Greetings one and all and welcome to TLFG's Non-League Day Special.
I can't quite believe it's that time of year again, the weeks fly by so fast but here we are with just a few days to go.
Every year I wonder how much further myself and the team can take the event but something new keeps cropping up to move things to another level.
Our major new partnerships this year are with NHS Blood and Transplant, as we try and recruit new donors to match the critical need for more blood, and sports retailer Decathlon.
La Liga giants Athletic Bilbao are involved for a third year in a row, partnering with six clubs around the country who play in a similar strip to them.
My employer South Western Railway have got involved again to help raise awareness and I made a film with the PR firm the company use at Walton & Hersham on Tuesday - the result will be out at some point this week plus the results of an interesting survey they commissioned into British attitudes to non-league football.
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This year's Non-League Day is on Saturday
Then there's all the work that's being done with Prostate Cancer UK - we're into our 11th year with the charity and clubs across the country will be raising funds for them.
The sale of our merchandise will also be generating funds for the charity too.
The t-shirt below is just one of a range of many designs that are available so have a look, there are hoodies and badges too.
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| Get NLD merchandise in your club's colours now! |
So back to this week's NLD Special - the format is different.
All the matches are on the maps as normal but rather than have a weekend map, there's now one for Saturday (NLD) and one for Sunday.
The other significant difference is that there is no 'Daily Digest', it's all about what you can see on NLD and this will probably get added to as clubs announce their plans once their midweek games are out of the way.
It's also quite possible I could miss a deal or event here or there so please let me know.
Anyway, I'm all set to begin my NLD with a trip to Benfleet for the beginning of the Essex Senior League groundhop at 12pm.
Woodside Stadium will play host to the Premier League trophy so fans can have their photos with it and I've been asked to be there.
From there it will go to Buckhurst Hill for their 3pm kick-off before ending the day at Takeley for their 745pm match and the official switch on of their new floodlights.
All three clubs have received Premier League funding, hence the reason they're getting the trophy.
After Benfleet, my plan is to head back to east London to watch Clapton CFC take on Croydon in the Southern Counties East League at 3pm as that's where my friends want to go.
I really hope you can make it to a game - I look forward to catching up again next week.
THE WEEK AHEAD
This week we've got an England game, a match in League Two and some Women's Super League action but for me the focus is Non-League Day on Saturday.
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
NON-LEAGUE DAY MATCH MAP
SUNDAY MATCH MAP
NON-LEAGUE DAY DIGEST
In the following section, I list what are in my opinion the most notable games of the day and give some brief reasons for my choice. Updates will follow as the week progresses. Check the maps above for club info and directions.
Saturday 22 March
National League
Sutton United v Dagenham & Redbridge @1230pm - the first match of the day in the capital is this derby at Gander Green Lane. The U's defeat to Halifax on Saturday left them bang in the midtable doldrums with very little to realistically play for. The Daggers' 3-1 loss to Tamworth saw them end the weekend on level points with two sides in the bottom four as their lengthy winless run continued. Tickets are available. Also, if you want to do two games in a day, Sutton Common Rovers play a little to the east at Carshalton Athletic's ground and their game against Moneyfields starts at 3pm
Wealdstone v Woking @3pm - the Stones came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with promotion-chasing Eastleigh on Saturday to earn a morale-boosting point. Although still in the bottom four, they have games in hand on all around them so they've got a reasonable chance of staying up. The Cards are just three places above them so it's a hugely important game for both in their battles for survival. Tickets are available online and there's a reduced price of £13 for season-ticket holders of any club (other than Woking) and also Armed Forces personnel
National League South
Boreham Wood v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - one of the most important matches of the day is this one at Meadow Park. Only six points separate the top six in this division and only one team can go up automatically. These two sides are in that leading group and both have been top at some point during the season. With Worthing mounting a mini breakaway at the top, they both need to win to keep up. The club are hosting a karaoke and meet the players event after the game. Tickets
