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.
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| 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Saturday 1 February
Championship
Millwall v QPR @3pm - for the second weekend running, there are no Premier League games in London on Saturday. The top fixture is this tasty London derby in the second tier. There's little to choose between these teams right now with the R's a point ahead of the Lions in midtable. Games between the two are often hard to call too with either side more than capable of beating the other. Draws are rare though, with only one in the last six between them. Regular tickets have sold out but hospitality is available from £100
Watford v Norwich City @1230pm - if you can't get in above, then there are still a few tickets for this game at Vicarage Road. These two sides are in the pack just above Millwall and QPR and the hosts could go seventh with a win. It's been three years since the Canaries last won here but they breezed past the Hornets 4-1 when they last met in September. Tickets
League One
Leyton Orient v Stockport County @3pm - this third-tier match at Brisbane Road should be well worth a watch. The O's amazing run of form continued in midweek when they won 6-2 at Exeter. Top of the form table, they're now into the play-off places. The visitors sit just above them but the east London club drubbed them 4-1 at Edgeley Park in the return fixture earlier in the season. If the hosts win again, they'll be up to fifth. Tickets
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City @3pm - there may be no top-flight games but some of the EFL offerings are really good. Apart from the ones above, this game at Plough Lane is also a top-six clash. With Walsall nine points clear at the top, the battle for the other two automatic promotion places is fierce with only six points separating the teams between second and eighth. The visiting Bantams are fourth and top of the form table whilst the Dons are well placed in sixth. Games between these two have been really tight in recent years with only five goals being scored in the last six games. Tickets
Bromley v Grimsby Town @3pm - the Ravens made a worrying start to life in the EFL before going on a really good run which hoisted them into the top half. Sadly that form has started to dip again and they're four without a win. The chances of them being relegated are very slim but a win would be nice to keep things ticking over. The Mariners are four points above them but winless in five. Bromley's last win over Grimsby came in 2022 when they were both non-league sides. Tickets
National League
Wealdstone v Solihull Moors @3pm - another side to be winless in four, the Stones have slipped back into the relegation zone but they're only one point adrift. On Saturday they take on a Solihull side who lost to Bromley on penalties in last season's play-off final. Currently only a point below the top seven, they look all set to challenge again. Tickets
National League South
Enfield Town v Farnborough @3pm - neither of the games in the sixth tier is particularly mouthwatering but I've gone for this one as the hosts need all the points they can get to survive. Second from bottom and 10 points adrift of safety, they saw their midweek game against Eastbourne postponed. Here they welcome a Farnborough side who seem destined to finish in midtable after seeing their form go out the window. Tickets
Southern League Premier South
Walton & Hersham v Winchester City @3pm - none of the games in the seventh tier are much to write home about either. This match in Surrey features the highest ranked TLFG club at this level to be hosting a game. Sitting two points outside the play-off places, the Swans should be confident of a win over a Winchester side who are in a large group of sides who are battling the drop. Tickets
Isthmian League South Central
Uxbridge v Moneyfields @3pm - there's a far more intriguing game at Honeycroft where two of the top six in this division meet. The Reds are four without a win, a series of results which has cost them a place in top three. It's quite possible that that run could be extended here as Moneyfields, despite being just below them, are flying at the moment and are even better form than leaders Farnham. It's been just over two weeks since they last played and it was the Hampshire side who came out on top by 2-0. Tickets are a very reasonable £5 on the gate
FA Vase Fifth Round
We're down to the last 16 in this national knockout competition for teams in the ninth and tenth tiers with its final at Wembley. At this stage the draw is still regionalised and we're lucky enough to have three of the eight ties in London:
AFC Whyteleafe v Egham Town @3pm - arguably the tie of the round sees two of the Combined Counties League's top teams meet at Church Road. Regular readers might remember I've been tipping the Sarnies to win this for a while now and apparently the bookies are saying they're second favourites behind North Shields. The Leafe are available at odds of 6-1 themselves so they should be expected to give the visitors a tough afternoon. A large crowd is expected and you're advised buy tickets in advance. They're £8 and will also be available on the gate
Erith & Belvedere v Daventry Town @3pm - this game at Park View Road is another really tough one to call as they're both seventh in their respective ninth-tier divisions. The Deres achieved their best showing in this competition 10 years ago when they made it to the quarter-finals and lost to North Shields, a match I actually went to. The visitors have set a new club by record by getting this far but will the trip down from Northamptonshire prove to be too much for them? Tickets are available online for £8
