TLFG: 18-24 January 2016

Hello one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG.

As a QPR fan, Saturday was a momentous occasion. Not only did Rangers win their first match under new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at the ninth time of asking but we also lost the services of talismanic striker Charlie Austin.

I don't think there will be many Rangers supporters who begrudge him his move back to Premier League and in Southampton he seems to have chosen a club well suited to progress his career.

The thing that wrankles with me is the paltry £4m fee the club is said to have received for undoubtedly one of the best strikers in English football.

Yes his contract was up in a few months but when I see other players going for so much more I really despair - Jonjo Shelvy £12m, Benik Afobe £9m, Lewis Grabban £7m to name just three from the current transfer window.

Edgware Town appear in the latest ground review by 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game'

Austin scored 18 goals in the Premier League last season for the team which finished bottom and has averaged pretty much a goal every other game over the course of his 200+ game career - Southampton and their fans must be pinching themselves QPR parted with him for so little. I'd expect at least another player thrown in as makeweight in the deal but apparently not. 

Anyway, it's all about his replacement Sebastian Polter now. The big German, who has spent most of the season in the reserves following his summer signing, has been given a chance by Hasselbaink and has scored three in his last four games. The king is dead, long live the king!

LONDON DOUBLEHEADERS

On the subject of QPR, you can catch them as part of a west London Championship doubleheader on Saturday thanks to their home match against Wolves starting at 1230pm. With that finished, you'll realistically have about 35-40 minutes to dash the 2.5-3 miles south to see Fulham v Hull City at 3pm. Although it's not far, the traffic between Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham is notorious on matchdays so you might have to miss the end of one or start of the other. Running, cycling, motorbike or scooter will probably be quickest.

On the east side of town, West Ham United have a 530pm kick-off against Manchester City which means you could begin the afternoon with a trip to London's oldest football ground (the Old Spotted Dog) for the Essex Senior League clash between Clapton and Bowers & Pitsea at 3pm (Update 22/01/16: this match has been called off and replaced with a friendly against Enfield Town U21s). The atmosphere at this relatively tiny venue is great thanks to the home club's Ultras. A brisk walk should get you to the Boleyn Ground in time for your second game.

  AND FINALLY...

Lastly I'd like to give another mention to our friends at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' who this week have done a ground review of Edgware Town. Having only recently been re-formed, they're having a great season in the Spartan South Midlands League and are well on course for promotion. With 71 goals from just 17 games, your chances of seeing a 0-0 are virtually nil. Give it a read.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Chelsea - undoubtedly the game of the week sees London's two biggest clubs go head-to-head at the Emirates. In recent years, this fixture has usually seen the Gunners needing to beat Chelsea to stay in the title race - how times change. Now the hosts are the favourites ( they may be top by the time you read this), whilst the Blues are among those trying to avoid the drop having won only one of their last five. I suspect the form book will go out the window here as it did back in September when Chelsea won the reverse fixture 2-0. I'm not saying the visitors will win but it should be tighter than the league table suggests. (Premier League, Sunday 24 January, 4pm. Ticket info)

2. West Ham United v Manchester City - the Hammers' impressive eight-game unbeaten run came to a disappointing end at lowly Newcastle on Saturday leaving them four points adrift of the top four. If they are to maintain realistic hopes of breaking into the elite then they'll need to beat one of its most powerful members. City have won the title twice in recent seasons and are firmly in the race to win it again this time, crushing a decent Crystal Palace side 4-0 this weekend. They are far from invincible though and can be undone by almost anyone in the division on one of their off days. In fact, West Ham have won two of their last three against them so could give them a run for their money. (Premier League, Saturday 23 January, 530pm. Ticket info)

3. Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur - elsewhere in south-east London we've got a decent looking derby between these two. Spurs responded well to losing the midweek game against Leicester by drubbing ailing Sunderland on Saturday, cementing their place in the top four. For a while, Palace were looking like surprise contenders for the top four too but they've hit a sticky patch which has surely killed those ambitions. Winless and scoreless in five, the Selhurst Park club have slipped to eighth during a worrying period. If Tottenham play to their strengths, it could be another tough afternoon for Alan Pardew's men. (Premier League, Saturday 23 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Fulham v Hull City - at Craven Cottage we have a match of equal importance to teams at either end of the Championship. The hosts still haven't come to terms with relegation from the Premier League and have again struggled to assert themselves in this tough division. With one win in 14 matches it's been another challenging season for the club from SW6. Hull, on the other hand, got relegated in May and have been the pick of the sides which came down. Up in second, with four wins in five, it's looking good for the Tigers. (Championship, Saturday 23 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Bromley v Tranmere Rovers - all our League One and Two clubs are out of town this week which means the focus next moves to the National League. There are a few good options at this level over the next seven days but I think this one is probably the most eye-catching. Although Bromley also entertain the higher ranked Grimsby in midweek, this match against another former Championship team will probably generate a bigger crowd and provide more of an experience. Playing their first season in this division, the hosts made a brilliant start and established themselves amongst the frontrunners. A dreadful November saw them slip back into midtable where I'm sure they'd be more than happy to finish. In terms of attendance, Tranmere are the biggest club in non-league football with average gates of around 5,000. If you're unfamiliar with English football, Rovers surprisingly fell out of the Football League last season after a poor run of results. They were League Cup finalists as recently as 2000 and FA Cup quarter-finalists in 2004 so to see them in non-league football is a bit of a shock. (League One, Sunday 17 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Dartford - in the division below we have a mouthwatering clash between two of our local sides who are well on course for at least a play-off berth. In a division where all of the top 10 still have realistic promotion ambitions, this match between third and fourth could be pivotal in how the season progresses. Sutton made it through to the last 16 of the FA Trophy on Saturday to become the last remaining TLFG club in the competition. This result extended their winning run to six in all competitions. The Darts aren't on quite such an impressive winning streak but haven't lost a league match in over three months and disposed of former leaders Bath 4-1 on Saturday. I fully expect the U's to get a 1,000+ crowd for this and will be disappointed if they don't. (National League South, Saturday 23 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Tonbridge Angels - it's been a stunning few weeks for Hampton as seven consecutive wins have propelled them to the top of the Isthmian League. Currently two points clear and with a game in hand over second placed Dulwich, things are looking very rosy. Their next engagement in the league sees them welcome Tonbridge who are third. Seven points behind Hampton, defeat here would pretty much knock them out of the title race so plenty is at stake. TLFG fact - legendary Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler is among Hampton's coaching staff and can often be seen putting the players through their pre-match warm-up. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 23 January, 3pm. Club info)

8. Egham Town v Royston Town - after highlighting them last Sunday, the Sarnies didn't disappoint and produced back-to-back league wins over Kings Langley and Aylesbury United to move up to third in what is a very competitive division. Now just three points off top spot and with games in hand on both the teams above them, we are looking at another local team with strong title ambitions. On Tuesday they welcome Royston who are immediately below them for another crucial game. Interestingly, this match will pit the best defence in the division (Egham) against its joint best attack (Royston) so the outcome should be interesting. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Tuesday 19 January, 745pm. Club info)

9. Wembley v AFC Dunstable - they were a few contenders for game of the week in the ninth tier but I went for this one as none of our local sides have made much impact in the Spartan South Midlands League this season until now. Although not really in with much of a chance of winning it, Wembley have made their way into the top five and welcome a strong Dunstable outfit who need to win to keep the pressure on current leaders London Colney. Given their name and location within view of the famous national stadium, Wembley are always worth a visit. (Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, Saturday 23 January, 3pm. Club info)

10. Edgware Town v Baldock Town - another side to do well after being highlighted in this section last week, Edgware won their huge top-of-the-table clash against Crawley Green on Saturday in front of a crowd of nearly 200 (superb for a tenth-tier fixture). On Saturday they face another tough game against fourth-placed Baldock who have a mean defence. The two have already played twice this season in league and cup and both have ended in 3-2 away wins for Edgware. Another five-goal thriller would go down nicely. (Spartan South Midlands League Division One, Saturday 23 January, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

TLFG: 11-17 January 2016

Greetings one and all and welcome back to TLFG.

I'm going to keep my preamble pretty brief this week (hooray I hear you cheer) as I've got to get to work - everything else is pretty standard though, except for the ticket section which I haven't got round to yet.

We've got another big week ahead with the highlight for me being the two very interesting looking FA Trophy ties which you can find out more about below.

I also usually put in a bit about ground reviews and whether you'd like to do one. Then it occurred to me that several blogs are or have done that already so why not just link to one directly.

One such publication is 'Two Men In Search of the Beautiful Game' who largely review grounds within TLFG's catchment area so here's a link to their latest piece on Isthmian League club Staines Town who have some of the finest non-league facilities within the M25. 

As always enjoy your week and get in touch if you have any questions or comments.

