TLFG: 28 November - 4 December 2016

Welcome one and all to the latest edition of TLFG.

I hope you've had a good week. I actually had a few days off and managed to see not one but two games in the time available.

On Tuesday I went back to Earlsmead to watch Harrow Borough take on the rapidly improving Dulwich Hamlet in the Ryman League.

A few weeks ago, Harrow had somehow managed to win the reverse fixture at Champion Hill by a resounding 4-1 scoreline. Sadly, that performance seemed like a distant dream this time as the Hamlet cantered to a very comfortable 2-0 victory which could easily have seen them score several more.

On Thursday I pulled out my passport and headed off for a bit of European groundhopping.

The teams line up ahead of the match at the well appointed Luminus Arena

Over the years I've been to most of the continent's most famous stadiums so I now enjoy ticking off some of the more random ones.

Having suggested a few games to my fellow hoppers in the Netherlands and Germany, it was decided that the Europa League game between Genk and Rapid Vienna most appealed so that's what we went for.

To me names like these conjured up memories of growing up in the '80s when teams from virtually anywhere in Europe could win or seriously challenge for Uefa honours.

Belgian teams and their unusual names have always held a kind of romance and mystery to me - the likes of Ghent, Mechelen, Anderlecht, Club Brugge etc etc have always appealed in some way so it didn't take much to persuade me to go.

Being someone who works in the railway industry, I have the considerable perk of being able to travel all over the continent at a much reduced rate or even free in some countries, so I travelled by train.

The journey from St Pancras, with a change in Brussels, only took four-and-half hours so it was pretty easy.

Genk go close to doubling their lead

After meeting my friend Ashley, who had driven from Dusseldorf, we headed to the Luminus Arena for the evening's entertainment.

The ground is a bit like a larger and more modern version of Loftus Road with much better leg room and sight lines - in fact, QPR's proposed new stadium could do well to copy it.

With friendly staff and stewards, the visit began well.

The match itself wasn't a classic with the hosts winning 1-0 courtesy of a pretty scrappy first-half goal. The ground was also far from full but both sets of 'ultras' created a decent amount of noise so the atmosphere was good enough.

I've got another week off in February in time for the first knockout round so maybe I'll be on the rails again.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next week as the EFL Cup, FA Cup and FA Vase make their return. There is also action in the Premier League, EFL, National League and several minor league and county cup competitions.

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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 28 November

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Leicester City @7pm - the pick of the day's U23 matches takes place at Boreham Wood in the far north of London
Fulham v West Ham United @7pm - in the division below we've got a London derby which you might prefer as it's being played at Craven Cottage

Ryman League Division 1 North
Haringey Borough v Thamesmead Town @745pm - if it's a non-league game you're after, this is the best on offer

----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 29 November

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Torquay United @745pm - currently fifth, the Daggers are currently London's highest ranked non-league side. The former Football League club welcome another team more used to playing in the fully professional ranks and a win could put them in the top three
Sutton United v Dover Athletic @745pm - just behind them are Dover who have been steadily improving over the last couple of season's and made the play-offs last time. With three wins on the bounce, they're going to be tough opponents for midtable Sutton
Boreham Wood v Braintree Town @745pm - we're pretty spoiled for good games in this division tonight. The hosts take on strugglers Braintree knowing a win could leave them just three points adrift of the play-off places

FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round Replay
Wealdstone v Maidenhead United @745pm - if it's cup football you want then this match should get your mouth watering. The Stones have been have had a dodgy time of late so did really well to earn a 2-2 draw at National League South leaders Maidenhead on Saturday. To illustrate how strong they are, it should be noted that the Magpies played most of the game with 10 men, so with their numbers restored it could well be a tricky night for Wealdstone

Ryman League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Metropolitan Police @745pm - after an average start to the season, the Hamlet are starting to look like contenders again. With eight wins from their last 10 matches in all competitions, they can give anyone in the division a game right now. The Met are struggling and should be defeated with relative ease
Staines Town v Enfield Town @745pm - from a London perspective, these two are currently second and third in the Ryman League standings behind Dulwich. Staines could draw level with the Champion Hill club if they win while Enfield, with games in hand on both, could ultimately surpass them both

Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy
Barking v Clapton @745pm - this cup is fought for by members of the Essex Senior League and this East London derby is one of the ties of the round. Not only does it feature two local rivals but Barking are top of the league and looking like champions already

Surrey Senior Cup
Chertsey Town v Abbey Rangers @745pm - on the other side of London we have a very local derby between sides from neighbouring Surrey towns. Chertsey obviously come from Chertsey while Abbey hail from Addlestone but when you look on the map, their ground is pretty much in Chertsey too so they really are close

FA Youth Cup Third Round
Watford v Norwich City @7pm - if all this non-league action isn't your thing, you can watch the respective U18 sides of these two lock horns at Vicarage Road

-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 30 November

EFL Cup Quarter-Final
Arsenal v Southampton @745pm - we're now down to the last eight as the domestic season's first bit of silverware starts to come into view. Given how successful they've been in the FA Cup, the Gunners haven't shone quite so brightly in this competition. With only two wins, the last way back in 1993, you'd think they were due another one soon. It all really depends on Arsene Wenger's team selection and how seriously he takes it. Southampton come into this on the back of a win over Everton and are the type of team that should be throwing everything at this cup in order to win it

-------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday 1 December

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Wolverhampton Wanderers @745pm - wow, December already! You can get the festive month underway with a visit to Loftus Road for this televised game between two former Premier League sides who should be doing better

--------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 3 December

Premier League
West Ham United v Arsenal @530pm - with six teams in the top flight, not many weeks go by without a derby and we've got another big one to look forward to at the London Stadium. The Hammers have had a poor season and are winless in four but they picked up a great point against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday which will no doubt raise their spirits. The Gunners, however, haven't lost in a while and historically have a far superior record in the head-to-head. It should be noted though, that they only managed to take one point off West Ham last season but Slaven Bilic's side were performing a lot better than the current bunch
Crystal Palace v Southampton @3pm - the Eagles and in particular manager Alan Pardew face a critical afternoon. With their losing run extended to six games on Saturday and now only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom three, they really must arrest their decline soon. As already mentioned, the Saints are no mugs and will start the game as favourites
Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City @3pm - Spurs finally lost their unbeaten record at Chelsea on Saturday but they've got a great chance to bounce back with this game against the struggling Swans. The Welsh club have been poor this season but even they managed to beat Palace this weekend to show just how troubled the Selhurst Park outfit are

Championship
Fulham v Reading @3pm - if you're struggling to get a ticket for any of the above then this game offers a great alternative. Any game between Reading and one of the division's trio of west London clubs qualifies as a derby as the Royals are only 25ish miles west of the capital. Likely to travel in significant numbers, their fans should produce a decent atmosphere to cheer on their team who are currently third after winning five on the trot

