It's really minimal at the moment as family commitments curtailed my writing time on Sunday.
So far I have match maps for the week and previews through to Friday but I'm confident you'll be able to fend for yourselves.
I'm happy to report that Liam and I completed our epic run from Fulham to Fisher - starting from home, I clocked up just over 24km so I was very happy with that but feeling it by the end.
Deciding on a club beginning with G to run to was always going to be a challenge with Glebe pretty much the only club in the pyramid which sprung to mind.
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| Liam and I started our run from Craven Cottage |
Wonderful though they are, they play in Chislehurst and a run from Shepherd's Bush would far exceed what we achieved last week and I don't think I have it in me yet.
Amateur side Globe Rangers, based in Walthamstow, were considered before we opted for Grenfell Athletic.
Not only is Grenfell Tower nearby but the ground they use, Kings House, is by the Thames in Chiswick and makes for a good run so I'm off to meet Liam now to try and do it - check TLFG's X account later to see if we manage it.
I'm off work this week but my Mrs has lots of chores lined up so I'm not sure if there'll be any midweek action but I intend to be at Actonians' league game against London Seaward on Sunday.
Have a great week and check back for more previews as the week progresses.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The Champions League and Europa League make their return this week, alongside a busy schedule of Premier League and EFL action - interestingly, most of the top-flight games are on Sunday with four crammed in so the Tube is going to be busy!
We've also got National League matches, the next round of the FA Trophy and the Lionesses are back at Wembley to take on Germany.
As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.
Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.
Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.
It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.
MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin
WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
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 21 October
National League South
Aveley v Maidstone United @745pm - the Millers came out on top in their big relegation 'six-pointer' against Enfield Town on Saturday. The 4-2 win at Donkey Lane lifted them above St Albans City but they're still five points adrift of safety. Maidstone are the epitome of a midtable team with three wins, five draws and three defeats. One of those draws came against promotion contenders Slough Town on Saturday so they should be tough to beat. Tickets
ECL Division 1 South
Barkingside v Cannons Wood @745pm - in the bottom four and having played more games than all of those below them, it looks like being a tough season for the 'Side. The east London club have now lost nine in a row in all competitions, meaning they're are also out of the FA Vase, the ECL Cup and Essex Senior Cup. It's a very different story for the visitors who are up in fourth and scoring for fun, averaging 4.3 per game over their last six. Current form suggests a win for the away team and by a sizeable margin. Tickets are £5 on the gate
Premier League Cup
Brentford v Derby County @7pm - both of the games above are on the east side of London and could therefore be beyond you. If you're on the west side, then you might find this U21 match in Staines more to your liking. We're still at the group stage of this competition which saw the Bees lose their opening game to Chelsea 6-3. The Rams also lost their opener to Bournemouth 3-2 so they could both do with a win here. I think it's the case that you have to buy tickets online in advance so don't get caught out
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Tuesday 22 October
UEFA Youth League
Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk @1pm - the day begins with some U19 action at Boreham Wood's ground. The Gunners won their opening game in this competition 1-0 against PSG so you'd think they'd be confident of getting some more joy here. Entry is free
UEFA Champions League
Arsenal v Shakhtar Donetsk @8pm - in the evening it's the turn of the clubs' senior sides to do battle at the Emirates. With four points from two games, Arsenal are 13th out of 36 whilst the Ukrainians are without a win and among the group of clubs who are heading out so they could definitely do with getting something here. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £525
Championship
QPR v Coventry City @745pm - after losing their big game against fellow strugglers Portsmouth on Saturday, the R's slipped to the bottom of the table. On Tuesday they have another crucial game against another one of the division's strugglers. Lose again and they'll be in real trouble. Tickets
League One
Leyton Orient v Rotherham United @745pm - the O's are also continuing to struggle in the third tier. Now winless in five, the east London club are only being kept out of the relegation zone by goal difference. The visitors, freshly relegated from the Championship, aren't pulling up any trees either but they're six points ahead and have only lost one of their last five. Tickets
