TLFG: 23 December 2024 - 5 January 2025

Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG's Christmas and New Year Special - I can't believe it's that time of year again.

Below you will find match maps for the next two weeks showing where to find all the men's matches in the top 11 levels of the game and all the women's ones in the top eight.

At the moment I've written previews up until this Friday 28 December and I'll endeavour to write some up-to-date ones for the weekend once Boxing Day is out of the way.

Interestingly, the games are quite spread out with only a few leagues having games on Boxing Day whilst others are only playing on weekends as usual.

There's no Premier League or EFL football in London this Saturday so it's a great opportunity to explore the scores of great non-league clubs which inhabit the city instead.

Barnet could go top if they beat Sutton United on Boxing Day - tickets

Sunday 29 December is when you'll be able to see the capital's top clubs with four Premier League and four EFL games scheduled for then.

I had great hopes of watching one or two games last week but I ended up seeing none.

Midweek football when you're on early shifts and have a young family is a challenge, with games on my doorstep at QPR the only really viable option and there weren't any this week.

On Saturday I was fairly certain I would go to watch the R's against Preston and a free ticket was forthcoming but I didn't as the opportunity to donate blood platelets and plasma came up instead.

For various reasons, donations fall at this time of year but the need doesn't as people still have accidents, fall unwell, have traumatic births or need ongoing treatment for a whole range of conditions.

Donation centres are open every day except Christmas itself so if you've got a couple of hours free, think about saving someone's life or making it a lot better - more info here.

Aside from that, Non-League Day 2025 planning continued with a catch-up meeting with charity partners Prostate Cancer UK.

I also had a chat with some of the team at Athletic Bilbao who provided me with a list of English clubs they want to work with on the day.

There's still loads to do and only three months to go but it keeps me going and I love it!

I'm hoping to make my first trip of the season to Harrow Borough on Boxing Day when they host local rivals Hayes & Yeading United in a derby. 

Where will you be headed?

With one game kicking off at 11am it will be possible to see two games on Thursday but be aware that most National Rail services including the Elizabeth Line and large sections of London Overground will not be running but Tube and bus services should be fine - full details here.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next two weeks include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League and loads of other matches in our local non-league and women's competitions. 

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

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

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MATCH MAP 23-27 DECEMBER
Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

MATCH MAP 28-29 DECEMBER
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

MATCH MAP 30 DECEMBER-3 JANUARY
Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

MATCH MAP 4-5 JANUARY

Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 23 December

Isthmian League North

Walthamstow v Haringey Borough @745pm - all eyes turn towards Wadham Lodge on Monday as the Christmas feast of football gets underway with this north London derby in the eighth tier. Sadly neither side are pushing for the title but with two games in hand, the 'Stow could well get themselves into the play-off race. Haringey suffered relegation from the Isthmian Premier last season and are in the bottom three again so they badly need to get something here. Tickets are £10 on the gate

-------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday 26 December

Premier League

Chelsea v Fulham @3pm - the biggest game of Boxing Day is this derby between two very near neighbours at Stamford Bridge. Both sides come into this on the back of disappointing 0-0 draws with Everton and Southampton respectively. Despite this, the clubs are having good seasons with the Blues in second and the Cottagers challenging for a top-eight finish. The smart money in these games is always on Chelsea as they have utterly dominated these derbies in recent years, losing just once in 25 games. Tickets have sold out but if you're absolutely loaded, hospitality packages are still available from £950!

Championship

Watford v Portsmouth @3pm - Saturday's 2-1 loss at Burnley left the Hornets one point and one position outside the play-off places. On Thursday they face one of the division's bottom five but it could be tougher than a first glance might suggest as Pompey are side on the up. With 11 points from six games, they're in much improved form and their 4-1 thrashing of Coventry on Saturday showed what they're capable of. Interestingly, the sides haven't met at Vicarage Road since 2011 and on that occasion, Watford won 2-0. Tickets

League One

Leyton Orient v Crawley Town @1pm - in one of the day's earlier kick-offs, the O's will be looking to pick up their fourth win in five matches. Although down in 15th, they're only six points off the all-important top six so they've still got plenty to play for. Sussex club Crawley saw their recent run of good results end at Peterborough United and they'll arrive at Brisbane Road in the bottom four. Tickets