FA Cup Second Round - at this stage of the competition the remaining League One, League Two and non-league clubs do battle for the big prize of a third round draw potentially against one of the biggest clubs in the country 

Charlton Athletic v MK Dons @3pm - the Addicks took a very tidy point off promotion contenders Sheffield United on Saturday so they should fancy their chances of progressing against MK Dons who are struggling towards the foot of the League One table
Sutton United v Cheltenham Town @3pm - the U's wrote their name into FA Cup history back in 1989 when they beat then top-flight side Coventry City in a third round tie. Cheltenham won the National League title last season but have struggled to adapt to life back in League Two and are well and truly there for the taking

National League South
Dartford v Poole Town @3pm - currently fifth and sixth with only goal difference separating them, these play-off contenders should produce one of the matches of the day at this level

Ryman League Premier Division
Staines Town v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - as mentioned above, Staines are one of London's main contenders in the division this season. On Saturday they welcome the current leaders who have responded really well following relegation from the National League South
Hendon v Enfield Town @3pm - elsewhere we've got a north London derby to enjoy at the Greens' new Silver Jubilee Park ground

FA Vase Third Round - at this stage of this national competition for sides predominantly in the ninth and 10th tiers, we're down to the last 64 teams. The winners of each tie pocket a cheque for £975 and move one step closer to a dream Wembley final in May

Abbey Rangers v Eastbourne Town @3pm - Abbey only moved into the 10th tier last season and after winning an instant promotion are up in the Combined Counties Premier. It's quite an achievement to have also have got this far in the Vase. Their East Sussex opponents play at a similar level so it should be pretty close
Croydon v Glebe @3pm - the Trams welcome fellow SCEFL members Glebe to the Croydon Arena. Although the visitors play in the division below, they're challenging for promotion and will fancy their chances
FC Romania v Tring Athletic @3pm - not normally covered by this blog, FC Romania are playing this match at AFC Hornchurch's ground so make the list for one week only. Technically gifted, the Essex Senior League side are usually good to watch but Tring aren't a bad side themselves
Sun Sports v Hoddesdon Town @3pm - only a couple of places separate these Hertfordshire rivals in the SSML table so we should get another evenly matched tie here
Wembley v Peterborough Sports @3pm - it would be quite something if the side from Vale Farm ended up playing at the national stadium but with Peterborough currently top of the United Counties League, the draw has not been kind to them

---------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 4 December

FA Cup Second Round
Millwall v Braintree Town @2pm - in National League strugglers Braintree, the Lions couldn't have hoped for a much better draw. Now back in decent form in League One, Millwall's main problem should be complacency

FA Vase Third Round
Sutton Common Rovers v Corinthian @3pm - the 3G pitch at Gander Green Lane plays host to two important cup ties this weekend with groundsharers SCR hoping that they and Sutton United both take a step closer to Wembley
----------------------------------------------------------

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. 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: 21-27 November 2016

Welcome one and all to the 239th edition of TLFG! 

I know you can barely contain your excitement but it's been a momentous week again as not only did QPR win their first match under returning boss Ian Holloway but tickets for a match at Arsenal against a decent opponent went on general sale!

Now that you've had a chance to digest this staggering news we can get on with the rest of the blog.

What else has been happening I hear you ask?

Well it's all looking rather good for London clubs in the Premier League right now. Chelsea beat Middlesbrough on Sunday to go top while Arsenal and Spurs scored very late goals to consolidate their places in the top five, while Watford are in eighth after beating reigning champions Leicester.

Tickets for Arsenal v Southampton in the EFL Cup are on general sale

However, it's not looking so great for Crystal Palace and West Ham who are dangling precariously above the bottom three. The Hammers have been around this part of the table all season but it's Palace fans who must have the alarm bells ringing in their ears as defeat against Manchester City on Saturday extended their losing run to five consecutive matches which is currently the worst of any side in the division.

In the Championship, Fulham are still the best side the capital has to offer at the moment with their draw against Sheffield Wednesday moving them up to eighth just two points off a play-off spot. 

AFC Wimbledon continue to make all the headlines in League One from a London perspective. This week the Dons played Bury at home twice in the FA Cup and league and beat them 5-0 and 5-1 respectively. The former sets up a very winnable second round tie against non-league Curzon Ashton while the other propelled them into the top six. On Tuesday they face an intriguing derby match against Millwall at The Den.

It's unlikely that any hugely positive news is going to come out of League Two this season but Barnet are the more likely to create it. Slap bang in the middle of the table, they are only three points off the play-off places but so are many other teams so it's wide open. The Bees are unbeaten in five, so seem to be hitting some half-decent form.

From my point of view it's been a busier than normal week when it comes to fielding questions from you fine people. Keep them and your stories of groundhopping and football tourism coming.

I've got this week off and hope to go to Harrow Borough v Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday and will be heading to Belgium on Thursday for the Europa League match between Genk and Rapid Vienna. 

The weather here in London is pretty grim at the moment so always check before you travel whether a game is still taking place.

Also, if you've always wondered what Cockfosters at the far end of the Piccadilly Line is like, you might get some idea by reading the latest piece by 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' who paid a visit to the local football club recently.

That's it from me - enjoy your week!

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are almost 90 matches in the London area over the next week as the Champions League makes its return. There is also action in the Premier League, EFL, National League, FA Trophy and several minor league and county cup competitions.

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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 21 November

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers @7pm - the Hammers' U23 side are pushing for promotion and could climb to second if they win this game at Dagenham & Redbridge

Middlesex Senior Cup Second Round
Barnet v Enfield Town @8pm - now playing three divisions apart, these old north London rivals have been paired in the county cup in what must be the tie of the round

Ryman League Division 1 North
Aveley v Thurrock @745pm - it's derby time over in Essex where these two, who play about a mile apart, do battle in the race for a play-off spot

----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 22 November

League One
Millwall v AFC Wimbledon @745pm - the game of the night is this derby at The Den. The League One table is extremely tight with only five points between sixth and sixteenth and these two sit within that group. Millwall were among the favourites for the title but have found things tougher than expected while the Dons have confounded many by forcing their way into the play-off places. Since re-forming, the visitors have never played Millwall in a league game so this is an historic occasion! 

