of-form clubs. The Lions have only managed one point from their first three games in the Championship whilst the O's have lost all three of theirs at the level below. Both could do with a win to lift morale! Tickets

QPR v Luton Town @745pm - talking of clubs who could do with a win, these two Championship sides are also struggling. The R's contrived to squander an early lead before only drawing 1-1 with the nine men of Plymouth on Saturday. Following their relegation from the Premier League, the Hatters are doing even worse and find themselves in the relegation zone coming into this. Both sides have made two finals and have one title each. By a quirk of fate, the two will also meet on Friday night at Kenilworth Road in the league. Tickets

Watford v Plymouth Argyle @745pm - the Hornets have got off to a flyer, winning all four of their opening games in the league and cup which should make them strong favourites here. Wayne Rooney's side did really well to draw at QPR on Saturday but are still searching for their first league win. Tickets

Professional Development League

There are also a couple of U21 games on Tuesday. If you want to see two games today, then head to The Valley at 2pm where Charlton Athletic take on Hull City (tickets). In the evening, QPR are set to play Wigan Athletic at Hayes & Yeading United but that venue is still in some doubt so check on the day for the latest

CCL Premier North

Egham Town v Bedfont Sports @745pm - the highest level non-league match of the day takes place on the far west of TLFG's catchment area where two of the top 10 go head-to-head in this ninth-tier division. Last season, this match ended in a 1-1 draw and it could well go the same way again. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

Clapton CFC v SOUL Tower Hamlets @745pm - in the 10th tier there should be a decent turnout for this east London derby at the capital's oldest ground. Both sides were a little controversially transferred from the Eastern Counties League at the end of last season and now have to spend most of their away days in Kent and south-east London despite coming from north of the river. With only one defeat between them so far in 2024/25, it could be a cracker. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Wednesday 28 August

EFL Cup Second Round

West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth @745pm - there's an all-Premier League tie at London Stadium on Wednesday. The Hammers are a side I'd expect to have some kind of pedigree in this competition but despite two final appearances, they've never won it and it's been over 40 years since they went close. The Cherries' record is even less impressive. Unbeaten in five against the Dorset club, the hosts start as favourites for me. Tickets

AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town @745pm - in south London, the Dons welcome Premier League opponents to Plough Lane for what could be a really entertaining encounter. With top-flight survival the top priority for the Tractor Boys, they could well rest a few players for this and give the League Two side a fighting chance. Tickets

Premier League International Cup

Chelsea v RB Leipzig @7pm - this entertaining U21 competition returns for 2024/25 with this eye-catching match-up at Kingsmeadow. In a nutshell, 24 teams from England and the rest of Europe are invited to take part and all matches are played in England - often at clubs' training grounds. After a group stage, it becomes a knockout competition. Crystal Palace and PSV Eindhoven have made the last two finals, with each winning one. Since it began 10 years ago, Chelsea have made the semi-finals once so will want to improve on that this year. I'm not sure Leipzig have entered before but they've never made the closing stages. Tickets are cheap and available online

CCL Division 1

Westside v Colliers Wood United @730pm - my non-league pick of the night is this groundshare derby at Wibbandune. Tenants Westside have made a solid start and are eighth after five games. CWU suffered relegation from the ninth tier last season and are still searching for their first win in this division. Tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Cup Determining Round

QPR v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - if you'd like some women's football instead then we've got this derby. These two were in the same division last year but the Dons won it to move up to the third tier so, on paper, they should start as favourites. So what is the 'Determining Round'? Well it decides who goes on to play in the FAWNL Cup and who contests the lesser FAWNL Plate. The winners of each tie go into the former and the losers the latter. With fourth-tier clubs having very little chance of winning the Cup, it's not really in their interests to win in this round so for some it becomes little more than a great chance for squad rotation. If you do want to go, check the venue before you travel as there's still some doubt as to whether Hayes & Yeading United's ground will be ready. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Thursday 29 August

FAWNL Cup Determining Round

Actonians v London Bees @745pm - after beating Chatham Town 1-0 on Sunday, the A's confidence should be high as they prepare to play the other side who were relegated from the third tier last season. Bees, under new boss, Dan McKimm have drawn one and lost one coming into this but faced tough opposition in both games. Both sides should want to win to build momentum but an absolute hammering could await them in the next round if they do end up with one of the big clubs. This is being played at the Middlesex FA's HQ at Rectory Park in Northolt. Tickets are available online or it's £5 cash only on the night. UPDATE (27/08) - this match has now been switched to The Hive complex

London Seaward v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - after winning 1-0 at Seaward on Sunday in the league, the Hamlet travel east again four days later for this. The visitors are new to the fourth tier after their promotion so I think this is probably the first time they've taken part. This is being played at Redbridge's ground next to Barkingside Tube station. Tickets will be available on the gate for £6

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Friday 30th August

Premier League 2

A number of high profile U21 games top the bill on Friday. Fulham get things underway at 3pm when they host Leicester City at Motspur Park. At 7pm, Arsenal entertain Aston Villa at Boreham Wood whilst West Ham United play Norwich City at Rush Green. Admission prices vary but never exceed £5 - check the clubs' websites for the latest

FA Cup First Round Qualifying

Hanworth Villa v Walton & Hersham @745pm - the most meaningful game of the day, however, takes place at Rectory Meadow where neutrals will be hoping for an upset. Eighth tier Hanworth are in the top half of the Isthmian League South Central and thrashed local rivals Ashford Town 4-1 on Monday. In the previous two rounds, they've scored a total of eight against two CCL clubs but the Swans represent a big step up in class. The seventh-tier side remained among the leaders in the Southern League Premier South after an epic 3-2 derby win over Chertsey on Monday in front of nearly 1,200 fans. Tickets are £11 on the gate

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Saturday 31 August

Premier League

Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @1230pm - arguably the game of the week in London, two of the sides with 100% records meet at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime. The Gunners have gone close to winning the title for the last two years, as we all know, and will almost certainly challenge again. The Seagulls have impressed greatly since joining the top flight in 2017 but many wondered how they'd fare without Roberto De Zerbi. Its early days but it appears that they're go to do just fine following the appointment of 31-year-old German boss Fabian Hurzeler who took St Pauli back into the Bundesliga last season. Tickets are only available to members whilst hospitality packages are available from £595

Brentford v Southampton @3pm - although too early to call this a relegation six-pointer, as two of the division's smaller clubs, both will see this as one where they need to be getting some points. The Bees have dominated in recent years, winning four of the five matches played since 2020 and I have to favour them here too. Tickets are only available to members. Enquire about hospitality packages

West Ham United v Manchester City @530pm - after losing their opening game to Aston Villa, the Hammers have responded well with back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace in the league and AFC Bournemouth in the League Cup. The visit of champions Manchester City presents a much greater challenge. Unsurprisingly, Pep Guardiola's team have won their opening two matches and are top already. Although West Ham have managed the odd draw against City, their winless streak against them in all competitions now stands at 19 games and they'll do really well to end it here. Tickets are available via the club's re-sale site