UPDATE (11/01/16): Once again our good friends at The Chicken Balti Chronicles have unearthed another unusual gem - a friendly between Sutton United and a Crystal Palace XI on Tuesday morning at 1030am. It's free to get in at Gander Green Lane so if you're off during the day this could well be worth checking out.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 80 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City - for the second week running, this will be our top featured game. On Sunday they met in the FA Cup and three days later they meet in the league. At the time of writing, the cup match has still to be played so it could put this game into a different context but essentially it's a battle between two of the Premier League's top four so should hopefully be a bit of a cracker. Leicester could go top with a win while Spurs could jump up to third. (Premier League, Wednesday 13 January, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Chelsea v Everton - it's a hectic week for all Premier League clubs with Chelsea being no exception. Three home games in six days mean Guus Hiddink will probably have to shuffle a few players around to keep them all fresh. The match against Everton is the last of the three and victory combined with a favourable result against West Brom in midweek could see them on the verge of breaking back into the top 10. The Toffees shouldn't be a walkover by any means, however, as they beat Chelsea 3-1 in the reverse fixture back in September. (Premier League, Saturday 16 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Brentford v Middlesbrough - the Bees are another west London club with a punishing schedule this week as they play two of the Championship's best teams back-to-back on Tuesday and Friday. First up are current leaders Boro who disposed of Brentford in last season's play-offs to extend their winning run against the Griffin Park club to eight matches. In fact, Brentford have to go all the way back to 1964 to find a record of their last victory against the Smoggies. If you can't make this, Burnley roll into town at the end of the week for a televised game which should also be worth a watch. (Championship, Tuesday 12 January, 745pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Port Vale - one of the most attractive things about this fixture is that it's taking place on Sunday and makes it the only senior match on in the capital that day. The Lions have a cup match against Oxford on Thursday meaning this league game has been put back. It's also a decent looking game between two sides pushing to get into the League One play-off places - very much worth a trip to Bermondsey, give it a go. (League One, Sunday 17 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Mansfield Town - in the division below we have a very similar game between two former non-league sides who are battling to get into the play-offs. The visitors took advantage of the Dons being without a game on Saturday and leapfrogged them into eighth with a win over Stevenage. Since the two made it into League Two together, Wimbledon have failed to win any of their five matches against the Stags so they seem to be becoming a bit of a bogey team. (League Two, Saturday 16 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Curzon Ashton - after all the thrills and spills of the FA Cup, next weekend sees the return of the FA Trophy. We've now reached the second round stage, which means we're down to the last 32 and it's starting to get serious. If you're new to English football, this competition is for clubs playing in the top four levels of non-league football and ends with a final at Wembley in May. Aside from the top division, football at this level is regional but at this stage of the Trophy the draw is national so you get ties between teams who have probably never met before. I haven't done my research but there can't have been too many previous meetings between south Londoners Sutton and Curzon from the east of Manchester. The Nash, as they are nicknamed, have had a fantastic couple of years winning back-to-back promotions to climb up to the National League North - the parallel division to the National League South in which Sutton United are currently one of the leading clubs. The U's have been getting impressive crowds of nearly 1,000 over the last few weeks and the novelty and importance of this tie will hopefully see them go well over that here. (FA Trophy Second Round, Saturday 16 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Dulwich Hamlet v Guiseley - elsewhere in London we have another Trophy tie pitting South versus North but there is a two-division gulf between the sides. On paper Dulwich should start as underdogs - they play in the seventh tier Isthmian League Premier Division while Guiseley, who hail from the Leeds area, compete in the National League. However, I actually think the home draw will give the Hamlet a significant advantage. Dulwich are a team in form - unbeaten in seven and top of the league, they also drew an awesome crowd of 2,249 for their win over Enfield on Saturday. Guiseley, on the other hand, are winless in four, fighting a relegation battle and have a long journey. Real cupset potential in front of another monster crowd. (FA Trophy Second Round, Saturday 16 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Egham Town v Kings Langley - the occasion won't be quite as grand at the Runnymede Stadium on the western fringe of TLFG's catchment area but this is an important game in the race for the Southern League Division 1 Central play-offs. Egham are currently the pick of our local clubs, occupying fifth place at the time of writing but with two games in hand. One of those is this one against Kings Langley who are level with them on points. Given how tight the table is, the Sarnies are still well in with a shot at winning the title. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Tuesday 12 January, 745pm. Club info)

9. Sun Sports v Oxhey Jets - in recent seasons both sides have challenged hard for the Spartan South Midlands League title. However, this time it's gone a bit pear-shaped for both. The hosts lie pretty much bang in the middle of the table while Oxhey have a fight on their hands to stay up. So why recommend this? Quite simply it's effectively the Watford area's non-league derby. The clubs reside to the north and south of Vicarage Road about four miles apart so it deserves a bit of extra coverage in my view. (Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, Tuesday 12 January, 745pm. Club info)

10. Edgware Town v Crawley Green - last up this week is the much-awaited clash between the top two in the division below. Crawley Green, who actually come from Luton and not Sussex, have made the running thus far and are five points clear having won 16 of their 17 league games. Edgware have won 14 of theirs but have played a game less so victory is looking pretty much essential if they want to keep it a two-horse race. (Spartan South Midlands League Division 1, Saturday 16 January, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

TLFG: 4-10 January 2016

Happy New Year and welcome back to TLFG as we move into 2016 - this blog's fifth year.

I hope you had a good festive break and got to see a game or two.

My hopes of seeing a game came to nothing as I was either working or out in the country miles from any matches.

The nearest I came to anything football related was Fulham Palace parkrun on Christmas Day. This  free to enter 5km run takes place in Bishops Park and passes alongside Craven Cottage at one point during the course. It was the second time I'd run it (it happens every Saturday) and got an unexpected personal best so I was pretty happy with that.