Charlton Athletic v Cambridge United @3pm - we've got a very similar match-up at The Valley where the midtable Addicks host a relegation-threatened side. Nathan Jones' team gave their fans an early Christmas present by beating Northampton Town 5-0 on Saturday, a result which leaves them only four points adrift of the play-off spots. Charlton are also unbeaten in nine games against Cambridge, with their last defeat coming way back in 1992. Tickets

League Two

AFC Wimbledon v Swindon Town @3pm - the Dons missed the chance to move into the top three on Saturday as they narrowly lost to promotion rivals Chesterfield. On Boxing Day they have a great opportunity to make amends as they play a troubled Swindon side who've spent most of the season at the wrong end of the table. However, they pulled off an impressive 3-1 win over Grimsby Town to send them into Christmas in the best of spirits. Tickets

Bromley v Newport County @3pm - the Ravens struggled to get to grips with life in the EFL in the opening months of the season following their promotion but now they've hit some form. Unbeaten in seven games and up to 13th, things are looking promising. Welsh club Newport are only a point behind and unbeaten in five themselves so this could be close. Tickets

National League

Barnet v Sutton United @3pm - the Bees lost top spot on Saturday as they could only draw with Halifax. Still level on points with new leaders York City, there's no need to panic. It's a different story for fellow Londoners Sutton though who are now winless in three and down to 13th after losing to Tamworth on Saturday. These two haven't played since 2021 and that occasion, Barnet won 2-0. Tickets

Dagenham & Redbridge v Braintree Town @3pm - the Daggers' mini revival came off the rails at struggling Wealdstone on Sunday as they were soundly beaten 3-0. They'll hope for much better against another one of the strugglers who make the journey down from northern Essex. Tickets

National League South

Aveley v Hornchurch @1pm - as we descend into the lower tiers, the number of derbies increases. The first being this one on the far east of town. Both of these sides were playing in the Isthmian League for years but now they're both in the sixth tier and usually draw a decent crowd for games like this. After a superb first season at this level, the hosts are really struggling this year and find themselves seven points adrift of safety coming into this. The Urchins won promotion at the end of last season and are 13th, well clear of the drop zone. Will the Millers enjoy a Christmas miracle? Head to Parkside to find out. Tickets

Enfield Town v Boreham Wood @3pm - the Towners came up with Hornchurch but have found the step up far more challenging. Level on points with Aveley in the bottom four, things are looking bleak for the north London side. Here they face local rivals who are unbeaten in 10 games and third in the league - an away win looks likely. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier

Cray Valley PM v Chatham Town @3pm - the game of the day in the seventh tier for me takes place at the Artic Stadium. CVPM won the Isthmian South East title last season and had a memorable run in the FA Cup which saw them take local EFL side Charlton Athletic to a replay. They've taken to this new level like ducks to water and find themselves in second after winning 4-2 at Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday. The Chats lost in the play-offs last season and after a slow start are back in the top six again. The hosts are five points behind leaders Dover but have a game in hand so a win here could be huge. A big crowd is expected, so much so that you will have to buy tickets in advance - there will be no sales on the day

Isthmian League South Central

Harrow Borough v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm - in the eighth tier, this local derby tops the bill. For more years than I can remember, Harrow have always played Hendon on Boxing Day but following last season's historic relegation they're now in different divisions so another old rival gets to visit. H&YU also suffered relegation to this level last season and the two are neck-and-neck just outside the play-off places coming into this. If all goes according to plan, this is where I'm planning to spend the day. Tickets are £10 on the gate

SCFL Division 1

Chessington & Hook United v Banstead Athletic @11am - if you want to see at least two games on Boxing Day then you're lucky enough to have this early kick-off in the 10th tier. Both sides are knocking around in midtable but it is a groundshare derby so should be worth a watch for that reason alone. Given the game should be finished by 1pm, you should be able to make quite a few of the 3pm kick-offs but Kingstonian and Walton & Hersham are closest. Tickets will be available on the gate

