Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.
Thankfully I made it to my big birthday on Tuesday and I celebrated it with, among other things, a trip to Loftus Road to watch QPR for the first time this year.
My running buddy Liam managed to get hold of a couple of free tickets right behind the goal in the School End, which is one of my favourite places to sit.
Sadly, the R's couldn't build on their fine draw with leaders Sunderland and promptly got stuffed 4-1 by Middlesbrough.
I say stuffed, it was 2-1 until pretty late in the day and the two goals at the end made things look worse than I believe they actually were.
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| Actonians travelled to Norwich City on Sunday |
Don't get me wrong, all is not well in the state of Denmark and QPR have since gone bottom following another loss to Leeds, but I don't share the despair of many others.
Also, I was incredibly lucky this week to receive an invite from Athletic Bilbao to attend their big derby with Real Sociedad in a couple of weeks time.
When I received the WhatsApp message from one of their directors, I was blown away and couldn't quite believe it - it's going to be quite an experience!
I hope to take in a couple of other lower league games while I'm there too.
The week ended on a real high with a day trip to Norwich to watch Actonians' big top-of-the-table clash against the Canaries at The Nest.
They defended stoutly and counterattacked well and recorded a hugely important 2-1 win to go two points clear at the top.
Coming into the season, avoiding relegation was my main priority so to be top with the halfway mark approaching at the end of the month was and is totally unexpected.
Next up they host bottom club Ashford Town but follow it up with the visit of Real Bedford who are now second and looking formidable - they are the only unbeaten side in the division.
Anyway, I'm just going to savour today for as long as possible - it was great.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week sees the latest international break, meaning there's no Premier League or Championship matches this week. We do, however, have a big Nations League match between England and Ireland at Wembley, fixtures in League One and League Two, the EFL Trophy, National League Cup and lots of FA Trophy and other non-league games.
It's also a great weekend for watching women's football with most teams affiliated to a men's club playing at their main stadiums so there are great, cheap opportunities to visit the likes of Stamford Bridge, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, The Valley and Loftus Road.
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 11 November
Isthmian League Cup Third Round
Carshalton Athletic v AFC Croydon Athletic @745pm - the Robins enjoyed a thrilling 4-3 win over high-flying Billericay Town on Saturday to move up to ninth in the league. This should make them strong favourites against a side who are 10th in the division below. The winners will play Leatherhead or Westfield in the next round. Tickets
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Tuesday 12 November
EFL Trophy
Charlton Athletic v Bromley @7pm - the Addicks have got off to a perfect start in Southern Group C with back-to-back wins over Cambridge United and Chelsea U21s. Next up they face near neighbours Bromley who are competing in the competition for the first time following their promotion from the National League. With one win and one defeat, they're bottom of the group. Tickets
National League Cup
Wealdstone v Southampton U21 @7pm - things were starting to look really dire for Matt Taylor and the Stones but they're definitely moving in the right direction. With 10 points from their last four league games and a superb win at Grimsby Town in the FA Cup, they're now only a point adrift of safety. The only reverse in the last few weeks came in their opening group game of this competition which they lost 2-0 to Fulham U21s. Tickets
National League South
Boreham Wood v Truro City @745pm - the hosts missed a golden chance to move within two points of the play-off places by surprisingly losing to bottom club Aveley on Saturday. Now five adrift of the top seven, they'll hope to get something out of this game in hand to cut the gap. It's unlikely to be easy though as Cornish club Truro are only being kept off top spot by goal difference. Tickets
Southern League Premier South
Chertsey Town v Basingstoke Town @745pm - there have been some big games between these two in recent years. In 2022 they both made the Isthmian League South Central play-offs where the Curfews thrashed Basingstoke 4-1 in the semis before bowing out themselves in the final. The following year Basingstoke won the title to get promoted to this level and Chertsey followed them up as champions a year later. The Hampshire club could move into the top five with a win here while Chertsey are looking to build a cushion between themselves and the bottom four. Tickets will be available on the gate, online ones have yet to go on sale
Isthmian League South Central
Hanworth Villa v Harrow Borough @745pm - the hosts have made a disappointing start to November losing both their league games and going out of the Middlesex Senior Cup on penalties to North Greenford United who play a level below them. As a result they've slipped to 10th. It's been a disappointing week for Boro too who narrowly lost both of their big league matches to fellow promotion contenders Kingstonian and Farnham Town. Still fourth, they could get back up to third with a win here.Tickets are £11 on the gate
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Wednesday 13 November
Isthmian League South Central
Kingstonian v Sutton Common Rovers @745pm - five wins on the trot have elevated the K's to second and made them Farnham's main rivals for the title. Now four points behind but with a game in hand, this match against struggling SCR presents them with a great chance to reduce the deficit to just one point. Tickets are £10 on the gate
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Thursday 14 November
Professional Development League
Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday @12pm - it's all about youth and development football on Thursday with this U21 game at The Den the best of what's on offer. Both clubs are in midtable. Tickets are £5
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Friday 15 November
ECL Division 1 South
