Greetings one and all and welcome to this delayed Easter Special.
As followers on X may have noticed, norovirus ripped through TLFG Towers over the weekend with, at times, quite spectacular consequences.
After an enjoyable visit to Bath on Friday, one of my daughters erupted all over a train from Bristol to Tiverton on Saturday lunchtime and I suffered the same unpleasantries about 36 hours later but fortunately back on home turf.
Between these bouts, I still managed to squeeze in a bit of very low level non-league football as I watched some of Hemyock's 3-2 loss to Elmore in the Devon & District League on Saturday afternoon - all in the name of occupying daughter number two whilst the other was chucking up.
With our recoveries now pretty much complete, I've finally had a chance to get the match maps together for one of the busiest weekends of the football calendar.
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| The Unity Cup is coming to Brentford |
I'll be updating as the days go along, as league tables will change on an almost daily basis.
For the groundhoppers among you, the Easter weekend from Friday to Monday offers you an absolute feast of football with games happening every day, many with staggered kick-off times which should allow you to see at least two on most days.
Typically, I'm working the whole time so won't get to see any of it!
I hope you're luckier and take full advantage of the fantastic selection on offer.
PS - it was announced last week that an exciting international mini tournament is being hosted by Brentford at the end of May.
The Unity Cup will see Jamaica take on Trinidad & Tobago and Ghana play Nigeria before a final on 31 May - tickets have just gone on sale.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week's highlights include games in the Conference League, Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Champions League, Women's Super League and 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.
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
EASTER WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Friday fixture - black pin
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin
Monday fixtures - yellow 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.
Tuesday 15 April
Women's Super League
Arsenal v Leicester City @730pm - the biggest crowd of the day will be found at the Emirates Stadium where the Gunners look to keep their faint title hopes alive. Second and six points behind leaders Chelsea with four games to go, it looks like making sure of the runners-up spot is a more likely target. Down in 10th, Leicester's season looks to be more or less over as they're seven points clear of the relegation zone. Tickets
London Senior Cup Semi-Finals
Brentford B v Barking @745pm - since they began entering development sides in this competition, the Bees have made three of the last six finals. Last winning it in 2022 when they edged past Hendon on penalties, they're arguably the strongest side left. Their chances of making the final look great too as they've drawn the lowest-ranked side at home. Barking, who play in the ninth tier, have had a great season and have already booked a spot in the Essex Senior League play-offs but you feel a trip to Wheatsheaf Lane should be too much for them. Tickets
Hanwell Town v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - with 14 trips to the final between them, these clubs have quite a history in this cup. However, neither of them have won it for over 20 years. Both in the seventh tier, the hosts are in better form and start as favourites for me. Tickets
Isthmian League South Central
Hanworth Villa v Ascot United @745pm - with only five points between the clubs in the third and eighth, the play-off race in this division is tight. And yes, you guessed it, these two are both in that group. Hanworth are in better form and have Paul Merson's Sam banging in the goals (23 this season). Even more importantly, this game was originally played on 29 March but was abandoned when Ascot fan Paul Sarin fell ill and passed away. All profits from the gate receipts will be donated to his family. Tickets are £11 on the gate
CCL Premier South
Abbey Rangers v Jersey Bulls @745pm - one of the tightest title races in the country is to be found in this ninth-tier division. There are currently four points between the top three but the sides in second and third have a game in hand. Jersey are second and will move level on points with leaders Redhill if they win at midtable Abbey who play in Addlestone. I haven't seen ticket prices published anywhere but it should be around the £8 mark
SCFL Division 1
Chessington & Hook United v Worthing United @745pm - in recent years, Chessington have been moved over to the SCFL which is primarily made up of clubs in Sussex. They've pottered along and haven't drawn much attention. That has been the case for most of this season too (I can't remember mentioning them once) but over the last few weeks they've put a great run of results together and now only goal difference is keeping them out of the play-off places. Here they play the team who are just ahead of them so it's huge for both. Tickets are £6 on the gate
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Wednesday 16 April
SSML Premier
London Lions v FC Romania @8pm - the hosts are the capital's top club for Jewish players. They've had a fine season in this ninth-tier division and will all-but secure a play-off place if they win here. The visitors have really struggled over the last couple of years and badly need the points to avoid another relegation. I'm not certain of admission prices but you shouldn't be paying more than £8 at this level
MCFL Premier
Camden & Islington United v Pitshanger Dynamo @745pm - the hosts, who play at the New River Stadium in Haringey, are top of this 11th-tier division with four games to go. In a title race with SL Benfica, Stonewall FC and at a push Hayes & Hillingdon, every point will be crucial from now on. Here they play last season's champions who must have lost most of their squad over the summer as they're now bottom and well adrift. If there is an admission price, it shouldn't exceed £5
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Thursday 17 April
UEFA Conference League Quarter-Final
Chelsea v Legia Warsaw @8pm - the Blues are the overwhelming favourites to win this competition and they come into this second leg with a commanding 3-0 lead. The visitors are fifth in the Polish league and lost at home to Jagiellonia Bialystock in the run up to this game. A place in the semi-finals looks a certainty for Chelsea. Tickets
CCL Premier North
Wembley v Harefield United @745pm - both sides had eventful Tuesday nights. The Lions came back from 2-0 down to beat Wokingham 4-2 and are now three points from safety with three games to go. The Hare, on the other hand, beat Hilltop 3-1 to book their place in the play-offs and they'll finish fourth whatever happens here. Tickets will be available on the gate for around £8