On Boxing Day I had planned to go to Harrow Borough v Hendon but foolishly decided to commit to family instead and missed out a remarkable 5-5 draw with Borough coming from 1-4 and 3-5 down. 

It seems Hendon are the team to watch at the moment as they edged a seven-goal thriller with Wingate & Finchley in another derby on Saturday.

QPR have started to lurch worryingly towards the wrong end of the Championship table, taking only one point from their three festive fixtures against Ipswich, Huddersfield and Hull. Although still nine points clear of the bottom three, they are winless since new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink took over six games ago.

Elsewhere in London, things are looking bright for Arsenal who are now two points clear at the top of the Premier League after Leicester started to show signs of fallibility.

Tottenham have gone some way towards making a top-four finish look more likely with some decent performances whilst West Ham are now unbeaten in seven and also in with a great chance of Europe.

In terms of promotion, it's also looking good for Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon who are both well positioned for a crack at the League Two play-offs and it's by no means over for Millwall in the division above.

In non-league, London's main chances of honours look likely to come from Sutton United in the National League South and in the Isthmian League, Dulwich Hamlet and Hampton & Richmond look like going toe-to-toe for the title.

This weekend sees the legendary FA Cup Third Round take place. This is when the Premier League and Championship sides join the draw.

As far as I can tell, only one non-league side has made it this far - Hampshire club Eastleigh. Located just outside Southampton, I'm sure the National League side would've been hoping to draw the Saints but they got Championship strugglers Bolton instead. At home, this is a winnable tie and it's easy to get to from London if you fancy a break from the capital. There are only a few tickets left so don't delay.

The other good thing about the FA Cup is that most clubs drop their ticket prices and there are a few deals available - more info in the Top 10 below.

Right, I think that's it. Have a great week and enjoy your football.

UPDATE (04/01/15): Thanks to our good friends at The Chicken Balti Chronicles, we've been made aware of an extra FA Youth Cup tie taking place this Saturday. Crystal Palace U18s entertain Aston Villa at Selhurst Park at 12pm - tickets are just £5. The early kick-off then allows you to double up and see another game at a nearby club like AFC Croydon Athletic, Bromley, Dulwich Hamlet or Tooting & Mitcham United.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 70 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City - it's early January and that means it's time for the legendary FA Cup Third Round when teams from the Premier League and Championship join all those who are still standing after the previous eight rounds of competition. Not many would have thought a few months ago that this would be the tie of the round but as it features two of the top four in the country, it most definitely is. Spurs aren't such a surprise but Leicester were in the relegation zone this time last year and are confounding everyone. Coming into this game, the hosts are in better form whilst Leicester are experiencing their first wobble of the season being winless in three. Tottenham are also FA Cup royalty, having won it eight times - the third most successful team of all time in the competition but they haven't made the final since 1991. The Foxes have made the final four times but have yet to win. Both should see this cup as an excellent chance of silverware but may still be distracted by achieving the highest league finish possible and could make a few changes. (FA Cup Third Round, Sunday 10 January, 4pm. Ticket info)

2. Arsenal v Sunderland - talking of FA Cup royalty, the Gunners are the veritable emperors of the competition with more wins than anyone else. With 12 successes, they are one ahead of Manchester United - a feat they achieved by winning it for the last two years. The north London club are also top of the Premier League and still in the Champions League so it could be a glittering season. Things couldn't be more different for the Mackems who are marooned in the bottom three and despite comfortably beating bottom club Aston Villa on Saturday, probably won't threaten here. However, Arsene Wenger does have a proclivity for shuffling his starting XI around for games like this and it has come back to haunt him before. Tickets for Arsenal home games are hard to get but some were still available in the away end when I looked this morning. (FA Cup Third Round, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Watford v Newcastle United - with tickets pretty tight for both of the above, then this makes for a very attractive alternative in my book. Another side to be upsetting the odds this season, Watford have made a superb return to the Premier League sitting snugly in ninth after 20 games. Personally, I thought they would be cannon fodder this season but I'm happy to have been proved wrong. Newcastle have been in a state of flux for a while now and are, like neighbours Sunderland, down in the bottom three with only four wins and could do with a morale-boosting victory here. Somehow I doubt they'll get it - the Hornets will fancy themselves at home and beat the Toon at St James' Park back in September. (FA Cup Third Round, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - the Hammers are still very much in the hunt for a place in the top four and should be considered a decent shot for winning the FA Cup, something they've done three times before. It would be great for the club to end their final season at the Boleyn Ground with a major trophy and they've been given a very decent draw here. Wolves have actually won it more times than their hosts but their most glorious years were decades ago and should start as second favourites here, given their current midtable position in the Championship. A good pricing structure means this game is officially sold out in all areas so you'll have to enquire about returns or watch somewhere else. (FA Cup Third Round, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Chelsea v Scunthorpe United - despite their recent problems, a home game against League One opposition should be a foregone conclusion for the Blues. Saying that, they famously came unstuck against Bradford City in last year's fourth round so it does happen. Realistically though, with Guus Hiddink now in charge, I can't see a repeat performance especially given their comfortable win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. Although, well down the third tier at the time of writing, the Iron actually have quite a decent record against Chelsea - W2 L2 D1 but those positive results were nearly 30 years ago. Their last meeting came in 2005 in another third round tie which Chelsea won 3-1. I expect at least the same again. (FA Cup Third Round, Sunday 10 January, 2pm. Ticket info)

