TLFG: 29 February - 6 March 2016

It's been a hectic old weekend, hence the very late publication of this week's piece - apologies. I hope those of you on Twitter got the link to this week's midweek match map which I put out earlier so you could make plans for tonight as there's a few things on.

This week has been spent in more meetings than usual with discussions ongoing about how to make Non-League Finals Day on 22 May as good as it can be. If you've missed previous mentions of this, it will see the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals being played on the same day at Wembley for the first time ever and we at the Non-League Day team are hoping that as many fans of the game at that level will turn out whether their teams are involved or not. With adult tickets only £25 and kids for a quid, I think that seems like pretty good value. The Vase semi-final line-up got confirmed over the weekend and the Trophy quarter-finals also took place producing one replay so we're almost there too. Tickets are already on sale and you can get yours here.

On Saturday I went to one of the games of the day in the Isthmian League where promotion contenders Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock United locked horns.

The visitors looked very solid and absorbed what little Dulwich threw at them with relative ease. Midway through the second half they opened up a commanding 2-0 lead and with the game into injury time, the points seemed destined to be heading to Essex.

However, the hosts kept going and amid somewhat controversial circumstances salvaged a draw with two last-gasp goals. The second came from the penalty spot after the assistant referee spotted a deliberate handball which the man in charge had missed. With Ashley Carew calmly converting with the last kick of the match, the referee had to be escorted off by security as East Thurrock's players and management vented their frustration.

The trip to Champion Hill also provided me with a chance to meet representatives from a couple of companies who are keen to make a positive impact on the non-league game and perhaps become partners of Non-League Day. Before reading the following, I'd like to make clear that no agreements have been made or monies changed hands and these are my honest opinions.

Firstly, I got to see the Goalshouter app in action. 

Hailing from Italy, it's a handy device for clubs at all levels to provide live text commentaries of their games but also be able to include photos and other rich content. It also has the ability to drive revenue back into clubs by linking up parts of the commentary with digital sponsors.

Although it was only a test and there were one or two factual errors, I think it looks and performs pretty impressively - you can see the feed for the game here. There was talk of offering some clubs a free trial so get in touch with me and I'll put things in motion.

I also got to meet a representative of Tifosy - a specialist football club crowdfunding website. They have or are working with several professional clubs including Bradford City, Oldham Athletic and Portsmouth in England and Parma in Italy. So far, they've managed to raise over £500,000 for the various causes. They are also keen to partner with non-league clubs who may have projects that they need to raise funds for be it new goalposts, a pitch, floodlights, changing rooms, a whole new ground or whatever. Take a look at their website and see if they're right for your club.

Lastly, I had the pleasure of helping Peter and his son Pier from the Netherlands attend QPR's match against Birmingham on Saturday.

Aside from advising him on where to sit and when to buy, I also arranged for a welcome message to be put up on the big screen before the match and at half-time. 

All of that went smoothly but apparently things went even better than any of us could have imagined.

Pier meets Tjaronn Chery on his visit to QPR

Before arriving in England, Peter had told me he was a Groningen fan and was therefore keen to see former player Tjaronn Chery in action for QPR. By chance they ran into him outside the ground, had a good chat, got a photo and then watched as he produced a man-of-the-match display to win the game.

Not only that but Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies randomly picked out his son in the crowd at the end of the game and gave him his gloves! What an afternoon and one that will live in their memories for a very long time. 

I only played a small part in this but I'm really chuffed with how it went so do get in touch if you think I might be able to help you in some way. Be warned, I'm under increasing pressure from my wife to charge for these services but I'm stubbornly resisting for now.

Have a great week and, as always, enjoy your football.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

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

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

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

TLFG TOP 10

1. Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - it wasn't hard to decide which match should fill the number one slot this week. The two north London giants contest what is arguably the derby in the capital with even more resting on it than normal. For a change, Spurs are higher up the table and in with a real shot at the league title. However, the Gunners are just behind and will draw level if they beat Swansea on Wednesday and Spurs slip up at West Ham. Form is very much on Tottenham's side at the moment with six consecutive league wins and they're also undefeated in three league matches against Arsenal. It should be a humdinger! (Premier League, Saturday 5 March, 1245pm. Ticket info)