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 27 December

Premier League
Arsenal v Ipswich Town @815pm - the Gunners warmed up for this game by emphatically beating Crystal Palace 5-1 at Selhurst Park to stay third. Conversely, the Tractor Boys ended up on the wrong end of a big deficit as they lost 4-0 at home to Newcastle to go second bottom. The newly promoted side are going to have to do something special to stay up and something even more spectacular to win here. Their last league triumph over Arsenal in north London was in 1979. Tickets are only available to members whilst hospitality packages are available from £695

Essex Senior League

Woodford Town v Buckhurst Hill @745pm - the non-league pick of the night is the Roding Valley Derby in north-east London. These clubs are located just two stops apart on the Central Line so Ashtons should be well worth a visit as the hosts look to go top with a win. Tickets are £7 on the gate

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previews for the 28 December-4 January 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 or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 16-22 December 2024

Greetings everyone and welcome to the last TLFG before our annual Christmas/New Year Special.

Things have cleared up a bit for me this week, so the midweek previews are back and hopefully I'll add the weekend ones in a few days time.

As I mentioned last week, I did successfully make my way down the road to watch QPR v Oxford United on Wednesday night.

It was, by all accounts, a poor game but a Sam Field double in the second half saw the R's end the evening with a fairly comfortable 2-0 win as they moved further away from the bottom three.

Thanks again to TLFG reader Liam for the free tickets.

On Wednesday I watched QPR beat Oxford Utd

With Christmas coming up fast, things are starting to wind down ahead of the big day so there isn't as big a selection of games as there is most weeks.

I'm hoping to possibly do a QPR double with an U21 game on Thursday and the first XI against Preston on Saturday but we'll see.

Ideally I'd go and watch Actonians at Maidenhead United on Wednesday night but I don't think my shifts will allow that.

Anyway, have a great week.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the UEFA Conference League, UEFA Women's Champions League, Premier League, EFL, National League and lots of other games featuring our local non-league clubs. Aside from a small number of midweek games, all our local women's teams have finished for Christmas and will return in 2025.

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

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

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 16 December

Premier League 2

Arsenal v Sunderland @7pm - neither of these sides are really pulling up any trees in this U21 league. The Gunners are eighth and Mackems 14th as Brighton, Fulham and Manchester City battle it out for top spot. This is being played at Boreham Wood and entry is usually free so if you're in north London, there are a lot worse things you could be doing!

Isthmian League Cup

Carshalton Athletic v Leatherhead @745pm - if you want a match with a bit more riding on it, then head south to watch this all-Surrey affair. The Robins play a level above the visiting Tanners so should start as favourites, on paper at least. Tickets

ECL Division 1 South

Newbury Forest v Enfield Borough @745pm - having reached the halfway point in the season, the hosts find themselves in the relegation zone and four points adrift of safety. The visitors are in the lower reaches too but keeping themselves the right side of the line. If Forest are to stay up, they need to win matches like this. This is being played at Redbridge's ground, just by Barkingside station. Tickets are £5 on the gate

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 17 December

National League Cup

Sutton United v West Ham United U21 @730pm - the much maligned NLC returns on Tuesday for this match at Gander Green Lane. Still in the group stage, the U's won 3-0 in their opening game in the competition against the youngsters from Spurs. The Hammers lost their first game against Braintree Town 4-2 so you'd have to fancy the hosts here. Tickets are £10

Premier League Cup

Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City @7pm - we're also in the group stage for this other U21 competition too. The Addicks are currently top of Group H with four points but it's tight as bottom club Birmingham are only a point behind. This is being played at Dartford. I haven't seen any ticket details yet but it won't be more than £5

Essex Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Hashtag United v Hornchurch @745pm - we're down to the last eight in this county cup and I guess you can call this a derby of sorts. Although the Tags groundshare at Aveley which isn't far from Hornchurch, it's hard to know where their fanbase are located as they're primarily an internet phenomenon. They may have almost 230,000 followers on X but their average matchday attendance is only 236. As for who wins, it should be the Urchins as they play a level above. Tickets are usually £12 for adults and are available on the gate

