TLFG: 16 March...

Greetings one and all.

This blog has been through some strange times but nothing compares to what we're all experiencing now.

With coronavirus causing the postponement of matches in most of the leagues and cups I cover, I've decided to also suspend my coverage until we know what's going on.

As it stands, there are still a few games in the National League, Essex Senior League and Southern Counties East League but things are changing all the time and at quite short notice so please check all the latest information with the leagues themselves if you are interested in seeing a game.

In the meantime stay well and I hope to catch up with you all soon.

James

PS - for what it's worth, if the season does end here, how about carrying over all the points and goals (for and against) to the start of next season?

Any games in hand could be played in 'pre-season' and then we go from there.

It's not ideal but it seems one of the fairest options out there.

TLFG: 9-15 March 2020

UPDATE: 13 MARCH - AS A RESULT OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MOST OF THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHES IN LONDON HAVE BEEN POSTPONED. 

HOWEVER, A FEW NON-LEAGUE AND WOMEN'S GAMES ARE STILL ON. 

THE WEEKEND MATCH MAP AND DAILY DIGEST HAVE BEEN UPDATED WITH ALL MATCHES THAT ARE GOING AHEAD BUT CHECK AGAIN BEFORE YOU TRAVEL IF ANY DETAILS HAVE CHANGED.

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Greetings and all and welcome to this week's TLFG.

Firstly I'd like to apologise to all those who have left comments on this blog over the last few months and not been replied to.

I always used to get an alert when someone posted something but at some point this has stopped happening and I've been blissfully ignoring all your carefully posted comments and queries.

I only noticed by chance when I was going through some pages on the 'back-end' of the blog and noticed to my horror that there were quite a few.

The best way to get in touch is by email, Facebook or Twitter - all the details are at the foot of the page.

A few tickets are left for West Ham v Wolves on Sunday

It's also been a tough week trying to stay across all the fixture changes with some clubs very kindly keeping me updated.

I say it below, but as a rule of thumb I'd say all men's non-league, U23 and U18 matches and any in the women's game are subject to short notice changes.

For example I've just found out that QPR Women are playing a home cup match this afternoon, just two hours before it's set to kick-off and Charlton Athletic have an U23 game on Thursday but the venue and whether or not it's even being played is in doubt.

So always check what the final details are before you travel.

From a personal point of view, this weekend was a great one for my teams who both enjoyed near identical performances.

QPR and Harrow Borough both came from 1-0 down at half-time to win 3-1 at Preston and Metropolitan Police respectively.

It took Rangers to the magic 50-point mark which should see them avoid relegation but also left them just six points adrift of the play-off places with more than enough games left to sneak in.

This game has now been moved to Met Police's ground at Imber Court

The win for Harrow against an in-form Met was priceless in their battle to avoid the drop and they're now eight points clear.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. I'm on early shifts this week so am highly unlikely to catch any games but I hope you enjoy whatever you go to see.

Lastly, many thanks to Benjamin Z from Dortmund, Germany who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. Cheers!

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's FA Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

Of the games that remain, here are my picks of what you should go and see - there are of course other options that you might prefer or be logistically better for you.

Saturday 14 March

National League
Bromley v Chorley @3pm - the hosts were top of the league for most of the first half of the season but their form has collapsed completely and they're now way down in 13th. On Saturday they welcome Lancashire club Chorley who are bottom of the league and all but down already
Sutton United v Hartlepool United @3pm - the U's form has improved a lot as the season has progressed and they've moved into the relative safety of midtable. Former EFL club Hartlepool are 11th but only one point shy of the play-off places in what is a very competitive division


National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Hemel Hempstead Town @3pm - there are several games in the sixth tier on Saturday but for the neutral I'd always recommend a trip to Champion Hill more for the atmosphere than anything else. The Hamlet are the best supported club in the division with well over 2,000 fans attending most games, despite the fact they are in real danger of relegation. They fought hard but lost 2-1 at leaders Wealdstone on Saturday and now only goal difference is keeping them out of the bottom two. Hemel are usually there or thereabouts in the race for the play-offs and with nine games to go they find themselves six points adrift of the top seven. Given the large crowds, you're advised to buy tickets in advance although it's not essential
Dartford v Chelmsford City @3pm - with only one defeat in five, the sixth-placed Darts look highly likely to book a place in this year's play-offs. Chelmsford were in terrible form but new manager Robbie Simpson has turned things around and the points are flowing in again
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Oxford City @3pm - the Beavers' frustratingly inconsistent form means they're just outside the play-offs. If they're to break into the top seven then they simply have to win games against midtable sides like Oxford
Welling United v Billericay Town @3pm - locked in midtable and in fairly similar form, both are still very much in the battle to avoid relegation. The lower half of the division is desperately tight with only five points separating the sides in 14th-21st

CCL Premier Division
Balham v Raynes Park Vale @3pm - the hosts' season is pretty much over with midtable safety all but assured. Local rivals RPV are still fighting to avoid the drop

Essex Senior League
West Essex v Saffron Walden Town @3pm - like the game above, the hosts don't have a huge amount to play for but Saffron Walden are currently top and part of a very exciting title race alongside Hashtag United and Walthamstow

CCL Division 1
Kensington & Ealing Borough v Tooting Bec @3pm - the hosts have moved this match to Club Des Sports on the Acton/Shepherd's Bush border so this is definitely one for groundhoppers. It's also an important game in the race for promotion with Tooting Bec currently in third and K&EB having the games in hand to catch them

MCFL Premier Division
London Samurai Rovers v Brentham @3pm - with Clapton CFC now playing their game against Cricklewood behind closed doors this is the next best option in the 11th tier. LSR play their matches at Northwood FC and have the games in hand to put themselves just one point behind leaders Brentham so a win here will put them firmly in contention for the title


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Sunday 15 March

FA Women's National League Division 1 South East
Leyton Orient v Billericay Town @2pm - with the Women's FA Cup Quarter-Finals getting postponed, the highest ranking women's match to remain on is this fourth-tier game between two of the top five at Mile End Stadium

Women's Capital Cup Semi-Final
Dulwich Hamlet v Crystal Palace Development @2pm - there's a south-east London derby at Champion Hill which should also be worth a watch. It's only £4 to get in but with all of the above, please check all the details before you travel

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 2-8 March 2020

Greetings and welcome to this week's guide to all that's going on in the world of London football.

How has your week been? Did you get to a game?

I didn't but I was briefly given the opportunity to guide a few Swiss football tourists around Shepherds Bush and White City showing them the area's rich Olympic heritage before they went to watch QPR draw with Birmingham.

The group was led by German football author and publisher Christoph Beutenmuller whose works include 'Der London Fussball Guide' which I've mentioned on here before - if you're a German speaker and planning a visit here, then I recommend you get a copy.