League Two
Leyton Orient v Exeter City @745pm - with both teams in the bottom five, this is most definitely a relegation six-pointer. The O's have beaten fellow strugglers Colchester and Hartlepool in recent weeks so there is hope

National League
Boreham Wood v Sutton United @745pm - we've got another derby at Meadow Park where teams from the opposite ends of the London area meet for the first time this season. Sutton are the bigger club but it's The Wood who find themselves closer to the play-off places after a win over Southport on Saturday

Kent Senior Cup
Welling United v Dartford @745pm - it might only be a county cup game but these two provide one of the bigger non-league derbies on the south-east side of town so it should be worth a watch

Ryman League Premier Division
Harrow Borough v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - a big game at either end as Boro look to take some of their great cup form into this tough league match against one of the capital's biggest non-league clubs. When they met earlier in the season at Champion Hill, Harrow stunned the footballing world by winning 4-1 and they badly need a repeat performance (I'm hoping to go to this one)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 23 November

Champions League
Arsenal v Paris St Germain @745pm - this match should decide who wins and who comes second in Group A as they're locked together on 10 points with two games to go. The Gunners have only lost once this season in all competitions while PSG are far from the all-conquering side they were last season. Arsenal to edge it

Uefa Youth League
Arsenal v Paris St Germain @1pm - the clubs' U19 sides meet at Boreham Wood at lunchtime so you could really gorge on the Gunners on Wednesday if you've got a ticket for the evening game. These matches are often free entry too, so check with Arsenal for updates before you travel

Southern League Challenge Cup Second Round
Northwood v Slough Town @745pm - the hosts face a very tough Rebels side who are up in the top three of the division above. Slough used to be a fine team when I first started watching non-league football in the '80s and were members of what is now the National League. After losing their ground in 2003, the club have played at various venues, in various divisions but now have a new stadium of their own again and look like a club to watch

-------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 26 November

Premier League
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @530pm - the leaders versus the only unbeaten side in the league and it's a huge derby too, undoubtedly the game of the week. Nuff said!

Championship
Brentford v Birmingham City @3pm - can't get a ticket for the above match, then this is your next best option. The Bees continue, like many sides in this tightly contested division, to be highly inconsistent and consequently lie firmly in midtable. The Blues, on the other hand, seem to have been in the top five all season without doing anything particularly remarkable. The fact that four wins from 10 has been enough to maintain this position shows you what a strange competition it's been

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Fleetwood Town @3pm - these two former non-league sides are both well in the hunt for a play-off place and the Dons could even go into this as a top five club if they beat Millwall on Tuesday. The sides have only met eight times over the years and Fleetwood have yet to win
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United @3pm - classed as an 'Addicks gold match', the visit of the Blades is one of the biggest games of Charlton's season. Both these sides are really too big for this division and were Premier League rivals back in 2007 when they got relegated. Sadly neither side has been back and have both spent far too many seasons at this level since. It's looking promising for the Yorkshire side, though, as they are currently up in second and on a long unbeaten run

League Two
Barnet v Notts County @3pm - as with all the other EFL divisions, League Two is also exceptionally tight with 14th placed Barnet only three points off a play-off place. The visitors are just a point ahead so it should be close

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Barrow @3pm - the Daggers were top but have lost a bit of ground on Forest Green in recent weeks, slipping to fourth. They also suffered a disappointing loss to Halifax in the FA Cup but bounced back on Saturday with a well-needed win at struggling York. Barrow are just a point and a place below them and have lost only two of their 20 league games this season, making them the toughest side to beat. The hosts will no doubt be hoping the visitors' very long journey down from Cumbria will work to their advantage

FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round - at this stage of the competition, clubs from the National League North and South enter the draw alongside all the remaining clubs from the seventh and eighth tier leagues who have made it through the previous qualifying rounds. The winners of each tie earn a cheque for £4,000 and move a step closer to the final which takes place at Wembley in May

Hampton & Richmond Borough v Royston Town @3pm - despite the fact that there are 40 ties across the country, only one of them is taking place in the London area. On the face of it, it's not even that enticing as one of the top sides in the NLS hosts a side from two divisions below them. To be fair to Royston they are top of the Southern League Division 1 Central but they'll still do well to avoid defeat at the Beveree

Ryman League Premier Division
Enfield Town v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - the Towners have been regular play-off contenders in recent seasons and after a slow start this time, are getting back in contention. Tonbridge were among the leaders at the start of the campaign but have slipped back a bit as cup commitments have taken precedence. Both now level on points, a win could take either to within touching distance of the top five

Ryman League Division 1 North
AFC Hornchurch v Maldon & Tiptree @3pm - a lot of divisions are tight at the moment but this one is more so than others as three teams including the visiting M&T share top spot. The Urchins back in ninth are still well in with a shout of the play-offs and should provide a stiff test for their Essex rivals

Essex Senior League
Barking v Basildon United @3pm - the Blues continue to hold top spot in the ESL and with a five-point lead and three games in hand on their nearest rivals, it's looking really good for them. Basildon were last season's runners-up and are in the top five again so this should give us a decent insight into how good Barking are

---------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 27 November

Premier League
Arsenal v Bournemouth @215pm - these two will be pretty satisfied with how their seasons have begun. The Gunners are going well in the Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup while the Cherries are right up in ninth and continuing to surprise many people with some fine performances. However, you can't really see past an Arsenal win as Bournemouth have never beaten or even scored a goal against the London club in their previous meetings - although there have only been three
Watford v Stoke City @12pm - earlier in the day you have this fixture which on first inspection is one of those games that will really only appeal to supporters of the sides involved. However, when you look a little closer you'll see that the Hornets are a top eight side and Stoke are climbing the table fairly rapidly after recovering well from a bad start. It still doesn't really get my pulse racing - sorry

Kent Senior Trophy
Cray Valley PM v Tunbridge Wells @3pm - the non-league alternative is this county cup game down near Eltham. Cray are a friendly club and well worth a visit if you fancy a bit of groundhopping on a Sunday afternoon

----------------------------------------------------------

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. 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 November 2016

It's been quite a week in the history of humankind with one surprise candidate landing one of the toughest jobs around but it's one he's always wanted.

Probably most famous for saying things he possibly shouldn't have and being spectacularly unpredictable, Ian Holloway is back in charge at QPR after nearly 11 years away.

A rank outsider at the start of the week, the chatter grew louder and louder until it was announced late on Friday that he was the man chosen to replace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

A former team-mate of current director of football Les Ferdinand and QPR boss between 2001-2006, Holloway has a strong connection with the club which he tells us is 'his'.

Pay What You Like is back at Champion Hill this Saturday

He steered them to promotion from what is now League One to the Championship in 2004 and has since won impressive promotions into the Premier League with Blackpool and Crystal Palace.

Like Neil Warnock, he is primarily a motivator who can do great things at this level but gets found out badly in the top flight where more tactical nous is required.

