Monday, 18 November 2024

TLFG: 18-24 November 2024

Welcome one and all to this week's TLFG.

How has your week been?

After the excitement of my trip to Norwich last weekend, I've had a quiet week with lots of time spent at work.

I did get time to put together the programme for Actonians' game against Ashford Town on Sunday and I thought I'd choose the photo I included in last week's blog to feature on the front cover.

It showed star striker Dior Knorr holding off a defender during the win at The Nest and I thought it would look good.

Not much more than an hour before kick-off this afternoon, the news broke that Dior had signed for third-tier club AFC Wimbledon to break A's fans' hearts and ruin my programme!!!

Millwall welcome leaders Sunderland to The Den on Saturday - tickets

She only turned 18 in October and after only three months with us her obvious talents have catapulted her up a tier already - all the best to her but I hope she doesn't spend the rest of the campaign on the bench for the Dons and miss out on what could've been a potentially brilliant season with us.

If only we could have kept hold of her until the end of the month as we play Real Bedford in a top-of-the-table clash next Sunday which is going to be really tough without her.

Oh well, that's football and we won the game against Ashford without her but they are bottom.

Sadly I won't be at that big game as I'll be heading out to the Basque Country to do a bit of ground hopping.

The current plan is to see the derby between Sestao and Barakaldo on Saturday night, another game to be decided on Sunday afternoon before the big one between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad on Sunday night - I can't wait!

Lastly this week I'd like to pay tribute to James McMahon who sadly passed away this week.

He was a reader of this blog and gave some great feedback over the years.

I was particularly excited by this as he used to be the editor of legendary metal magazine Kerrang! which I used to read avidly as a teenager.

He was only in his early 40s and when the news broke a few months ago that he had cancer it was a terrible shock.

This disease is often a cruel rollercoaster, offering real hope one moment and then crushingly awful news the next as I experienced first hand with my Mum.

According to his social media posts, James seemed to be making some progress and then it all seemed to go downhill quite quickly.

His wife has set up a collection to raise money for a group which helps people with OCD which James also had during his lifetime - it's raised almost £10,000 already.

He was a big Doncaster Rovers fan but also took a shine to Walthamstow whose ground I believe he lived quite close to.

A prolific podcaster on music and the supernatural, he has produced hours of entertaining content.

I don't really know how to end this section, other than to say make the most of the time you have as it could end at any moment.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week sees the Premier League and Championship return after the latest international break.

Alongside this we also have games in League Two, the National League and all our other local non-league competitions.

In midweek, we have some big games in the Women's Champions League and FA Youth Cup.

The week comes to an end with a bumper programme of women's football which includes matches in the next round of the Women's League Cup and Women's FA Cup, not to mention a top-of-the-table clash featuring Actonians in the fourth tier.

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 18 November

Isthmian League Premier Division
Carshalton Athletic v Potters Bar Town @745pm - level on points and sitting just outside the play-off places this looks like being an important game for both as they push for a spot in the top five. Neither side had a great weekend with the Robins only drawing at struggling Bognor while PBT got thrashed 4-0 at home by Cray Wanderers who were also in the bottom three. Tickets

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Tuesday 19 November

League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley @745pm - three points adrift of the play-off places, the Dons have three games in hand and a win here against Accrington will put them seventh at Grimsby Town's expense. Lancashire club Stanley are down in 18th but have only lost two of their last 10 games against Wimbledon so would appear to be a bit of bogey team. Tickets

National League South
Welling United v Weymouth @745pm - four straight defeats in the league have seen the Wings slip into the bottom six in this sixth-tier division. On Saturday they suffered the ignominy of losing at home to lower-division opposition in the FA Trophy as their bad form continued. On Tuesday they face a huge game against a side in the relegation zone. Sadly for them, Weymouth's form is improving. The Dorset club are unbeaten in six league games and beat the division's leaders Weston-super-Mare in the FA Trophy on Saturday to cause a bit of an upset. It looks like it could be another tough evening for Welling, especially if they lose. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Division
Wingate & Finchley v Chatham Town @745pm - both these sides made the play-offs last season but were ultimately unsuccessful as Enfield Town went up. Amazingly, of the two, it's relative minnows Wingate who are right up there and challenging again. They come into this in third after winning 2-0 at Whitehawk on Saturday. The Chats haven't been nearly as impressive and are down in 12th. Their weekend fixture saw them lose on penalties to Slough Town in the FA Trophy. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central
Rayners Lane v Harrow Borough @745pm - the Boro have had a disastrous November, losing five league games on the bounce, several against their promotion rivals. They're now down to eighth and badly need a win to stop the rot. Only a point adrift of the play-off places, they're still in contention so all is not lost. On Tuesday they travel to very near neighbours Rayners Lane whose ground you can walk to in around 20 minutes from Earlsmead. The Lane are new to the division following promotion and are six points behind in 13th. Tickets are £10 on the gate 