Championship

Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - aside from a point on the road at Hull City, the Lions have made a troubling start to the campaign. Questions must already be being asked about manager Neil Harris who was primarily brought in at the end of last season to keep them up, something he succeeded in doing. To add to the unease, they suffered the ignominy of defeat at home to League One strugglers Leyton Orient in the cup on Tuesday. The Owls looked like worldbeaters when they thrashed Plymouth in their first match but they've lost their following two league games and will end up below Millwall if they lose this. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Fleetwood Town @3pm - the Dons made the headlines in midweek for beating Premier League club Ipswich Town on penalties in the League Cup. They've been rewarded with an even more juicy tie in the next round, with Newcastle United coming to visit. Their top priority now is to stay focused and get their minds back into the bread-and-butter stuff of fourth-tier football. With two wins from three, they've made a solid enough start but Lancashire club Fleetwood are just a point behind. Tickets

Bromley v Crewe Alexandra @3pm - the newly promoted Ravens have made a very satisfactory start to life in League Two, winning two of their first three games. Ahead of Wimbledon on goal difference, they're currently occupying the last play-off place. Their 3-1 loss at Bradford last weekend quelled any thoughts of this being a cakewalk for them but they should fancy their chances here as Crewe are yet to win. Tickets

National League

Sutton United v Forest Green Rovers @530pm - the match of the day in the fifth tier sees the two sides relegated from the EFL meet at Gander Green Lane. Only a point apart, both come into this game in the top six. The last match between them in March saw Sutton win 1-0 at the New Lawn. This match has also been selected for TV meaning that you should be able to do a 'double' and combine it with the FA Cup tie at nearby Carshalton Athletic

National League South

Boreham Wood v Maidstone United @3pm - in the sixth tier, the Wood have made a decent start after their relegation from the National League. Fifth after five games, they're firmly in contention as we move into the second month of the season. Maidstone, a far bigger club from Kent, made the play-offs last season and enjoyed a famous run in the FA Cup but they've yet to get going in 2024/25 and could really do with a win. Tickets

FA Cup First Round Qualifying

The next round of the nation's favourite knockout competition takes place this weekend. At this stage, all the clubs in the seventh tier enter draw alongside the eighth and ninth-tier survivors from the previous two rounds. The winners of each tie receive £2,250 and the losers £750. There are numerous ties around London, here are my pick:

Dulwich Hamlet v Leatherhead @3pm - if you want a big crowd, then the biggest will almost certainly be found at Champion Hill where the Hamlet will look to improve on their surprisingly poor FA Cup record. With only one appearance in the First Round proper since 1998, the south London club should start as favourites against a side who play a level below them. The Tanners have a relatively illustrious history in this competition, famously making it all the way to the Fourth Round in 1975 and a match with Leicester City. Their last good run came in 2017 when they made it to the Second Round before losing 3-1 to Wycombe Wanderers. Tickets

Harefield United v Lewes @3pm - the David v Goliath tie of the round takes place in the Middlesex village of Harefield. Since entering the cup for the first time in 1979, the Hare have never made it beyond the qualifying rounds and they'll do amazingly well to make it this time. The Rooks arrive at Preston Park top of the Isthmian League with a 100% record after five games and are effectively the toughest team they could've drawn. Tickets

Athletic Newham v Amersham Town @3pm - two of the lowest-ranked sides left in the competition meet in east London, meaning we'll definitely have a ninth-tier side in the next round. Coming into existence in 2020 when Lopes Tavares renamed themselves, the hosts' wins over Chipstead and Lancing means this is already their best performance in the FA Cup. Going really well in the Essex Senior League too, they'll be full of confidence. Amersham, however, are also a top-three side in the parallel CCL Premier North and look to be continuing the form which saw them romp to promotion last season. A win here, would make this their best run in the cup. Tickets are £10 on the gate

Isthmian League South Central

Metropolitan Police v Harrow Borough @3pm - both these sides have already exited the FA Cup, meaning this is one of the only eighth-tier games taking place this weekend. They are, however, two of the better sides in this division. Harrow are second with only goals scored keeping them off the top. With wins over Ashford Town (with nine men), Guernsey and Uxbridge, my favourite non-league side have responded well to their first relegation in decades. The Met are in the top eight too and their ground at Imber Court is always worth a visit. Tickets are £10 on the gate and the burgers are legendary

CCL Premier North

North Greenford United v Holyport @3pm - the hosts looked to be having a great 2023/24 but their huge fixture backlog eventually caught up with them as missed out on the play-offs and bowed out of the FA Vase at the quarter-final stage. It appears they have unfinished business as they've exploded out of the blocks with five straight wins to go joint top. Holyport did make the top five last season and are in the leading group again so this was an easy pick in the ninth tier. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1

FC Elmstead v Canterbury City @3pm - in the 10th tier but I've gone for this as the hosts are the highest ranked London club in any of the leagues at this level. Currently second with 10 points from four games, the team from Chislehurst rarely get much time in the spotlight so this seems like a great opportunity. The visitors are in the top six themselves so they should provide a stern test. Tickets will be available on the gate. UPDATE - originally Sheppey Sports were to provide the opposition but Canterbury are now playing instead. Many thanks to the official at Croydon FC who tipped me off about this

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Sunday 1 September

Premier League

Chelsea v Crystal Palace @130pm - although they lost the second leg of their play-off tie with Swiss side Servette, the Blues won through to the next stage of the UEFA Conference League on aggregate. They return to league action with this derby against the Eagles. The south-east London club have made a disappointing start, losing both of their opening fixtures. Despite the chaotic state of Chelsea at the moment, they should still start as favourites. Their record against Palace is fantastic, beating them on the last 14 occasions in all competitions. Regular tickets have sold but hospitality is available from £300 

Women's friendly

Charlton Athletic v Aston Villa @2pm - the Addicks missed out on the Championship title by just one point as local rivals Crystal Palace won promotion to the WSL. With the new season starting next weekend, they'll be looking to fine tune a few things here against a top-flight side which includes the likes of Rachel Daly, Jordan Nobbs and Katie Robinson. Tickets are £8 in advance and £10 on the day

FAWNL Southern Premier

Hashtag United v Billericay Town @3pm - the highest level competitive women's game on Sunday is this Essex derby at Aveley's ground. The Tags enjoyed a great win over Watford in their opening match but then lost to title rivals Ipswich Town on Sunday. With newly promoted Exeter City and third-tier stalwarts Cheltenham Town starting well, the battle for the title and the one promotion place available looks as though it could be tighter than expected. Billericay are level on points with Hashtag so this could be close. Tickets will be available on the gate for £5

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Dulwich Hamlet v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @2pm - after attracting over 800 fans to their season opener against Norwich City, you should be able to expect a few hundred at Champion Hill for this one too. Having lost that match, the Hamlet will be looking for their first home win in the fourth tier and they should get it as the Tangerines are bottom after losing their first two. Tickets