When his name first started to crop up many thought appointing him would be a retrograde step, especially when you consider his last job at Millwall went badly wrong. But when you listen to his passion for the club and his desire to succeed, you start to believe he could be the man. All QPR fans will want him to do well and if he fails, it won't be for lack of trying.

His return to the Loftus Road dugout takes place this Saturday when Norwich City visit so the ground should be pretty full and the crowd optimistic.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are almost 100 matches in the London area over the next week as the Premier League and Championship make their return after the international break. There is also action in League One, League Two, the National League, FA Cup, FA Vase and several minor league and county cup competitions.

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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 14 November

U23 Professional Development League
Crystal Palace v Watford @1pm - two Premier League sides' youngsters go head-to-head in the early game at Dulwich Hamlet's ground
Millwall v Cardiff City @2pm - if you'd rather see a game in one of the capital's bigger stadiums then this one is being played at The Den

National League South
Wealdstone v Bath City @745pm - the pick of the day's non-league action is to be found at Grosvenor Vale over in Ruislip where the Stones need to win to keep in touch with the play-off places

Ryman League Division 1 South
Carshalton Athletic v Faversham Town @745pm - the Robins welcome last season's beaten play-off finalists in the knowledge that a win will lift them up to second

----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 15 November

International friendly
England v Spain @8pm - after a enjoying a comfortable win over Scotland on Friday, the Three Lions next face 2010 world champions Spain at Wembley. Unsurprisingly, England have lost four of their last five games against one of the powers of world football but historically they are still in front in the head-to-head. If you want to be there, tickets are still available

FA Cup First Round Replay
AFC Wimbledon v Bury @745pm - it seems a bit unfortunate to have to play on the same night as England but quite a few teams are having to do it. If you don't fancy forking out for a friendly at Wembley then this looks like a cracking alternative as two well matched League One sides do battle at Kingsmeadow - it's also only £10 to get in

FA Vase Second Round
Cockfosters v Wembley @745pm - after seeing the original game rained off on Saturday, two of the top five in the Spartan South Midlands League look to take a step closer to Wembley in what should be another decent game

-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 16 November

Essex Senior League
Waltham Forest v Wadham Lodge @745pm - the Walthamstow derby between the long established hosts and new boys Wadham Lodge at the ground of the same name which they share

-------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 18 November

Premier League 2
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal @12pm - in theory this U23 match between two of London's biggest rivals looks like a great way to kick-off a weekend of football watching. However, the match is being played at Spurs' training ground and I haven't been able to confirm whether it will be open to the public - check the club's website nearer the time or give them a call

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Glebe v Eltham Palace @745pm - the non-league option for the day is this groundshare derby down in Chislehurst where Glebe continue their push for top spot

---------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 19 November

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United @530pm - leaving England aside, the game of the week in the capital should be this one between clubs from the north and east of town. Their relationship has never been great and it became even worse when they fought for control of the Olympic Stadium - a battle the Hammers ultimately won. Games between these two are usually pretty close and often produce a few goals so it's no surprise it's been picked for TV
Crystal Palace v Manchester City @3pm - the Eagles, like last season, started well but are now starting to slump worryingly. Now winless in five, they welcome title contenders City who have hit a rocky patch themselves. This could be a goalfest as neither side are shot shy
Watford v Leicester City @3pm - if the Foxes were last season's surprise package then Watford are raising a few eyebrows this time round. Being in the top eight after 11 games is a great achievement for a side who confounded many by staying up with relative ease last season - long may it continue

Championship
Fulham v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - the Owls made the play-off final last season and have been up in the top six for most of this campaign. However, a couple of bad results have now left them just below the Cottagers who are now right back in the hunt for promotion after back-to-back wins over Huddersfield and Brentford
Queens Park Rangers v Norwich City @3pm - the hosts have been uninspiring of late and sacked Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink last weekend after a draw at Forest. This week they re-appointed club legend Ian Holloway who distinguished himself as player and manager in two previous spells at the club. He's got a tough opener against the promotion chasing Canaries but the crowd should be well up for it

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bury @3pm - the Dons meet the Shakers for the second time in a matter of days with a victory possibly lifting them into the top six
Charlton Athletic v Port Vale @3pm - the Addicks take on one of Wimbledon's main rivals for a play-off berth so will do them quite a favour if they win

League Two
Barnet v Crewe Alexandra @3pm - a run of four games without defeat has left the Bees on the cusp of the top seven. To break into it they'll need to beat sides like Alex who currently reside there
Leyton Orient v Blackpool @3pm - things were looking pretty bad for the O's a few weeks ago but six points from three games has raised spirits in time for the visit of another one of the division's play-off contenders

National League
Boreham Wood v Southport @3pm - the Wood's main focus this week will be on their FA Cup replay at Notts County but with that out of the way, they'll have a visit from the Sandgrounders to contend with. A win could put them into the top eight

National League South
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Welling United @3pm - the Beavers have played some entertaining football since coming back up from the Ryman League but inconsistency has crept in and they're down to fifth in the table. Sadly Welling have been pretty bad for a year or two now and are well on course to suffer a second successive relegation

Ryman League Premier Division
Dulwich Hamlet v Worthing @3pm - in many people's eyes these two are underperforming. The two best supported clubs in the division should be doing better. Worthing were top but have fallen away while the hosts are just off the leading pack and should make the play-offs. Apart from anything else it's 'Pay What You Like' with all profits going to charity - there could well be 2,000+ in attendance

Ryman League Division 1 North
Aveley v Maldon & Tiptree @3pm - the Millers in sixth are looking good for a play-off spot but they'll need to be at their best for a visit from the leaders

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Wembley v Berkhamsted @3pm - the Lions are facing a tough run of games at the moment with this visit from fellow top-fivers Berkhamsted being the latest. A win could lift them to second

----------------------------------------------------------

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. 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: 7-13 November 2016

When the fixtures come out in the summer, apart from the opening day and big derbies, I always look to see who will be providing my 'birthday fixture'.

This year my birthday actually fell on a Saturday and QPR landed an away game against Nottingham Forest. For most Rangers fans it is a fixture that instantly makes your heart sink as it is possibly our biggest bogey game having never, ever won at the City Ground in numerous fixtures since we first played there in 1934.

In recent years the games have been particularly turgid as well with dour draws and 1-0 defeats. Unsurprisingly I didn't make the trip, having ticked off that ground back in 2004 when we lost 2-1 not long before Christmas.

Apparently, once again, it wasn't a classic and the game ended in yet another 1-1 draw. However, drama was to follow the final whistle when QPR's board decided to sack manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink after a year in the job.

England welcome Spain to Wembley next week and tickets are still available

For a young manager who had done well at Burton Albion, it was a shame to see him dispensed with when things weren't really going that badly.