'Two Men In Search...' pay a visit to Sutton Common Rovers

The itinerary also included an official tour of QPR, a trip to Harrow School to explore some of the roots of the game itself and a visit to Wembley for the Carabao Cup Final.

I'm sure he'll be running another trip in the future so contact him if you're interested.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. Enjoy your week - there are a lot of midweek games as a result of all the recent postponements so fill your boots!

Lastly, many thanks to Christoph (mentioned above) who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. Cheers!

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, 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 2 March

Premier League 2 & Professional Development League
The week begins with a great selection of U23 matches spread throughout the day so you can easily see two. However, the pick of the matches which feature Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are both taking place just outside London at Aldershot Town and Stevenage respectively. West Ham United, Crystal Palace and QPR also have games too

Isthmian League North
Aveley v Brentwood Town @745pm - the best non-league option is to be found on the far east side of town where the promotion chasing Millers play host to fellow Essex side Brentwood who are fighting to avoid the drop

ECL Division 1 South
Barkingside v Holland @745pm - if you'd prefer something a little more niche then this top-six clash from the 10th tier could be more to your liking - unsurprisingly the visitors wear orange

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Tuesday 25 February

FA Cup Fifth Round
Chelsea v Liverpool @745pm - it's all change in the FA Cup where for the first time ever, the Fifth Round ties will all be played in midweek, between Monday and Thursday, with no replays. Undoubtedly the tie of the round, this match between two of the biggest clubs in the land has been selected for live broadcast on BBC One. It's just as well because it's sold out and there's little way you'll get to see it without being a season-ticket holder, member or are prepared to pay a small fortune for hospitality

Premier League International Cup
Arsenal v Monaco @7pm - the next best thing would appear to be this glamorous European U23 tie. This competition is now at the quarter-final stage and shows off some of the best of the continent's young talent. It is being played at Boreham Wood

National League
Barnet v Boreham Wood @745pm - arguably of far more importance is this north London derby between two sides with hopes of promotion. The visitors are already an established part of the top seven but the Bees have the games in hand to catch up. However, a lot will depend on the weather as Barnet's pitch has been really poor of late and saw yet another postponement last week

SCEFL Premier Division
Beckenham Town v AFC Croydon Athletic @745pm - in the ninth tier there's a game of huge importance at either end of the table with the Becks going for the title and the Rams battling the drop. It's also a local derby so there's plenty riding on it

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Wednesday 4 March

FA Cup Fifth Round
Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City @745pm - given that Spurs are out of the title race and look like losing to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, you'd hope that Jose Mourinho will really go for this as it's his only realistic chance of silverware this season. With eight titles, Tottenham are one of the most successful clubs in the competition's history and I still find it hard to believe that they haven't won it since 1991. In struggling Norwich they face a very winnable tie but I hear the Canaries have sold 9,000 tickets and they've got little to lose. The good news is, you could be there too as tickets are on sale to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Haringey Borough @745pm - as a result of good cup runs, both these sides have games in hand on those above them. However, even if they won them all they'd still be short of the play-off places so this looks very much like a midtable battle for position

CCL Division 1
Kensington & Ealing Borough v Westside @745pm - the hosts have lost a lot of games to bad weather so to make up the backlog of fixtures they've been given permission to play a few home games on the 4G pitch at Club Des Sports on the Acton/Shepherds Bush border. Although there isn't a lot of cover, the clubhouse and other facilities are said to be great and it's free to get in. The novelty drew a decent Step 6 crowd of 71 for the first match there on Saturday. The move has also now made them my local non-league club and one of the most centrally located in London being only about four miles from Marble Arch/Oxford Street. Both sides actually have quite a few games in hand but if K&EB win theirs then automatic promotion could well be on the cards. UPDATE - this match has now been moved to Raynes Park Vale. However, NW London are supposed to be playing a game at Club Des Sports on Saturday
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Thursday 5 March

ECL Division 1 South
Fire United v Halstead Town @745pm - there's one game on Thursday night and it's not a hugely enticing one. Fire United are languishing at the bottom of the 10th tier with only one victory all season. Halstead should win

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Friday 6 March

Premier League 2
Watford v Crystal Palace @1pm - there's a decent bit of U23 action on Friday - it's a derby of sorts and it's being played at Vicarage Road where it's £3 to get in

ECL Division 1 South
May & Baker v Frenford @745pm - M&B provide a Friday night non-league option for the second week in a row as they welcome east Londoners Frenford to Parkside. Although a long shot, a title challenge still isn't out of the question for the hosts
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Saturday 7 March

Premier League
Arsenal v West Ham United @3pm - last week both these sides surprised me. The Gunners suffered an unexpected home defeat by Olympiakos to exit the Europa League whilst West Ham almost got something out of their trip to Liverpool and beat Southampton with ease as David Moyes sent out a far more hungry looking team. Arsenal have a tricky cup match at Portsmouth on Monday night which could go a long way to defining their season - if they lose again then they might as well give up and go home. The Hammers don't have a great record at the Emirates Stadium but on current form could well get something. Tickets are not available to non-members
Crystal Palace v Watford @3pm - both these sides had a great weekend with Palace winning at big rivals Brighton and the Hornets somehow beating leaders Liverpool with ease. The Eagles' win puts them on the verge of survival for another year and it will be a real shock if they go down. Watford, however, are still very much in the fight to avoid the drop but they'll have no reason to fear anyone given their last result. If you do want to go, a few restricted view tickets are still available to non-members in the away end

Championship
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - the Bees blew a two-goal lead at Cardiff on Saturday to only draw and extend their winless streak to five games. Amazingly, with other results going their way, they've barely moved in the table and are still fifth. Automatic promotion looks out of the question now, but a play-off place is theirs to lose. Sheffield Wednesday were up there with them a couple of months ago but their form has also deserted them and midtable is where they're likely to finish. Nonetheless, the match is pretty much sold out with any remaining tickets going to members only
Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough @3pm - one of the most important games of the day takes place at The Valley where we have this huge relegation six-pointer between two former Premier League clubs faced with a drop into the third tier. The Addicks have shown flashes of inspiration in recent weeks and two wins from five have given them a chance but the teams around them have also started winning. So instead of moving away from the bottom three, they've actually got a lot closer to it. Middlesbrough have the worst form have anyone in the bottom six and simply must be beaten. Tickets are available to non-members

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - although they're still well down the table, the Dons look like they're going to survive. A fine win at Gillingham on Saturday left them eight points clear of the relegation zone and although some of the teams below them have games in hand, their form is pretty good and they should do it. Bolton are bottom and haven't won for a while so another three points looks probable here. Tickets are available to non-members

League Two
Leyton Orient v Cambridge United @3pm - with both sides in no real danger of getting promoted or relegated, this is one for groundhoppers and those doing 'the 92'. With only one defeat in five, the O's have improved considerably of late but in Cambridge they face a bit of a bogey team. Their home record against them in recent years has been poor, with their last win way back in 1999. Tickets are available to non-members

National League
Sutton United v Torquay United @3pm - unusually there is only one fifth-tier match in London on Saturday and it's between two midtable teams. The division is so tight that both are still capable of being promoted or relegated with 11 games to go. In reality they're unlikely to do either but it means they still have plenty to play for. Former EFL side Torquay are one of the best supported clubs in the division so should bring a sizeable following.