QPR v Real Bedford @2pm - the most eye-catching event of the day in the women's game is the R's staging of this match at Loftus Road. After a change of management and a number of new signings, the side have yet to settle and they've accrued only one point from two games. However, they caused a notable upset on Wednesday when they beat third tier AFC Wimbledon in the Determining Round of the League Cup. Sunday's visitors are new to the division but currently top and should give Rangers a very challenging afternoon. Backed by crypto millionaires, they're looking to climb the divisions as quickly as possible in both the men's and women's games. Tickets

ERWFL Premier

Haringey Borough v Luton Town @2pm - the hosts looked impressive last season as they finished runners-up to big spending Real Bedford. With two wins from two and 12 goals scored so far, they should be there or thereabouts once again. The Hatters enjoyed a superb run to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup last season where they eventually bowed out to WSL side Brighton & Hove Albion but in the league they didn't really challenge - it could be a similar story this year. Tickets will be available on the gate

Women's FA Cup First Round Qualifying

This competition gets underway on Sunday with teams as low as the seventh tier taking part. With clubs at that level often playing on little more than park pitches and being entirely amateur, the prize money of £1,800 for the winners and £450 for the losers can be hugely important

AFC Whyteleafe v Tunbridge Wells @2pm - the Leafe finished fifth in their sixth-tier division of the London & South East League last season. Despite losing some key players to Actonians over the summer, they should still start as favourites against a club from the level below. Tickets will be available on the gate

Denham United v Ruislip Rangers @2pm - over on the west side of town, just to the north of Uxbridge town centre, we've got a derby. The hosts finished three points behind Whyteleafe last season so should fancy their chances against seventh-tier opposition

Richmond Park v Aylesford @2pm - the hosts narrowly avoided relegation from the sixth tier last year and have made another bad start. The visitors come from a parallel division of the L&SE League but are among the early leaders so should progress

Hammersmith v Bromley @2pm - over at Gunnersbury Park, seventh tier Hammersmith will be looking to pull off one of the shocks of the round against one of the biggest sides in the division above them. It's a tall order but you never know!

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.

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TLFG: 19-26 August 2024

Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG's August Bank Holiday Special!

As a result of there being on a national holiday on the 26th, this week's blog runs through until next Monday.

At this point I've written previews up until Friday and I'll then aim to add more ahead of the weekend.

One of the reasons I haven't been able to devote hours and hours to writing today is the fact that I've been on the road with Actonians watching their season opener against Cambridge United in the FAWNL.

New boss Oliver Yazdi took his Actonians side to Cambridge United on Sunday

Last season, the U's beat the A's three times but still somehow managed to finish below them in the table.

With big changes to the management and playing team over the summer, it was hard to know how Actonians would fare.

Under a hot sun, it appeared that the team had been set up to defend and they created little while successfully soaking up most of what the hosts could throw at them.

Midway through the first half, winger Amber Dredge got sin binned for 10 minutes for dissent and I feared the worst.

Ironically, this seemed to free them up and a couple of chances began to come their way.

With her spell in the bin complete, Dredge returned to the pitch to provide the assist for new signing Dior Knorr to break away from the defence and slide a precise finish across the advancing keeper to give the visitors a rather surprising 1-0 half-time lead.

New boss Oliver Yazdi urged his team on in the second half and further chances presented themselves but a second failed to materialise.

Even the award of a penalty didn't help as another new signing Hana Lalani blazed it over the bar.

Knorr had further, possibly easier chances, to add to her tally but she couldn't convert and a nervous finale ensued.

Despite some late pressure from Cambridge, they created very little in the way of good chances and Actonians held on for a morale boosting 1-0 win.

Next up, a visit from Kent club Chatham Town on Sunday.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The August Bank Holiday weekend means the next few days are even busier than usual as we've got loads of extra non-league fixtures to look forward to, many of which are derbies.

There are, of course, all the usual Premier League and EFL games but we've also got the opening matches in the EFL Trophy (aka Bristol Street Motors Trophy) and FA Vase.

There are some FA Cup replays and Chelsea begin their UEFA Conference League campaign.

With most of our local women's clubs in action too, you won't get bored.

As always, there are some morning kick-offs in the Combined Counties League on the bank holiday itself so getting to see a couple of matches that day will be very easy.

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

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

Monday fixtures - yellow 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 19 August

National League South

Aveley v Hemel Hempstead Town @745pm - the Millers are still looking for their first win after letting the lead slip twice against Tonbridge Angels to draw 2-2 on Saturday. With four points from two games, the visitors have made the better start. Last season, the hosts did the double over the Tudors in this sixth-tier division on their way to making the play-offs. Tickets

ECL Division 1 South

Barkingside v Rayleigh Town @745pm - although down in midtable, the 'Side are one of only three teams to remain unbeaten in this division which started in late July. Three of their four games have ended in draws, hence the reason they're only 11th. On Monday they come up against another one of those three. Rayleigh are currently second with four wins from five games and will go top if they win

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Tuesday 20 August

EFL Trophy Southern Group B

AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe Wanderers @745pm - after losing to Bromley in the league on Saturday, the Dons have the chance to get back to winning ways in their opening game in this competition. Drawn alongside League One clubs Crawley and Wycombe and an U21 side from Brighton, it looks like a challenging group for the fourth-tier side. However, how seriously the other sides take it remains to be seen. Tickets

National League

Barnet v Forest Green Rovers @745pm - after losing 2-1 at Halifax on the opening day, the Bees recovered well with a 2-1 win at Ebbsfleet on Saturday to leave them in midtable. Back in non-league after their relegation from League Two, FGR hammered Boston United 4-0 to move into the play-off places over the weekend. These two haven't met at The Hive since 2018 when the Bees won a close game 1-0. Tickets

Wealdstone v Sutton United @745pm - the Stones are one of six clubs to be left on zero points after two games following a 1-0 loss at home to Oldham Athletic on Saturday. Next up they have a derby against the U's who are back in this division after a few years in League Two. The south London club come into this on the back of an impressive 5-0 win over Altrincham which lifted them into the top four. Tickets

National League South

Enfield Town v Slough Town @745pm - the Towners won their first match at this level by beating Weston-super-Mare at home on Saturday. It was a big moment for the north London club as they look to establish themselves in the sixth tier following their promotion. Berkshire club Slough are now into their seventh consecutive season in this division and will look to improve on their 10th-place 2023/24 finish. Tickets

Hornchurch v St Albans City @745pm - the Urchins loaded themselves up with seven very testing pre-season games of which they lost five, two heavily. Although it's hard to make judgements on the back of friendlies, I did fear for them. However, they won their first game back in the sixth tier to settle a few nerves. However, on Saturday they lost at home to Eastbourne to remain in midtable. St Albans, who are seasoned campaigners in this division, have only managed a point so far and will want to add to it here. Tickets

FA Cup Preliminary Round Replays

Rayners Lane v Herne Bay @745pm - Saturday's trip to the Kent coast saw the Lane concede an injury-time equaliser as they blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against another eighth-tier side. I was really surprised to read that the north-west London club have only competed in the FA Cup in seven previous seasons and this is the first time they've entered since 1992-93. On that occasion they made it to the Second Round Qualifying where they lost to St Albans, a run which is still their best 