OK we are 17th in the Championship but the table is really tight and a couple of wins would have put us right back in contention for a play-off place.

Fans had complained of negativity in recent weeks and the performance I witnessed against Brentford in the derby was pretty mediocre but I've seen a lot worse at Loftus Road over the years.

QPR are a club in transition after the gross profligacy of the Premier League years and midtable survival is all the board and fans should really be expecting.

I've alluded to it before but QPR were way out of their depth in the Premier League and they are one of the smaller ones even in the Championship. Newcastle alone get almost four times as many fans through the turnstiles for an average home game this season while Aston Villa and Derby get nearly double.

In fact the only reason we're as highly ranked and talked about as much as we are is because we're based in west London and have attracted rich investors who are able to prop us up - they wouldn't bother otherwise.

I hope the next guy is given a fair crack of the whip by all involved but with former Villa boss Tim Sherwood seeming to be the favourite I'm not filled with huge hope...

In other news Harrow Borough travelled to Northampton Town for their big FA Cup tie. With four divisions separating the clubs, little was expected of the Ryman League minnows.

Sadly the form book didn't go out of the window, there was no cup magic whatsoever and the valiant Boro were mercilessly hammered 6-0. They and the travelling supporters were warmly applauded by the Cobblers fans many of whom said the scoreline was a bit flattering.

Nevertheless, to make the first round was a huge achievement by Steve Baker and his side and the prize money and gate receipts garnered by the cup run must be somewhere in the region of £30-40,000 which should keep things ticking over nicely for the rest of the season. They just need to start picking up some points in the league.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup several of our local non-league sides came close to pulling off some very decent results only to be pegged back late on. 

Congratulations though go to Sutton United who have made the Second Round after winning 6-3 at Dartford in a thrilling game on Saturday. Boreham Wood and Dagenham & Redbridge will also be in the draw but will require replays to progress. The draw is on BBC2 on Monday at 7pm.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are well over 80 matches in the London area over the next week despite the Premier League and Championship taking time off for the international break. The highlight of the week is England's World Cup qualifier against Scotland but if you can't get a ticket for it then there are many other options in League One, National League, FA Trophy and FA Vase.

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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 7 November

Essex Senior Cup Third Round
Aveley v Brightlingsea Regent @745pm - two of the Ryman 1 North's top six meet in this county cup tie at Mill Field in the pick of the day's action

Essex Senior League
Barkingside v Stansted @745pm - if you fancy something a bit nearer to the centre of town we have this match in Ilford where Clapton fans will get in for a reduced price of £4 and there'll be a collection for a homeless charity

----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 8 November

EFL Trophy
Chelsea U23 v Oxford United @730pm - the Blues' youngsters welcome a potentially full strength Oxford side to Stamford Bridge where it's only £5 to get in but you must buy before 5pm
Barnet v Peterborough United @8pm - in the other tie of the night, the Bees welcome League One play-off contenders Posh

National League South
Dartford v St Albans City @745pm - after both bowing out of the FA Cup in multiple-goal thrillers over the weekend, the two promotion hopefuls return to league action with this important game

Ryman League Division 1 North
Thurrock v Phoenix Sports @745pm - after an iffy start the hosts are starting to string some results together to climb back up towards the top five where they probably should be, whereas Phoenix were top and are now starting to slip - important game for both

Essex Senior Cup Third Round
Barking v Grays Athletic @745pm - the Essex Senior League leaders welcome Ryman Premier strugglers Grays and will undoubtedly make life tough for them

-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 9 November

Ryman League Division 1 South
Cray Wanderers v Whyteleafe @745pm - two clubs perched just outside the play-off places meet at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground to battle for three crucial points
Walton Casuals v Hythe Town @745pm - back at Whyteleafe's ground, their tenants will be entertaining fourth-placed Hythe who made last season's play-offs and will hope to go one better this time

-------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 11 November

World Cup qualifier
England v Scotland @745pm - as far as the Three Lions are concerned, aside from Germany, this is about as big as it gets in terms of international rivalry. Apart from a couple of friendlies, this will be the first competitive fixture between the sides since 1999 so unsurprisingly it has sold out. England are currently top of Group F and unbeaten while Scotland are three points behind in fourth and will probably be happy with a point

U23 Professional Development League
Queens Park Rangers v Coventry City @2pm - if you're in town for the England game then you could start off proceedings with this match at Loftus Road where U23 games are usually free entry but check with the club before you travel. There is also a direct rail link from Shepherd's Bush to Wembley if you want to do both

---------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 12 November

League One
Millwall v Bristol Rovers @3pm - with the international break taking place, this match is the best on offer. After a dodgy run, the Lions have now won five of their last six and should be in fine fettle going into this tough game against top-five Rovers

National League
Bromley v Boreham Wood @3pm - we've a got a derby to look forward to at Hayes Lane between two clubs who won promotion together the season before last. Despite being a significantly smaller club, The Wood are the team in form and came very close to beating Notts County in the FA Cup on Sunday so should start as favourites
Sutton United v Barrow @3pm - the U's lashed six past Dartford in the FA Cup on Saturday while Barrow were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by eighth tier Taunton Town. Despite failing to win, this result still extended the Cumbrian club's unbeaten run to 16 matches so they'll be tough to beat

National League South
Welling United v Ebbsfleet United @3pm - Park View Road plays host to a Kent derby between sides desperate for points at either end of the division - sadly it's Welling who are fighting the drop, again

FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round - this is a competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers of the English football system with the final at Wembley in May. At this stage the remaining 72 teams from the seventh and eighth tiers fight to go into the hat with the sixth tier clubs before the 'big boys' from the fifth tier join for the first round proper in early December. The winners of each second qualifying round tie pocket a cheque for £3,250.

Dulwich Hamlet v Chesham United @3pm - an intriguing inter-league tie between two sides who have done well over the last few years in the Ryman and Southern Leagues respectively. Both have accrued 25 points so far this season but Chesham have done it in four fewer games. The Buckinghamshire club also fought hard before losing 2-1 at League One side Peterborough in the FA Cup on Saturday
Kingstonian v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - two-time Trophy winners Kingstonian welcome Kent club Tonbridge to Kingsmeadow for another attractive tie between two clubs with realistic play-off ambitions in the Ryman League
Hanwell Town v Frome Town @3pm - the hosts have put a decent little run together of late and have pushed up the table. On Saturday they welcome opponents who are in the top eight from the division above. It will be tough but Hanwell have already pulled off a shock or two on home soil this season so could well do it again
Phoenix Sports v Winchester City @3pm - after a brilliant start, Phoenix are now five without a win and in desperate need of a boost. If they don't get it against Thurrock in midweek they have a good opportunity against Winchester who play in the parallel Southern League Division 1 South & West

Ryman League Division 1 South
Greenwich Borough v Carshalton Athletic @3pm - two of the top five go head-to-head in this tasty looking fixture down in Eltham

Southern League Division 1 Central
Northwood v Uxbridge @3pm - we've got a derby over on the west side of town where these two, who have had poor seasons, will be fighting more for bragging rights than anything else

FA Vase Second Round - this is a competition for clubs predominantly in the ninth and tenth tiers of the English football system with the final at Wembley in May. At this stage we're down to the final 128 teams so there's a long way to go yet. The winners of each tie pocket a cheque for £750.