FA Youth Cup Second Round
Leyton Orient v Whitehawk @7pm - last year Barking made all the headlines as they fought their way from the qualifying rounds all the way through to the Third Round of this U18 competition. This year their hopes of repeating the feat ended in the First Round where they lost to Whitehawk. The Sussex club entered in the Preliminary Round and have so far beaten Chipstead, Three Bridges, Worthing, Kingstonian and the Blues. The O's only entered in the previous round where they beat Aldershot Town. The winners will host AFC Fylde in the next round. Tickets will be £4 on arrival
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Wednesday 20 November

UEFA Women's Champions League
Chelsea v Celtic @8pm - we've got a Battle of Britain to enjoy at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night as Sonia Bompastor will look to extend her 100% record as Blues manager. Their new French boss has seamlessly picked up where Emma Hayes left off and has arguably taken the side to an even higher level. On Saturday they beat main WSL title rivals Manchester City 2-0 to go two points clear at the top with a game in hand. Prior to that, they won the reverse of this fixture against Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow to stay top of their Champions League group. Overall, it's 10 wins out of 10 and looking pretty great. Tickets

Essex Senior League
Ilford v Barking @745pm - for me, the best non-league option of the night looks like this east London derby at Cricklefields. The Foxes haven't made the best start and are in the bottom six whilst the Blues could break into the play-off places with a win here. Tickets will be available on the gate

FA Youth Cup Second Round
Bromley v RB Kensington @745pm - the visitors are another side on the verge of achieving something momentous in this U18 competition. Like Whitehawk, they've battled through from the Preliminary Round beating Hayes & Yeading United, Slough Town, Hemel Hempstead Town, Jersey Bulls and Sheringham. As the academy of a League Two club, the Ravens only came in in the previous round where they beat Woking. Can RBK do it again? A trip to Stoke City awaits the winners. Tickets
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Thursday 21 November

UEFA Women's Champions League
Arsenal v Juventus @8pm - it's all down the Emirates on Thursday night as the Gunners take centre stage. Since the departure of Jonas Eidevall on 15 October, Arsenal have gone unbeaten in six. Their last three games have been really impressive as they've beaten Brighton, Juventus and Spurs and scored 12 goals without reply in the process. Calls are growing for interim boss Renee Slegers to take over on a permanent basis. Given they won 4-0 in Turin last week, a home win looks highly likely here too. Tickets

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Friday 22 November

Premier League Cup
Bromley v Bristol City @7pm - the Ravens are entering this U21 competition for the first time this season. It's still in the group stage at the moment but with only one win, they're third in their group and could do with another victory here. Tickets

U18 Professional Development League Cup
Brentford v AFC Wimbledon @8pm - it's a very similar story at Wheatsheaf Park in Staines where a Bees side who are third in their group go in search of a win to boost their chances of qualification. However, this time they're playing a Dons side who are top. Tickets
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Previews for 23-24 November to follow

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 

Sunday, 10 November 2024

TLFG: 11-17 November 2024

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.

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 have sold out

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?
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 

Monday, 4 November 2024

TLFG: 3-10 November 2024

Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.

Work was intense over the weekend, meaning I'm only getting this published on Monday morning.

It's still a little rushed though I'm afraid.

There are match maps and previews for Monday to Friday but not as many as I'd like as time is short - there is a big programme of non-league games on Tuesday which I can't fully cover but have a look on the map to see what's on.

If I make it past midnight tonight, then I will have made it through another decade and a big birthday celebration will kick in.

I'm lucky enough to have three days off so will spend the day itself going out somewhere with my wife while the kids are at school, have a takeaway of my choosing when they get home and then finish off by strolling round to Loftus Road for QPR v Middlesbrough.

Liam, who I run with, managed to source a free ticket for me so I'll be making my first trip to see the first team play since December.

The next round of the FA Vase takes place this weekend 

At the end of the week I then plan to head to Norwich City to watch Actonians - my oldest friend from primary school lives there and this seems like a very apt time to catch up.

Ok, I think that'll suffice for now.