Cannons Wood v Rayleigh Town @745pm - the hosts continue to be the top club in this division from TLFG's catchment area. Currently fourth, third place is within their grasp. Rayleigh are a top eight club themselves and they could move level with the top five with victory. Tickets will be available on the gate for £7
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Saturday 16 November
Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @145pm - with it being a men's international break, the biggest crowds in the capital on Saturday will be at women's matches. Thanks to the staggered kick-off times, you can watch two matches in two of the best stadiums between four of the country's best teams. Starting at lunchtime we have the latest North London Derby which is being played at the THS. Last season, Spurs managed to register their first ever win over the Gunners in this fixture and they'll be desperate to repeat the feat here. Both sides have made disappointing starts but Arsenal are beginning to thrive under interim boss Renee Slegers and they come into this on the back of a 4-0 Champions League win at Juventus and a 5-0 drubbing of Brighton in the WSL. Tickets
Chelsea v Manchester City @530pm - with the game in N17 under your belt, you should have time to hop onto the Tube down to Fulham Broadway just in time for this match at Stamford Bridge. Fans of the women's game have been looking forward to this match for a while as it features the top two clubs in the country. The Blues are the reigning champions and are currently second as a result of playing a game less than City who are one point ahead of them at the top. Chelsea have won all six of their games whilst the visitors dropped a couple of points at Arsenal. It has the potential to be a classic. Tickets
League Two
Bromley v Carlisle United @3pm - the top level men's game of the day is this one at Hayes Lane where two of the division's strugglers battle for some crucial points. The Ravens are new to this level after winning promotion from the National League and have only won three of their 14 games as they've struggled to adjust. Getting to grips with the new division has been even tougher for the visitors who came down from League One last season and are showing strong indications that they could go down again. Tickets
National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet @3pm - the game of the day in the fifth tier is this derby between sides from the east and north of London. The Daggers have been models of inconsistency this season and are therefore slap bang in the middle of the table, six points from the play-off and relegation places. The highlight of their season so far has been their run to the Second Round of the FA Cup which sees them travel to AFC Wimbledon in two weeks time. The Bees, on the other hand, are third and firmly in the title race again. However, with only one win in four, they're having a bit of wobble and could do with getting all three points here to keep pace with York and Forest Green. Tickets
Sutton United v Maidenhead United @3pm - I think it's fair to say that the U's season has fallen a bit flat. Recently relegated from the EFL, the south London club made a reasonable start back to life in the fifth tier but they're now stuck in the midtable doldrums, unable to build any momentum. In fact with four defeats from five, they're starting to go in the wrong direction. Maidenhead are one of the smallest clubs in the division and are doing really well to be into their eighth consecutive season at this level. Last year they managed a 14th-place finish but they come into this in the relegation zone and in serious need of a win. Tickets
Wealdstone v Rochdale @3pm - one of Maidenhead's main rivals to avoid the drop are the Stones. The Ruislip-based side made a very poor start but they're building a bit of momentum and picked up another win in midweek against Southampton's U21s in the National League Cup. Only a point adrift of safety, a win here could well lift them out of the bottom four. It's not going to be easy though as former EFL side Rochdale are in the top six and should bring a sizeable travelling support. Tickets
FA Trophy Second Round
This national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers with its final at Wembley has reached the Second Round stage. At this point, all the clubs in the sixth tier enter the draw alongside the remaining sides from the seventh and eighth tiers. The winners of each tie receive £3,750 and the losers £1,0000
Aveley v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - the Millers have been struggling all season in the National League South but managed to beat play-off hopefuls Boreham Wood last Saturday to give themselves a significant boost and move off the bottom. Hemel were top of the same division in the early weeks of the campaign but they're now in midtable and bottom of the form table after losing their last five. It looks promising for the hosts. Tickets
Boreham Wood v Felixstowe & Walton United @3pm - the Wood recovered superbly from their surprise defeat to Aveley by beating title contenders Truro 1-0 on Tuesday. Now two points adrift of the play-off places with a game in hand, they would appear to be back on track when it comes to the league. The Hertfordshire club have built a reputation for being a good cup side and took Leyton Orient to penalties in the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago before bowing out. They haven't been nearly as impressive in this competition though, losing at the first attempt for the last two seasons. That run should end here as Felixstowe play two levels below them and are one of the lowest-ranked teams left in the competition. Tickets
Enfield Town v Hornchurch @3pm - both of these sixth-tier sides got promoted from the Isthmian League last season but both have found it tough going. The Towners are in real trouble at the bottom of the league with their last win in any competition coming at the beginning of October. Since then they've also been knocked out of the London Senior Cup and Middlesex Senior Cup by lower-division opposition. Things are looking more positive for the Urchins though. With only one defeat in seven in all competitions, they appear to be going in the right direction. The Essex club famously won this competition in 2021 while still an Isthmian League outfit. Tickets