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe @745pm - the Dons missed the chance to get back into the top seven by losing 1-0 to Notts County on Saturday. However, they've got a great chance to get back to winning ways as the Shrimps are bottom with only one win from 12. Tickets
National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Eastleigh @745pm - the Daggers enjoyed a resounding 4-0 win over struggling AFC Fylde on Saturday to give their new boss Kevin Phillips a terrible start. The win leaves them just three points adrift of the play-off places. Eastleigh were top after a brilliant start but with only one win from six, they've slipped to ninth. Tickets
National League South
Welling United v Enfield Town @745pm - the match of the night in the sixth tier sees two of the bottom five clash at Park View Road. The Wings picked up a crucial win at St Albans City, who are also at the wrong end of the table, to move four points clear of the relegation zone. As mentioned above, Enfield lost to Aveley on Saturday so they really need to get something here. Tickets
Isthmian League Premier
Cray Wanderers v Whitehawk @745pm - it seems to be all about teams who are having a tough time this week as we have two of the bottom three in this seventh-tier division going head-to-head at Flamingo Park. Bottom side Cray, who are London's oldest club, are five points adrift of safety but have games in hand on all those immediately above them. Tickets
Southern League Division 1 Central
Hadley v Beaconsfield Town @745pm - the Bricks were held to a 1-1 draw at Barton Rovers on Saturday, allowing Real Bedford and Welwyn Garden City to cut the gap on the leaders to one point.
The visitors are in lower midtable and suffered the embarrassment of becoming the first team to lose to bottom club Northwood this season. For me, Hadley start as strong favourites. Tickets are available on the gate and there's a reduced rate of £5 for Premier League, EFL and National League season-ticket holders
SCEFL Premier
Holmesdale v Fisher @745pm - the hosts are in the top four despite having a negative goal difference. This is largely down to the fact that they've played several more games than anyone around them so their position is arguably a little false. The Fish are also in the top six but they too have played more than most of those around them except Holmesdale. Both need to win to keep themselves among the leading pack or they could to start to slip fairly quickly. Tickets will be available on the gate
CCL Division 1
Belstone v Bedfont @745pm - the hosts thrashed FC Deportivo Galicia 6-0 on Saturday to strengthen their grip on second place. Bedfont also picked up three points with a 1-0 win over Windsor, a result which lifted them to seventh. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Wednesday 23 October
Championship
Millwall v Plymouth Argyle @745pm - two of the bottom five meet at The Den. These clubs sit just above the relegation zone and they'll stay out of it whatever happens here as the bottom three all played on Tuesday. The Lions are unbeaten in 10 against the Pilgrims, a run which stretches back to 1998. Tickets
National League
Wealdstone v Braintree Town @745pm - now nine without a win in the league, it looks like being an important night for the Stones and their boss Matt Taylor. The former Portsmouth and West Ham player is really struggling to get a tune out of his side who sit second bottom in the league. Braintree, who are just outside the relegation zone, are the team they have to catch so a win will be huge for them. Tickets
National League South
Boreham Wood v Hornchurch @745pm - these sides were two division apart last season but a relegation and a promotion have brought them together. If the hosts win, they'll go fifth. It's a different story for the Urchins who were bumping along nicely enough in midtable but five games without a win has left them perched precariously just above the relegation zone. Tickets
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v FC Clacton @745pm - the hosts will go top if they win here and they really should as Clacton are bottom with only one win all season. However, three points at Ashtons will lift them out of the relegation zone. Tickets will be available on the gate
ECL Division 1 South
AS London v Harlow Town @745pm - playing in Haringey, AS London have the chance to move into the top eight with victory on Wednesday. The stakes are even higher for Harlow as they'll go top if victory is theirs. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Thursday 24 October
UEFA Europa League
Tottenham Hotspur v AZ Alkmaar @8pm - Spurs have opened their European campaign with two wins from two to move into the leading group. The Dutch visitors are 18th out of 36 in the qualifying league table after a win and a loss. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £149
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Friday 25 October
Women's international friendly