Uxbridge v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @745pm - with the Tangerines in the process of laying a 3G pitch, Saturday's original tie was switched to the neutral venue of Ascot United. Ashford required a second-half equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw and this replay is at Honeycroft. As we mentioned last week, the hosts have been entering this competition since 1873 but they haven't made it beyond the qualifying rounds since they were introduced in the late 19th century

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Wednesday 21 July

SSML Premier

London Lions v Crawley Green @8pm - one of the most notable things about the hosts is that they are the capital's , if not the country's, top Jewish club. Based in north London, not far from Boreham Wood, they've been going since 1995 and are now in their third consecutive season in the ninth tier. With one win from four, they could do with three points here and Crawley Green look beatable as they're in the bottom three 

ECL Division 1 South

May & Baker v Hutton @745pm - the hosts thrashed struggling St Margaretsbury 7-1 on Saturday to move into the top six. With leaders Hackney Wick playing home games way out in Essex, this makes M&B the highest ranked London club in the division at this early stage. On Wednesday they welcome a side who are just a point and a place behind them

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Thursday 22 August

UEFA Conference League play-off first leg

Chelsea v Servette @8pm - the only senior match I'm aware of on Thursday is this European tie at Stamford Bridge. By their standards, last season was poor for the Blues and their sixth-placed finish only qualified them for this competition. In order to make it through to the group stage, Enzo Maresca's side will need to get the better of their Swiss opponents over two legs. Tickets have gone on general sale but they will sell out quickly and may have gone by the time you read this

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Friday 23 August

Premier League 2

A couple of U21 games top the bill on Friday. Chelsea host Everton at Kingsmeadow whilst West Ham United entertain Southampton at Rush Green. Both matches start at 7pm. Admission prices vary but never exceed £5 - check the clubs' websites for the latest

National League

Dagenham & Redbridge v FC Halifax Town @745pm - with four points from two games, the Daggers have made a solid start. On Tuesday they make a trip to winless Woking before facing a quick turnaround to play this match on Friday. Halifax are also in midtable and could go above them depending on how midweek results turn out. Last season, the Yorkshire club won here 1-0. Tickets

Essex Senior League

Romford v Benfleet @745pm - elsewhere in east London, the hosts will look for a win which could see them end the weekend in the top five. Last season's FA Vase winners suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat to Brightlingsea Regent to the FA Cup on Saturday so will want to put that behind them as soon as possible. Benfleet are new to this division following promotion and they also lost heavily in the cup on Saturday

FA Vase First Round Qualifying

Meridian VP v Lewisham Borough @745pm - talking of the FA Vase, the national cup competition for ninth and tenth-tier clubs, it gets underway for another year on Friday night. With most ties taking place on Saturday, this 'early' one looks decent as it's a derby between two south-east London clubs from the tenth tier. The hosts have only made it beyond the qualifying rounds twice whilst the visitors have entered the competition on six previous occasions and have yet to win a tie

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Saturday 24 August

Premier League

Crystal Palace v West Ham United @3pm - although both sides have been in the top flight for over a decade, very few would bat an eyelid if either ended the season in the bottom three. Therefore, relegation is always a spectre that needs to be banished as soon as possible. Both sides opened their campaigns with defeats so this is looking like a must-not lose game even at this early stage. That might well lead to a cagey affair but records show that recent matches between these two at Selhurst Park are anything but. The last four matches since 2021 have produced a whopping 24 goals with both sides winning twice. Tickets are only available to members. Hospitality packages start at £350

Fulham v Leicester City @3pm - the Cottagers made life difficult for Manchester United at Old Trafford in their first game last Friday but ultimately lost 1-0. The newly promoted Foxes had to wait until Monday night to play their first game against Spurs and came from behind to draw 1-1. The last time these two played, Fulham won an eight-goal thriller 5-3. Tickets

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton @3pm - another two sides looking for their first win meet at the THS. As mentioned above, Spurs could only manage a draw at Leicester whilst the Toffees lost 3-0 at home to an impressive Brighton side. The hosts are unbeaten in seven against Everton and they should extend that run here. Tickets are only available to members. Hospitality packages start at £299

Championship

QPR v Plymouth Argyle @1230pm - the R's began with a 3-1 loss at home to West Brom which caused negativity to creep in in some quarters. However, they fought back from 2-0 down with 10 men to draw 2-2 at Sheffield United last weekend to raise morale. Plymouth are the latest club to give the managerial talents of Wayne Rooney a go. After a reasonable spell at Derby, things have gone backwards for the Manchester United and England legend with last season's poor showing at Birmingham City really tainting his managerial credentials. After being stuffed 4-0 by Sheffield Wednesday in their first game, the alarm bells started ringing again but a cup win over Cheltenham and a draw against Hull City have steadied things. Tickets

Watford v Derby County @3pm - as I said last week, some pundits had predicted the Hornets to struggle this season and they still might but it's so far so good with two wins in the league and another in the cup as they've extended their 100% record to three games. The Rams are back in the division following two seasons in League One and picked up their first three points with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough last weekend. They've also won three of their last five at Vicarage Road so it appears to be a happy hunting ground for them. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - with 1-0 wins in both of their opening games, the Addicks are one of only four teams with maximum points at this stage. The visitors made the play-offs last season and will surely be contenders again. With four points from their first two, they've made a good start as well. Talking of happy hunting grounds, Bolton are unbeaten in five at The Valley and won 2-0 here last season. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Birmingham City @3pm - the O's fought hard at The Valley last weekend but let in a late goal to lose their derby against Charlton 1-0. Still yet to pick up their first point, they face another tricky fixture against a side who have just come down from the Championship. The Blues haven't lost a league game yet and won at Charlton in the cup. Tickets

National League

Barnet v Southend United @3pm - the Bees picked up an important 1-0 win over Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night to move into the play-off places. The visitors are unbeaten in three but with two draws they sit 10th. With three wins in a row against the Essex club, Barnet should fancy their chances of another three points. Tickets

Sutton United v York City @3pm - the U's have reacted well to relegation and, with two wins and a draw, are among the frontrunners. After narrowly avoiding the drop for the last two seasons, York have started just as brightly as their south London opponents so this match between two of the top five should be well worth a watch. Tickets

National League South

Welling United v Farnborough @3pm - the Wings looked like certainties for relegation until they appointed Rod Stringer as boss in late January. The former Braintree manager took the south-east London club to a 17th-place finish (out of 24) to keep their sixth-tier status for another year. On Saturday they welcome a Farnborough side who are already two points clear at the top after winning all three of their opening games. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Wanderers v Lewes @3pm - in the seventh tier there's a chance to look at another one of the early leaders as the Rooks travel up from Sussex to the capital. With three wins from three, they are also two points clear at the top and they'll be hoping this is the season they finally get back to the NLS after 13 years away. If you haven't been already, this match also gives you the opportunity to visit Cray's new ground in Sidcup. Tickets