Welling United v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - another one of our local sixth-tier clubs have also been drawn at home and they too are struggling in the league. With four consecutive defeats, the Wings are now in the bottom six. On paper they should start as favourites here as their opponents, from Hampshire, play a level below them and are in midtable after an indifferent start. Tickets
Hadley v AFC Telford United @3pm - I think the tie which interests me the most is this one at Brickfield Lane in the far north of London. The hosts are one of the smallest clubs left in the competition but have made a great start in their eighth-tier division and should get a play-off spot at the very least. They've also really impressed in this competition, winning four ties just to get this far. In the previous two rounds they've claimed the scalps of Isthmian Premier sides Carshalton Athletic and Hastings United to cause some fine cupsets. Shropshire club Telford are a reincarnation of the original Telford United who were one of the biggest names in non-league football when I was growing up. To this day, they are still the most successful club in FA Trophy history with three wins and two runners-up spots. Sadly they folded in 2004. 'AFC' were formed the same year and rejoined in the eighth tier. They've spent most of the last 20 years in the sixth tier but last year got relegated to the seventh. Challenging for promotion, they should provide Hadley with their toughest test yet. Tickets are £10 on the gate
SCEFL Premier Division
VCD Athletic v Corinthian @3pm - the Vickers have been out in front at the top of this ninth-tier division pretty much from the off. Now 15 games in, they're three points clear but having trouble shrugging off Faversham Town who have a game in hand. On Saturday they welcome Corinthian who are fifth. Their hold on that last play-off spot is not a strong one though as there's only three points between them and the club in tenth. Tickets will be available on the gate - I'm not sure of the price but it shouldn't exceed £10
CCL Division 1
Belstone v Windsor & Eton @3pm - both of these clubs are new to the 10th tier following promotions from county league football last season and are both doing really well. The hosts, who play in Hertfordshire near Boreham Wood, are third and only a point behind their opponents from Berkshire. Long-time non-league watchers will remember the original Windsor & Eton who sadly folded in 2011 but this side re-formed last year and have taken everything in their stride as they look to quickly re-establish themselves. Although only a point clear, they have five games in hand on their nearest challengers so a win here will strengthen their position considerably. Tickets will be available on the gate for £7
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UEFA Nations League
England v Ireland @530pm - the biggest match of the week comes right at the end and takes place at Wembley Stadium. I still haven't quite figured out how the Nations League works but what I do know is that England don't have a great record in it. Beaten by Greece in an earlier group game, all you really need to know is that this is a big derby and it should mean a lot to all involved whatever the competition. The Three Lions won the reverse fixture in Dublin 2-0 back in early September. Tickets
FA Trophy Second Round
Hashtag United v Brackley Town @3pm - as a result of their groundshare with Aveley, the Tags are having to play a day later than everyone else. In the bottom five in the seventh tier Isthmian Premier, they'll start as considerable underdogs against sixth-tier Brackley who won the competition in 2018. Tickets will be available on the gate for £12
SCEFL Premier
Erith & Belvedere v Tunbridge Wells @3pm - the Deres are also involved in a groundshare with Welling United hence their move to Sunday too. These sides are 10th and 11th in their ninth-tier division so it should be close. Tickets are £8 on the gate
Women's Championship
Charlton Athletic v Bristol City @2pm - the Addicks won their first four to go top of the division but they're now winless in four and down to sixth. In an incredibly competitive division where every point counts, the title and solitary promotion place is already starting to look beyond them. The Robins have just come down from the WSL and are also in midtable just ahead of Charlton on goal difference. This is being played at The Valley. Tickets
FAWNL Southern Premier
Watford v Hashtag United @2pm - the Hornets enjoyed a resounding 5-2 over Exeter City last time out to climb to seventh in this third-tier division. On Sunday things are likely to get a whole lot tougher as the Tags' women's team pay them a visit. Three points clear at the top and cruising in the FA Cup, they're a formidable side. This match is being played at Wealdstone's ground in Ruislip. Tickets
FAWNL Division 1 South East
Actonians v Ashford Town (Middlesex) @2pm - the leaders, I'm still finding that hard to write, welcome the bottom club to Rectory Park as they hope to consolidate their position. On paper this should be a home banker but Ashford have had their moments this season and have caused the A's some issues in the past. Last season it was the visitors who were the surprise package of the season, ultimately finishing third but sadly a lot of their key players departed over the summer and they've yet to recover. Tickets are available online or on the gate for £5 and there will be a printed programme available for £2 - I've just finished putting it together
QPR v Norwich City @2pm - elsewhere in the fourth tier, the R's return to Loftus Road for this match against one of the title contenders. After a rocky start, Danny Harrigan's side are starting to build some momentum and are unbeaten in six league games since losing 4-0 to Actonians. Up to sixth, a place in the top four is well within their grasp. The Canaries are a bit troubled at the moment. Runners-up last season, they were seen by many as the favourites this year but their loss to Actonians on Sunday extended their winless run to five games and dropped them to fourth. Tickets
Capital Senior Cup First Round
Millwall Lionesses v Tottenham Hotspur U21 @1pm - with all WSL and Championship sides playing games at main men's stadiums this weekend, the fifth-tier Lionesses have joined the party and have got this game moved from their normal home in Rotherhithe to The Den. How they fare against a side from Spurs' academy is anyone's guess but I don't expect it to be particularly one-sided. Tickets
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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