England v Germany @730pm - the Lionesses return to Wembley to play their first game there since April. It will also be the first time they've played Germany since that European Championship final which England famously won in 2022. Since then, Sarina Wiegman's side have made a World Cup final, struggled a little in the Nations League but also , most recently, qualified for Euro 2025 so will be in a position to defend their crown. Germany, on the other hand, had a bad World Cup but finished third in the Nations League, third in the Olympics and qualified with relative ease for next summer's Euros. My instinct is that the visitors are in better form but a draw seems the most likely result. Tickets
Premier League 2
Chelsea v Leicester City @7pm - if you're on a tight budget or don't want to flog all the way up to Wembley, watching the Blues' U21 side might be a better option. Being played at Kingsmeadow in Kingston, Chelsea have made a rather underwhelming start to the PL2 season with only two wins from six. The Foxes have done a little better but this should hopefully produce a well-matched midtable contest. Tickets are £7
Essex Senior League
Barking v Buckhurst Hill @745pm - the highest level non-league match of the night is this ninth-tier game in east London. The Blues are seventh but have games in hand on all of those above them so a play-off push looks highly realistic. The visitors are only two points behind in 11th but have played four more games. A home win looks like the most likely outcome. Tickets are £10 on the gate
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Saturday 26 October
Premier League
Brentford v Ipswich Town @3pm - as two of the smaller teams in the division, both should be targeting this match as one to get something out of. In reality though, the Bees should win as they are more established at this level and sitting comfortably in midtable. Eight games into the season, Ipswich are one of four teams at the bottom who have yet to win a game. Brentford have won their last three home games against the Suffolk club but this will be their first meeting at the GTech. Tickets are only available to members
Championship
Watford v Blackburn Rovers @1230pm - after a bright start, the Hornets have now lost four of their last six and they're now down to ninth. Rovers occupy the last play-off place but are only three points ahead of Watford so can be caught by the Hertfordshire club. The Lancashire side won here last season and look to have the form to do it again. Tickets
League One
Charlton Athletic v Wrexham @3pm - unbeaten in three, the Addicks will have to be at their best for the visit of their high-flying Welsh opponents. Famously owned by Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, Wrexham came up from League Two last season and seem well capable of doing it again. Having taken a look at the records, this would appear to be the first match between the two since 1982 and on that occasion, Charlton won 1-0. Tickets
League Two
Bromley v Barrow @3pm - the Ravens recorded their first win since August on Tuesday with a superb 1-0 victory over fourth-placed Doncaster. Now five points clear of the relegation zone, they need to start building some momentum to push even further away from it. Barrow sit a point below the play-off places but with one win in six, they're not in great form. Tickets
National League
Barnet v Rochdale @3pm - the game of the day in the fifth tier sees two of the top five meet at The Hive. The Bees were top but back-to-back defeats have seen them slip to third. The visitors enjoyed a 2-1 win over Halifax in midweek to go fifth. Barnet are unbeaten in 10 home games against Rochdale, a record which goes back to 1999. Tickets
National League South
Hornchurch v Torquay United @3pm - the Urchins are now seven without a win in all competitions and are down to 20th in the league. The Gulls, on the other hand, are third after losing only two of their 12 games and could go top if they win here and other results go their way. Tickets
FA Trophy First Round
Dulwich Hamlet v Hashtag United @3pm - at this stage of the competition no new teams enter the draw so it's the remaining 64 teams from the seventh and eighth tiers facing off against each other before the sixth-tier teams enter in the next round. The Hamlet have never been beyond the quarter-finals and that stage is still a way off this time. As for the Tags, this is the first time they've made it through the qualifying rounds so they've made history already. They are, however, in the Isthmian Premier's bottom four so they'll start as underdogs here. Tickets
Hadley v Hastings United @3pm - the best chance of a shock would appear to be a Brickfield Lane where the Southern League Division 1 Central leaders welcome opposition from the level above. Having already beaten Carshalton, who are higher ranked than Hastings, it would appear they have the ability to do it again. Tickets are £10 on the gate
Hanwell Town v Hendon @3pm - we've also got this derby to look forward to. Both sides were in the Southern Premier South last season but after some league restructuring in the summer, the Greens went back to the Isthmian League. Both are hovering around midtable in their respective seventh-tier divisions so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Tickets