National League South
Wealdstone v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - there's also only one game in the sixth tier but it's a big one as the division's top club play it's best supported one. Much has been written about these London clubs this season but to re-cap, the Stones have been fantastic all season and pretty much led from day one whilst Dulwich have been pulling in crowds of 2,000-3,000 despite being in terrible form and fighting for their lives to stay up. It's should be a cracker!

Southern League Premier Division South
Hayes & Yeading United v Swindon Supermarine @3pm -  in the seventh tier we've got a very interesting looking top five clash between two sides looking to make sure of a play-off place. The hosts are on a seven-game unbeaten run which actually saw them play Swindon away in a re-arranged match last week - it finished 1-1. That result should give them great confidence of being able to at least repeat that scoreline and possibly get more

Isthmian League South Central
Hanwell Town v Tooting & Mitcham United @3pm - the hosts have been top for most of the season but they didn't play on Saturday and saw Ware move three points clear with a draw against Marlow. Although Hanwell have two games in hand, the table is still tight and they need to win big games like this. Tooting were also among the frontrunners but have lost form and even with some games in hand themselves, a play-off spot is the best they can hope for now. A win here is almost essential for them

SSML Premier Division
Oxhey Jets v Tring Athletic @3pm - this match between two of the division's top five appears to be the best on offer in the ninth tier on Saturday. Oxhey are the top TLFG club in this league and are well capable of cracking into the top four. Tring are second and don't look like getting any higher with leaders Colney Heath eight points clear and in possession of a game in hand

SSML Division 1
New Salamis v St Panteleimon @3pm - being played at Enfield Town's ground, this top-two clash between sides from the Greek Cypriot community was easy to pick as the featured game in the 10th tier. Saints are nine points clear so winning this could effectively make the title theirs

MCFL Premier Division Cup Semi-Final
Clapton CFC v London Samurai Rovers @2pm - although it's only a cup competition for 11th tier sides, it should draw a big crowd to Wadham Lodge in Walthamstow. Clapton CFC have been averaging very lively crowds of nearly 500 this season which is astounding for a club at this level. The two sides are pretty evenly matched and are both in contention for the league title too. Entry is by donation. UPDATE - this match has been moved to Mabley Green 3G facility near Hackney Wick.

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Sunday 8 March

Premier League
Chelsea v Everton @2pm - the weekend comes to a close with the Carlo Ancelotti derby as the Italian brings his new Toffees side back to Stamford Bridge where he won the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season before being surprisingly sacked the following season after finishing second. So successful was his brief time at Chelsea that he achieved the third highest win ratio of any manager in Premier League history. Back to the present and Everton have improved noticeably in the short time he's been there but he got himself sent off on Sunday after arguing with the referee during their draw with Manchester United. Tickets are not available to non-members

FA Women's National League Division 1 South East
Enfield Town v AFC Wimbledon @2pm - with the Super League taking a break for the SheBelieves Cup in the USA, the focus falls on some of the other divisions. There are several matches on Sunday with this top five encounter at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium appearing to be the best on offer

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 24 February - 1 March 2020

Greetings one and all and welcome to the latest edition of TLFG as we supposedly move into the spring.

How has your week been?

Last time I mentioned how I had an ambitious plan to see a game on Saturday and I managed to do it.

About a month ago I travelled to Paris to see a match, this weekend I went all the way down to Cornwall to watch Harrow Borough play at Truro City - which is 17 miles further from London than the French capital as the crow flies.

Given the way non-league football is regionalised to minimise travel, by a quirk of fate Harrow have found themselves in a league where they have to travel huge distances because they're right next to the geographical dividing line between leagues.

Harrow Borough made the long trip to Treyew Road on Saturday

Since the fixtures came out in the summer, this was the match many Harrow fans were looking for as it would provide the chance to go to the ever popular tourist destination of Cornwall.

Some made weekends of it but not me - I left home at 0715 and went by train from Paddington all the way down.

Fares on this line can often be extortionate if left to the last minute and with the bad February weather putting the match in some doubt, most chose other methods of transport.

Luckily, as a First Group employee I got a free ride - one of the big perks of working in a sometimes very challenging environment.

Thankfully the trip was smooth and I got into Truro at about 1230pm.

Rather than go straight to the ground, I headed into the town centre to visit the cathedral which is this small city's biggest landmark.

I had a good look round (free entry) and enjoyed a pasty in the forecourt outside before heading to the match.

Despite the bad weather, the pitch was in reasonable condition probably largely down to the fact that the ground is situated on top of a hill, improving natural drainage - the climb from the town was considerable so if you have walking difficulties, get a cab.

Boro have a small fanbase but a decent turnout of 15-20 (about 10% of a normal home attendance) made the trip.

Playing with the wind, the visitors more than matched the table-topping hosts and even had the audacity to take the lead.

However, Truro equalised almost immediately with a penalty to make it 1-1 at the interval.

Harrow go close on otherwise tough afternoon in Cornwall

The second period was a different story and with strong gusts pinning them back, Harrow barely got out of their half and shipped three fairly soft goals to lose 4-1.

Although this was of course disappointing, I didn't expect to get anything out of the game and I came away happy to have just made the trip, ticked the ground off my list and largely enjoyed my day.

The day was also improved by seeing former QPR manager Neil Warnock, a Cornish resident, also in attendance and he hung out by one of the corner flags for most of the game.

My return train made a few extra stops on the way back, picking up what appeared to be Cambridge United's media team at Plymouth after their match - something which provided some interesting eavesdropping material as they discussed various football topics and personalities.

I eventually got home at about 2215 some 15 hours after setting out - there aren't too many longer away days in English football but it was thoroughly rewarding and I can't wait for the next one.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. Enjoy your week - there are some big games including our first major cup final of the season.

Lastly, many thanks to Richard H from Washington DC, USA who donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. He claims to have become a Brentford fan after reading TLFG and going to a game back in 2017. Have you adopted a team as a result of this blog? Let me know. 