Bedfont Sports v Haywards Heath Town @3pm - clubs from the top six in the Combined Counties League and Southern Combination have been paired in this attractive tie next to the runway at Heathrow Airport
Cockfosters v Wembley @3pm - north London rivals and third and fourth in the SSML Premier, one of the ties of the round at the end of the Piccadilly Line
Walton & Hersham v Glebe @3pm - following relegation from the Ryman League, the Swans have made a good fist of life the Combined Counties League and will start as favourites. However, despite playing a level below their hosts, Glebe are on one of the best in the SCEFL 1 and should be no pushovers

----------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 13 November

FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round
Cray Wanderers v Worthing @3pm - the hosts have made a good start to their Ryman 1 South campaign and are up among the frontrunners. Worthing got promoted from this division last season and are holding their own at the higher level but they might find this tough if Cray are up for it

FA Vase Second Round
Epsom & Ewell v Abbey Rangers @3pm - two midtable sides from the Combined Counties Premier meet at Chipstead on Sunday afternoon. Former Vase finalists E&E should win but Abbey have come a long way in a short time and should be undeterred
Sutton Common Rovers v Sporting Club Thamesmead @3pm - neither side have been pulling up trees in their respective divisions this season with the hosts 20th in the Combined Counties Premier and SCT in the bottom two of the SCEFL 1 which is a level below. It's unlikely to be a classic but it's being played at Sutton United on their 3G pitch so should go ahead whatever the weather

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. 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: 31 October - 6 November 2016

Welcome one and all to this week's TLFG.

It occurred to me the other day that this blog has now been going for five years.

I set it up back in 2011, shortly after returning from a trip to Bosnia, as a way to fill the time after taking redundancy from my job at the BBC.

It kept me occupied through a few worryingly jobless months and has somehow continued through until today despite me becoming a father and taking on a new line of employment that sees me work some crazy shifts. 

The rewards of slowly developing and growing the blog have been immense. I've been interviewed by the New York Times, helped authors research their books, offered advice to travellers planning visits to London and have developed some great friendships and contacts with readers and club officials.

The thought that I can be of help to people is the main reason why I do this so it's always great to get an email or tweet asking for tips and help - so keep them coming.

It's FA Cup First Round weekend and this is one of the best ties in London

What else have I been up to over the last week? Well I actually managed another live game and what a waste of time it was too!

I finally made it down to Loftus Road for the first time this season to watch QPR take on local rivals Brentford in Friday night's live televised game.

It wasn't a classic performance by either side but the Bees deserved their 2-0 win which was their first at our place for 52 years!!! I'm so glad I was there.

People are calling for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's head but we're 14th in the table, we've got an average squad, play in an average size stadium and personally I believe we are where we kind of deserve to be. Did I mention I don't lose sleep over QPR any more? 

Enough about them - this week is all about Harrow Borough. 

The Ryman League minnows have battled through four qualifying rounds to make it to the FA Cup First Round 'Proper' on Saturday and have landed an incredibly tough tie against League One play-off contenders Northampton Town at Sixfields.

Avoiding defeat is almost unthinkable but the Boro have got absolutely nothing to lose and I'm sure they will give a good account of themselves.

I'm just gutted I won't be there - I am actually off work but it's my birthday and I'm already committed to a trip to Bristol. I was praying Harrow would draw Bristol Rovers but it wasn't to be. Oh well, I'm free for the second round so I'll have to make do with that instead. 

If you're in London this weekend you can gorge on FA Cup football with games spread right across the weekend from Friday to Sunday. Tickets are available for all games although you will need to buy in advance for the very interesting looking tie between Boreham Wood and Notts County.

I think that's about it from me. Enjoy your week and let me know what you've been up to. Some readers who always do are the guys at 'Two Men In Search Of The Beautiful Game' whose latest trip took them to Ilford FC over in east London - give it a read.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are well almost 90 matches in the London area over the next week with the Premier League and FA Cup taking centre stage. The Champions League is also back and there are games in several county and minor league cups too.

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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 31 October

Premier League 2
West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion @7pm - once again there's a good selection of U23 football on Monday with this PL2 game at Dagenham & Redbridge's ground the best on offer

Ryman League Division 1 South
Carshalton Athletic v Walton Casuals @745pm - both these two have made a decent start and a win for the hosts will fire them into the top four

----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 1 November

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round Replays
Wingate & Finchley v Grays Athletic @745pm - after fighting out a 1-1 draw on Sunday, these two do it all again in N12 for the £2,700 prize money
Harrow Borough v Herne Bay @745pm - Boro grabbed an injury-time equaliser on Saturday to earn this replay but with their massive FA Cup First Round game at Northampton looming, will they be distracted???
Ashford Town (Middlesex) v Tonbridge Angels @745pm - the Tangerines did superbly to hold Tonbridge to a 3-3 draw on Saturday and now have home advantage to try and pull off a cupset
Northwood v Royston Town @745pm - the Woods welcome the Southern League Division 1 Central leaders for a challenging game

-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 2 November

Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v Bayer Leverkusen @745pm - with a loss, a win and a draw Spurs have made a stuttering start in Group E so they really need to take three points against the Germans who haven't lost yet

Kent Senior Cup First Round

Phoenix Sports v Charlton Athletic @745pm - the joint leaders of the Ryman 1 North host a squad from the League One Addicks in this county cup fixture

Essex Senior League
Ilford v Clapton @745pm - if neither of the above appeal, try an East End derby between these two old rivals

-------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 4 November

Championship
Brentford v Fulham @745pm - after winning the derby against QPR last Friday, the Bees welcome their other west London rivals this Friday for another televised game. The Cottagers trounced high-flying Huddersfield 5-0 on Saturday so will also come into this match on a high

FA Cup First Round - at this stage League One and League Two clubs join the draw alongside the 32 non-league clubs who have survived the six qualifying rounds

Millwall v Southend United @745pm - the Lions have enjoyed an upsurge in form of late and leapfrogged Southend on Saturday with a win at Oxford. However, the Shrimpers beat Millwall 3-1 earlier in the season so will fancy their chances