6. Brentford v Walsall - at first glance, this Championship v League One tie doesn't look all that exciting. However, there is a decent little backstory in that Brentford recently lured Dean Smith away from Walsall to become their manager. It's a move that's gone pretty well with the Bees now within striking distance of the play-off places. Before leaving the Midlands, Smith had turned the Saddlers into title contenders in their division and are still churning out decent results so should be quite a handful for the west Londoners. (FA Cup Third Round, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Boreham Wood v Cheltenham Town - with the FA Cup ties taken care of, we drop into the National League for my next recommendation where minnows Boreham Wood welcome the Robins who currently top the division. The Gloucestershire club got relegated from League Two at the end of last season after 16 seasons in the Football League where they made it as high as League One at one stage. The drop doesn't seem to have affected them too badly though as they are poised to make an instant return to the division above, sitting four points clear of local rivals Forest Green Rovers at the present time. The Wood are still somehow just keeping their heads above water, losing only one of their last five matches. They are more than a match for anyone at home so a draw shouldn't be beyond them. (National League, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Sutton United v Lowestoft Town - get your football-watching week under way with a trip to Gander Green Lane for this FA Trophy tie. Both these sides are playing catch up in the competition after Sutton's earlier tie against Concord had to be replayed because of an ineligible player. A few seasons ago these two were rivals in the Isthmian League but both have now made it up to the sixth tier but because of the geographical split of teams at this level, the Suffolk side have been rather unfortunately placed in the National League North where they're finding things a little tough going. Sutton, however, are having a fine campaign and look all set to claim their third play-off place in five seasons. Home win for me. (FA Trophy First Round, Monday 4 January, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Kingstonian - if I was off work this weekend then I'd seriously consider heading to this one. Not only is this a local derby (the grounds are a little over three miles apart either side of the Thames), not only do Hampton have the K's last and very successful manager (Alan Dowson) but they are also both well in with a chance of promotion from the Isthmian League. Dowson has done a superb job since taking over, turning them from a struggling side into one that is now well positioned to win the title. K's boss Tommy Williams has done well to keep his side among the division's elite and although humbled by Dulwich on Boxing Day, they should be well up for this. I'd like to think a crowd pushing 1,000 will be on hand to witness this - it certainly deserves a good turnout. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Club info)

10. Glebe v Sutton Athletic - the hosts are most famous for being a youth football club and only moved into the semi-pro adult ranks two seasons ago when they joined the Kent Invicta League. This season they've moved into their own ground in Chislehurst and are bang on course for winning the title. Third placed Sutton are one of the few teams that look capable of challenging them and with a game in hand could soon go top if they win here. Plenty to play for. (Kent Invicta League, Saturday 9 January, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

TLFG: 21 December 2015 - 3 January 2016

Greetings one and all and welcome to the Christmas/New Year special of TLFG.

Like a footballing edition of the festive Radio Times, it should have all you need to keep abreast of what's going on in the capital over the next two weeks.

Whether you want to see a Premier League blockbuster, an off-beat Football League thriller or a gritty non-league drama there should be something to suit you.

The usual TLFG Top 10 recommendations section has become a daily guide with lots more matches but in briefer detail - this is because there are so many good games at this time of year, particularly derbies.

Personally I'm hoping for some thrills at QPR and a bit of drama at Harrow Borough but it largely depends on my work schedule which is a bit unpredictable at this time of year.

On Tuesday I did finally get to see a game as my beloved R's played host to title chasing Brighton from Sussex.

Given Albion's close proximity to London, any match against opposition from the capital is pretty much seen as a derby. 

With a journey time of less than 75 minutes from the south coast to Shepherd's Bush by train, it was no surprise to see the visitors bring the best part of 3,000 fans to fill up the away end.

This was particularly notable as no away side, including all the big Premier League clubs, over the last couple of years had been given any more than the upper tier rather than the whole lot.

Anyway, the game was a good one. Rangers shaded a competitive goalless first half before two goals in a minute shortly after the interval put Brighton in total control.

Unfazed, QPR fought back and with the aid of a late red card and superman Charlie Austin's brace of goals, grabbed a share of the spoils. In fact, it could even have been all three points as the hosts came close to scoring again in the seven minutes of injury time which came at the end.

I know one or two TLFG readers were planning to see this game too, so let me know if you made it.