London Senior Cup Third Round

Athletic Newham v Brentford B @745pm - after causing a cupset at Donkey Lane by beating Enfield Town who play three levels above them, Essex Senior Leaguers Newham now face a side from a Premier League club. For some reason, the game is being played at Hanwell Town in west London. I haven't seen any ticket prices but it shouldn't be more than £10 on the gate

Combined Counties League Women's Cup

Leyton Orient v Haringey Borough @730pm - the seventh-tier O's play host to Haringey from the fifth in this London derby. The best things about this tie are that it's being played at Brisbane Road and admission is free

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 18 December

EFL Cup Quarter-Final

Arsenal v Crystal Palace @730pm - the Gunners have been to eight EFL Cup Finals but haven't been to Wembley to contest this bit of silverware since 2018. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1993 for their last win. Palace have found things a struggle in the league this year but they've made smooth progress in this, a competition they've never won. Tickets will be few and far between but check Arsenal's website for the latest

UEFA Women's Champions League

Arsenal v Bayern Munich @8pm - the scheduling of this game has caused all kinds of controversy. It was supposed to be at the Emirates but the men's team got drawn at home in the EFL Cup and they took precedence which was not a good look. When it comes to the football, these sides have dominated Group C and this final game will decide who wins it. With Bayern a point ahead, they only need to draw to claim top spot. With the game now at the much smaller Boreham Wood, it's sold out

Professional Development League

Brentford v AFC Bournemouth @7pm - the Bees are in action for the second night running but this time it's their U21 team rather than their 'B' side - how much difference there is I'm not quite sure.These two are both in the top four in Group South of this competition so it could be well worth a watch. This is being played in Staines and tickets are available

CCL Division 1

Colliers Wood United v Westside @730pm - my non-league pick of the night is this groundshare derby in south-west London. CWU are the landlords and Westside the tenants but it's the latter who are having a far better season and if they win here, they'll go top. Tickets will be available on the gate, for no more than £10

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday 19 December

EFL Cup Quarter-Final

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United @8pm - Spurs fans are often ridiculed for their club's lack of trophies. In recent years, this has been their best chance of winning anything. They've made nine finals and picked up four wins, the last in 2008. United have been even more successful, winning six of the 10 finals they've contested but their last win in 2023 was much more recent. On that occasion they beat Newcastle United 2-0 and they could face the Magpies in the next round if they beat Brentford the night before. Most tickets have gone so check the Spurs website for the latest information

UEFA Conference League

Chelsea v Shamrock Rovers @8pm - over in west London, the Blues should be confident of extending their 100% record in this competition. However, the Irish side are doing well and find themselves sixth in this 36-team league as they head to Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, if they get anything from this game, it will be a huge achievement. Most tickets have gone but there might be some hospitality packages - check Chelsea's website for the latest

Premier League Cup

QPR v Blackburn Rovers @7pm - with little chance of getting into either of the above without parting with some serious cash, the only alternative I'm aware of is this U21 game which is being played at Hayes & Yeading United. These two are first and second in Group E and the winner will either stay top or go top. Tickets are usually around £5 and available on the gate

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 20 December

Isthmian League South Central

Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Binfield @745pm - still playing their games at Cobham while they wait for their 3G pitch to be installed, the Tangerines are really struggling. They put out a statement saying that the delay in putting the pitch down is costing them a fortune and consequently they have no playing budget. As a result, the squad are essentially volunteers in a semi-pro league so they're not doing too well. Binfield aren't having a great season but should start as favourites. Tickets will be available on the gate for no more than £10

Essex Senior League

Barking v Woodford Town @745pm - on the east side of town, there's a game of some importance in the ninth tier. The Blues have the games in hand to move into the play-off places whilst visitors Woodford will go top if they win both of theirs. Tickets will be available on the gate, again it shouldn't exceed £10

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 21 December

Premier League

Brentford v Nottingham Forest @3pm - I think it's fair to say that both sides are doing way better this season than many predicted. The Bees, arguably the smallest club in the division, are more than holding their own in 11th whilst Forest are up in the top four and are the only team to have beaten leaders Liverpool. Brentford are unbeaten in six against the East Midlands club but that record could be severely tested here. Tickets are only available to members