----------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 5 November

Premier League
Chelsea v Everton @530pm - the Blues are starting to hit some serious form but the Toffees, a top six side themselves, should provide stiff opposition in the game of the day
West Ham United v Stoke City @3pm - at the other end of the table we've got an early season six-pointer between clubs perched just above the relegation zone

FA Cup First Round
Charlton Athletic v Scunthorpe United @3pm - the Addicks are unbeaten in four but have drawn the League One leaders in this tough tie
Dagenham & Redbridge v FC Halifax Town @3pm - the Daggers held leaders Forest Green to a 1-1 draw in the big National League game on Saturday will start as favourites against the Shaymen who play in the division below. However, they are a canny cup side and won last season's FA Trophy
Dartford v Sutton United @3pm - the Darts welcome the U's for a TLFG derby. Sutton play in the higher division but the hosts are in great form so there shouldn't be much between them

Friendly
Brentford B v Manchester United U23 @3pm - one of the more unusual games of the day sees the Bees' youngsters and reserves entertain their counterparts from Old Trafford at Griffin Park. To top it all, it's free to get in

Ryman League Division 1 North
Phoenix Sports v Cheshunt @3pm - at the time of writing, four teams share the lead of this division and these are two of them. Sadly, after a strong start, Phoenix have gone four without a win and are on the slide so will want to arrest that run here

Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
Wembley v London Colney @3pm - the top two in the league go head-to-head at Vale Farm. The visitors are 12 points clear at the top but Wembley have three games in hand so a win would make things really interesting

Southern Counties East League Division 1
Forest Hill Park v Rusthall @3pm - FHP are in only their second season at this level but are up in the top four and ready to take on the leaders at the Ladywell Arena

----------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 6 November

Premier League
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur @12pm - the match of the week takes place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as we get to enjoy our first North London derby of the season. They both finished in the top three last season and they're both vying for honours again this time. The Gunners are currently joint top but Spurs are only three points behind and the only unbeaten side in the top flight - it should be close

FA Cup First Round
Boreham Wood v Notts County @2pm - the Wood are enjoying a good season in the National League and have landed a great draw against these League Two play-off contenders. It will be tough but it's caught the interest of the TV companies and it should be tough for the Magpies

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. 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: 24-30 October 2016

Generally, for me, it's been a pretty good week on the footballing front.

As I mentioned last week I was hoping to head down to Margate to see Harrow Borough contest an FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay.

Given I had Tuesday and Wednesday off and with the last train leaving too soon if extra-time were required, I decided to splash out and book a hotel and take my family with me.

Arriving around 230pm on Tuesday afternoon, we checked in and then headed straight out on to the seafront. Despite a pretty stiff breeze, it was sunny so exploring the sandy beach wasn't too much of an ordeal.

Margate viewed from the entrance of the Turner Contemporary

After a quick spin around the Turner Contemporary gallery, we grabbed an early dinner before I headed off to the game.

With 'Dulwich Hamlet-like' queues to get in, as one regular described it, there was obviously quite a bit of interest in the game and with a trip to League One club Northampton Town on offer to the winners it was no surprise.

Margate play a division above Harrow so it was a bit unexpected to see the visitors have much the better of the first half and even take the lead with a fine goal from Francis Babalola shortly before the interval - with the highly rated Ibrahim Meite heavily involved in the build up.

When the hosts equalised around the hour mark, you felt they would take control and get the win but the opposite happened.

Boro raised their game, retook the lead through Lewis Driver and then wrapped it up with a third from Meite with 10 minutes to go. If they'd scored five or six it wouldn't have been undeserved as the gilt-edged chances were there.

The club now face a tough trip to Sixfields on 5 November as they make only their fourth appearance in the First Round. If you want to join the merry band of Harrow hopefuls heading up to the game, here are the details. Alternatively, just turn up on the day and pay at the turnstile although you might have to go in with the home fans.

Harrow's players celebrate with their travelling supporters after the final whistle

Elsewhere that night, QPR also picked up an impressive win over play-off contenders Bristol City although their week ended on a low note after a narrow defeat at Sheffield Wednesday. On the brightside, however, Harrow won again crushing Folkestone 4-1 to move a little further away from the relegation zone.

Apparently the Community Day at Fisher went well on Saturday and with another international break less than three weeks away, I'd like to remind clubs once again that they've got another great opportunity to try and get more people through the turnstiles. If you do come up with something at your club, let me know and I'll put it in here.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are well almost 100 matches in the London area over the next week with the Premier League and EFL taking centre stage. The FA Trophy is back and there are games in several county and minor league cups too.

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
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, 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 24 October

Premier League 2
Fulham v Newcastle United @7pm - there's a good selection of U23 football on Monday with this PL2 game at Motspur Park the best on offer.

Ryman League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Worthing @745pm - the K's regular Monday night slot returns with this match against recently promoted Worthing. The Sussex club had a good start but both are now firmly in midtable.

Essex Senior League
Tower Hamlets v Clapton @745pm - despite being only a ninth-tier game, this could be the place for the best atmosphere on Monday night. Last season's match, albeit on a Friday night, attracted around 350-400 people most of them members of the lively Clapton Ultras who sang from beginning to end.

----------------------------------------------------

Tuesday 25 October

EFL Cup Fourth Round
Arsenal v Reading @745pm - we're down to the last 16 now and seven of the Premier League's top eight are still in, giving it one of its strongest line-ups in years. The Gunners have only won the cup twice but are currently joint favourites and should progress with ease against Championship side Reading if they take it seriously and don't field youngsters as they have done in the past.

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Aldershot Town @745pm - there are some big games in this division on Tuesday but this is the pick of what you can see in the London area as second plays seventh. Both are former EFL clubs (although Aldershot are a new incarnation after financial collapse) and are desperate to get back among the pro ranks. 

Ryman League Cup Second Round
Greenwich Borough v Dulwich Hamlet @745pm - this is a really intriguing tie as it pits the leaders of the Ryman 1 South against one of the biggest clubs in the division above. Greenwich won the SCEFL last season after significant investment from a new owner. However, it was noticeable that this success was achieved in front of tiny crowds. Although attendance is now up to an average of nearly 200, it's still only a fraction of what Dulwich attract every week (c. 1,000). This match could give us some indication of how good Greenwich really are and whether we'll be seeing them in the Ryman Premier next year.

Essex Senior League
Redbridge v Barking @745pm - the visitors have now opened a seven-point lead at the top and next travel to Redbridge who, despite being in midtable, have hit a decent run of form with seven points from their last three games.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 19 October

EFL Cup Fourth Round
West Ham United v Chelsea @745pm - this derby is one of the ties of the round. The Hammers' renaissance continued on Saturday with a vital 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Sunderland. Although still far from the form they showed last season, a solid three game unbeaten run will give them some confidence against a Blues side who are still a shadow of some of the teams which have come out of Stamford Bridge over recent years.