Aside from this, the biggest talking point of the week was undoubtedly the sacking of Jose Mourinho by Chelsea. 

I've said before that I'm actually quite a big fan of the guy but the results have been appalling so it comes as no great shock - if Garry Monk had to go at Swansea, then the Portuguese had no chance.

It's also been interesting to see how much support Chelsea's fans have given Mourinho, laying the blame for their current predicament firmly at the players' feet - not many supporters would've been so sad to see the manager of a failing team go.

I'm sure they'll forget about him soon enough if the results pick up and life without the Special One began well. First-team coaches Eddie Newton and Steve Holland guided them to a 3-1 win over Sunderland while new boss Guus Hiddink watched from the stands alongside Roman Abramovich.

TLFG fact - Eddie Newton was a witness at my wedding. Not many QPR fans can 'boast' of a Chelsea legend playing an important role in their lives!!!

Right, I think that's it from me for a couple of weeks. I hope the holiday season is restful and fun for you and you get to see as much football as possible - with staggered kick-offs, it's possible to see more than one game on some days so check the match maps closely for the details.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 130 matches in the London area over the next two weeks so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MATCH MAP 21-25 DECEMBER
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures

MATCH MAP 26-27 DECEMBER

Blue pin - Boxing Day fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

MATCH MAP 28 DECEMBER-1 JANUARY

Yellow pin - Monday fixtures

Green pin - Tuesday fixtures

Black pin - New Year's Day fixtures

MATCH MAP 2-3 JANUARY
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG's CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

Monday 21 December

Arsenal v Manchester City - battle of second versus third in the Premier League

Sutton United v Concord Rangers - FA Trophy replay with reduced admission prices

Tuesday 22 December

Metropolitan Police v Molesey - local derby in Surrey Senior Cup

Corinthian Casuals v Dulwich Hamlet - all Isthmian League tie in London Senior Cup

Saturday 26 December

Chelsea v Watford - Guus Hiddink takes charge of the Blues for this derby against tricky opponents

Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City - Spurs look to consolidate top four place 

Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion - Championship play-off contenders meet for a derby of sorts

Millwall v Walsall - as above but in League One and not a derby

Leyton Orient v Portsmouth - as above but in League Two and kind of a derby

Bromley v Eastleigh - the Ravens welcome National League title chasers from Hampshire

Welling United v Dover Athletic - important for clubs at both ends of National League

Dulwich Hamlet v Kingstonian - top-five clash in Isthmian League Premier Division and also derby of a kind

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Staines Town - a win could put Boro top of the Isthmian League

Harrow Borough v Hendon - groundshare derby in Isthmian League between old, friendly, rivals

North Greenford United v Hanwell Town - derby between very local rivals in the Southern League

Phoenix Sports v Cray Wanderers - Cray look to hold on to top spot in Isthmian 1 North and a south-east London derby

Barking v FC Romania - third versus first in the Essex Senior League

Croydon v AFC Croydon Athletic - Croydon derby, 'nuff said

Sunday 27 December

Wadham Lodge v Ilford - Essex Senior League clash up in E17 

Glebe v Lewisham Borough - top versus bottom in the Kent Invicta League

Monday 28 December

Arsenal v Bournemouth - the Gunners' push for top spot continues against the slayers of Chelsea and Manchester United

Watford v Tottenham Hotspur - derby between teams who both have European ambitions

Charlton Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers - the Addicks fight for survival against former Premier League club Wolves

Queens Park Rangers v Huddersfield Town - Rangers go in search of first home win under JFH

Dartford v Margate - Kent derby in National League South

CB Hounslow United v Bedfont & Feltham - groundshare derby between CCL1 title contenders

Tuesday 29 December

Fulham v Rotherham United - fairly uninspiring Championship clash but the best there is on this day

Wingate & Finchley v Enfield Town - north London derby in Isthmian League

Thurrock v Romford - groundshare derby in Isthmian League 1 North

Friday 1 January

Queens Park Rangers v Hull City - QPR entertain Championship title contenders Hull on TV

Saturday 2 January

Watford v Manchester City - another big game for the Hornets as title chasing City come to town

West Ham United v Liverpool - interesting clash in battle for Europa League spots

Fulham v Sheffield Wednesday - best of the rest, worth a go

Dartford v Chelmsford City - the Darts could move into the NLS play-off places with a win here

Hendon v Wingate & Finchley - derby match and 'Pay What You Want' to get in - what a bargain!

Cray Wanderers v Thurrock - top-four clash in Isthmian 1 North

Clapton v London Bari - groundshare derby and a chance to see the Clapton Ultras in festive action

Sunday 3 January

Crystal Palace v Chelsea - London derby featuring a side more than capable of humbling the Blues

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

TLFG: 14-20 December 2015

Welcome to this week's TLFG.

I've been a bit overrun so it's a bit of a token effort from me this week I'm afraid.