West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion @3pm - although the Hammers are incredibly inconsistent and in the bottom half, they're still in better form than the highly rated Seagulls. The Sussex club have earned a lot of admirers in recent years and rightly so but they're currently winless in four but unbeaten in seven at London Stadium so I'd still have them as favourites. Tickets are available

Crystal Palace v Arsenal @530pm - now unbeaten in five, the Eagles seem to be turning things around and are moving away from the relegation zone. These two played in midweek at the Emirates in the EFL Cup and the Gunners won an entertaining match 3-2. The north London club badly need a win in the league as two draws have left them six points behind Liverpool who also have a game in hand. Tickets are only available to members

Championship

Millwall v Blackburn Rovers @3pm - the Lions enjoyed back-to-back wins over Burnley and Leeds at the beginning of November which put them right up in play-off contention. However, they haven't won since and are back down in 13th. As we approach Christmas, Rovers are in the top five and are top of the division's form table having won six in a row. Tickets

QPR v Preston North End @3pm - only a point apart in lower midtable, these sides are both unbeaten in six games. With three wins to PNE's one, the R's are in better form and climbing the table. Games between these two are really tough to call but draws are very rare with only one in the last 16 meetings. Tickets 

Premier League Cup

Chelsea v AFC Bournemouth @12pm - if you want an early game so that you can do a double with a local non-league game like Raynes Park Vale, head down to Kingsmeadow for this U21 match. The Blues are top of their four-team group with the Cherries bottom but there's only three points between them. Tickets

National League

Barnet v FC Halifax Town @3pm - with Forest Green and York faltering in recent weeks, the Bees have capitalised and gone top. Being top of the National League makes them London's highest ranked non-league club. Only goal difference is keeping the Shaymen out of the play-off places and they beat Barnet back in August so they could be tricky opponents. Tickets

Sutton United v Tamworth @3pm - the U's came down from the EFL last season and have really struggled for consistency and they're in midtable as a result. However, with 10 points from five games, they're in reasonable form. With only seven wins from 21 games, the visitors aren't doing all that well but this season has been all about the FA Cup for them. So far they've claimed the scalps of Robbie Savage's Macclesfield and, even more impressively, Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion. In the next round they host Spurs in what must be one of the biggest games in their history. Tickets

Wealdstone v Dagenham & Redbridge @3pm - in the other fifth-tier game of the day, we've got a crosstown derby where West hosts East. The Stones were really struggling but have got themselves out of the drop zone, just. They're another side to have done well in the FA Cup this season, beating Grimsby Town before going out to Wycombe Wanderers in the Second Round. The Daggers, however, are still going strong after superb wins over Crewe Alexandra and AFC Wimbledon and now face a mouthwatering trip to Millwall in the next round. In the league, they've just won two to move up to 14th and should start as marginal favourites. Tickets

National League South

Boreham Wood v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - my game of the day in the sixth tier takes place at Meadow Park in north London. The Wood suffered relegation last season and saw manager Luke Garrard depart. However, five months later he came back after the club made a disappointing start. They're now firing on all cylinders and are up to second, just a point behind Torquay. Kent club Tonbridge are 10th but only two points adrift of the play-off places. Tickets

Isthmian League Premier Division

Dulwich Hamlet v Cray Valley PM @3pm - it's hard to pick a standout game in the seventh tier but you can't go too far wrong with an afternoon at a packed Champion Hill. For one of the biggest clubs in the league, the Hamlet have been rather underwhelming this season but despite being in 15th, the play-off places are only five points away. CVPM have made a great start to life at this level following promotion and could go second with a win. Matches at this venue often sell out on the day so you're advised to buy tickets in advance

Isthmian League South Central

Hanworth Villa v Kingstonian @3pm - in the eighth tier, two of the top six meet at Rectory Meadow. The hosts were roaring up the league and in red hot form until they ran into Southall last weekend and lost 5-1. The K's are currently second and actually beat Southall in their last game. Six points behind leaders Farnham Town, they have a game in hand so a title challenge is still on. Tickets are £11 on the gate