Ryman League Premier Division

Grays Athletic v Leiston @745pm - with Grays having a very sorry time of things down at the bottom, this match is more about taking a look at the current leaders. Leiston hail from a small town of the same name in Suffolk. With just over 5,500 inhabitants, they're having a fantastic season and are unbeaten in the league after 13 games. With 38 goals, they are also the most free-scoring so it could be a very tough night for the hosts.

FA Trophy Preliminary Round
Cray Wanderers v Carshalton Athletic @745pm - this tie is being re-played after Carshalton fielded in ineligible player in the original game. These two well matched Ryman 1 South play-off contenders produced a six-goal thriller last time so hopefully we'll have some more of the same.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Friday 28 October

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Brentford @745pm - one of the games of the week at any level is this west London derby at Loftus Road. Games between these near neighbours have been surprisingly rare with only eight competitive matches between them over the last 50 years. Back in the same division from last season, these games are among the highlights of the campaign for both sets of fans. This match is beautifully poised with the clubs locked together on 19 points and neither in any kind of form. The good news is that you can be there too as tickets are on general sale and still available.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 29 October

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City @3pm - these two went head-to-head for the Premier League title last season and, as we all know, the Foxes came out on top. Unsurprisingly, Leicester have found their title defence hard and it is Spurs who are among the frontrunners again. The smart money would seem to be on Tottenham extending their unbeaten record.
Crystal Palace v Liverpool @530pm - the Eagles will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season where they started very strongly and then died spectacularly. They made a solid start again this time but now a three-game winless run has suddenly developed. Liverpool are looking good under Jurgen Klopp and, at the time of writing, are joint top with one league defeat all season. They've also won on their last two visits to Selhurst Park and should fancy their chances this time too.
Watford v Hull City @3pm - nothing much was expected of the Hornets when they came up last season but they held their own and are in the top half again thanks to a run of one loss in six. Hull returned to the top flight this season but were in some disarray after their manager resigned and no new players were brought in. They stunned many by winning their first two but now six defeats from the following seven has left them in the bottom three. Home win.

Championship
Fulham v Huddersfield Town @3pm - if you're struggling to get a ticket for a Premier League game on Saturday, this is your next best option. Fulham, like their two west London rivals Brentford and QPR, have been the model of inconsistency this season. One week they can give a top team like Newcastle or Norwich a run for their money, the next they can lose at a crisis hit one like Aston Villa. This weekend they welcome former leaders Huddersfield who, after a mini wobble, got back into the top three with a win over Derby. Given what I've just written about the Cottagers' capabilities, they should be worried!

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bradford City @3pm - after spending several years concentrating on simply surviving in League Two, the Dons got themselves promoted last season. Rather than struggle in the third tier, they've acquitted themselves rather well, are in the top six and going along nicely. This weekend they welcome second placed Bradford who with crowds of nearly 18,000 are way too big a club to really be in this division. Tickets are selling fast with only a few standing places on one of the terraces still available.

National League
Boreham Wood v Woking @3pm - the fact Boreham Wood are still in the National League, let alone pushing for a play-off place is quite amazing. With average crowds of 555 they are one of the minnows of the division but this doesn't seem to bother them. With three wins in a row, another triumph here will probably push them into the top eight. Woking, on the other hand, are teetering just above the relegation zone and should be there for the taking.

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round - this competition features sides playing in the fifth to eighth tiers. It is a national competition with the final at Wembley. Although this is the 'First' qualifying round, there has been a preliminary round prior to this one. The winning club in each tie receives  prize money of £2,700. At this stage, teams from the seventh tier join the draw alongside all the eighth tier teams who got through the opening round.

Enfield Town v Canvey Island @3pm - the Towners have pushed hard for promotion from the Ryman League over the last couple of years but have fallen just short. After a poor start, they're starting to get amongst things again and should be favourites against divisional rivals Canvey who are struggling.
Metropolitan Police v Brightlingsea Regent @3pm - the Met have got off to a worrying start this season and are down in the Ryman Premier relegation zone. Although playing at home, a game against one of the top sides from the Ryman 1 North will be tricky and we could well see a cupset.
Staines Town v Basingstoke Town @3pm - these sides were both in what was the Conference South until not that long ago but both have suffered relegation and are now midtable sides in the Ryman Premier and Southern Premier respectively hopefully leading to an even contest.
Hanwell Town v Bury Town @3pm - it was a bit of surprise when Bury ended up getting relegated to the Ryman 1 North but after a season of consolidation it seems they're back with nine wins from 16 propelling them to the top of their division. Hanwell, over in the parallel Southern Division 1 Central, will find this tough.
Tooting & Mitcham United v Dunstable Town @3pm - the Terrors got back to winning ways on Saturday at Sittingbourne as they moved back into the Ryman 1 South's top four. On Saturday they welcome a very useful Dunstable side who find themselves in the top five of the Southern League - which equates to 23 places above Tooting in the pyramid.

----------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 23 October

FA Trophy First Qualifying Round
Grays Athletic v Wingate & Finchley @3pm - in terms of attendance, these two are the most poorly supported in the Ryman Premier. This is because Grays don't have their own ground and are doing badly whilst Wingate... I'm not so sure. They have a decent stadium and a great pitch, they also play good football and are in no immediate danger of relegation. They do have to contend with Arsenal, Spurs and Barnet being in their locale and they do face competition from Hendon and Enfield Town but that still shouldn't mean average crowds of only 142. Anyway, I digress. This is an all Ryman Premier tie and should provide the best quality of football on Sunday if not the atmosphere.
Kingstonian v Lewes @3pm - until last season this game would've received top billing as they were both Ryman Premier sides. However, Lewes had a shocker and got relegated to the Ryman 1 South. Despite this, I'd expect to see at least 300 at Kingsmeadow for this.

FA Women's Super League 1
Chelsea v Reading @6pm - with Manchester City having already won the title, the battle is now on to secure second place. With two games to go, if Chelsea win here then it will be theirs. In fact, with nearest rivals Arsenal having to beat Doncaster in a 2pm kick off just to keep things alive, it could all be decided before the Blues' game even begins.

FA Women's Super League 2
London Bees v Yeovil Town @2pm - although in the division below, this game is of greater significance as it will play a huge part in who wins the title. Yeovil are currently top on goal difference, just ahead of Bristol City. Third place Everton are also only two points behind and there are two games to go. A win would seem to be a must for the Glovers.

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. 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.