Greetings one and all and welcome to the first TLFG of 2025.
How was your Christmas and New Year? Did you see many games?
I got along to Harrow Borough on Boxing Day to watch their 0-0 draw with local rivals Hayes & Yeading United.
It was my first visit to the Rogers Family Stadium since September 2023 when I saw them lose to Bracknell Town in the FA Cup.
I can't quite believe it's been that long but it was great to be back.
I also got to take a look at QPR youngster Ridwan Hassan who is currently on loan at Boro and he nearly won it with a fierce shot which hit the bar.
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| The FA Cup gives non-members are great chance to visit Premier League clubs - tickets |
As I write this, I'm just warming up and drying off after an afternoon being battered by the elements at Rectory Park watching Actonians steal a last-minute draw with AFC Sudbury thanks to Molly O'Reilly's superb free-kick.
They now have a huge two weeks as they face QPR and Fulham in back-to-back derbies, the latter of which I hope to get to.
Tomorrow I was offered a free ticket for the men's game between the R's and Luton Town but sadly I'm working early on Tuesday so have had to turn it down.
Instead, I'm taking my youngest daughter to her first session with Actonians - hopefully the rain will hold off.
The weekend just gone was ruined by bad weather but next weekend looks good so most things should go ahead including the Third Round of the FA Cup which now starts on Thursday and runs all the way through to Monday.
Tickets are available for most matches which Premier League clubs are hosting so, if you're not a member, it provides a rare chance to pay them a visit.
At the moment I've produced the match maps for the whole week and previews up to Friday - I will aim to add the weekend previews on Thursday.
This is now becoming a feature of the blog as I can write more accurate previews later in the week and it allows me to get this up earlier and reduces the amount of times I'm still writing after midnight on Sunday night/Monday morning which was becoming unsustainable.
Anyway, enough from me - have a great week.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week's highlights include games in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, EFL, National League, FA Trophy, Women's FA Cup 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
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 6 January
Championship
QPR v Luton Town @8pm - following their poor performance at Swansea on Boxing Day, the R's have improved significantly with a draw at Norwich and a convincing 3-1 win over Watford on Wednesday. Next up they host the Hatters who are having a hugely disappointing season following their relegation from the Premier League. In the bottom five, they've lost their last eight on the road and are bottom of the division's away form table. QPR beat Luton twice in a week at the start of the season, knocking them out of the EFL Cup on penalties and then winning 2-1 at Kenilworth Road three days later in the league. With Luton located a short distance north of London, these games have a derby feel to them and there's no love lost between the fans so the atmosphere could be spicier than normal. Tickets
Premier League 2
Crystal Palace v Fulham @7pm - if you'd prefer a cheaper alternative then head south to Sutton United's ground which plays host to this U21 game. The Eagles are pottering along in midtable whilst the Cottagers will go level on points with Manchester City at the top if they win. Tickets are £5
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Tuesday 7 January
EFL Cup Semi-Final, First Leg
Arsenal v Newcastle United @8pm - the Gunners have made the final eight times but it's been a while since they last got there. On that day in 2018, the north London club were very much second best to Manchester City who won 3-0. Their last win was way back in 1993 so they're overdue some success. However, when it comes to a long wait for silverware, not many can beat the Magpies. The Toon's last major title was the Fairs Cup (similar to the UEFA Cup) in 1969 and domestically it was the FA Cup in 1955. They did come close in this competition two years ago but lost to Manchester United at Wembley. Although Mikel Arteta's side should be favourites, Newcastle are top of the Premier League form table and more than capable of getting something. Tickets are only available to members but hospitality packages are available from £255
FA Trophy Fourth Round
Sutton United v Tamworth @745pm - after seeing the tie beaten by the weather on Saturday, these two fifth-tier clubs will try again here. The U's are most famous for their great runs in the FA Cup but they were also runners-up in this back in 1981. They scraped past Ebbsfleet on penalties in the last round and now face a Tamworth team who may have their eyes on a rather bigger game this weekend. Wins over EFL sides Huddersfield and Burton have set up an FA Cup Third Round tie with Tottenham which no player will want to miss. Will they put less into those tackles against Sutton to avoid injury and suspension??? Let's see. Tickets
National League South
Welling United v Weymouth @745pm - there's an important game at Park View Road where two of the bottom five in the sixth tier do battle. The Wings sit just above the relegation zone with a useful six-point cushion separating them from the real strugglers. A win here would be extremely useful and put a big nail in Weymouth's coffin as they're nine points adrift of safety already. Tickets
Premier League International Cup
Chelsea v Sporting Lisbon @7pm - Kingsmeadow plays host to some of Europe's most promising young players as they look to progress beyond the group stage of this U21 competition. Currently third and second in the eight-team Group D both are following along in Brighton's wake. The Sussex club have won all four of their games on their way to the top. Tickets
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Wednesday 8 January