CCL Premier South

Abbey Rangers v AFC Whyteleafe @3pm - in the ninth tier there's a top-six clash too. The top five are starting to pull away from the rest so it's essential that the hosts beat some of the teams in that leading group. The Leafe are currently top but title rivals Redhill have two games in hand so they can't afford to lose either. Tickets are £8 on the gate

CCL Division 1

Westside v Staines & Lammas (Middlesex) @3pm - a midweek 3-1 win over landlords Colliers Wood United kept Westside at the top of this 10th-tier division. Next up they face a visit from recently promoted S&L. Although down in 11th, they have the games in hand to get firmly into play-off contention. Tickets will be available on the gate for no more than £8

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 22 December

Premier League

Fulham v Southampton @2pm - unbeaten in four and up to eighth, the Cottagers are having a cracking season. A win here could put them level on points with the ailing champions Manchester City. With the visiting Saints in terrible trouble at the bottom, another three points for the London club looks very likely indeed. Tickets are available

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @430pm - the week concludes with this big game at the THS. Both clubs enjoyed midweek wins which saw them through to the EFL Cup semi-finals where they will play each other. With Spurs in wildly erratic form and the Reds looking imperious at the top, an away win looks like the most probable outcome. Tickets are only available to members

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here 

TLFG: 9-15 December 2024

Hello everyone and thanks for taking the time to read TLFG.

Apologies for several weeks of reduced content and I'm afraid that's not going to change this week - it's only match maps again I'm afraid.

Life is catching up at the moment with lots of other things demanding my time, not least this season's Non-League Day which is starting to get busy.

On Tuesday I went with the rest of the NLD team to Premier League headquarters in Paddington for our annual planning meeting which went well.

The Geordies welcome National League opposition on Tuesday

I ended the week by schlepping out to Northolt in bitter wind and rain to watch Actonians throw away an early lead to lose 5-1, for the second season running, to Cambridge United who are becoming a bit of a bogey team.

QPR are having a much improved month, extending their unbeaten run to four games with a solid 3-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday.

I've got a ticket for their next game against Oxford United on Wednesday so hopefully it'll be a lot more enjoyable than my last visit where we got thrashed by Middlesbrough.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Champions League, Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, FA Vase, Women's Champions League, Women's Super League, UEFA Youth League, Premier League International Cup and FA Youth Cup plus lots of other games featuring our local non-league and women's clubs.

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

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

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've  been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below, via X/Twitter or even by good old email.

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here 

TLFG: 2-8 December 2024

Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of December - wow, another year is almost over.

Sorry last week's piece was so brief - I got back later than planned from Bilbao and the rest of the week was really busy.

I'm afraid to say it's going to be a similar story this week as I've got loads going on starting off tomorrow with our annual Non-League Day meeting with the Premier League at their HQ.

Anyway, the main event of last week was the aforementioned trip to the Basque Country.

I had a great time but from a transport point of view, it was all a bit cursed.

Two of my friends were supposed to fly out on Friday but got caught up in the security alert at Gatwick airport.

Santurtzi (purple) defend against Pasaia

One of them, TLFG reader Liam, managed to rebook for Saturday whilst the other gave up and took a refund.

My flight out on Saturday with Lufthansa was fine, albeit a bit tight on the connection front in Frankfurt, until our final approach to Bilbao when the place started getting buffeted heavily from the side.

Captain Steinhauser held his nerve though and landed the plane pretty smoothly.

On arrival, I expected to meet Liam who was just ahead of me but received a message saying his Vueling captain tried twice but didn't fancy it and took him to Barcelona instead.

He spent the rest of the day on a replacement bus making the 600km journey back!

As a result, I was on my own for the rest of the day.

After checking in, I had went for a potter around town.

I ran into the Madrid CFF team who were taking a walk in a local park prior to their game against Athletic Bilbao's women later that day.

Following that brief encounter, I strolled round to San Mames and bought some provisions from Lidl before going for a freshen up.

Around 6pm I got on the incredibly cheap metro and made my way to Sestao to watch them play very local rivals Barakaldo in a third-tier match.

Las Llanas is a pretty decent ground, roughly the same size as Plough Lane, with one grandstand and three terraces.