2. Watford v Leicester City - I make a point of not listing one team twice in the Top 10 hence not including West Ham v Spurs this week (but give it a go if you can get a ticket). The next best game in my opinion is this one between two teams who are relative newcomers to the top flight. The Hornets are enjoying a dream return to the Premier League after several years away and have confounded many, including myself, in comfortably asserting themselves in the division. The Foxes came up the season before, also after an extended break, and managed to stay up after an impressive late run. This season nothing was expected of them but somehow they come into March as the country's top ranked club - a position they have held for several months. The bubble looked to have been burst at Arsenal two weeks ago but they rallied to beat Norwich this weekend and stay two points clear. With nearest rivals Tottenham and Arsenal possibly cancelling each other out this weekend, they have a great chance to extend that lead. (Premier League, Saturday 5 March, 530pm. Ticket info)

3. Brentford v Charlton Athletic - it seems to be derby season in the Championship at the moment with all our local clubs playing each other within a matter of weeks. The latest one pits the Bees against the Addicks. All our local clubs in this division have fired their managers this season. At QPR, my club, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has taken some real stick since taking over but when you see how Brentford, Fulham and Charlton's bosses have fared you really wonder why. New Brentford boss Dean Smith took over from caretaker Lee Carsley, who was doing a decent job, in November and gone on to lose nine out of 17 games. Whoever has been in charge at Charlton hasn't made a difference as off-field problems have caused havoc and they're bottom of the league. They put up a good fight against Reading on Saturday but still lost 4-3. There could be a few nerves on Saturday as confidence will be low on both sides but Brentford should just about edge it. (Championship, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Wigan Athletic - it's been a traumatic time for both these clubs in recent seasons as relegation has hit. Despite winning the FA Cup in 2012/13, that season was a bitter sweet one for the Latics as it also saw them relegated after many years of punching above their weight in the Premier League. They made the Championship play-offs the following season but lost to QPR and then suffered relegation to League One a year later after an horrific campaign. Thankfully the rot seems to have stopped under manager Gary Caldwell and they're now well on course for automatic promotion back to the Championship. The Lions came down with them but they've also responded well and are in the top five too. It ended 2-2 when they last met in September and it should hopefully produce another entertaining game. (League One, Tuesday 1 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

5. AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley - head down to Kingsmeadow on Saturday if you fancy seeing a game between sides scrapping for a League Two play-off spot. Given the size of some of the clubs in the division, these two have done well to get themselves into the top eight. With their unspectacular midtable performances since returning to the Football League, the Dons have been something of a surprise package in being as well placed as they are. Even more impressive though are Accrington. The Lancashire club are up in fourth and averaging crowds of just 1,500 - the second lowest in the division. Boxed in between Blackburn and Burnley and with several other much bigger clubs in the area, it's no surprise they struggle for support. It's therefore of real credit to manager John Coleman that he's got them into this position. Historically, Accrington have a good record against Wimbledon but they've lost the last two, conceding six in the process. (League Two, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Bromley v Welling United - there's another derby over in south-east London on Tuesday night in the National League. It's been a time of struggle for these two local rivals over the last few months. Bromley are new to the division, made a great start but then tailed off sharply and recently replaced manager Mark Goldberg with coach Neil Smith. After a shaky start, he's managed to mastermind back-to-back wins over Woking and Kidderminster to shore things up. The Wings narrowly avoided relegation last season and have been even worse this time round. With Loui Fazakerley recently ushered out, replacement Dean Frost has seemingly made little impact as the defeats have continued. Now eight points adrift of safety, things are looking terminal and wins need to start materialising fast. (National League, Tuesday 1 March, 745pm. Ticket info)

7. Hampton & Richmond Borough v Canvey Island - there's no real stand-out game for me in the Isthmian Premier this week but with the title race twisting week after week, you might as well check  out the current leaders Hampton. Despite losing at fellow contenders Tonbridge on Saturday, Hampton retained their two-point lead after Dulwich's dramatic fightback against East Thurrock. Essex club Canvey are on a half decent run at the moment, collecting 10 points from five games so will arrive with a bit of confidence. However, they lost the reverse fixture just last month by 4-0 so there would appear to be a bit of a gulf in class. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Club info)

8. AFC Hornchurch v AFC Sudbury - in the division below we have a top-four clash at Bridge Avenue. The Urchins have had a topsy turvy few years with promotions, play-off finals and relegations lifting them as high as the National League South and now down to the Isthmian 1 North. The side from the far east of the District Line have responded well to last season's relegation and have been top or in the play-off spots all season. Currently fourth, a place in the end-of-season shoot-out to which they've become regulars is the best they can hope for as they trail current leaders Sudbury by 17 points. The Suffolk club have had a cracking season and were always desperate to go one better after losing in last year's play-offs. Having only been formed as recently as 1999, the Suds have never played above the eighth tier so this season could be an historic one for them. (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Ticket info)