Lastly, many thanks to long-time reader Tim G from London who made a generous donation to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund which I really appreciate.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Apart from run of the mill league fixtures at all levels, the only unusual extras we have are Chelsea in the UEFA Conference League, some games in the National League Cup and most excitingly, the next round of the FA Vase.

There are a whopping five Premier League games spread over the weekend and the Emirates Stadium will also be hosting Arsenal Women on Friday night.

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 4 November

Premier League
Fulham v Brentford @8pm - the week begins with this tasty west London derby at Craven Cottage. As two of the smaller clubs in the division, it's fair to say they're both doing pretty well. If you'd said to fans of either of these sides a few years ago that they'd be starting November above Manchester United they'd think you were mad but that's the case. The Bees are in better form and have only lost one of their last five against the Cottagers so a point looks like the least they should be able to achieve. A handful of tickets are still available

Professional Development League
Brentford v Millwall @7pm - if the prices at Craven Cottage are off-putting, then you could watch the Bees' U21 side instead. They're playing their counterparts from The Den at their facility in Staines. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central
Sutton Common Rovers v Raynes Park Vale @745pm - the highest level non-league game of the day takes place at Carshalton Athletic's ground. SCR are too close to the bottom four for their liking so could definitely do with a win here. However, RPV are fifth and firmly in the hunt for a play-off spot again. Tickets will be available on the gate for £11

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Tuesday 5 November

Championship
QPR v Middlesbrough @745pm - it's my birthday on Tuesday and a friend has provided me with a free ticket to go to this. It's a milestone birthday so it kind of feels right that this is where I should be. The R's did well to hold leaders Sunderland to a 0-0 draw on Saturday to extend their unbeaten record to three games. Still in the relegation zone, they need a win soon so they don't lose touch with the teams above them. Boro are the models of inconsistency, bumping around in midtable, losing three of their last five. Games between the two are incredibly unpredictable too but the best one I attended came in 1998 when Mark Kennedy arrived on loan from Liverpool and orchestrated a spectacular 5-0 win over a Middlesbrough side who I think were top at the time. Tickets

National League Cup
We're still in the group stage of this competition at the moment and there are two games this evening. Dagenham & Redbridge host West Bromwich Albion U21s at 745pm (tickets) whilst Wealdstone take on Fulham U21 at 7pm (tickets). Notably, both of these non-league sides caused FA Cup upsets on Saturday beating Crewe Alexandra and Grimsby Town respectively

National League South
Hornchurch v Hemel Hempstead Town @745pm - two of the most out-of-form teams in the sixth tier meet in east London on Tuesday. The Urchins are new to the division after promotion and are doing enough to stay clear of the relegation zone with their first win in a while arriving last Saturday against Torquay United. Hemel were top after a great start but their form has deserted them and they're now winless in seven. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier
Cray Valley PM v Cray Wanderers @745pm - it might not surprise you to know that this is a derby. Matches between the two in recent years have been few and far between as they've been in different divisions. CVPM are the club on the up. With two recent promotions, a great FA Cup run last season, a trip to Wembley for the FA Vase Final in 2019 and in the top four again, it's been a good few years. Wanderers are London's oldest club and they've just moved into a new ground but they're struggling in the league. Although down towards the bottom, their results are improving and they're now unbeaten in four. Tickets

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Wednesday 6 November

Championship
Millwall v Leeds United @745pm - the Lions enjoyed a great win over Burnley on Sunday which allowed Leeds to end the weekend in the top two. Unbeaten in five, the hosts are now just two points off the play-offs themselves. With two of the 'liveliest' sets of fans in the country, the atmosphere should be decent. Tickets

National League South
Boreham Wood v Farnborough @745pm - the Wood did really well to take League One side Leyton Orient to penalties in the FA Cup on Sunday but they sadly lost. With only one defeat in six in the league, they're hovering just outside the play-off places. Farnborough were top but they're now winless in three and down to fourth. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central
Kingstonian v Moneyfields @745pm - the K's won their big game against Harrow Borough on Saturday despite playing with 10 men for the whole second half, a result which lifted them to second. Leaders Farnham are now seven points clear but have played two games more, meaning the hosts have a great chance to cut the gap here as the visitors are in the bottom five. Tickets are £10 on the gate
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Thursday 7 November

UEFA Conference League
Chelsea v FC Noah @8pm - the Blues' first appearance in this competition is pitting them against some unusual opposition. They'll be off to Kazakhstan next month to play Astana but before that they welcome Noah who I have to admit to never having heard of. A bit of research discovered that they're from Armenia. They're not too bad either, having narrowly lost to Rapid Vienna in their first game and then beating Mlada Boleslav in the next. Despite this, Chelsea represent a huge step in class and if they get anything at Stamford Bridge it will be close to miraculous. Tickets
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Friday 8 November