The match maps are pretty much all I've been able to produce. If I get the chance to add a bit of flesh to the bones then I will but if not, then at least you've got the important information.

I hope to have the Christmas/New Year Special up next weekend - fingers crossed!

Have a great week and be careful with those mince pies.

PS - don't forget, there are still free tickets available for the live broadcasts of London Live's sports debate show 'Kicks Off' tonight (Monday) and on Friday. Get in touch with Luke if you want some.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

Free audience tickets for 'Jimmy Bullard Kicks Off'

I think for the first time in the history of this blog I'm doing a separate post outside of the normal weekly piece.

That's because I've been approached by the good people at London Live asking whether any of TLFG's readers would like to attend their football debate show 'Jimmy Bullard Kicks Off'.

The East Ham born midfielder is most famous for playing top-flight football for Wigan Athletic, Fulham and Hull City and also gained attention outside the game when he appeared on the 2014 edition of 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here'.

The show records tomorrow (Friday 11 December) at the TV channel's High St Kensington studios and you'd need to be there for 6pm for a bit of pre-show preparation and chat with Jimmy. The show itself broadcasts live from 7-8pm.

Once again, tickets are free so get in touch with Luke (luke.dolan@londonlive.co.uk) on the production team as soon as possible if you want to go. You're encouraged to wear club shirts/colours if you have them but it's not compulsory.

If you can't make it tomorrow, there are also places available for Monday (14 December) when former Chelsea and Spurs player Jason Cundy hosts and also next Friday (18 December) when Jimmy takes over again.

Enjoy and maybe see you there.

TLFG: 7-13 December 2015

Greetings one and all and Happy Hanukkah if you're celebrating.

This seems particularly relevant this week as I received thousands of page views from Israel on Saturday, something that's never happened before and is probably from some kind of bot that distorts blog readership figures but if not and TLFG was mentioned in an article or forum then welcome.

Personally it's been another busy week which has left no time for watching live football but I've kept abreast of things the best I can.

It's almost impossible to believe that Chelsea lost again and to Bournemouth of all teams. As a QPR fan it's hard not to enjoy their malaise but I'm not one to crow and I actually quite like Jose Mourinho so to see him struggle so much isn't something I relish - however, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. In fact, I even pondered whether I'd sacrifice promotion this year to see the Blues relegated - it would probably give me almost as much satisfaction! 

Anyway, that's a rare bit of partisan editorial from me - apologies.

Fancy a bargain? Get along to Barkingside

Thanks again for your emails this week. It's been great hearing how TLFG has helped people plan their football watching, visits to London and the UK as a whole. Keep them coming, it makes all the effort worthwhile.

It's also always great when clubs run special promotions to get new people in. Well on Monday (7 December), Barkingside are inviting you to 'Pay What You Want' for their Isthmian League match against Thamesmead Town. 

The Ilford club ran a similar promotion on Non-League Day back in October and should be commended for repeating what some may see as a risky scheme so soon after.

If you're free, and especially if you live on the east side of town, get yourself down to Cricklefields which is only a short walk from Seven Kings station on the line out of Liverpool Street.

Whatever the league, please let me know if you're club are offering any special deals and I'll do my best to promote them.

Have a great week. 

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Please follow this link or click on the tab at the top of the page for all the information you need about how to get a ticket, what's currently available to non-members at London's biggest clubs and any other special offers or promotions which might be running.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 90 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. 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 (white 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 (e.g. clubs in the Conference South).

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Yellow pin - Monday fixtures
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Red pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. If I miss one that you think should get a mention then add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v Porto - the disaster continued for the Blues on Saturday as they suffered another unthinkable defeat at home to newly promoted Bournemouth. The patience and faith owner Roman Abramovich is showing in Jose Mourinho right now is quite staggering and at the same time commendable. On Wednesday they face a big Champions League game against Porto, the club Mourinho originally made his name with. Thankfully for the Portuguese, things have gone relatively well in this competition so far and they're top going into this final group game. Given their goal difference, a draw should be enough to progress. (Champions League, Wednesday 9 December, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Tottenham Hotspur v Monaco - Spurs have already booked their place in the last 32 of the Europa League but they haven't made sure of top spot which Anderlecht could still pip them to. Monaco are third and have everything to play for. They aren't the side they once were and should be beatable but they bring an air of glamour and can still field a few familiar faces. They enjoyed a 2-1 win at struggling Bastia on Saturday to stay fourth in the French top flight but, as you may have seen, it's a pretty weak competition which PSG are totally dominating being already a whopping 15 points clear after only 17 games. Tottenham picked up a point at West Brom to stay fifth. All tickets have been reduced to £25 and are still available. (Europa League, Thursday 10 December, 805pm. Ticket info)