9. Raynes Park Vale v Colliers Wood United - we love a derby at TLFG and we've got another one at Prince George's Fields on Saturday. The A3 derby on the south-west side of town features two clubs who play approximately 1.5 miles apart along the major road of the same name. Greatly overshadowed by the likes of Chelsea, Fulham, AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian, these ninth-tier clubs are often overlooked. RPV have only been in existence for a little over 20 years making them young upstarts compared to CWU who are one of the oldest clubs in the city having been around in some shape or form since 1878. Although the hosts are a few points behind CWU in the table, they've barely played in 2016 and have accrued five games in hand over their opponents which indicate things are closer between them than a first glance at the table might suggest. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Saturday 5 March, 3pm. Club info)

10. Dulwich Hamlet v FC Assyria - last up this week I'm going with something slightly different. Over the last couple of years, Dulwich have grown massively in prominence on the non-league scene with part of the reason being their major efforts to engage with the local community and charitable causes. Having previously held a match against Stonewall FC to highlight the issues surrounding homophobia in football, on Wednesday they are hosting a 'Syrian Refugee Support Game' against Middlesex County League side FC Assyria who hail from west London and have been in existence since the 1960s. Tickets are only £5 for adults, £2 for concessions and U12s free. All the money raised will go to the Southwark Refugee Communities Forum and the British Red Cross Syria Appeal. (Benefit match, Wednesday 2 March, 745pm. Club info)

UPDATE 01/03/16: Since yesterday's publication I have been made aware, by our friends at the Southern Amateur League, of an extra game on Saturday. Over at Uxbridge FC you can see the semi-final of the FA Inter League Cup between the Southern Amateur League and the Teesside League. The eventual winners of the cup go on to form the England 'D' team which takes part in the Uefa Regions Cup. Tickets are £4 for adults, £2 concessions.

Also, I forgot to mention in the Top 10 that it's also the Croydon derby on Saturday between AFC Croydon Athletic and Croydon in the Southern Counties East League which should be well worth a watch if you're on the south side of town.

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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

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

Inside the NFL Combine

Jared and I are adopting more of a "now or never" mentality as we get closer to becoming a family of three. I know we'll keep living our life and life will be AWESOME and we can't wait for this stage of life- but regardless, it WILL be different once we're parents! So why not be a little spontaneous while we still can? That's just what we did this weekend.

The NFL Combine takes places in Indianapolis each year and I have always wanted to check it out since it's just a quick 2 hour drive for us. For you non-football people, the combine is a week-long "audition" for guys who are hoping to get drafted by the NFL in April. You have to get invited to attend the event as an athlete, usually around 300 get chosen to come each year and show off their stuff in front of tons of coaches and scouts from each of the 32 teams.

This year Jared and I were able to snag some last-minute guest passes through work and be up front and center for Saturday's events. So we grabbed some snacks and hopped in the car like the crazy, young kids we are and headed over. I felt pretty VIP after we picked up our official guest passes from the hotel next door. The security in the area was insane! Then it was onto Lucas Oil Stadium (booooo Colts) to watch some of the best up and coming athletes out there. We loved seeing some of our Ohio State guys like Braxton Miller and it was fun to compare guys from all the various teams.

Someone I work with once told me the combine was boring- like watching paint dry but I 1000% disagree with that statement. Jared and I were just yards away from these talented guys who were basically trying out for the job of a lifetime. The whole event felt so reverent and was incredibly organized. There was always something going on to watch and the people running the combine kept all events flowing quickly and smoothly.

Marshall Faulk!

We watched them do the 40-yard dash, broad jump, bench press and quite a few on-field drills for the various positions and honestly the whole day flew. It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I'm glad we went! A lot of people might find the whole thing boring but if you're a football lover like us- you'd enjoy it. Next up on our football radar is the draft in Chicago! ;) 

Friday 5 {Baby Edition}

Sweet Friday- it's good to see you. I've got a lot of weekend fun planned and I am so looking forward to the next few days. Hopefully the snow from yesterday is gone and the report of temperatures in the high 50's and maybe even 60's is correct for this weekend. As I was drafting up this post of all the highlights of this week everything seemed to turn baby-related so I figured I'd run with it. 

ONE - I had my 24 week appointment Wednesday and everything is on track and healthy for baby and me both. He's measuring just slightly ahead of schedule, maybe a week- but nothing to be concerned about at this point. I've gained 11 pounds total, get heartburn after eating just about anything, still trying to walk about 4-5 days a week, feeling excited- really can't complain! Next appointment brings the infamous glucose test- can't wait to see what all that fuss is about.