Isthmian League South East

Beckenham Town v Hythe Town @3pm - it's really hard to pick a standout game in the eighth tier on Saturday as most teams have only played one league game and one cup game, usually only winning one or the other. I've gone for this as these two have made similar starts and are both in the top six. Tickets will be available on the gate

CCL Premier South

Cobham v Jersey Bulls @1pm - in the ninth tier, the hosts have got off to a good start and find themselves one point clear at the top after five matches. Their position is a little false, however, as the three sides immediately below them all have games in hand. One of those teams are Jersey. The club from the Channel Islands are always among the promotion contenders and with seven points from only three games, they look well capable of challenging again. Tickets will be available on the gate

FA Vase First Round Qualifying

There are numerous ties all over London on Saturday, here are my top three:

Broadfields United v North Greenford United @3pm - aside from being a local derby, this gives us the chance to see how NGU do in this season's Vase. Last year they pulled off a very unexpected run to the quarter-finals where they lost 1-0 to eventual winners Romford. With a 100% record from their three league games so far, they should start as strong favourites against a struggling Broadfields side. Tickets will be available on the gate

FC Elmstead v Frimley Green @3pm - with three wins from three, the hosts have made a fine start to the season in the 10th tier SCEFL Division 1. On Saturday they have the opportunity to test themselves against one of the top four in the parallel Wessex League Division 1. Elmstead have only ever won three ties in this competition, whilst Frimley have made it to the Third Round on two occasions with the last time being in 2021. Tickets will be available on the gate

Westside v VCD Athletic @3pm - the hosts, who groundshare at Colliers Wood United, have made a bright start and are fourth in the 10th tier CCL Division 1. They'll be looking to create one of the upsets of the round by beating the Vickers who are currently two points clear at the top of the ninth tier SCEFL Premier. Tickets will be available on the gate

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Sunday 25 August

FA Vase First Round Qualifying

NW London v Wembley @3pm - as a result of their groundshare with Haringey Borough, the hosts have had to move this game to Sunday afternoon which is great for groundhoppers. Many people aspire to take on the 'Road to Wembley', seeing a match in every round of the FA Cup but with tickets becoming harder and harder to get for the latter rounds and final, some try doing it in the FA Vase instead. If you do, starting off watching Wembley FC is the logical place to start. They play a level above NW London so should start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate

Tooting Bec v Newhaven @3pm - way down south at the opposite end of TLFG's catchment area, this match is being played at Chipstead's ground. The hosts are in the bottom four of the 10th tier SCEFL Division 1 so they'll do well to win against a side who play a level above in the SCFL Premier. Tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Southern Premier

Watford v Billericay Town @12pm - the rest of the day's action takes place in the women's leagues with this third-tier match topping the bill. Being played at Wealdstone's ground in Ruislip, the recently relegated Hornets will be looking for their first points of the season after losing their opening game at Hashtag United who are one of the title favourites. Without major investment, Billericay are unlikely to get much higher than this level but they made a great start by thrashing Welsh club Gwalia United 4-0 in their opening game. Tickets

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Actonians v Chatham Town @2pm - after their important 1-0 win at Cambridge United last Sunday, the A's prepare to welcome the early leaders. AFC Sudbury struggled last season and are expected to be fighting the drop again and the Chats showed little mercy in dispatching them 5-1 in their first game following relegation from the third tier. Actonians' seemed to base everything on a solid defence last week and they'll need to be at their best to keep another clean sheet. This is being played at the Middlesex FA's HQ in Rectory Park, Northolt. Tickets

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Chesham United @2pm - the Tangerines did really well last season, with only big-spending clubs AFC Wimbledon, Norwich City and Worthing finishing ahead of them. Sadly they lost star striker Ashley Cheatley to Brentford in the summer and it will be interesting to see how they fare without her. Chesham comfortably avoided relegation last season but finished in the bottom four and could well be down there again after losing their opening match to London Seaward. There was some uncertainty about where this match is being played. The club are in the process of getting a 3G pitch installed and the men's team have moved their most recent home games to different venues. However, Chesham confirmed to me on Thursday that they're expecting it to be held at Ashford's normal home. Tickets will be available on the gate. 

London Bees v Real Bedford @2pm - the hosts came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with QPR in their first game following relegation from the third tier. Next up they face a challenging game against one of the favourites for the title. The Pirates won their fifth-tier division last season and, backed by their crypto millionaire owners, significantly beefed up their squad over the summer with many players coming in from third tier MK Dons. They got off to a good start with a solid 3-0 win over Ashford Town who finished fourth last season and will be aiming for another three points here. Tickets

London Seaward v Dulwich Hamlet @2pm - after losing manager Dan McKimm and a number of their players to London Bees, I feared for Seaward coming into this campaign. Their website hasn't been updated for months and their X account has disappeared and I wondered what was going on - one friend suggested they could fold. However, they started the season with a 2-1 win at Chesham to show they're very much still alive. Dulwich are new to this level following promotion and began with a very tough fixture against last season's runners-up Norwich. The Canaries ultimately won 3-2 but were made to work hard in front of a big Champion Hill crowd in excess of 800. Tickets will be available on the gate

L&SE Women's League Premier

Fulham v Millwall Lionesses @230pm - the Cottagers finished third behind Dulwich Hamlet and Dartford in this fifth-tier division last season and are one of the favourites for the title this time. On Sunday they began the new season with a showpiece game at Craven Cottage against Barking who were transferred to this division from the ERWFL at the end of last season. Sadly the occasion was too big for the east London club and they got walloped 6-0. Despite this big win, Fulham didn't go straight to the top as Ebbsfleet United beat Haywards Heath 7-0. Millwall lost their opening game to Saltdean 1-0 and they'll do well to get anything here. This match is being played at Fulham's training ground in Motspur Park and you'll be able to pay on the gate

ERWFL Premier

Enfield Town v Haringey Borough @2pm - up at Donkey Lane there's a north London derby to be enjoyed. In the men's game, Enfield would be clear favourites to win a match between these two but in the women's game it's the other way around. I saw fifth-tier Haringey beat Actonians 3-2 in the Capital Senior Cup semi-finals last year and was really impressed with what I saw. They finished as runners-up to Real Bedford and with only one team going up, missed out on promotion. Their squad hasn't got any weaker over the summer and they thrashed Dussingdale & Hellesdon 8-1 in their opening game and should win here

L&SE Women's League D1 North

Actonians Reserves v Brentford @2pm - it's a big day for the A's as their second string face a huge game too. If you don't know, Actonians' HQ is pretty much in the shadow of the Bees' GTech Stadium on the other side of Gunnersbury Park where this match will be played. Despite the men's team being in the Premier League, the women's first team are down in the sixth tier. They are the biggest club in the division by a long way and are reportedly paying some of their players to make sure they win the league. Ashley Cheatley scored a hat-trick on her debut against Leatherhead last week after dropping down from fourth tier Ashford Town. It's free entry at the Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub