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League, EFL Cup, EFL, National League and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Thursday fixtures - purple pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, 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 February

Premier League Cup
Charlton Athletic v Reading @1pm - the week begins with some U23 football at Dartford's ground. This competition is coming to the end of the group stage and these two sides are already through. However, whoever wins this will top the group

Middlesex Premier Cup Quarter-Finals
This knockout competition for clubs in the 10th and 11th tiers sees two of its quarter-finals being played on Monday night. St Panteleimon entertain Cricklewood Wanderers at Rayners Lane's ground and Pitshanger Dynamo take on FC Deportivo Galicia at Hanwell Town UPDATE - St Panteleimon's match has been moved to Tuesday night

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Tuesday 25 February

Champions League
Chelsea v Bayern Munich @8pm - the level of football ratchets up considerably on Tuesday as the German league leaders head to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of this last 16 tie. Bayern won all of their group games and scored an average of four goals in each one. They are also top of the form table in the Bundesliga and beat Paderborn 3-2 on Friday night. The Blues, on the other hand, haven't been great in recent weeks but ended their winless run with a morale boosting victory over Spurs on Saturday - it's going to be tough. Tickets are not available

Championship
Queens Park Rangers v Derby County @745pm - elsewhere in west London, you'll have no trouble getting a ticket for this second-tier game. The sides are neck-and-neck in midtable and have seemingly little to play for. Both sides recorded commendable draws in their latest matches against promotion contenders Nottingham Forest and Fulham respectively. Probably the most notable thing about this match is that it will mark Wayne Rooney's 501st appearance in English league football if he is selected by the visitors. Tickets are available to non-members

National League
Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge @745pm - the hosts have had some terrible problems with their pitch of late with several games getting postponed and last week's match against Harrogate abandoned half way through. If they can get the match on then it could be significant. Not only is it a crosstown derby but the Bees are only two points off the play-off places whereas Dagenham are scrapping for every point they can get to stay out of the relegation zone

National League South
Wealdstone v Chelmsford City @745pm - the Stones found themselves six points clear at the top on Saturday evening after yet another win. After a torrid run, Chelmsford have garnered four points from their last two but their usual run to the play-offs now looks like a distant dream. Another home win looks like a pretty safe bet

London Senior Cup Qaurter-Final
AFC Wimbledon U23 v Brentford B @2pm - if you're at a loose end on Tuesday afternoon you might fancy this match at Kingsmeadow. Both clubs' second XIs have been entered in this competition this year with the Bees youngsters hoping to win it after making last year's final. I believe tickets are £5 on the gate

Middlesex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Bedfont Sports v Broadfields United @745pm - there are some sizeable sides in this competition so these two have done well to make it to the last four. The hosts play a level above the visitors so should start as favourites. The winners will face Wealdstone or cup holders Brentford B in the final

CCL Premier Division
CB Hounslow United v Hanworth Villa @745pm - in the ninth tier we've got a local derby which is also a bottom of the table clash. Both are level on 18 points, some six points adrift of the team above them. A defeat for the hosts will be disastrous as Hanworth have five games in hand

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round
Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion @745pm - the hosts are trying to create a bit of a buzz around this match as if it were a clash between the two men's teams who are big rivals. It's unlikely to get that intense but a home tie in the quarter-finals against Birmingham City is on offer for the winners

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Wednesday 26 February

Championship
Fulham v Swansea City @745pm - now winless in three, the Cottagers are stuttering at an unfortunate moment. If they'd taken maximum points from those very winnable games, they'd be sitting pretty in second and looking good for automatic promotion. Thankfully for them, the second tier is incredibly unpredictable and so-called good teams often drop points without warning meaning Fulham are still third. The Swans were also contenders but with only one win in five, they're down in ninth and look unlikely to mount a serious challenge to return to the top flight. Tickets are available to non-members
Millwall v Birmingham City @745pm - over in Bermondsey we've got the Gary Rowett derby to look forward to as the Lions boss faces one of his old clubs. After drawing with Fulham and winning at Preston, Millwall suffered the ignominy of defeat at lowly Wigan on Saturday to leave them with probably only a slim chance of making the play-offs. Birmingham are about as midtable as it's possible to be but they're on a good run and could be dangerous. Tickets are available to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Corinthian Casuals @745pm - the best non-league option takes place in Tolworth where the K's entertain CCs who they groundshare with. Kingstonian had a good shot at making the play-offs because of a number of games in hand but they've drawn six of their last seven games to fade into midtable obscurity. Casuals have been poor all season and are struggling to break out of the bottom three but a win here would see them do that

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Thursday 27 February

Europa League
Arsenal v Olympiakos @8pm - after winning the first leg 1-0 in Athens last week, the Gunners are in a strong position to progress to the last 16. The Greek giants are currently top of their domestic league and face a huge top of the table clash against PAOK on Sunday in the run up to this game. Arsenal have to play Everton. Tickets are not available to non-members

FA Youth Cup Quarter-Final
Chelsea v Millwall @7pm - normally a last eight tie in this U18 competition would be well worth considering but not on this occasion. Controversially, the Blues have given Millwall an allocation of only 1,000 tickets, which have been snapped up, and restricted home sales to season-ticket holders and members only

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Friday 28 February

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Manchester City @7pm - if you've never been to the Emirates Stadium before, now's your chance. Tickets for this U23 game will go on sale to non-members on Tuesday 25 February at 11am for only £4. If you want to go, you must buy in advance as none will be available on the night

ECL Division 1 South
May & Baker v Fire United @745pm - if you'd prefer a non-league option then you'll need to head east to Aveley where M&B have become the top club from TLFG's catchment area in this division. Fire United have had a shocker on and off the field and are bottom

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Saturday 29 February

Premier League
West Ham United v Southampton @3pm - it's looking pretty bleak for Hammers fans right now. Down in the bottom three and on a lengthy winless run, it's hard to know where their next point is coming from. On Monday night they play the all-conquering league leaders Liverpool so there's virtually no chance of anything there. However, on Saturday they welcome the midtable Saints who they must hope to take something off. After a couple of defeats, the Hampshire club picked up a hugely important win over a struggling Aston Villa side to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone - almost certainly guaranteeing their place in the top flight for another season. One note of cheer for West Ham - it would appear they are a bit of a bogey team for Southampton having won six of the last 10 against them. Tickets are available to non-members
Watford v Liverpool @530pm - after an initial improvement in results under new boss Nigel Pearson, the wins have dried up and the Hornets are back in the bottom two. They are firmly in touch with the other strugglers and have a game against Manchester United on Sunday which could change the look of the table significantly if they pull off a shock result. Whatever happens at Old Trafford, getting anything out of this match against the leaders will be incredibly tough. Tickets are not available