TWO - Also this week we took dinner over to Jared's grandma one night. She requested Skyline Chili which we were happy to pick up. She made this beautiful blanket for our little one and I couldn't love it more.

The colors are so perfect for our ocean-themed nursery and the yarn is so, so soft. I just love this treasure from our baby's great-grandmother. How cool is that, seriously?! We had a nice visit with her, lots of stories were told and I told her I'd try to have the baby on her 88th birthday which is just a few days before my due date ;)

THREE - I've been feeling kicks and punches for a couple of weeks now pretty consistently and Jared has caught a couple here and there. I swear, this little dude must sense when it's Jared because he'll stop moving completely. Playing tricks already ;) However- one night this week out of no where I got a huge jab to the belly and actually SAW my stomach move. It startled me, it was so much more pronounced than any other movement so far. Pretty crazy/weird/cool all combined.

FOUR - Our wedding photographer recently offered us a free maternity "mini-session" if we are interested! I did a favor for her back in the fall and she wanted to pay me back so to speak. I honestly didn't think we would get maternity photos done at all just because they're so pricey and I wasn't sure if I'd really want them. But since they are free and it's just 30 minutes, I think we'll take her up on this offer in a couple months when I'm bigger. But not too big.

FIVE- When your BFF is also pregnant and texts you to, "go outside and make Jared take a picture of your belly in the snow. It's so pretty!" you just listen. I'm hopeful this was the last big snow of the season so I'm glad we ran out to the back deck and snapped a few pictures just for fun.

Let's be honest- I'm just not good at pictures! ;)

I hope everyone has a great weekend planned! I know I do :)

Things Jared Has Taught Me

That I shouldn't care what people think, ever. He used to embarrass me doing silly things in public but I think I'm equally as embarrassing (if not more so!) than him these days. Every time we're at the grocery Pharrel's "Happy" comes on and I do a full out dance with the shopping cart. It started as a joke with Jared and I, but since apparently they only have about 4 songs on rotation- the song comes on a lot and the dancing happens always.

That owning blu-rays is important. Quality is key when we're ready for movie night- don't judge us. Those Disney movies DO look 100x better on blu-ray vs. DVD and that's not up for debate ;)

For the record, this is not my photo/collection. But pretty accurate nonetheless.

That I should trust myself when cooking- sometimes the best meals aren't following a recipe. Jared is great in the kitchen and has always been a natural at free-styling with recipes and mixing and matching things to his own tastes. For the longest time I was too nervous to stray from a recipe, but the more I do it, the more I trust myself with it. I feel much more confident putting my own spin on things now.

That it's okay if the house doesn't look like Bree VandeKamp's. Any other Desperate Housewives fans? That show was the best and even though Bre was semi-crazy, I wanted to be her. I loved her domesticated self with her sparkling home, four-course dinners set on fine china every night, first one to whip up muffins for a new neighbor...etc. I've finally come to terms with the fact that Bree is a fictional person and I'm totally okay when my house and my dinners don't resemble her's in any way.

That protein shakes really can taste good, you just have to pay for the quality stuff. I used to refuse to drink any protein because the only ones I've tried previously were disgusting. Just another thing I've found that it's okay to pay a little more for because it's completely worth it.

Last but certainly not least? 35 is the new 25. You don't have to have everything in life sorted out yet. It's more than okay to still be in the figuring things out phase and you're definitely still young enough to do anything you want. As long as you are trying to better yourself and as long as you're pursuing what makes you happy you're doing alright.

Jared- thank you for the valuable life lessons thus far. You're kinda' awesome.

Choosing a Nursery Theme

Choosing a theme for the nursery was a little tougher than we anticipated. There are SO many options out there (which seems to be the case for all things baby) and we liked so many of them. I think while we were shopping around and deciding we said, "Well, we can do that theme when he goes to a big kid room." Or, "Well, our second boy can have that theme." Yes, we are crazy and talking about future children already. #FirstTimeParents  There were two themes we seriously considered before we settled on the one we're currently working on (and loving!) but here's how the decision came to be.