I picked the home terrace behind the goal which gave me memories of the old Putney End at Fulham before it became all-seater.

The crowd was pretty mixed but wherever you seem to go in Bilbao there are a lot of young people, including a lot of women and girls - way more than you'd see in England.

The away team were the favourites and they must have filled about a third of the ground in their yellow and black stripes.

There wasn't much between the sides in the first half, with the strong winds having an impact.

Barakaldo took control in the second half, probably making better use of the meteorological conditions, and duly took the lead.

Sestao struggled to create anything thereafter and only a brilliant save in the dying minutes from their own keeper kept the score at 0-1 and that's how it finished.

The next morning I met Liam at 1030 and we headed back up the same metro line to watch game two - the fifth-tier match between Santurtzi and Pasaia.

I visited this ground on my last visit in 2023 and really liked it.

At Sestao several thousand were in attendance whilst Santurtzi was much more like an English non-league club with maybe 300.

Aside from a grandstand, the other main feature of the ground is a sizeable terrace behind one of the goals which is where Liam and I initially took up residence.

After a few minutes we popped round to the cafe under the stand where we were given a friendly welcome.

Although Liam speaks excellent Spanish, one of the staff members spoke reasonable English and was keen to use it.

Naturally, while spending time in here, we missed the first goal.

Back behind the goal with our refreshments, we looked up to see the flight our other friends were on coming into land - it too getting battered by the wind.

With one of the floodlights waving slightly worryingly in the wind, the first half ended 0-1.

One of Liam's things at non-league grounds back home is to take pictures of him with dogs.

We found three on this visit and Wally, Blanco, Gin and their owners were all happy to pose and have a chat.

Back on the field, the hosts turned things round and took a 2-1 lead which they looked like holding until a goal deep in injury time rescued a 2-2 draw for Pasaia.

After meeting up with the newly arrived Andy and Mike, we had a bit of lunch and another potter about in town ahead of the big game of the weekend - Athletic Bilbao v Real Sociedad.

A lot is made of how friendly the rivalry is between the two sets of fans and from early morning, I saw couples and groups out and about wearing the colours of both teams.

Yours truly hob-nobbing in Bilbao

Cafes and bars were full of both sets of supporters and the vibe was really convivial.

A few weeks before the match, I was incredibly lucky to receive an invite to the President's Box to watch the game after doing work on Basque Non-League Day over the last couple of years.

With my friends having made sure I got through the security cordon, they all headed to their seats dotted around the ground.

I met the directors who've I've been working with and caught up - they recently announced a relief package which Athletic will be providing to non-league clubs devastated by the floods in Valencia so it was really good to hear more about that.

Following that, I briefly met and had my photo taken with the president and ended up sitting directly behind him and his counterpart from Sociedad.

The game itself was typically tight but the atmosphere was great and ultimately Athletic edged to a 1-0 win courtesy of a first-half goal.

After the game, I met up with the rest of my group and we hit the town with lots of other fans.

Despite the match finishing a 11pm on a Sunday, a good few still stayed out and made the most of the mild conditions.

Bilbao is a truly great city to watch football - there are lots of teams at all levels, the public transport is great and cheap, the food and drink is top notch and there are some wonderful museums and other cultural sites.

For Londoners, it's less than 90 minutes from Gatwick too - I can't recommend it enough.

Oh yes, I mentioned above that I got back later than planned.

On the way back, my flight to Munich was delayed and I missed the connection.

It was the last flight of the day to London so Lufthansa put me up at the Hilton in the airport in one of the swankiest rooms I've ever inhabited.

They paid for dinner too so, although I was only there a few hours, I made the most of my bonus night in Bavaria.

Have a great week.

THE WEEK AHEAD

This week's highlights include games in the Premier League, EFL, FA Trophy, FA Vase, Women's Super League and Women's FA Cup plus lots of other games featuring our local non-league and women's clubs.

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

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

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP

Monday fixtures - yellow pin

Tuesday fixtures - green pin

Wednesday fixtures - turquoise pin

Thursday fixtures - purple pin

Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Saturday fixtures - blue pin

Sunday fixtures - orange pin

    

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