3. West Ham United v Stoke City - if it's a bit of domestic action you crave then get yourself to the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers are still up in the top six but I'm not quite sure how after extending their winless run to five games on Saturday. Although they picked up a fine point with a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United, it's been a disappointing six weeks for Slaven Bilic's side. When most fans look at their fixture list and see 'Stoke at home' they probably think they've got a good chance of winning but under Mark Hughes, and Tony Pulis before him, they have become tough, professional and generally hard to beat. On Saturday the Potters humbled Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium and are unbeaten on their last three visits to east London so will be dangerous opponents. Also, don't forget that the historic Boleyn Ground is closing at the end of the season so if you're an infrequent visitor to London this could be your last chance to see a game there. (Premier League, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Fulham v Brentford - we've got a mouthwatering west London derby to look forward to at Craven Cottage on Saturday in the Championship. These two were big rivals in the lower two divisions of the Football League for most of the 20th century but following Mohamed al-Fayed's investment in the Cottagers in the late '90s and their rise to the Premier League, games between the clubs became non-existent. Last season they were reunited in the second tier and played their first matches since 1998. Fulham picked up an early win in the League Cup but the honours in the league itself went resoundingly to Brentford. This season, both clubs have already sacked their managers. The Bees have just brought in Dean Smith from Walsall while Fulham have yet to appoint a full-time replacement. The Bees are in much better form and their fans will almost certainly be the more vocal so it's looking like an away win for me. (Championship, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Queens Park Rangers v Burnley - a short ride on the 220 bus to the north we have another important day in the never dull history of QPR. After defeating Reading on Thursday night, interim manager Neil Warnock stepped down to be replaced by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The former Dutch international striker who won the Premier League Golden Boot twice with Leeds United and Chelsea, joins from League One leaders Burton Albion with whom he won promotion with last season. Although his managerial career has begun well, he still seems to be a bit of a punt in my opinion and he could find the often chaotic goings on at Loftus Road too much to handle. Good luck to him though and he'll need to be focused to get a result against an impressive Burnley side. The Clarets got relegated from the Premier League with the R's in May but have begun this season much better than their hosts and boast outspoken former QPR captain Joey Barton in their squad. (Championship, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Boreham Wood v Woking - there's not a great deal going on in League One and League Two this week so next up we have a game from the FA Trophy which has reached the 'first round proper' stage. This means the big boys of the National League's top division join the draw and things start to get serious. With former Championship clubs like Grimsby Town and Tranmere Rovers now involved, this tie is between relative minnows despite being in the same division. As I've mentioned several times before, The Wood have never played at this level so are kind of living the dream and taking each game as it comes. On attendance alone, they are the smallest club in division averaging just over 600 a game (a 92% increase on last season such is the step up in opposition). They are struggling on the pitch but are keeping their heads above water - just. The Cards, on the other hand, are far more established at this level and have started to turn results around after a bit of a wobble. They also won this competition three times during the '90s and made it to the final again in 2006 so have a fantastic record. It's also a bit of derby too with only a relatively short journey around the western side of the M25 separating them. (FA Trophy First Round, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Corinthian Casuals v Hungerford Town - the other London-based tie is a much more humble affair between clubs from the eighth and seventh tiers respectively. CCs are a very historic club formed when two of the oldest amateur clubs in the world (Corinthian and Casuals) merged in 1939. Corinthian were the inspiration for the foundation of Brazilian giants Corinthians and the two clubs maintain strong links to this day with a friendly between the two in Sao Paulo taking place at the beginning of this year. In the league, CCs are having a pretty good time of things in the Isthmian League Division 1 South and with games in hand are well placed to have a crack at the play-offs. Hungerford, however, are in with a shot at the Southern League title and will definitely start as favourites. (FA Trophy First Round, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Club info)

8. Carshalton Athletic v Herne Bay - one of CCs south London and promotion rivals are Carshalton who after a turbulent time following relegation are mounting a serious promotion challenge to get back into the Isthmian Premier. Currently sitting in fourth, they welcome Herne Bay to Colston Avenue on Saturday for an important game. Just two points behind but with three games in hand, the Kent club represent the kind of strong opposition they'll need to beat to be considered as realistic contenders. (Isthmian League Division 1 South, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Colliers Wood United v Hartley Wintney - think you might prefer a bit of knockout cup football? Well it's also an FA Vase weekend too. This competition has reached its third round stage so we've still got 64 teams left. Not many from the London area remain but one who will be representing us proudly are CWU. Sadly I fear they won't get much further as the visitors are in fine form, topping the Combined Counties League with a seven-point lead. They last met back in August at the Wibbandune and Hartley won 3-1. (FA Vase Third Round, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Club info)

10. Edgware Town v Ipswich Wanderers - elsewhere in the Vase, the Wares will also be looking to cause an upset and in my book have the better chance. Although playing a level below their Suffolk opponents, Edgware have been doing really well losing only once in the Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 all season. Ipswich are in the lower half of the Eastern Counties Premier and have lost as many as they've won. (FA Vase Third Round, Saturday 12 December, 3pm. Club info)

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 within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.