Uxbridge v Chertsey Town @3pm - there are only four ties taking place around London and this is the other one. The Reds are the lowest ranked London club left in the competition and they face tricky opposition in the form of the Curfews who play a level above them. Chertsey also made it to the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying and famously won the FA Vase in 2019. Tickets are £5 on the gate
CCL Premier North
North Greenford United v Berks County @3pm - it's a big day at Berkeley Fields where the hosts are celebrating their 80th anniversary. As a result they're offering free entry to everyone as they look to draw level with leaders Egham Town. They should get the points as the newly promoted visitors are struggling near the bottom of the table. Don't forget it's FREE ENTRY
CCL Premier South
AFC Whyteleafe v Knaphill @3pm - elsewhere in the ninth tier, the teams in second and third in this division meet at Church Road. The Leafe won promotion from the 10th tier last season and are on course to go up again. They're level on points with Knaphill but have played a game less so a win here will significantly strengthen their grip on second. Tickets are £8
SCEFL Division 1
Forest Hill Park v Faversham Strike Force @3pm - the hosts come into this match as leaders, just three goals ahead of Croydon who have the same amount of points. They're also the division's joint top scorers with Canterbury City but they've played two games less. FSF are fifth and could go third with a win. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Sunday 27 October
Premier League
Chelsea v Newcastle United @2pm - there's a packed programme of top-flight football on Sunday with a whopping four games. The Blues are seventh in the league and ticking over pretty nicely with only two defeats so far. They also come into this on the back of a comfortable 4-1 Conference League win over Panathinaikos in Athens. The Magpies are winless in four and down to ninth and it's also 12 years since they last won at Stamford Bridge. Tickets have sold out but hospitality packages are available from £400
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur @2pm - after losing at Nottingham Forest on Monday night, the Eagles must know they're in some trouble. In the bottom three and winless in eight it's not looking good. Spurs come into this on the back of wins over West Ham and AZ Alkmaar and they're now the Premier League's second highest goal scorers - an away win looks likely. Tickets are only available to members
West Ham United v Manchester United @2pm - the Hammers suffered a 4-1 humbling at Spurs last week to slip to 15th. However, the Red Devils are just a win ahead of them and far from their best. The hosts should be better rested than the visitors who were in Istanbul drawing with Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday. West Ham have also won their last two against Man Utd at the London Stadium so we could end up with a draw here. Tickets
Arsenal v Liverpool @430pm - as usual, the biggest game of the week comes right at the end as two of the giants of English football meet at the Emirates. The Gunners' title bid received a setback last time out as they lost at Bournemouth, ending the match with 10 men again. The result left them four points behind leaders Liverpool who won their big game against Chelsea. The Reds have won four of their last six games at this stadium and Arsenal will do well to beat them. Tickets are only available to members
FAWNL Plate Second Round
AFC Wimbledon v Southampton Academy @2pm - after seeing the original tie in Hampshire postponed last weekend, the sides have agreed to switch venues and have another go at Plough Lane. The winners will host Norwich City in the next round. Tickets
FAWNL Division 1 South East
Actonians v London Seaward @2pm - after a couple of weeks of cup football, the A's return to league action against the other independent women's side in the division. The hosts have started superbly and are second after only one defeat which came in their last league match at Dulwich Hamlet. East London club Seaward are in the relegation zone after managing only one win all season. However, they have a habit of causing Actonians a few issues at Rectory Park, earning draws on their last two visits after being two goals adrift. Tickets are £5 in advance or on the gate
London Bees v Norwich City @2pm - after an iffy start, the hosts are now building up quite a head of steam. Unbeaten in five, they've scored 10 goals in their last two games. On Sunday they welcome the league leaders so they'll need to be at their best. The Canaries were seen by many to be favourites to win the title and although they're top, they're by no means running away with it after drawing their last three games. Tickets
QPR v Dulwich Hamlet @2pm - after getting thrashed by local rivals Actonians at the start of September, the R's went on a six-game unbeaten run. Then they ran into Watford, another local rival, who thrashed them 6-1 in the FAWNL Cup last Sunday. To be fair, the Hornets play a level above them and Rangers didn't have a recognised goalkeeper available. Dulwich are new to the division and doing well. Up to third, they either win or they lose - they don't do draws. This is being played at Hayes & Yeading United and tickets will be available on the gate for £5
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?
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