EFL Cup Semi-Final, Second Leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @8pm - Spurs' poor results continued on Saturday as they lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle, a result which saw them slip to 12th. Their run in this competition is keeping spirits up with the thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester United in the last round no doubt creating memories for those in attendance. Sadly, they've drawn the Reds in this tie and the chances of them making their 10th EFL Cup Final look slim. Liverpool are riding high at the top of the Premier League and put six past Ange Postecoglou's side here just before Christmas. They're also the current holders after beating Chelsea last year. Tickets are only available to members but a tiny number of hospitality packages still remain
Isthmian League North
Sporting Bengal United v Newmarket Town @745pm - in the eighth tier, two of the bottom five meet at Mile End Stadium. SBU are playing at this level for the first time in their history. Survival is most definitely the main priority and they're doing okay. With only four wins from 23 games, the visitors are second bottom and should hopefully be beaten. I'm not certain of admission prices but it shouldn't be more than £10
ECL Division 1 South
AS London v Newbury Forest @745pm - the hosts were smashing in the goals in October and November and then they calmed down a bit. Shortly before Christmas they returned as May & Baker were beaten 7-2 at New River Stadium. Up to seventh, they have seven points to make up on Cannons Wood who fill the last play-off spot but they have five games in hand to help them. The visitors are down in the bottom two and were one of the unfortunates to get thrashed 8-0 by AS London during their purple patch. Goals look a certainty here. Tickets are £8 on the gate
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Thursday 9 January
FA Cup Third Round
Fulham v Watford @745pm - this year's FA Cup fun begins for these two on a Thursday night, a newish tradition which I think most would rather see the end of. The Cottagers, as the Premier League side, will start as favourites. The Hornets, of the Championship, arrive on the back of three straight defeats so it looks like being a tough afternoon for the Hertfordshire club. Both sides have made the final before but never won it. One of the best things about this round of the FA Cup is the far greater availability of tickets to watch matches at some of the capital's biggest and best grounds which are usually off limits to non-members. Tickets
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Friday 10 January
Essex Senior League
Woodford Town v Halstead Town @745pm - after seeing their top-of-the-table clash against Stanway Rovers postponed last Friday, they'll be attempting to cut the gap on the leaders again here. Halstead are in the bottom four so should be beaten. Tickets are £7 on the gate
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Saturday 11 January
FA Cup Third Round
Brentford v Plymouth Argyle @3pm - for most of the 20th Century, these sides spent a lot of time in the third and fourth tiers which meant they played each other quite a lot. However, meetings between the two more recently have been few and far between. Over the course of history, Argyle are actually several wins in front in the head-to-head records but they'll be significant underdogs on Saturday. With the Bees sitting pretty in midtable in the Premier League after crushing Southampton 5-0 at the weekend, managerless Championship strugglers Plymouth are going to have to do something special to win. Brentford's record in the FA Cup isn't great though, having only made it to the Fifth Round three times since 1989 when they set a club best of a quarter-final appearance. Demand for tickets at the GTech is so great that not even this match appears to have any left on general sale
Chelsea v Morecambe @3pm - the Shrimps have been knocking around the EFL for the best part of 20 years since their promotion from the non-league ranks in 2007. Sadly, their prized status among 'the 92' is under threat as they come into this in the bottom two of League Two after a disappointing season. They have, though, managed to win their way through two rounds of this competition (at Worthing and Bradford City's expense) to set up this mouthwatering tie. It's actually the second time in four years that they've ended up with this draw. Their last visit in 2021 ended in a 4-0 defeat as Chelsea went all the way to the final before losing to Leicester. Their chances of progress were slim that day and they look even worse this time. Again, tickets are in very short supply but there appear to be some what I would describe as premium economy options as well as full hospitality packages
Leyton Orient v Derby County @6pm - the final tie of the day in London takes place at Brisbane Road. The O's are absolutely flying in League One with five consecutive wins lifting them into the top eight. The Rams finished second in this division last season to go up and won 3-0 home and away against the east London club. Four defeats from five means they're starting to slip towards the Championship trapdoor and makes me feel that this could be a good place to head to see a cupset. The late kick-off also means you should be able to combine this with one of a number of local non-league games which start at 3pm. Tickets are available
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town @3pm - with only one defeat in six, the Dons have made themselves serious contenders for promotion. Currently fifth and with games in hand on all above them, second place is well within their grasp. The Robins are pottering along in 13th and looking unlikely to do much of note this season. They lost the reverse fixture 1-0 in August and got thrashed 5-1 on their last visit to Plough Lane in last season's FA Cup. Tickets
National League