Championship
Fulham v Preston North End @3pm - there's a decent selection of second-tier games on Saturday with this match between two of the top six (at the time of writing) looking like the best on offer. Whatever happens in midweek, the Cottagers will still be among the play-off places when this kicks off but it could be a different story for PNE who have very ticky trip to leaders West Brom on Tuesday. Tickets are available to non-members
Millwall v Bristol City @3pm - after the midweek game against Birmingham, Gary Rowett's side next welcome the Robins who are having their usual wobble as we approach the most important part of the season. With three defeats from their last five games, the West Country side have slipped out of the play-off places and badly need three points to get back on track. Tickets are available to non-members
Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City @3pm - I've written about both sides already so there's not much more to add. Over the last 20-odd years, Loftus Road hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Blues with only three wins in 10 attempts. but they did come out on top in a seven-goal thriller there last year. Rangers went 4-0 down before pulling it back to 4-3 and then missing a penalty at the death - a miss which seemed to destroy Nakhi Wells' confidence for the rest of the season and played a part in the departure of boss Steve McClaren. Tickets are available to non-members

FA Trophy Quarter-Final
Barnet v Halesowen Town @3pm - the Bees have made it to the last eight of this national knockout competition for clubs in the fifth to eighth tiers. The final is at Wembley, a stadium you can see from the local Tube station as you make your way home. Barnet have only made it to the final once, way back in 1972 when they lost to Stafford Rangers. Halesowen play three levels below them and therefore represent an excellent chance to progress to the last four

National League
Boreham Wood v Hartlepool United @3pm - the Wood picked up a hugely impressive 1-0 win over Yeovil on Saturday to win their David v Goliath contest and move into the top three. They have a winnable midweek game at Aldershot before hosting an upwardly mobile Hartlepool side who have an eye on the play-offs themselves
Bromley v Sutton United @ - the Ravens' decline continued on Saturday as they lost at home to lowly Wrexham. Although still very much in touch with the other play-off contenders, their form has completely deserted them. On Saturday, they welcome fellow Londoners Sutton for a derby. The U's have drawn four games in a row and despite being in 15th, they're still in real danger of going down as only three points separate the teams between themselves and 21st

National League South
Dartford v Wealdstone @3pm - the leaders travel to Princes Park to take on a much improved Darts side who kept themselves in the play-off places with a win over Eastbourne Borough on Saturday. The two last played each other on the opening day at Grosvenor Vale where the Stones won 4-1
Dulwich Hamlet v Tonbridge Angels @3pm - the biggest crowd in the division will probably be found at Champion Hill for this relegation six-pointer. Like the division above, lots of teams find themselves just above the relegation zone and these two are in this category
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Chelmsford City @3pm - the Beavers won at Maidstone on Saturday to stay on the heels of Dartford as they look to unseat them from the play-off spots. Chelmsford have arrested their losing streak but still look vulnerable and will start as second favourites
Welling United v Havant & Waterlooville @3pm - the Wings have improved a lot under their new boss and have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone. Havant look pretty certain to book a play-off place but the higher you can finish the easier the post-season so they could still do with the win

Isthmian League Premier Division
Carshalton Athletic v Horsham @3pm - the game of the day in the seventh tier would appear to be this top-six clash at Colston Avenue. The Robins have played more games than those around them so they can't afford to drop too many points. The reverse fixture back in October ended in a 2-2 draw

Isthmian League South Central
Tooting & Mitcham United v Bracknell Town @3pm -  in the eighth tier the Terrors have slipped out of the play-off places but have two games in hand so they still have a chance. Bracknell are just above them and also have some games in hand meaning that this is an incredibly important game for both as they look to break into the top five

CCL Premier Division
Abbey Rangers v Ascot United @3pm - my pick of the day in the ninth tier is another top-six clash down in Addlestone where Abbey welcome the league leaders. The Berkshire club have a four-point lead at the top and need another win to keep Spelthorne Sports at bay

ECL Division 1 South
Lopes Tavares v White Ensign @3pm - the hosts were top for a long time but have fallen down the table as they haven't played very much recently. In the meantime they've been replaced by White Ensign. LT have the games in hand to put them back on top but they've got to win this or their title bid could be in serious jeopardy

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Sunday 1 March

Carabao Cup Final
Aston Villa v Manchester City @430pm - the season's first major piece of silverware is up for grabs at Wembley on Sunday. Relegation-fighting Villa are 10-1 outsiders to win as City are, on paper, so much better than them. Of the big clubs, the Mancunians take this competition seriously, they are the current holders and have won four of the last six finals. Villa also have an excellent history in this competition with five wins from eight final appearances but they haven't claimed this honour since 1996. Tickets are sold by the clubs - the last time I looked, some were available in the City end if you had a previous purchasing history

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers @2pm - Spurs received quite a bit of criticism for their performance against Chelsea on Saturday and they are open to losing their place in the top five from a number of contenders. Wolves are one of those clubs because they are hard to beat - only Liverpool have lost fewer games this season. However, they draw far too many - only Arsenal have drawn more. Given Tottenham's current lack of strikers, this looks like being another one where the points are shared. Tickets are not on sale to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Cray Wanderers v Merstham @3pm - can't get a ticket for either of the above? All is not lost as there's a great non-league option at Bromley's ground where London's oldest club entertain Merstham. Cray are very much in the hunt for a play-off place whereas their opponents from Surrey need points to avoid the drop. Before the match, the club will also be re-signing George Taylor who last played for them in 1938. It is the 100-year-old's wish to kick a ball one more time and Cray are making it happen. I know some TLFG readers from Finland have told me they're going to this one so why don't you join them?

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 17-23 February 2020

Greetings one and all and apologies for the slightly delayed publication of this week's blog as we go into half term.

As I told one reader last week, it's becoming more and more time consuming to try and keep across everything and keep producing something meaningful every week.

I'm now compiling and researching it during breaks at work and writing long into the night (it's currently 0131 on Monday morning) when everyone has gone to bed so as not to be thoroughly useless around the house while I'm here.

Consequently I haven't managed any live football this week but I'm off for nine days now and will hope to see something, with a very ambitious trip currently planned for Saturday but we'll see what happens.

Cheap tickets are on offer at Dagenham & Redbridge but only if purchased in advance

The Premier League makes a full return from its brief winter break this weekend and there's some Champions League action too.

Many games were postponed over the weekend and one or two might fall by the wayside at the beginning of the week so confirm all details before you travel.

On Saturday, there are a couple of ticket offers in place at some of our local clubs with seemingly the best deals in place at Dagenham & Redbridge where adult tickets are available from £2.50 if bought in advance as part of their diversity day - more details in the daily digest below.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. Enjoy your week. Hopefully the weather won't ruin things too much.