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Monday 26 August

Professional Development League

Brentford v Coventry City @1pm - unusually for a bank holiday, we have an U21 game for you to consider. The Bees have kept their youngsters out of leagues for the last few years, playing friendlies and entering cup competitions instead but this year they're back. On Monday they welcome the Sky Blues to their facility at Wheatsheaf Park in Staines. Tickets are £5 for adults and I believe they have to be bought in advance

National League

Wealdstone v AFC Fylde @3pm - the August Bank Holiday was a contender to be Non-League Day once upon a time as it's usually a day reserved for matches below the EFL. However, a significant number of leagues at this level do still have the day off so it was discounted. Another feature of this date is usually a prevalence of derbies so it's a bit strange to see the Stones welcoming a side from Lancashire. The Ruislip club have made a disappointing start to life under new boss Matt Taylor losing three of their opening four games. Fylde have done better, with only one loss so far but they were defeated home and away by the west Londoners last season. Tickets

National League South

Aveley v Slough Town @3pm - the Millers played in the sixth tier for the first time last season and impressed as they made the play-offs. This campaign has not started so well and with one point from four games, they're in the relegation zone. The Rebels, on the other hand, have taken nine points from their first few games and are one point behind leaders Boreham Wood. Tickets

Enfield Town v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - it's a broadly similar story at Donkey Lane where the newly promoted Towners are still adjusting to life in the NLS. However, they've managed a win and are outside the bottom four - just. The Tudors are one of only four unbeaten teams in the division and should provide another stern test. Tickets

Hornchurch v Welling United @3pm - of the newly promoted sides, the Urchins have enjoyed the softest landing. With two wins from four, they're sitting snugly in midtable. The Wings also have six points but have played a game less and are probably marginal favourites going into this. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Valley PM v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - the hosts are new to this division after a superb 2023/24 which saw them win their eighth-tier division and famously take neighbours Charlton Athletic to a replay in the FA Cup. That form has been carried over, with three wins from four lifting them to second in the league. The Robins have made a solid enough start and will probably move into the play-off places with a win here. Tickets

Dartford v Chatham Town @3pm - elsewhere in the division, this all-Kent affair should drive a good few people through the turnstiles. The Darts had a nightmare last season and ended up getting relegated, 12 months after they finished as runners-up in the NLS. The Chats came second in the Isthmian League last season but lost to Enfield Town in the play-offs and have struggled to get going in the opening weeks of this campaign. Tickets

Southern League Premier South

Walton & Hersham v Chertsey Town @3pm - since seeing the league allocations announced in the off-season, this is one derby I've been looking forward to. The Swans have enjoyed a meteoric rise up from the 10th tier in recent years but something went wrong behind the scenes towards the end of last season when the manager suddenly left and took most of the players with him to Kingstonian. Billy Rowley is now in charge and he seems to have rebuilt well as they're third coming into this. The Curfews won the Isthmian League South Central last season to move up to this level and drew some big crowds in the process. They too are in the division's top five. With only a short distance between them and sizeable fan-bases, this could attract a four-figure attendance. Tickets 

Isthmian League South Central

Kingstonian v Raynes Park Vale @3pm - in the eighth tier there are several derbies but this one between tenants and landlords at Grand Drive tops the bill for me. Boosted by all the new arrivals from Walton & Hersham, the K's have looked strong following their relegation from the Isthmian Premier. With two wins in the league and another in the FA Cup, things appear rosy. RPV were challenging for promotion for most of 2023/24 but fell away late on and just missed the play-offs. Adult tickets are £10 on the gate

CCL Premier South

Cobham v AFC Whyteleafe @1130am - in the ninth tier there's an early kick-off between the sides in second and third in this division. The Leafe are new to this level following their promotion from the SCEFL Division 1 and seem to have settled in just fine. The hosts finished 12th last season so a play-off push would be a significant improvement. The 1130 start means you can combine this with a number of other games in the south west of town. Tickets will be available on the gate 

A bit further afield

Windsor & Eton v Windsor @1130am - there isn't a game in the 10th tier which really grabs my attention as much as this one in the CCL Division 1. Taking place just outside TLFG's catchment area to the west of London, it's time for the Windsor derby. The original Windsor & Eton FC began life in Victorian times and continued to exist until 2011 when they sadly folded because of debts. They were replaced soon after by Windsor FC who provide the opposition in this game and then W&E re-formed last year as a new club meaning we now have this derby. Both sides have started the season well and it's first against third coming into this. 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:12-18 August 2024

Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

My work schedule is heavy this weekend so I'm putting something out early so you can plan your week.

It's fairly comprehensive with full match maps and previews up until Friday - I'll try to get some weekend previews up by Thursday.

As some of you know, I work on the railway and I'm sad to report that over the last three days I've had to file two police reports about disorder committed by youths against other passengers on my trains.

To put it in context, I've probably only involved the police three times in the previous 12 years.

Things have been pretty rubbish in England over the last couple of weeks and although there were great shows of unity on Wednesday, it's clear we're not out of the woods yet.

Bromley play AFC Wimbledon twice this week 

Hopefully today's shift will be less eventful but with high temperatures, alcohol and a number of large events taking place, not least several big football matches - who knows what will happen.

QPR and Harrow Borough both began their seasons on Saturday.

The R's took the lead against West Bromwich Albion before losing 3-1 - no disgrace as the Baggies are a decent side.

The Boro, on the other hand, began life in the eighth tier following their relegation against Ashford Town (Middlesex).

It turned out to be a dramatic afternoon which saw Harrow have a player sent off shortly before half-time.

Despite this setback, they took the lead early in the second half but then saw their goalkeeper sent off.

With no replacement on the bench, an outfield player went in goal and they survived the remaining 35-40 minutes to hang on for a memorable 1-0 win.

If that isn't a performance of the day contender, I don't know what is!

Next up they face Ashford United, from Kent, in the FA Cup. 

I haven't seen a live match for over a month now but hopefully next weekend I'll get a chance.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week the Premier League begins, the EFL Cup and FA Youth Cup get underway and we've also got the next round of the FA Cup as well. On Sunday, many of the capital's women's clubs start their seasons too.

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

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 12 August

Isthmian League Premier

Carshalton Athletic v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - the Robins finished slap-bang in the middle of the table last season, well short of the play-off places and even further clear of the relegation zone. On Saturday they began their season with solid 1-1 draw at Folkestone Invicta. On Monday night they face one of the smallest clubs in the division but one which made the play-offs last season. In their first game, Wingate carried on their fine form by beating Dulwich Hamlet, one of the biggest clubs in the division, 3-2 so they should provide tough opposition. Tickets

ECL Division 1 South

Newbury Forest v May & Baker @745pm - one of the easiest grounds to get to in London, it sits next to Barkingside Tube station, Oakside went 3G over the summer, meaning postponements should be few and far between this season. Tenants Newbury Forest have already played three games but have only accrued three points so they could do with an improved performance against fellow east London club M&B who have made a more positive start. Tickets will be available on the gate

FA Youth Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Hendon v Hillingdon Borough @730pm - the country's most prestigious U18 cup competition gets underway in London on Monday with this tie at Silver Jubilee Park. I don't have much more to add as I'm not an expert on this level of youth football but with three divisions separating the senior teams, you'd have to think the hosts will start as favourites