Barnet v Hartlepool United @3pm - for most of the season, the battle for the National League crown has been a three-horse race between the Bees, Forest Green and York. When one goes top they tend to lose or draw a game and let the others back in - there's currently one point between them. Dean Brennan's side were top but with four draws from their last five, they've dropped to third. With the top teams frequently dropping points, Gateshead are also coming into the picture and they'd be level on points with Barnet if they hadn't lost their last game so the pressure's building. Hartlepool are down in ninth but only three points adrift of the play-off places and drew 0-0 with Barnet in November. Tickets
National League South
Boreham Wood v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm - the hosts extended their unbeaten run to 13 games by winning at Weymouth in the FA Trophy last weekend. Currently second and just a point behind leaders Torquay, Luke Garrard's team should start as strong favourites against midtable H&RB. The south-west London club have only won one of their last six league games to arrive at Meadow Park in 12th. Tickets
Isthmian League Premier
Dartford v Chichester City @3pm - game of the day in the seventh tier sees two of the top six meet at Princes Park. These two started last season two divisions apart but with the Darts suffering relegation and Sussex club Chichester coming up, they're now together in the Isthmian Premier. The hosts are currently 10 points ahead in third and only four points behind leaders Dover so they should start as favourites. Tickets
Isthmian League North
Redbridge v Walthamstow @3pm - in the eighth tier why not give this north-east London derby a try? The hosts are 14th but on a terrible run of form with five consecutive defeats meaning only bottom club Ipswich Wanderers are currently playing worse. To stop the rot, they brought in new manager Chris Taylor a couple of days ago so this will be his first game. The exact opposite is the case with the 'Stow who have won five on the trot to go second in the form table whilst moving up to eighth overall. Still five points shy of the top five but with two games in hand, it's looking promising for the visitors. Tickets are £10 on the gate
FA Vase Fourth Round
This national knockout competition for clubs in the ninth and tenth tiers, with its final at Wembley, is down to its last 32. At this stage the draw is still split along north and south regional lines to minimise the travel costs to clubs. There are three ties in TLFG's catchment area:
AFC Whyteleafe v Dereham Town @3pm - the Leafe are having a fine debut season in the ninth tier following their promotion. Currently top of the CCL Premier South they should provide tough opposition for the visitors. Norfolk club Dereham play in the parallel ninth-tier ECL Premier. Although only ninth, games in hand mean they are likely to be play-off contenders. Tickets are £8 on the gate
Egham Town v London Lions @3pm - regular readers might remember that I've earmarked the Sarnies to go far in this this season. So far they haven't let me down. Currently second in the CCL Premier North, they should have just enough to get the better of their opponents from north London who are fifth in the parallel SSML Premier. I'm not certain of admission prices but they should be similar to the game above
VCD Athletic v Epsom & Ewell @3pm - the Vickers have been top of the ninth tier SCEFL Premier all season but have finally been overtaken by Faversham Town. Still second, they should start as strong favourites against E&E who are third bottom in the CCL Premier South. The 1975 FA Vase finalists have really struggled in the league this season but have managed four wins in this, including the big scalp of North Greenford United who made last year's quarter-finals. Admission should be around the £8 mark again
ECL Division 1 South
AS London v Hutton @3pm - the hosts won their midweek game against Newbury Forest to move up to sixth, which I believe is the highest they've been all season. With numerous games in hand on all of those above them, a play-off place looks like it's theirs for the taking. Hutton, who play in Billericay, are in the top five so if they beat them too, they should definitely be considered promotion contenders. Tickets should be no more than £8
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Sunday 12 January
FA Cup Third Round
Arsenal v Manchester United @3pm - arguably the tie of the round takes place at the Emirates Stadium. It features the two most successful clubs in the competition's history with Arsenal managing 14 wins and the Red Devils just behind on 13. The Gunners last won in 2020 whilst the visitors are the current holders after beating arch rivals Manchester City in last season's final. The league table would suggest that Mikel Arteta's side should go through but they lost at home to Newcastle in the EFL Cup on Tuesday whilst United arrive on the back of a very positive 2-2 draw at Liverpool. Arsenal are also unbeaten in seven at home against the Old Trafford club but, interestingly, their last loss to them on home turf came in this competition in 2019. Tickets are not available to non-members but hospitality packages are on offer from £345
Crystal Palace v Stockport County @3pm - the Eagles picked up a very useful point against Chelsea last weekend, a side they have traditionally really struggled against. Now five points clear of the relegation zone, they need to convert a few more draws into wins to make sure of staying up. As a cup team, they've been pretty effective this season as they made it to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup before narrowly losing to Arsenal at the Emirates. They'll hope and expect to get off to a winning start here too as Stockport play two divisions below them. County fell from the second to sixth tier between 2002 and 2013 during a terrible time in their history but since 2019, they've won three promotions to sensationally climb back up to League One. In contention for promotion again, they'll bring sizeable travelling support and can't be written off at all. Tickets appear to have sold out
More previews for the 11 & 12 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!
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