Lastly, many thanks to all those who have donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. It makes writing this even more worthwhile so many, many thanks.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's FA Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, 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 17 February

Premier League
Chelsea v Manchester United @8pm - the week begins with arguably its biggest game as two of the country's biggest teams do battle at Stamford Bridge. Unusually, this year neither of them are in the title race with the Blues 35 points behind leaders Liverpool and United a whopping 41 points off the pace. Chelsea are still in the top four but only just so badly need to win to keep themselves ahead of the chasing clubs. United still have an outside chance of claiming a European spot but defeat here will be pretty much terminal to their Champions League hopes. Tickets are not available

Premier League 2 & Professional Development League
There is a great selection of U23 games on Monday with the match between West Ham and Stoke City topping the bill purely because it's being played at the London Stadium so you've got a great chance to watch a match there on the cheap - tickets are £5. Elsewhere, Arsenal play Chelsea at Boreham Wood and if you're prepared to travel outside London to St Albans then you've got a derby between Watford and QPR to enjoy

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round
Chelsea v Liverpool @7pm - moved at short notice to avoid Storm Dennis, these two sides will have another go at making the quarter-finals. The Blues are in great form and should win comfortably

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Tuesday 18 February

National League
Barnet v Harrogate Town @745pm - this should have been played on Saturday but Storm Dennis intervened and it got shifted at short notice to Tuesday. With Barnet having several games in hand and still eyeing a play-off spot and Harrogate very much in the hunt for the title, this is an important game for both teams

Essex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Dagenham & Redbridge v Concord Rangers @745pm - some of the biggest games of the night would appear to be in our local county cups. Despite being one of the biggest clubs in Essex, the Daggers haven't made the final since 2002. Concord, who hail from Canvey Island, play in the division below and aren't in great form so should start as second favourites if the hosts play a strong team. The winners will face Billericay Town in the final. Tickets prices have been reduced to £6

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Wednesday 19 February

Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur v RB Leipzig @8pm - the competition's first knockout round gets underway this week with Spurs among the last 16. The north London club sensationally made the final last season but a repeat of that seems highly unlikely given their wavering form this season. That said, they're unbeaten in seven matches so should approach this with some confidence. Leipzig are currently second in Germany and ended an iffy run of form with a 3-0 win over a struggling Werder Bremen side on Saturday. Tickets are not available to non-members

Isthmian League Premier Division
Kingstonian v Wingate & Finchley @745pm - the best non-league option takes place in Tolworth where the K's will hope to close the gap on the play-off places by winning this game in hand. W&F are joint bottom but still in touch with the other strugglers so every point will be crucial for them between now and the end of the season

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Thursday 20 February

SSML Premier Division
Broadfields United v Oxhey Jets @8pm - originally scheduled for Tuesday, this ninth-tier match is now being played at Rayners Lane's ground and should provide some decent Thursday night entertainment for a fiver

London Underground League
This competition sees teams from each of the network's lines and associated TfL teams fight for glory at the 4G facility on Market Road near Caledonian Road station. Matches take place at 4pm and spectators are very welcome. There are usually a couple of fixtures a week - check the league's Twitter feed for all the latest. On Thursday, the Hammersmith & City Line take on the Metropolitan Line

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Friday 21 February

ECL Division 1 South
Hackney Wick v May & Baker @745pm - the only option in London on Friday night is this 10th-tier contest at Haringey Borough's ground. Neither side are pulling up any trees but the Wickers have a great kit

A bit further afield
Just to the north of London in St Albans, Watford take on Everton in an U23 game at Clarence Park at 7pm

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Saturday 22 February

Premier League
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur @1230pm - after a short winter break, the Premier League returns with a bang as this big derby takes centre stage. Both have midweek Champions League engagements before this big battle for fourth place gets underway at lunchtime. At the time of writing, Spurs are in better form but lost to Chelsea in the reverse fixture just before Christmas. The other rather important thing to note is that this will be Jose Mourinho's first visit to Stamford Bridge with his new team so he should be extremely motivated to do well. Tickets are not available
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United @3pm - with only one win between them from their last five league games, this doesn't appear to be the most mouthwatering of fixtures. Both sides should avoid relegation but both could do with another three wins to make sure of it. The hosts are unbeaten in four at Selhurst Park against the Toon but three of those were draws. Tickets are not available

Championship
Brentford v Blackburn Rovers @1230pm - the Bees missed the chance to go third by only drawing at Birmingham on Saturday and by all accounts they should have won. Lancashire club Blackburn are on a good run and could potentially break into the top six with a win on their last ever visit to Griffin Park before it shuts at the end of the season. Tickets are not available
Charlton Athletic v Luton Town @3pm - with the three matches above all unavailable, this is your next best option and it could be interesting as two sides fighting the drop look to clinch a valuable three points. The Hatters hail from just outside London so should bring a sizeable following to enhance the atmosphere. Tickets are available

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Blackpool @3pm - the Dons nicked a precious point off leaders Rotherham with a very late penalty on Saturday. The result kept them just above the relegation zone in 20th but they maintained the seven-point cushion over Tranmere just below them. Rovers have a game in hand so the south London club can't relax just yet. Blackpool are 16th so present a decent chance to pick up a few more precious points. Tickets are available

League Two
Leyton Orient v Oldham Athletic @3pm - these two are neck-and-neck in lower midtable so it's anyone's to win. The O's narrowly lost at promotion chasing Cheltenham on Saturday whilst Oldham drew with Forest Green. The sides drew the reverse fixture back in December so another draw looks likely. Tickets are available

National League
Boreham Wood v Yeovil Town @3pm - two of the division's top five meet for a David and Goliath contest at Meadow Park. With average crowds of only 691, the Wood are the smallest club in the division whereas former Championship side Yeovil are more used to playing in front of attendances nearer 3,000. Despite this, only two points separate them with the hosts able to climb above them into third with a win here. The club have designated this as a 'Community Day' with a number of discounts available if you buy tickets in advance
Bromley v Wrexham @3pm - after topping the league for sometime, Bromley's season seems to be tailing off pretty dramatically with Saturday's loss at Stockport seeing them fall to eighth and out of the play-off spots. Next up they face one of the biggest clubs in the division who are having a stinker of a season. The Welsh club are just above the relegation zone and could end the day back in it if results don't go their way
Dagenham & Redbridge v Solihull Moors @3pm - the deal of the day would appear to be available in east London where it's 'Daggers Celebrate Diversity Day'. In order to get as many local people into the ground as possible, adult tickets are available from just £2.50 which is quite a bargain. In order to get these prices, you must book in advance. On the pitch, the hosts are having a poor season and badly need to win to keep themselves out of the bottom four. Solihull, on the other hand, are pushing for promotion again so will start as strong favourites
Sutton United v Barrow @520pm - a fine day of fifth tier action is completed by the U's game against leaders Barrow. It's been a season of consolidation for Sutton under new boss Matt Gray and he's done well to lift them into midtable after a poor start. The visitors, managed by former QPR defender Ian Evatt, have been a revelation this term and currently sit four points clear at the top with a game in hand