Option #1: Sports
DUH! Jared and I are crazy sports fans and I think we both kinda' automatically thought that our boy's room would be a sports themed one. Instead of just football we thought it would be fun to include all the sports we both love. There's a lot of cute stuff out there, and we loved this set from Babies 'R' Us, but with how small the room is- we were worried it would be too dark for that small space. Plus we have white furniture so we weren't sure it would even look right together. Sports will (hopefully!) be something he loves one day but for his room we sadly had to let it go. Is it too early to plan his first birthday party?? ;) 

Option #2: Disney

Probably another duh, as you know how much we love all things Disney. However once we looked around for ideas for this theme- it just didn't feel like something we loved. There was a lot of all blue Mickey-dominant stuff, but I wasn't loving it. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum, a lot of the other Disney stuff we stumbled upon was too pastel and looked more feminine which we obviously didn't want. While our child will surely be a Disney character/movie/parks fan one day- the room just wasn't working for us.

So we finally landed on...

Option #3: Ocean/Under the Sea

We saw this Nemo lamp in Babies 'R' Us and the colors were so bright and fun we decided to run with it. We didn't want to plaster Finding Nemo all over the place in there- but we loved the bright blues mixed with pops of green and orange. Whales, fish, crabs and even a plush octopus will likely make an appearance in our little guy's room. It's not necessarily a nautical theme, like I've seen a lot of- let's be honest, Jared and I aren't nautical, we don't boat! Haha. But we do love the ocean and we love the bright, cheerful colors that can come with an under the sea theme.

Whew- so there you have it! This room is going to be the coolest room in our house by far once we're done with it. I can't wait to share progress as we get more stuff to actually put in there :) 

Lessons Learned

Here we are, another Monday, another fresh week! The last week of February in fact, gosh has it went quickly or what?! The beautiful weather we had this weekend was totally a tease, as I know there is still plenty of cold days coming to us in Ohio but Spring- come quick, please!! It was so nice opening up the windows and having that fresh air flowing through the house- I need that all the time :) It was a solid weekend complete with some lessons I learned and thought I'd share.

- Putting furniture together is something I weirdly enjoy but apparently a lot of people don't. We got our crib assembled in less than an hour and I'm so happy with what we picked out! It looks great against the bright blue accent wall. I have walked into that room to run my hand along the railing no less than 200 times in the past 48 hours ;)

- I'm officially pregnant. Yes, I did in fact learn that just this weekend. Jared and I did a lot of stuff around the house Saturday and I'm still paying for it two days later. Don't worry, I wasn't doing any heavy lifting or anything dumb like that, but a day of cleaning, organizing and laundry and up and down the steps all day wears a girl out apparently. I was shocked at that wake-up call. Gotta' take it easy and be okay with that, I guess!

- Sometimes you just have to say no. Last week was a doozie for Jared and I. We've both had a lot of stuff going on at our jobs and it made for a long, stressful stretch of days. This weekend we just needed time to unwind, be together and get some things done without a million errands and obligations squeezed in. It was worth it and much needed.

- Mellow Mushroom is still just as tasty as ever. Okay, maybe I've always known this but it had been a looong time since I've had it. Probably last Spring, actually! Becky was in town this weekend visiting Kayla and I got to join in for a girls night Friday night and indulged in the Red Skin Potato Pie pizza.

-Walking Dead is making a comeback for me! Before they did their mid-season break, I was really losing interest in the show. It felt too slow, too predictable and I wasn't sure if I could keep watching it. However, the past 2 weeks?! SO GOOD! Who else is still watching??

Hope you all had a great weekend and an even better Monday :) 

TLFG: 22-28 February 2016

It's been another busy week at Chez TLFG hence I'm putting this out much later than I'd like to.

I didn't get to see any live football as work got in the way again but I did get to take my three-year-old to her first football/sport session laid on for free by the QPR Community Trust at our local leisure centre. To say it was like herding cats for the coaches would probably be an apt description but with only three and four-year-olds taking part, you couldn't really expect much more. Everyone had fun which was the main thing.

On Saturday I'm hoping to make my first visit of the season to Champion Hill to see the big Isthmian League match between Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock United. I'm all set to take some Italian visitors for what I think will be their first English non-league experience so let's hope it's a decent game.

Generally it's a big week for football in London with some massive European and domestic fixtures meaning it's an exciting time to be in town. There are also some cracking ticket deals on offer in the Football League details of which can be found in the 'Top 10' below or on the ticket page.