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Maidstone United @3pm - the Beveree is often cited as one of the best non-league grounds in London so is always good to visit. Usually a club to embrace Non-League Day, they should get a good crowd here as they welcome last season's FA Cup giantkillers Maidstone who made it all the way to the Fifth Round, beating Ipswich Town along the way. The Kent club are in the play-off places but only just. Tickets
Welling United v Worthing @3pm - there's another really important game at Park View Road which is well worth your consideration. With eight games to go, the hosts are in trouble. Eight points adrift of safety, they really have to win the majority of their remaining fixtures to stand a chance of staying up. Worthing, as mentioned above, are top and looking to make sure of that one automatic promotion place. Reduced prices will be available for any Premier League or EFL fan who shows their season-ticket or membership card on arrival. If you don't have one, then you can buy tickets online or on the gate as normal
Isthmian League Premier Division
Cray Wanderers v Bowers & Pitsea @3pm - fans of football history might like to go and watch the Wands. Founded in 1860, London's oldest club have recently begun life at their new Flamingo Park stadium. They kept their outside chances of a play-off place alive by beating top-five side Dover Athletic on the weekend and they should feel confident of getting another three points against the bottom club. The stakes are high for Bowers - if they lose, they'll be relegated and a draw might also not be enough. Tickets
Southern League Premier South
Hanwell Town v AFC Totton @3pm - the Geordies (they play in black and white stripes) spent most of Sunday hosting joyous Newcastle fans who used the Powerday Stadium as their base for the day's EFL Cup Final. With everything cleaned up, they'll be hoping for another bumper crowd for the visit of title-chasing Totton who hail from Hampshire. Hanwell are geographically the closest semi-pro club to QPR's Loftus Road and they'll be hoping the expected presence of R's legend Charlie Austin in the Totton squad will draw in a few fans. Various NLD special discounts apply
Isthmian League North
Walthamstow v Grays Athletic @3pm - if you're in north-east London, a visit to Wadham Lodge is usually a good experience. The 'Stow have been growing their fanbase steadily in recent years and have the fourth best crowds in the division. They managed a whopping 805 against Sporting Bengal United in December, way above the division's average of 250. Although suffering a couple of disappointing results of late, their play-off dreams aren't quite over yet and a win here against midtable Grays will just about keep them in contention. Tickets are £10 on the gate
Isthmian League South Central
Kingstonian v Hanworth Villa @3pm - with Farnham Town all-but champions in this eighth-tier division, it's now all about who can secure a play-off spot. The K's have been second for a while but their form is deserting them at the wrong time and there's now only six points between the clubs in second and sixth. Hanworth are fifth and in even better form than Farnham, with Paul Merson's son Sam banging in the goals for fun at the moment. Special NLD discounts are on offer here too
Sutton Common Rovers v Moneyfields @3pm - as mentioned above, this game can very easily be combined with the Sutton United match at 1230pm so that you can see at least two games on NLD. Apart from that, SCR badly need to win to avoid the drop. Portsmouth club Moneyfields have an outside chance of the play-offs. The hosts have lots of special NLD activities planned for adults and kids so it looks like being a fun afternoon
Uxbridge v Rayners Lane @3pm - probably most recognisable to Londoners for being stations on the same branch of the Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines of the Underground, these two meet for a Middlesex derby at Honeycroft. The Reds have had a fine season and are up to the heady heights of third and will look to try and further secure their play-off place here. The Lane are in midtable and will be playing here twice this week, as the ground is also hosting Wednesday night's Middlesex Senior Cup Final between themselves and Hanwell Town. I'm unaware of any special deals yet but Uxbridge only ever charge £5 anyway, so they always offer fans great value
Isthmian League South
Phoenix Sports v Ashford United @3pm - the hosts are involved in a relegation dogfight and sit just a point above the bottom four. With only one defeat in five, their form is picking up nicely too. Ashford are in midtable and the play-offs will probably just elude them. Phoenix will be bringing in a local pizza company and are raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Tickets