National League South
Wealdstone v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - the match of the day in the sixth tier takes place at Grosvenor Vale where leaders Wealdstone entertain sixth placed Wanderers. The reverse fixture in November produced an entertaining 2-2 draw so hopefully we'll get some more of the same

Southern League Premier Division South
Hayes & Yeading United v Taunton Town @3pm - there's not a huge amount on in the seventh tier but this game at the SkyEx Stadium should be good as the sides in sixth and fifth do battle. Hayes started the season pretty poorly but have been climbing the table rapidly in recent weeks and a win here will put them in the play-off places for the first time

Isthmian League South Central
Hanwell Town v Waltham Abbey @3pm -  the hosts saw their match get postponed on Saturday, allowing second place Ware to cut the gap to a point by beating Tooting & Mitcham. Visitors Waltham Abbey climbed to seventh by thrashing Chalfont St Peter 7-3 to keep themselves firmly in play-off contention

CCL Premier Division
Southall v Sutton Common Rovers @3pm - the hosts haven't played since the 8 February when they lost at Frimley Green but they've remained in the top three nonetheless. On Saturday they welcome SCR who because of their great run in the FA Vase have games in hand on all of those above them. On Saturday they beat another top five side Molesey so should be able to give the 'All a pretty tough afternoon

SCEFL Division 1
FC Elmstead v Holmesdale @3pm - in the 10th tier two of the division's top five meet for a game on the south-eastern fringe of TLFG's catchment area. A win for Holmesdale could see them go second

MCFL Premier Division
Clapton CFC v Brentham - a sizeable attendance should be expected at Wadham Lodge where leaders Brentham pay a visit to E17. The Tons have drawn several crowds in excess of 500 this season which is quite remarkable for a side in the 11th tier. With four games in hand on the top club, the hosts could stake a real claim for the title with a win here. Admission is by donation. UPDATE - this match will now be played at the Mabley Green 3G facility in Hackney Wick

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Sunday 23 February

Premier League
Arsenal v Everton @430pm - the Gunners fill the 430pm Sunday slot for the second weekend running as a much improved Everton side head to the Emirates for what could be a tricky game for the hosts. Despite thrashing Newcastle this weekend, Arsenal are still two points behind the Toffees but should fancy their chances as the Liverpudlian side haven't won a league game at the Emirates or Highbury since 1996. Tickets are not available

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round
Arsenal v Lewes @1pm - if you've got a ticket for the match above then you should have time to do a Gunners double on Sunday with this match at Boreham Wood scheduled to finish at least 90 minutes before the men's game. On paper, this rescheduled cup game, should be won comfortably by the hosts who play a level above the Rooks. The Sussex club are also in pretty poor form so it doesn't look too promising for them

FA Women's Super League
West Ham United v Liverpool @3pm - if you fancy a game that's likely to be a little more balanced then this match at Rush Green could well be it. Both sides are in pretty poor form with only goal difference keeping the Reds out of the relegation zone

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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

Has this blog been helpful? Donate to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund here

TLFG: 10-16 February 2020

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

Once again I aim to keep this brief as I've had a sick child on my hands for the last 24 hours and whilst they're getting some rest I'll get this finally published.

For the second week running I managed to get to a game as I got out of work unexpectedly early on Saturday. This meant I could get out to my old home town to watch the Southern League clash between Harrow Borough and Poole Town.

I went to the same game last February during a very unseasonal heatwave in which I nearly got sunburned and Harrow surprisingly won 4-0!

Only a few tickets remain!

This time round, we were lucky enough to have clear blue skies again but the temperatures were much lower and it was pretty nippy by the end.

The game was also pretty drab and ended 0-0 thanks mainly to some stirling work by Boro goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond who is on loan from Fulham.

It was good to also make contact again with TLFG reader John B who was at the game but I missed him as I received the call to dash home and get my daughter to hospital - she should be fine.

Anyway, I think that's it from me. Enjoy your week. Hopefully the weather won't ruin things too much as it did on Sunday and look out for a couple of quirky options at the weekend in the Daily Digest below.

Lastly, many thanks to all those who have donated to TLFG's coffee-drinking fund. It makes writing this even more worthwhile so many, many thanks.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The highlights of the next few days include games in the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women's FA Cup and loads of other matches in our local non-league competitions. 

As always, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or the venue or kick-off time has changed - this is highly possible for some of the lower non-league clubs. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found on the following match maps. If you've never used them before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the drop down menu at the top of the map page to make sure you get all the information. Games are listed from top to bottom in date order so Monday's games (yellow pin) will appear first and Sunday's (orange pin) last. Games are also ranked in terms of status so the higher the division, the higher up the list they will appear on each day.

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Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

It should also be noted that the top four levels are for fully professional teams. Level 5 has a mixture of professional and semi-professional teams, while Levels 6-10 will see most players paid but it will vary from no more than travel expenses at the bottom, right up to several hundred pounds a week at the top.

MIDWEEK MATCH MAP
Monday fixtures - yellow pin
Tuesday fixtures - green pin
Wednesday fixtures - blue pin
Friday fixtures - black pin

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Saturday fixtures - blue pin
Sunday fixtures - orange pin

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, 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 10 February

Professional Development League
There are two U23 games at lunchtime with Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic both hosting games albeit not at their main stadiums. Check all the final details with the clubs on the day as they can change at short notice

Isthmian League North
Aveley v AFC Sudbury @745pm - one of the stories of the weekend was the Millers' stunning victory over Chelmsford which saw them progress into the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy - a competition meant to be won by far bigger clubs. They're also doing rather nicely in the league and will find themselves just two points off top spot if they beat lower midtable Sudbury

A bit further afield
If you're prepared to travel beyond London's south-western edge then you can watch Chelsea play Wolves in the FA Youth Cup Fifth Round at Aldershot Town's ground. The Blues have dominated this U18 competition in recent years and should win here
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Tuesday 11 February

Championship
Brentford v Leeds United @745pm - one of the games of the week takes place in west London where the mighty Leeds will make their last ever visit to Griffin Park. Saturday's results left the clubs in second to fifth place separated by just two points which means the battle for automatic promotion is now really hotting up. If you haven't already guessed, both these sides are in the top five. Despite being a tiny club compared to Leeds, it is the Bees who are in better form and they could well win. Tickets are not available to non-members

League One
AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town @745pm - a game of huge significance at either end of the table as the Dons look to pull well clear of the relegation zone and Ipswich look to get back into the play-off places. Both sides are in poor form at the moment so it will probably come down to who wants it more. Tickets are not available to non-members

League Two
Leyton Orient v Mansfield Town @745pm - with tickets difficult to get for both of the matches above, the O's game against Mansfield becomes your best option. Both sides are in the bottom six but given only one team are going down this season and bottom club Stevenage are so bad, they've probably got little to fear. Tickets are available to non-members