VCD Athletic v Hartpury University @3pm - the Vickers are second in the ninth tier SCEFL Premier but they face a tough afternoon against a side who are top of the parallel Hellenic Premier. Hartpury has only been a university since 2018 but it has a specialism in sport and is probably most famous for its rugby teams which compete at a very high level in the men's and women's games. The fifth round is the furthest either side has ever been. Tickets are £10 on the gate
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Sunday 2 February
Premier League
Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur @2pm - the Bees come into this seven points above Spurs. Ange Postecoglou's side have been really struggling of late but they got a morale-boosting win over Elfsborg on Thursday which saw them through to the next round of the Europa League. Brentford should be a much trickier opponent, particularly away, but they did beat them 3-1 at the THS in September and are unbeaten in three against the west London club. Tickets are only available to members
Arsenal v Manchester City @430pm - in the late televised game, two of the biggest sides in the country meet at the Emirates Stadium. City have utterly dominated the Gunners in recent years, losing only one of the last 18 league games against them as they've picked up numerous titles. However, it's not going to plan this season. Sitting a lowly fourth, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, they'd dearly still love to reel in second placed Arsenal who will be only three points ahead if they lose this. Tickets are only available to members
Women's Super League
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United @645pm - it looks like being a busy evening in north London with this women's match being played at the THS. The late kick-off means you'll easily be able to see two games on Sunday. Spurs are enjoying a decent four-game unbeaten run in the WSL but lost to Everton in the FA Cup in midweek to ensure they won't repeat the trip to Wembley they enjoyed last season. They lost to the Red Devils in that final and they could well come unstuck again here as Marc Skinner's side are in much better shape than they were last year. Currently second and still going in the FA Cup, they will start as favourites. Tickets
Women's Championship
Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @12pm - back-to-back wins over Sheffield United and Durham have clawed the Addicks back into title contention. Just two points behind leaders Birmingham City, they face a very winnable game here against a side in the bottom three. This is being played at The Valley and tickets are available
FAWNL Southern Premier
Hashtag United v AFC Wimbledon @3pm - the Tags are currently top of the third tier but they've played three games more than their nearest rivals Ipswich and saw star striker Holly Turner join Nottingham Forest in midweek. The Dons are new to this level but they've adapted well and are up to fifth and should be able to make the hosts work hard. This match will see two former Actonians favourites in action. Two seasons ago Sophie Baigent came in on loan from then WSL side Reading and scored six goals in six games as a centre-back as she showed her undoubted class. Now at Hashtag she's regularly named player of the match and I'd expect to see her in the second tier next season whether her team wins promotion or not. For the Dons we have young striker Dior Knorr who bagged eight goals at the start of the season for the A's which saw her poached by the south London side. Tickets are £5 on the gate and the match is being played at Aveley
Watford v Ipswich Town @2pm - on the opposite side of town, the Hornets welcome the aforementioned title challengers from Suffolk. The hosts became viral stars this week after some bizarre refereeing decisions in their game against Lewes drew a lot of attention on social media. Despite losing that game, they're still fourth but being nine points behind Hashtag, a promotion push seems unlikely. If it is to happen, they simply have to win this. This is being played at Wealdstone and tickets are available
FAWNL Division 1 South East
Actonians v Dulwich Hamlet @2pm - both of these sides have suffered a notable dip in form in recent weeks but both have enjoyed wins in cup competitions to keep their spirits up. Actonians won 3-1 at Ascot United in midweek - a decent result considering they were unbeaten in the league. Two weeks ago, the Hamlet managed a tidy 2-1 win at London Bees who've been really impressive over the last couple of months. Dulwich were the first team to beat the A's this season when they won 2-0 at Champion Hill and the hosts will no doubt want revenge. This is being played at Rectory Park in Northolt and tickets are £5
London Bees v Cambridge United @2pm - the aforementioned Bees have Actonians in their sights and would love to jump above them into the top four. Five points back with a game in hand, it is doable. Cambridge are a real Jekyll & Hyde team, who are equally capable of holding the leaders and getting thrashed by one of the strugglers so who knows what will happen here! Tickets are £5
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?
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