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.
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| 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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