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Tuesday 13 August

Professional Development League

If you're looking to do something with the kids on the cheap or want to see two games in a day then there are two U21 matches happening at lunchtime. QPR are playing Coventry City at Loftus Road at 1pm (entry is usually by donation to the club's trust) whilst Millwall host Burnley at The Den at 2pm - see the club's website for ticketing details, I think it's usually £5

EFL Cup First Round

Watford v MK Dons @745pm - the League Cup also gets underway this week. The highest-ranked side to be hosting a game in this area are Championship club Watford. I listened to a podcast the other day where a well-respected pundit gave the opinion that he really feared for the Hornets this season but they went and won their opening game at Millwall. MK Dons play two levels below but are one of the better sides in the fourth tier and given they play a few miles up the M1, this is effectively a derby. Tickets

Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City @745pm - both sides had disappointing campaigns last season. The Addicks looked in danger of slipping into League Two until Nathan Jones arrived and steadied the ship. Sadly managerial changes proved to be disastrous for the Blues who ended up losing their Championship status meaning these two are now in the same division. Tickets

Leyton Orient v Newport County @730pm - the O's looked like they might push for a League One play-off place at one point last season but had to settle for midtable in the end. On Saturday they had a tough start against Bolton, who did make the post-season, and lost 2-1. Welsh club Newport ended 2023/24 on a terrible losing run in League Two and opened with another defeat on Saturday. The hosts would appear to be favourites. Tickets

Bromley v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - possibly the most eye-catching tie of the night is this south London derby between a couple of League Two sides. The Ravens are playing in the fourth tier for the first time after winning promotion from the National League and they started with a win at Harrogate on Saturday. The Dons also picked up three points against Colchester and the two will play again at Hayes Lane on Saturday in the league. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Wanderers v Cray Valley PM @745pm - there are a large number of non-league games on Tuesday and this south-east London derby instantly stands out. The hosts are London's oldest club and this will be the first competitive game at their new ground. They started the season with a decent 2-0 win at Hashtag United. CVPM won the Isthmian League South East to step up to this level for the first time. They lost their first game 2-1 to Dartford. Tickets

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Wednesday 14 July

CCL Premier South

Balham v Cobham @745pm - 13 points separated these two at the end of last season as both finished in midtable. After two games of this campaign both are locked on three points. After time groundsharing with AFC Croydon Athletic, Balham are starting this season at Tooting & Mitcham United's Imperial Fields

SCEFL Premier

Stansfeld v VCD Athletic @745pm - the hosts are another side to have moved to a new home over the summer. They've been at Glebe in recent seasons but now have Cray Valley PM as their landlords. VCD are in the top four after winning their first two games

CCL Division 1

Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) v Belstone @745pm - in the 10th tier we've got a game between two clubs who enjoyed promotion from the 11th tier last season. The hosts, who groundshare at Abbey Rangers, were in the Surrey Premier County League whilst Belstone have moved up from the Herts Senior County League. S&L have made the better start so should start as marginal favourites

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Thursday 15 August

FA Youth Cup Extra Preliminary Round

Walthamstow v Barking @730pm - the only match of the night is this U18 cup tie at Wadham Lodge in north-east London. Barking were arguably the story of the competition last season making it all the way to the Third Round where they took Millwall to extra-time at The Den before losing 5-3. They'll be hoping to start another great run here

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Friday 16 August

Premier League 2

A number of high profile U21 games top the bill on Friday. Arsenal take on Manchester United at Boreham Wood, Chelsea host Tottenham Hotspur at Kingsmeadow whist Crystal Palace entertain Fulham at Selhurst Park. All matches start at 7pm. Admission prices vary but never exceed £5 - check the clubs' websites for the latest

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Saturday 17 August

Premier League

Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers @3pm - after finishing as runners-up for the last two years, the Gunners will really hope to go one better this season. However, when it comes to new signings there haven't been many yet. Apart from goalkeeper David Raya making his move from Brentford permanent, only Riccardo Calafiori has joined from Bologna. Visitors Wolves are about to begin their seventh consecutive season at this level. Boss Gary O'Neil has been pretty busy in the transfer market but notably lost Pedro Neto to Chelsea for £54m earlier this week. The Gunners have won their last six games against the Molineux club and are 1/5 for the victory again. Tickets are only available to members and all hospitality packages have sold out

West Ham United v Aston Villa @530pm - in the day's late game, the Hammers play their first competitive match under new boss Julen Lopetegui. The east London club have had a testing pre-season with only one win from five matches and that came against non-league club Dagenham & Redbridge. Villa had their best season for years in 2023/24 and qualified for the Champions League and although they should start as favourites, they've never won at the London Stadium. Could this be their year? Tickets

Championship

Watford v Stoke City @3pm - the Hornets were tipped by some to struggle this season but they've made a fine start. Winning their opening league fixture at Millwall, they then crushed MK Dons 5-0 in the League Cup on Tuesday. The Potters have also picked up two wins from two as well so it should be close. The last time these two played in December it finished 1-1 and it could well end that way again. Tickets

League One

Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient @1230pm - one of the games of the day must surely be this derby in the third tier. The Addicks won a tough looking opening game at Wigan before narrowly losing at home to Birmingham in the cup. The O's have done things the other way round, losing to Bolton in the league but comfortably beating Newport in the cup. The Valley isn't a happy hunting ground for the visitors - they haven't won there since 2010. Given the early kick-off, this can easily be combined with the non-league match between Bridon Ropes and Tooting Bec which starts at 3pm or the West Ham game mentioned above. Tickets

League Two

Bromley v AFC Wimbledon @1230pm - we're spoilt for choice when it comes to derbies in south-east London and it's slightly surprising that they're kicking off at the same time. The Ravens made a dream start to life in the fourth tier by winning at Harrogate on the opening day. They were then brought down to earth with a cup defeat to the Dons who they play again here. As a result of that win, Johnnie Jackson's side head to Hayes Lane with a 100% record and should be full of confidence. This match has sold out

National League

Sutton United v Altrincham @3pm - the U's fought hard after a bad start but it was not enough as they suffered relegation from the EFL last season. They began life back in non-league with a 1-1 draw at Tamworth. Alty, after several unremarkable seasons, pulled out a fourth-place finish as they made the play-offs. They started their campaign with a 1-0 win over Woking. The last time these two were in the same division was 2020/21 and Sutton took four points from the two games. Tickets

Wealdstone v Oldham Athletic @3pm - things were looking a bit dicey for the Stones last season but they pulled through to secure their place in the fifth tier for a fifth consecutive season. Interim manager Sam Cox got them to safety but he was not kept on and former Portsmouth and West Ham player Matty Taylor was brought in instead. They started with a 2-1 loss at Dagenham & Redbridge so will want to get something out of this first home game. However, former Premier League club Oldham should present a tough challenge having seen off Braintree 3-0 in their first match. Tickets