Have a great week.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

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

THE WEEK AHEAD

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

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

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

TLFG TOP 10

1. Arsenal v Barcelona - the match of the week pits the title-chasing Gunners against the runaway leaders of the Spanish league in this eye-catching Champions League tie. Arsene Wenger's side had a poor group stage, scraping through on goal difference ahead of some fairly mediocre sides. In Barca they face a real step up in class and they are huge underdogs to progress over the two legs. The two have met in this competition seven times, including one final, since 1999 and Arsenal have only managed one win but that came the last time they met at the Emirates five years ago. Undefeated in their group and with only two defeats in the league, Barcelona are the top side in Europe right now and they'll take some beating. (Champions League, Tuesday 23 February, 745pm. Ticket info)

2. Liverpool v Manchester City - at the weekend over at Wembley we have our first bit of domestic silverware up for grabs. The Reds and City are League Cup royalty with 11 wins between them - in fact Liverpool have won it more times than anyone else but it's been four years since their last success. Over the last few years Manchester City have usurped the once great Liverpool and become an established member of the 'top four'. However, despite their waning powers, the Reds are a bit of a thorn in City's side and have beaten them several times, most impressively by 4-1 at the Etihad in November. On paper Manuel Pellegrini's side should win but they've fallen apart of late, losing three on the bounce and conceding 10 goals in the process - a well motivated Liverpool could undo them again. (League Cup Final, Sunday 28 February, 430pm. Ticket info)

3. Tottenham Hotspur v Fiorentina - there was much talk heading into the weekend of Spurs repeating their famous double of 1961 but they came unstuck at home to a badly out of form Crystal Palace to end their FA Cup hopes. However, they are also still in the Europa League so a double is still on. With the competition entering its knockout stage, Uefa's often derided lesser tournament is looking pretty healthy with some big teams still fighting to win it. Spurs are among the favourites but they've got a tough draw here. The Viola are third in Italy at the time of writing and beat Tottenham at the same stage last season. While Spurs were losing to Palace, the Tuscan side were warming up with a 3-2 win at Atalanta. The first leg in Italy ended 1-1 so it's a hard one to call. (Europa League, Thursday 25 February, 805pm. Ticket info)

4. Charlton Athletic v Reading - there may be better Championship sides playing in London this week but I've gone for this as the Addicks are running their 'Football For A Fiver' promotion. Yes, you read that right, it's only £5 to watch this almost derby match between the division's bottom club and the Royals who are drifting around in midtable. Fan unrest is still the backdrop for goings on at The Valley with owner Roland Duchatelet as unpopular as ever. This might explain why tickets for the match are still available and it might be something you want to bear in mind if you decide to head to this one. (Championship, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Dagenham & Redbridge v Yeovil Town - there are also some fantastically cheap tickets to be had on the east side of town too where it's 'Daggers Against Racism Day'. Prices for this crucial match between the bottom two in League Two start at just £2.50 for adults. Things have gone badly wrong for Dagenham this season with defeats in their last four leaving them six points adrift of safety. It's been a struggle for a few seasons now so relegation wouldn't be a huge shock. It's a different story for the Glovers, however, who were the fairytale side who made it from non-league to the Championship. The Somerset club only managed one season in the second tier and got releagted at the end of 2013/14. Last season they got relegated again and they're currently on course for a third successive relegation which would take them back to life outside the Football League for the first time since 2003. The last match between them produced an entertaining 2-2 draw so hopefully there'll be a few more goals here.  (League Two, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Sutton United v Margate - although Sutton suffered the disappointment of losing their FA Trophy replay at Bognor, their season is still very much alive. Currently third and without a league defeat in nearly four months, a play-off place is looking almost certain. The team leading the charge to get into the top five with them are Margate who, like Kent rivals Maidstone, came up from the Isthmian League last season and have settled really well. After a bad start which saw them fail to win any of their first nine games, the Gate have taken 19 points from their last seven to surge up the table and should be a match for anyone. (National League South, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Dulwich Hamlet v East Thurrock United - the Isthmian League title race took some more twists this week meaning it's now East Thurrock's turn to have a spell at the top. A solid midweek win over Met Police coupled with a draw against fellow contenders Bognor has put them ahead of Hampton on goal difference. Dulwich had the chance to make some real headway over the last couple of weeks with fixtures against a host of strugglers but they failed to win any of them. Saturday's postponement saw them lose further ground and they now find themselves fourth, six points off top spot but with a game in hand. If they want to stay in the hunt then they really must win this. Given the importance of the game, another 2,000+ crowd could pack into Champion Hill and I'm hoping to be among them. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 27 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Egham Town v Royston Town - in the Southern League, the local focus still remains on the Sarnies who got through another two games this week without defeat. The four points gleaned against Ware and Uxbridge left them in third with four games in hand on the leaders. They were supposed to play fourth placed Royston recently but bad weather intervened so they're going to try and go again on Tuesday. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Tuesday 23 February, 745pm. Club info)