Championship
Watford v Oxford United @8pm - the Hornets' 6-2 win at Sheffield Wednesday put them into the top five this weekend. With Oxford really struggling for wins and just two points above the relegation zone, a third consecutive triumph looks likely. Tickets

Women's Super League
Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion @7pm - if you've never been to the Emirates Stadium then now's your chance as the Gunners' women are playing there on Friday. After making some shrewd summer signings, it's the Seagulls who've made the better start and they come into this match in third place. With only two wins from six, Arsenal are still taking stock after sacking manager Jonas Eidevall and it seems that they're already effectively out of the title race, given the margins between success and failure are so small in this league. Tickets

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Saturday 9 November

Premier League
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth @3pm - the Bees conceded two injury-time goals to lose their big derby with Fulham on Monday. Normally they'd eye this fixture as one to pick up some points but the Cherries are in fine form with recent wins over Arsenal and Manchester City so they couldn't be playing them at a much worse time. However, they're unbeaten in five against the Dorset club and they'll hope to get something here. Tickets are only on sale to members
Crystal Palace v Fulham @3pm - after a poor start to their campaign, the Eagles are now unbeaten in three. The run has included impressive wins over Spurs in the league and Aston Villa in the EFL Cup, a result which has put them in the quarter-finals. The Cottagers' win over Brentford put them into the top 10 and they could go even higher if they win this derby too. Tickets are only available to members
West Ham United v Everton @3pm - the Hammers followed up their fine win over Manchester United by losing to in-form Nottingham Forest but they're still a good six points clear of the relegation zone. The Toffees were starting to get going after building a five game unbeaten run but then they became the first side to lose to bottom club Southampton. Everton won here last season but it will take something to repeat that feat this time. Tickets

League One
Leyton Orient v Blackpool @3pm - with only one win from five, only goal difference is keeping the O's out of the relegation zone. Next up they entertain the midtable Seasiders who come into this on the back of a penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool U21s in the EFL Trophy. Orient won here last season but were winless in six against the Lancashire club before that. Tickets

League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Grimsby Town @3pm - the Dons won their grudge match against MK Dons in the FA Cup on Sunday and will now hope to win some league games, having postponed a few following flooding in their stadium. The table is tight with the seven teams above them all within three points. If they win all their games in hand, they could move into the top three. Tickets

National League
Barnet v Oldham Athletic @530pm - the Bees are London's top-ranked non-league club. Third coming into this, they've finished in the top five for the last two seasons but fallen short in the play-offs. Here they face a big test of their credentials as the Latics are among the leading group too. The former Premier League club have won their last three against the north Londoners so this looks tough. Tickets

National League South
Aveley v Boreham Wood @3pm - my pick of the day in the sixth tier sees two of our local clubs do battle for three points for very different reasons. With only two wins from 15 games, the Millers are now rock bottom and seven points adrift of safety. After pushing Leyton Orient really hard in the FA Cup, the Wood should come into this with some confidence. With two games in hand, a place in the top seven is very much on the cards. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier
Cray Valley PM v Horsham @3pm - newly promoted CVPM have made a superb start to life in the seventh tier and are currently London's top club in this division, coming into this game in third. Horsham enjoyed another good run in the FA Cup this season before bowing out at League Two Chesterfield last weekend. As a result they have three games in hand which would put them second if they won them. Tickets

Isthmian League South Central
Harrow Borough v Farnham Town @3pm - the Boro responded well to their weekend defeat to Kingstonian by beating Hampton & Richmond Borough in the Middlesex Senior Cup on Tuesday. Now down to fourth, they welcome big spending league leaders Farnham. They've already met once this season with the Surrey club winning 4-0. However, during October they failed to win three games and even lost to Leatherhead but just when they started to look fallible, they won a couple more with ease and they're four points clear. Tickets are £10 for adults but a concessionary price of £8 is available to Premier League and EFL season-ticket holders and a range of other people

FA Vase Second Round
This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley is down to its last 128 teams, so we've still got a way to go. The 64 ties are still regionalised at this stage to minimise travel costs. There are numerous ties across London, here are my selection:

Bedfont Sports v Jersey Bulls @230pm - in the day's early kick-off, two of the best sides from the CCL Premier North and CCL Premier South meet next to Heathrow Airport. The hosts lost out at this stage last year to North Greenford United who ultimately made the quarter-finals. Jersey, on the other hand, have made the Fifth Round two years running and, for me, start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate
Egham Town v Haywards Heath Town @3pm - the out-and-out tie of the round, certainly in this part of the world, sees the leaders of two ninth-tier divisions meet at the Runnymede Stadium. I said ahead of the last round that I fancied the Sarnies to go far in this competition this year and they'll have a great chance if they get through this stiff test. Sussex club Haywards Heath are five points clear, have only lost one league game and have a spectacularly tight defence conceding just five goals in 15 games. Tickets will be available on the gate
VCD Athletic v Arundel @3pm - another local club to be in with a great chance of making the later rounds are VCD who also top a ninth-tier division. The Vickers have been at the summit of the SCEFL pretty much all season. Their visitors from Sussex play a level below, are winless in three and really should be beaten. Tickets will be available on the gate

SCEFL Division 1
Forest Hill Park v SOUL Tower Hamlets @3pm - the top game in the tenth tier features two of the top five in this division. FHP were looking really good until they got blown away by title rivals Croydon 5-0 last weekend. Still fourth they can go second with a win here. The visitors are just a point behind with a game in hand and could go second themselves if they take the points. Tickets will be available on the gate
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Sunday 10 November

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Ipswich Town @2pm - Spurs incredible inconsistency returned on Thursday as they followed up their fine wins over Manchester City and Aston Villa with a defeat to Galatasaray in the Europa League. On Sunday, they face a side who are in the relegation zone and still without a win. A win looks pretty much nailed on for the north Londoners but we thought similar ahead of their defeat to Crystal Palace two weeks ago. Tickets are only available to members and hospitality has sold out
Chelsea v Arsenal @430pm - the Blues soundly thrashed Armenian club FC Noah 8-0 in the Conference League on Thursday as their fun start to the season continued. Although a title push is probably beyond them, a place in the top four definitely isn't.  As for the Gunners, things are starting to go wrong quite quickly. With only two wins from five in the league, they're now down to fifth and seven points behind leaders Liverpool. They also lost in midweek to Inter in the Champions League as their disappointing run continued. On current form, the hosts look like favourites. Some hospitality packages are still available

Women's Super League
Crystal Palace v Everton @2pm - with four points from their last four games, the Eagles are keeping their heads above water. They gave a reasonable account of themselves as they lost 3-0 to title contenders Manchester City last weekend and if they are to stay up, they really must win this game against the Toffees who are bottom. This is being played at Sutton United. Tickets
West Ham United v Leicester City @3pm - because Everton got stuffed 5-0 by Chelsea, the Hammers actually moved off the bottom despite losing 2-1 to Spurs. The London club finished second bottom last season and they'll have to win games like this against lower midtable teams if they want to remain at this level. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge. Tickets

Women's Championship
London City Lionesses v Birmingham City @2pm - we've got a blockbuster of a game in the second tier where the top two meet at Bromley's ground. After failing to win two of their first five games, the big spending LCLs lost ground to early leaders Charlton. The Addicks are now winless in four and down to fifth, allowing them and the Blues to move to the top. Like last year this division is ridiculously tight with only three points between the top six. Tickets

FAWNL Southern Premier
Hashtag United v Oxford United @3pm - there's an equally huge game in the third tier where the current top two meet at Aveley's ground. The Tags are currently a point clear of Oxford but both of them are well aware of the challenge of third-placed Ipswich who have two games in hand so neither can afford to slip up here. Tickets will be available on the gate

FAWNL Division 1 South East
Dulwich Hamlet v AFC Sudbury @2pm - there's also a top-two clash between Norwich and Actonians on Sunday but it's in Norfolk so, in my opinion, the best option in the fourth tier in London is this game at Champion Hill. A win here will put the Hamlet on level points with the Canaries if they lose. Sudbury are only a point behind Dulwich and are tough to beat having drawn with both of the top two already. This division has proven to be way more competitive than anyone expected with the big-spending teams right up there but by no means running away with it. Tickets

L&SE Women's League Premier
Fulham v Saltdean United @230pm - there's another big game in the fifth tier too where the teams in third and second meet at Craven Cottage. Given both of them have games in hand on leaders Dartford, this might as well be a top-two clash as well. The Cottagers were always going to be among the favourites this time and although Sussex club Saltdean finished well last season, I didn't expect them to challenge so strongly. However, they've recruited well and are genuine contenders. 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?
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!

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