CCL Premier North
Bedfont Sports v North Greenford United @3pm - with the title and the one automatic promotion spot seemingly beyond them, another two Middlesex clubs will do battle for a play-off place. The hosts have made the play-offs in two of the last three seasons and look set to do it again as they're on course to match their third-place finish of last year. NGU sit just outside the top five but have the games in hand to force their way into contention. The Recreation Ground is a fine modern venue, with a high quality artificial pitch and is notable for its location next to Heathrow's runway. Bedfont FC play literally next door on regular grass and also have a match at 3pm against Yateley in the division below - don't get confused! Tickets are £8 on the gate
Egham Town v Virginia Water @3pm - when it comes to winning the title, the Sarnies are in pole position. Although level on points with Amersham Town, they have two games in hand. On Saturday they take on local rivals who are in the top eight themselves so they'll no doubt want to put a dent in those promotion ambitions
Essex Senior League groundhop
One of the highlights of this year's Non-League Day will be this event. The league have spent lots of time and effort co-ordinating staggered kick-off times and creating a passport that will get you into up to four games for £30 and you'll get a different free gift at each one you attend. The action actually starts on Friday night with the games at West Essex and Woodford Town and then gets going again at midday on Saturday at Benfleet where I'll be, at least for a bit. This is where the Premier League trophy will be present for fans to have photos. However, if you can't make it all the way out there, don't worry as it's coming back into the London area for the 3pm game at Buckhurst Hill which is easily reachable by Tube. If you're already committed to watching another game at 3pm and you've got a car, then the trophy will be making one final stop at Takeley near Stansted airport at 745pm. Another game to be included in the passport in the London area is Athletic Newham v Frenford at 3pm but the trophy won't be making an appearance. Contact the league for a passport - there's still time
SCEFL Premier
VCD Athletic v Punjab United @3pm - the Vickers are in a desperately tight title race with Faversham Town. One point ahead with seven games to go, they can't afford any slip ups. On NLD they welcome fifth place Punjab United who come from Gravesend and need a win to bolster their hopes of keeping hold of the last play-off place
SCEFL Division 1
Clapton CFC v Croydon @3pm - in the 10th tier, the biggest games and best offers all appear to be in this division at the moment. With an average of 448, CCFC have the biggest crowds in this division by some margin. For a big game like this, against one of their play-off rivals, they could double that. Usually the club run all kinds of events and promotions on NLD but they haven't declared anything yet despite being one of the only clubs in the country to actually have the day highlighted on their fixtures page since it was announced. It's probably because they have really good prices, discounts and other bits and pieces going on all the time anyway. This is where I plan to head for my 3pm game with a number of my friends and TLFG readers
Forest Hill Park v Lewisham Borough @3pm - another highlight of NLD will be the Catford Classico between the two sides who share the Ladywell Arena. Lewisham had had the upper hand in these derbies in recent years but then FHP merged with SE Dons over the summer and they've become the dominant force. Currently three points clear at the top with a game in hand, they're looking good for the title
SOUL Tower Hamlets v Bridon Ropes @3pm - with only four points between the sides in fourth and eighth, the battle for the play-offs is becoming very exciting. Two of those sides meet at the Mile End Stadium in this game. The hosts have been really keen to engage with NLD this year and wanted to move their kick-off to the evening for groundhoppers but the stadium owners (who I think are the council) wouldn't allow it. Instead, they're offering fans half-price kits for one day only and FREE SAMOSAS!
ECL Division 1 South
AS London v Hackney Wick @3pm - although I'm not aware of any deals yet, this is a top-four clash and should be well worth a watch. The hosts have the games in hand to lift them up to third whilst the Wickers are one point behind leaders Harlow with a game in hand of their own
MORE INFO ON SPECIAL DEALS WILL BE ADDED AS I RECEIVE IT
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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.
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Thank you for this as always. A part of me feels Clapton CFC v Croydon could get one thousand in attendance and would Love to see this.😊
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