Middlesex Charity Cup Second Round
Wealdstone v Harrow Borough @745pm - if this was a league game then I'd have no hesitation recommending this but this Harrow derby is a but a mere county cup match. Given the Stones are top of the division above their opponents and are going for the title, they may well rest quite a few players. As a Harrow fan, I really hope Steve Baker and his team really go for this. Sadly, Wealdstone are a far bigger and more successful club whose shadow we've had to live in for years and this season could be a huge one for them. If the Boro can nick a win, even in this relatively minor competition, it will be hugely satisfying

Isthmian League South East
Cray Valley PM v Whyteleafe @745pm - two of the division's top six meet at the Badgers as the clubs look to strengthen their chances of making the play-offs

Combined Counties Premier Division
Molesey v Knaphill @745pm - the game of the night in the ninth tier would appear to be this clash between two of the top five at Walton Road

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Wednesday 12 February

Championship
Millwall v Fulham @745pm - the Championship is serving up some good games with this London derby dominating proceedings on Wednesday. Just as it looked as if the Lions might crack into the top six, their good run of results has dried up and they've slipped to 10th. The same can't be said of the Cottagers who are on cracking form with only goal difference keeping them out of the top two. Tickets are on sale to non-members

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Sutton Common Rovers v Spelthorne Sports @745pm - with SCR seeing their great run in the FA Vase come to an end on Saturday, the south London club now have quite a few league games to make up. If they win them, they'll find themselves in the top three, just behind Spelthorne who are going for the title

FA Women's Super League
Chelsea v Birmingham City @7pm - the hosts have leaders Manchester City in their sights and could go top if they beat struggling Birmingham which they should do

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Friday 14 February

Premier League 2
Fulham v Aston Villa @7pm - got a hot date for Valentine's night but aren't sure where to take them? The show pitch at Fulham's Motspur Park training ground isn't an obvious choice but they certainly won't forget it. Tickets are £3 on the gate

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Saturday 15 February

Championship
Charlton Athletic v Blackburn Rovers @3pm - with the Premier League still on its staggered winter break, it's the second tier that will take centre stage on Saturday and there are three rather uninspiring games to choose from. First up, in alphabetical order, is this match at The Valley where the struggling Addicks welcome midtable Blackburn. The best thing about this is that Charlton are running their annual 'Football For A Fiver' promotion so tickets are only £5 which is very good value. The last time I checked, it was approaching a sell out so be quick if you want to go
Fulham v Barnsley @3pm - the Cottagers could be in the top two by the time this comes around and they'll expect to beat the Tykes who are in the bottom three and having a poor season. Again, tickets are very reasonably priced with most between £20-25 and U18s getting in for just £1
Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City @3pm - possibly the most 'meh' game of the lot is taking place at the KPF Stadium where two lower midtable sides will hope to grind out a good result. Both sides need a win to push them away from the bottom three and it is the visitors who are in better form. Tickets are available to non-members

National League
Barnet v Harrogate Town @3pm - the Bees caused a considerable upset on Saturday by beating NL leaders Barrow to make the FA Trophy quarter-finals. They'll be joined in the draw by Harrogate who are currently second in the table and looking for their first promotion to the EFL

National League South
Dulwich Hamlet v Welling United @3pm - only six points separate the teams between 14th and 21st which means the battle to avoid the drop still includes a significant number of clubs. Both these sides are in that group and both hail from the south-east side of town. The Hamlet are averaging crowds of well over 2,000 this season and you're advised to book in advance and get there early if you want to get a decent view of the action

Southern League Premier Division South
Hendon v Hayes & Yeading United @3pm - two old rivals (or three as Hayes and Yeading were separate clubs) formerly of the Isthmian League meet at Silver Jubilee Park for what should be a decent contest. Although neither are in the leading group, they are probably the division's top two on form with Hendon winning six on the trot and H&YU five of their last six

Isthmian League South Central
Hanwell Town v Bracknell Town @3pm - the hosts have been top for a large part of this season but are struggling to shake off Ware who are just behind them. Bracknell are an ambitious club and are in the top six at the time of writing

Essex Senior League
Hadley v Walthamstow @3pm - the match of the day in the ninth tier is at Brickfield Lane where two of the top four meet. Both have games in hand on leaders Saffron Walden and the Stow could go top with a win

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
St Panteleimon v New Salamis @3pm - there's a big game to look out for in the 10th tier where the top two in the division do battle. Both clubs have their roots in the Greek Cypriot community which adds a little more spice to the occasion. With the Saints nine points clear at the top, this is pretty much a title decider. For some reason, St Panteleimon have moved most of their home games to the Middlesex FA's HQ at Rectory Park which means it's being played at a glorified 'Goals' facility, albeit with 11-a-side pitches, which is slightly disappointing

Arthur Dunn Cup Quarter-Final
Old Alleynians v Old Carthusians @11am -  if you fancy something a little different but incredibly historic then you might want to check this out on Saturday morning. Whatever you think about the class system and English public schools, they and some of they're pupils have been absolutely fundamental to the foundation of the game in this country and hence around the world. This cup is named after the Old Etonian FA Cup winner who proposed it back at the very start of the 20th century. The match is being played in the grounds of Dulwich College, one of the country's top public schools and visitors Old Carthusians are the most successful club in its history wining it 28 times, including five of the last six. Entry is free and can easily be combined with the Dulwich Hamlet game or several others in south London later in the afternoon

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Sunday 16 February

Premier League
Arsenal v Newcastle United @430pm - winless in four and down to 10th, the Gunners are now closer to the relegation zone than they are to the top four as what looks like being their worst season since 1994-95 grinds on. I have to admit that by the tone of the pundits when I've had Football Focus/MOTD on in the background in recent weeks, I thought Newcastle were in much more trouble than they are but they're on level points with Arsenal which says it all! Tickets are not available to non-members

Women's FA Cup Fifth Round
Chelsea v Liverpool @1230pm - there are several ties in London on Sunday but this would appear to be the biggest. Sadly for the Reds, their women's team are not dominating in the way their men's team are and anything other than a home win would be quite an upset. Elsewhere, Arsenal entertain Lewes and Crystal Palace host Brighton. UPDATE - THIS MATCH HAS BEEN MOVED TO MONDAY NIGHT TO AVOID STORM DENNIS

The wildcard
For something completely different I give you a charity match put on by the London Middle Eastern Project between London Lebanon and London Iraq at the New River Stadium in Haringey at 2pm. Tickets are £5 in advance and £10 on the door which includes food and drink and other Middle Eastern entertainment - it could get lively!

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground in the London area for this blog then get in touch. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

NEED HELP?

Got any questions about visiting London? Don't hesitate to ask - be they football or more general travel/touristy queries. I do not charge for this advice like some other sites so don't hold back!

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