9. Epsom & Ewell v Hartley Wintney - the hosts, who groundshare at Chipstead, are regularly among the frontrunners in the Combined Counties League. This season is proving to be no exception with the Surrey club up in third. On Tuesday they welcome the current leaders who are looking increasingly like champions elect. Three points clear of Ashford Town and with three games in hand, it's going to take quite a collapse to stop them. And what of E&E? Although third, they're 12 points back so this match is pretty much their last realistic chance to mount a challenge. (Combined Counties League Premier Division, Tuesday 23 February, 745pm. Club info)

10. CB Hounslow United v Worcester Park - in the division below it's a case of first versus third. Regular readers and CCL watchers will know that CB have been pretty poor over the last few years so this season's dominance has come as quite a shock. Top for some time now, the club who play next to Heathrow Airport thrashed Sandhurst 5-0 on Saturday to remind us what they're capable of. Worcester Park haven't lost for three months and with their game in hand, pose a real threat. (Combined Counties League Division 1, Sunday 27 February, 3pm. Club info)

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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

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

Blogs I Read Every Day

I read a LOT of blogs each week. A lot. I organize my BlogLovin' into categories so I can jump to certain topics/people quickly, but I have a few in my "must read" folder I always get to. Today I'm sharing a handful of those... some you may know about, some may be brand spankin' new to you but I wanted to share where I love to read and why I love to read 'em.

IHeart Organizing is possibly one of the very first blogs I ever read. I've been following along for years and cannot get enough of her ideas, creativity, eye for design and more! Her blog is (of course) simple and easy to navigate; I love that anytime I'm trying to come up with how to organize a space in my house- she's got it categorized already. She also offers quite a few free printables and is always adding to her collection. I can't say enough good things about this blog- love, love LOVE it!

Mama & Mou. Kristin and I have been blogging buddies for yearssss now and we actually got to meet in person last August! I love her blog and the mix of topics she talks about, but lately her momma posts have been so helpful and informative. She's currently due with baby #2 and there is just a wealth of info on all things pregnancy and baby on her blog. Aside from all that? She throws the most epic parties ever and you will feel inspired for the next one you need to throw, no matter the occasion! :)

Venus Trapped in Mars. Sarah is a fellow sports lover like me and that's what initially drove me to her blog. Her blog has exploded over the past few years, and her hard work shows. A lot of times I shy away from blogs when they have a lot of paid posts, but I think Sarah is the perfect example of how to do it authentically, and how to also weave those types of posts into normal, everyday "lifestyle" posts. She is hilarious, shares blog/design how-to's that are actually helpful, talks any and all sports and I love love LOVE her colorful photos in every post.

I really don't read/check fashion blogs too often, but this is one I follow along with and really enjoy. If I need style inspiration- I check out Maureen from The Northeast Girl.  Her wardrobe is always classic and fresh. Plus, her older posts about maternity style have given me a lot of ideas how how the heck to dress this bump once it's large and in charge ;)

So tell me- what are your MUST-read's each day/week? Who am I missing? :) 

Happy Friday, friends!!! 

So Tell Me About Savannah

I mentioned last month that Jared and I had our made our plans for our last vacation as a twosome for this Spring. We're heading back to one of our favorite places, Hilton Head Island, and plan to stay about a week there. On our last visit we'd planned to make a day-trip over to Savannah, GA but never got around to it. This trip we'll be stopping in for sure! We're actually going to kick off our trip there and have a full day to spend there exploring.

That's where you all come in- of course! Getting travel recommendations is one of my favorite things about being part of the blog world. There are never a shortage of ideas and tips for anywhere I happen to be going. So thank you in advance, anyone who is going to chime in! 

We've got our hotel all taken care of, we'll be close to everything which will be nice. I've heard so SO many things about the food so I'd love to hear your must-eat's. We're good with hole-in-the-wall spots to grab lunch at, a nicer sit-down restaurant for dinner and definitely any dessert/sweets that we can't miss while we're in the area ;)

A guided tour is something we're also considering doing- but would love to get anyone thought's on this. Typically Jared and I are good with exploring on our own and seeing what we can discover while in a new city. However, since we have just one day there- we feel like we might be better off doing one of the hop-on-hop-off tours offered so we can see as much as possible. I am definitely looking forward to checking out all the historic homes and landmarks in the area.

Anything else major? Absolutely can't miss stops or photo-opps? :)  This cold, February weather has me itching to get out of town and onto vacation. I'm excited that this trip will blend an old favorite spot with a new city as well. There's nothing I love more than traveling with Jared. The countdown has begun!