CCL Division 1
Belstone v Hillingdon Borough @745pm - with three games to go, these two are both in the race for the play-offs. The hosts are fourth and seven points clear of Hillingdon who are one place and five points the wrong side of the line. They do, however, have a game in hand on fifth placed Eversley & California so this is a must-win game for the visitors. Tickets are £7 on the gate
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Friday 18 April
Championship
Watford v Burnley @3pm - with only two wins from eight, the Hornets' play-off hopes have become very faint indeed. Seven points adrift with four games to go, they've got to win every one and hope for a great string of results elsewhere. The Clarets confirmed a play-off spot a while ago, but the title is firmly in their sights as only goal difference separates them from top club Leeds as we go into the final batch of games. Tickets
League One
Charlton Athletic v Northampton Town @3pm - the Addicks have had a fine campaign and a win here will seal their place in the play-offs. The Cobblers are five points above the relegation zone so should be beaten but they need to get something themselves. Tickets
Leyton Orient v Barnsley @3pm - back-to-back wins over Mansfield and Crawley have lifted the O's to seventh and a win here will propel them in the play-off places if Reading come unstuck against Lincoln. The Tykes are in poor form and anything less than a win will mathematically end their season. Tickets
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Chesterfield @3pm - sitting fifth, the Dons are still in the hunt for automatic promotion but, with the table being so tight, they could also still miss out on the play-offs altogether. The Spireites are ninth and still legitimate play-off contenders so this could be tense. Tickets have sold out but check the club's re-sale site to see if any become available
Bromley v Morecambe @3pm - currently 14th, a midtable finish is as good as it's likely to get for the Ravens. If you'd have told the newly promoted club that at the start of the season, I'm sure they'd have bitten your hand off. I saw a stat the other day which said all clubs newly promoted from the fifth tier since it became automatic in the '80s have survived their first season. Morecambe are bottom and seven points adrift of safety. If they lose and other results go against them, they could be relegated here. Tickets
National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Ebbsfleet United @3pm - the Daggers are in serious danger of going down. Five points adrift of safety with four games to go they simply have to win this game against the bottom club. Ebbsfleet have been really poor this season and got relegated a while ago. Aside from their struggles on the pitch, there have been problems off it too this week with the investment of Egyptian YouTuber Marwan Serry not going down too well - watch this space. Tickets are available and only a pound for U16s
Barnet v Eastleigh @530pm - the Bees appeared to be cantering to the title but two games without a win has seen their lead cut to six points. With four games to go they should hold on but it's not inconceivable that York could catch them. The Spitfires are 14th and realistically have little to play for. Tickets
National League South
Enfield Town v St Albans City @3pm - we could have a real thriller on our hands at Donkey Lane where two local rivals do battle to beat the drop. Gavin Macpherson has done a superb job to bring the Towners up to this level and after a very rocky start, they'll secure their place in the division if they win this. Things are more critical for the Saints as they're still three points adrift of safety and could be in real trouble if they lose and Salisbury win at already relegated Weymouth. The club are predicting a sell out so buy your tickets in advance and turn up early to get a good spot
Welling United v Maidstone United @3pm - there's also a big game on the south-east side of town where the Wings must win to have any chance of avoiding relegation. Their task isn't going to be easy though as the Stones are scrapping for every point to secure a play-off spot and will bring a large number of travelling supporters. Tickets
Isthmian League Premier
Dartford v Dover Athletic @3pm - the biggest game in the seventh tier on Friday is this Kent derby at Princes Park. The Darts came down from the NLS last season but are two points clear at the top with three games to go. Dover dropped into this division with them and they've had a good season too. Currently fourth, a win could seal their place in the play-offs and keep their very slim title hopes alive. The crowd should be a whopper so buy your tickets in advance
Cray Valley PM v Whitehawk @3pm - a short journey to the west, another side who are new to this level but via promotion have also had a cracking campaign. CVPM are fifth and are another side who could nail down a play-off spot if they win on Friday. Brighton club Whitehawk will finish in midtable and have little to play for. Tickets
SCEFL Challenge Cup Final
Forest Hill Park v Snodland Town @1pm - it seems south-east London is the place to be on Friday afternoon as this cup final is being played at Cray Wanderers' fine new stadium. Given some of the big clubs in the SCEFL Premier, it's strange that only one of the strugglers (Snodland) and a side from Division 1 have made the final. FHP are not any run-of-the-mill 10th-tier club though. They actually merged with SE Dons over the summer but too late for an official name change. A bit of an internet phenomenon, they have hundreds of thousands of followers across various platforms and look like the next Hashtag United. Currently top of their division, they'll be hoping this will be the first part of a memorable double. Apparently tickets can only be bought online and not on the gate
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Hullbridge Sports @745pm - there are also a reasonable selection of games in the evening so seeing two is easily possible. The best crowd and atmosphere is likely to be found at Ashtons were the hosts are still looking to catch Takeley and finish second. Even if they don't, a play-off spot is already guaranteed. Hullbridge are six points above the relegation zone and a point will confirm their place in the division. Tickets are £7 on the gate
ECL Division 1 South
Barkingside v Enfield Borough @745pm - with two games to go, these two sit just above the relegation zone. The visitors are five points clear so a win will see them safe whilst the 'Side will go six points clear with a victory. However, their goal difference is worse than Southend Manor so they could still be caught. Either way, both sides have a lot to gain from winning. Tickets are £7 on the gate but check details with the club on the day as they often run ticket promotions to try and get a few more in
More previews for the 19-21 April 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!
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