National League South

Enfield Town v Weston-super-Mare @3pm - the Towners won last season's Isthmian League play-offs to move up to the sixth tier for the first time in their history. On Saturday they will host their first game at this level so a sizeable attendance is expected. They began with a spirited performance at former EFL club Torquay United but ultimately lost 2-1. WSM also lost their opening game to Worthing but that was a real thriller which saw the Sussex club edge to a 4-3 win. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Dulwich Hamlet v Whitehawk @3pm - the biggest crowd of the day in the seventh tier will almost certainly come at Champion Hill where clubs with very progressive approaches to community engagement meet for the first time this season. Dulwich nicked a very late winner to see off Hendon in midweek as they picked up their first points of the season whilst Brighton club Whitehawk have lost both of their games and should be really keen to get something here. Saturday matches at this venue have a habit of selling out so you're always advised to buy your tickets in advance

FA Cup Preliminary Round

The nation's favourite cup competition got underway two weeks ago so this is essentially the second round. At this stage, the draw is made up of clubs in the eighth and ninth tiers of the football pyramid. The winners of each tie receive £1,444 in prize money whilst the losers get £481. There are numerous ties across London, here are a few which catch my eye:

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Uxbridge @3pm - these two local rivals, who hail from either side of Heathrow airport, both play in the Isthmian League South Central. The hosts began their league campaign with a morale-sapping 1-0 loss to the nine men of Harrow Borough so they'll desperately want to bounce back from that. Uxbridge are one of the oldest clubs in this weekend's draw having first entered way back in 1873. It turned out to be their best year too, making the Second Round proper although there were no qualifying rounds in those days. UPDATE - this match is being played at Ascot United as Ashford are currently laying a new 3G pitch

AFC Croydon Athletic v VCD Athletic @3pm - the Rams are a side to keep an eye on following last season's investment by musician Stormzy and Crystal Palace legend Wilfried Zaha. They won promotion to the Isthmian League at the first attempt and will no doubt want to push on this year. They beat ninth tier Guildford City fairly comfortably in the last round but VCD could be a tougher prospect. The Vickers also play in the ninth tier but are top of the SCEFL with a 100% record and also knocked out eighth-tier side Metropolitan Police in the last round

Redbridge v Barking @3pm - there's a derby on the east side of town too. Having seen off last season's FA Vase finalists Great Wakering Rovers in the opening round, the Motormen welcome another Essex Senior League club in this round. As a result of playing a level below their hosts, the Blues will start as underdogs. The last time the teams played in the FA Cup was in 2010, Redbridge won 1-0 and it could well be close again

Epsom & Ewell v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm - since selling their ground over 30 years ago, E&E are now onto their sixth different groundshare. After a brief spell at Cobham, this season they'll be based at Corinthian Casuals. In the last round they caused an upset by beating Isthmian League club Phoenix Sports and they face another side from the same level here. H&YU suffered a bit of a surprise relegation from the seventh tier last season having been among the promotion contenders in the Southern League in the previous two years. The west London club have a great recent record in the FA Cup, reaching the First Round three years in a row between 2019-21

CCL Division 1

Langley v Windsor & Eton @3pm - if none of those FA Cup ties are doing it for you, then this 10th-tier game between two of the early pacesetters in this division might be of interest. Not only are these teams third and first respectively, they're also local rivals so it's a derby too. Langley have won all three of their games whilst W&E have played a game more but have lost once so they're on level points. It's great to see the visitors back in senior football after resigning from the Southern League midway through the 2010-11 season. Their Stag Meadow home was the first I visited on a Harrow Borough away day way back in 1989

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Sunday 18 August

Premier League

Brentford v Crystal Palace @2pm - despite being one of its smallest clubs, the Bees are about to embark on their fourth consecutive season in the Premier League. Although last season was their biggest struggle yet, they were without star striker Ivan Toney who was banned for most of it. They've achieved huge things over the last three years but avoiding relegation is still their primary objective and it's the same too for Palace who've now survived 11 years at this level. As a result, this is an important game for both. Matches between them have been incredibly close since Brentford came up with five of the six matches between them ending in a draw and we could well see the points shared again. Tickets are only available to members

Chelsea v Manchester City @430pm - the biggest match of the opening weekend comes at Stamford Bridge where five-time Premier League winners Chelsea welcome the reigning champions. Since the Blues last won the title in 2017, a gulf has opened between themselves and City with a whopping 28 points separating them last season. With former City player Cole Palmer now doing great things for the west London giants, they've always got a chance but the visitors are unbeaten in nine against Chelsea and must surely be favourites. This match will also be the first for new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. Tickets have sold out but hospitality packages are available from £960 per person!

FAWNL Southern Premier

AFC Wimbledon v Lewes @2pm - the season begins for many of London's women's teams on Sunday. After threatening to go up for several years, the Dons finally won their fourth-tier division last season to step up to the third tier. They begin with a tough looking game against a Rooks side who have just come down from the Championship. Given the importance of the occasion, the match is being played at Plough Lane. Tickets are £7 for adults and free for U18s

Hashtag United v Watford @3pm - the Tags finished as runners-up in the third tier last season and will look to be highly competitive again. Like their old rivals AFC Wimbledon, they too face a side relegated from the Championship. The Hornets have become a bit of a yo-yo club in recent seasons and they'll be hoping for a swift return to the second tier. This is being played at Aveley and tickets are £5 on the gate

FAWNL Division 1 South East

Dulwich Hamlet v Norwich City @2pm - the division which AFC Wimbledon and Hashtag United emerged from looks like being even more competitive than normal. Norwich finished as runners-up to the Dons last year and should have the resources to be favourites this time round. However, their credentials could receive a good test at Champion Hill where it will be interesting to see how good the newly promoted Hamlet are. No doubt cheered on by one of the biggest women's crowds of the day, the south London club could well be among the top four come the end of the season. Tickets

London Bees v QPR @2pm - after several years of struggle, London Bees now find themselves in the fourth tier following last season's relegation. With new boss Dan McKimm now in charge, lots of new players have come through the door. Pre-season has seen some fine results so it will be interesting to see how they do. After a top-five finish last season, the R's now have former Actonians boss Danny Harrigan in the hot seat and with what is rumoured to be the biggest budget in the club's history at his disposal, they are expected to challenge too. This was scheduled to be a home game for QPR but Hayes & Yeading United's ground isn't quite match fit yet so it's been switched to The Hive complex in north London. Tickets will be available on the gate

L&SE Women's League Premier

Fulham v Barking @230pm - the Cottagers are the biggest name in this fifth-tier division and it was hugely disappointing for them to see Dulwich beat them to promotion last season. Barking have moved across from the parallel ERWFL and probably can't believe their luck that their opening game in this division is being played at Craven Cottage. Tickets

L&SE Women's League Division 1 North

Brentford v Leatherhead @3pm - another team to underperform last season were the Bees who only managed to finish as runners-up in this sixth-tier division despite being the biggest club in it. With money invested to attract the likes of fourth-tier striker Ashley Cheatley from Ashford Town over the summer, failure to get promoted again is not an option. The Tanners are back at this level after winning promotion last season. This is being played at Bedfont Sports

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