Greetings one and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.
I hope you're all well and have been enjoying your football.
As mentioned last time, I've been on late shifts all week so haven't been able to get to any games but I have been up to my eyes with Non-League Day preparations as we move into the final two months of the campaign.
Over the last few days, we've held meetings with the Premier League, NHS Blood & Transplant and South Western Railway.
 |
| This year's NLD is less than two months away |
We have also had a couple of big companies reach out to us about getting involved so it's all looking promising.
I've got some days off coming up so I'm hoping to get to QPR's U21 game on Tuesday and maybe a couple of Actonians ones too.
It's been great getting your emails this week, keep them coming as I'm always happy to help when I can.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week's highlights include games in the Europa League, Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's Super League, 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 26 January
Premier League Cup
Brentford v Chelsea @7pm - the week begins with a very decent looking U21 game at Wheatsheaf Park in Staines. This competition is coming to the end of the group stage. As it stands, Chelsea, Brentford and Derby are all level on nine points with only the top team going through automatically and the seven best runners-up joining them. The Blues have a game in hand so are favourites to progress but if the Bees win here in their final group game, it could make things interesting. Tickets
Isthmian League Premier Division
Carshalton Athletic v Hastings United @745pm - the Robins have been incredibly inconsistent this term but their 1-0 win over Hashtag United on Saturday moved them back into the top 10. With average crowds of over a thousand, Hastings are one of the biggest clubs in this division but their form on the pitch has been surprisingly poor and they're in the bottom three. Tickets
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 27 January
Professional Development League
QPR v Colchester United @1pm - if you want to see two games on Tuesday then you've got a great opportunity to do so. This U21 match is being played at Loftus Road where it's usually entry by donation to the club's community trust. Update - this is now at the club's training ground but it's still open to the public
League One
Charlton Athletic v Bristol Rovers @745pm - the Addicks' push for a play-off place stayed on track on Saturday as they beat Shrewsbury 1-0 at The Valley. With Barnsley losing to Stevenage, they're now only two points off the top six. The Gas have been pretty underwhelming with only eight wins from 26 games but they've won on their last two visits and will be looking to complete the hat-trick. Tickets are available and if you buy two, you get a third for free
National League South
Enfield Town v Eastbourne Borough @745pm - there are three games in the sixth tier on Tuesday night but I've gone for this as it affects proceedings at both ends of the table. The Towners' miserable campaign has seen them spend most of it in the relegation zone. Saturday's trip to bottom club Weymouth only yielded a point and left them 10 points adrift of safety. Their task to remain in the division is a huge one and it won't get much easier here as Eastbourne are joint top with three other teams in what has become a very exciting title race. Tickets
Isthmian League Cup Quarter-Final
Hashtag United v Chatham Town @745pm - two seventh-tier teams meet at Aveley for a place in the semi-finals. These two actually contested last year's final with the Chats edging to a 2-1 win. The Tags have been in far better form recently so should start as favourites. Tickets are £12 on the gate
Middlesex Senior Cup Quarter-Final
Hanwell Town v Hayes & Yeading United @745pm - there's a local derby to be enjoyed in this county cup tie. The Geordies play a level above the visitors so should be expected to progress. However, H&YU have made the last two finals and can't be written off. The winners will travel to Bedfont Sports in the next round. Tickets are £12
Isthmian League South Central
Hanworth Villa v Hartley Wintney @745pm - two of the top seven in this eighth-tier division do battle at Rectory Meadow. The hosts saw their big game with leaders Farnham postponed on Saturday as Moneyfields moved above them. Hartley Wintney thrashed fellow promotion contenders Uxbridge 5-1 in a very impressive display which lifted them into the top four. Tickets are £11 on the gate
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 29 January
Surrey Senior Cup Second Round
Kingstonian v Chertsey Town @745pm - with 11 wins from 17 final appearances, the K's are one of the most successful clubs in this competition's history. However, they're now an eighth-tier club and playing one level below their opponents. The Curfews have been a bit hit-and-miss this season and got stuffed 5-2 at home by bottom club Marlow on Saturday so this in-form Kingstonian side could have a good chance. Tickets are £6 on the gate
Isthmian League North
Sporting Bengal United v Newmarket Town @745pm - there's a big relegation six-pointer at the Mile End Stadium. These two are actually playing each other in back-to-back games after the pair met in the reverse fixture on Saturday. On that occasion Newmarket won 2-1 to move one point ahead of SBU. A win here for either will take them out of the dreaded bottom four. Tickets will be available on the gate - I'm not certain of the price but it should be around £10
Women's FA Cup Fourth Round
Arsenal v Bristol City @745pm - after the frosts of recent weeks, we have two re-arranged ties to look forward to on Wednesday. To re-cap, this is the round where WSL teams enter the draw alongside all the teams who have survived the previous rounds. The Gunners are the most successful club in the competition and they'll start as strong favourites against the second-tier Robins. This is being played at Boreham Wood and tickets are available
West Ham United v Liverpool @745pm - despite their league struggles, the Hammers have again shown that they're a decent cup team after making it to the League Cup semi-finals with a win over Spurs. The Reds were a side that were expected to put pressure on the top five this season but it hasn't quite worked out. Nevertheless, they should start as marginal favourites here. This is being played at Dagenham & Redbridge and tickets are available
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday 30 January
UEFA Europa League
Tottenham Hotspur v Elfsborg @8pm - Spurs' disastrous defeat to Leicester at the weekend means Ange Postecoglou's side are in some crisis. Although still well clear of the relegation zone, they're in a mess and there's still time for it to get much worse. The Europa League has been a happier hunting ground for the north London club so far and they're currently sixth out of the 36 teams in the competition. Swedish club Elfsborg are 20th but have won their last two and will know Tottenham are in trouble. Tickets
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday 31 January
FA Youth Cup Fifth Round
Fulham v Arsenal @7pm - a place in the quarter-finals of this U18 competition is up for grabs at Motspur Park. The Cottagers are the higher-ranked side in the league so, with home advantage, you might expect them to go through. Tickets are £3
Premier League Cup
Chelsea v Derby County @7pm - as mentioned above, the Blues are top of their group but that could've changed by the time this happens. To re-cap, only the top team in each group goes through automatically with seven best runners-up joining them. As of Monday morning, Derby are on level points with Brentford and Chelsea so it's all to play for as it stands. Tickets
Premier League 2
West Ham United v Stoke City @7pm - being played at the club's Rush Green facility, the Hammers should start as strong favourites against the Potters who are rock bottom of this 26-team U21 league. The visitors have yet to win a game this season so a home win looks highly likely. Tickets are £5 on the gate
SCFL Premier
Lingfield v Peacehaven & Telscombe @8pm - the Lingers have been having some stadium issues so have moved into a groundshare with AFC Whyteleafe for the rest of the season. As a result, we get to see some bonus action from this ninth-tier division. Down in the bottom three, they could definitely do with a win. The visitors are eighth and looking for a play-off place. Tickets will be available on the gate for £8
ECL Division 1 South
Barkingside v NW London @745pm - in the 10th tier we've got an important match between two sides in the bottom six who are just above the relegation zone. A win would be huge for both and incredibly important as some of the teams below have games in hand. Tickets will be available on the gate for £5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previews for 1 & 2 February 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!
Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here
No comments:
Post a Comment