Our Wonderful Life

Raise your hand if you took no photos this weekend!!! *My hand is officially raised for those wondering* It was a glorious (yet snow-filled) few days away from the office and just what I needed. If only I were off yesterday like so many other offices downtown. Oh, well. Yesterday was better than your average Monday because after work I headed straight for a prenatal massage and it was glorious. One day when I'm wealthy I need to have a standing appointment with a local masseuse each month. 

Jared and his dad painted our boy's room Friday and it looks absolutely fantastic! We chose two different shades of blue and it turned out so perfect. We'll be steam cleaning our carpet this week and THEN we'll finally set the crib up. The giant box has been staring at me, practically begging us to put it together so this week we definitely will at some point. Then, let the decorating begin!

Our Valentine's weekend was low-key and I loved every second of it. We shopped for awhile on Saturday, for nothing in particular; we just let the day take us wherever we pleased. Neither of us had really made any plans for Sunday so we did our usual church/lunch and headed back toward home, since we knew there was quite a bit of snow coming our way. At the last-minute we decided to stop in at CVS and each spend $10 on each other on a gift. It was fun, funny and creative- truly the only gift I needed was spending time together. Although it was quite hilarious that we each bought each other some sea-salt & caramel Ghirardelli's for part of the gift ;)

That afternoon, we laid in our son's freshly painted, unfurnished room and just talked for who knows how long as the snow came down outside. We discussed everything imaginable and it was in that afternoon I truly just felt reminded how blessed/lucky/whatever you want to call it we are. Our life may be simple to some, but I couldn't imagine it any other way. Life is wonderful♥

And this concludes my blogger faux pas of a post with no actual photos.

TLFG: 15-21 February 2016

Hello there one and all and welcome to TLFG.

Hope it's been a good week for you and you got to see some football.

After a last minute shift change I managed to get a ticket for the west London derby between QPR and Fulham. I wish I hadn't bothered as Rangers' performance was woeful. 

Some Dutch friends attended and even they conceded Fulham were made to look good by our inept display. The second half was better but the game was already long gone and it ended 3-1.

It continued QPR's amazingly poor run against their neighbours with now only two wins from 11 attempts. Hopefully just a bad day at the office.

Tickets are on sale now

In other news, the FA have released tickets for Non-League Finals Day on Sunday 22 May at Wembley. It will be only £25 for adults and £1 for kids to see the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals back to back which to me seems a very fair price.

Lastly we've got another ground review from our friends at 'Two Men...' - this week they've been to visit Isthmian League club Redbridge over in east London.

There are over 100 matches this week so there's plenty to choose from - enjoy!

LATEST TICKET NEWS

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

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are over 100 matches in the London area over the next seven days so there's plenty to choose from whatever your budget.

However, please make sure you check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND MATCH MAP

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures
White pin - Sunday fixtures

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

TLFG TOP 10

1. Chelsea v Manchester City - it's all about the FA Cup this week, with this the stand-out game by far. With the competition down to its last 16, things are getting serious and in this tie we have two potential winners. Much has been made of Chelsea's failure in the Premier League this season so this competition represents their best chance of domestic silverware. The last time Guus Hiddink played a cameo role as Blues manager he won the FA Cup and with their results improving all the time, the Stamford Bridge club must be among the favourites. City, on the other hand, have just lost back-to-back games against two of their main rivals for the league and are clearly far more vulnerable than in previous seasons. The announcement that boss Manuel Pellegrini will step down at the end of the current campaign obviously hasn't inspired his players and they will start as second favourites in my book. (FA Cup Fifth Round, Sunday 21 February, 4pm. Ticket info)

2. Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace - one of the sides to beat City in the last week are Spurs who recorded a superb 2-1 win at the Etihad on Sunday to move into second and become London's top-ranked club. Tottenham haven't won the league since 1961 when they also completed the double. A whopping 55 years later and they're well positioned to repeat that feat. Being just two points off top spot in the league and facing a Palace side in woeful form in this cup tie, a quarter-final place looks assured. The visitors are winless in nine in the Premier League but it's been a totally different story in the FA Cup where they have negotiated two potentially very tricky ties against fellow top-flight sides Southampton and Stoke City. Spurs should still have too much for them though, having beaten them twice already in the league. (FA Cup Fifth Round, Sunday 21 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

3. Fulham v Charlton Athletic - after comfortably beating QPR in their west London derby on Saturday, the Cottagers next welcome the Addicks for another derby on Saturday. This match is arguably more important as the two are both battling the drop. The hosts' win at Rangers has given them a bit of breathing space but Charlton are in all kinds of trouble both on and off the field with the fans desperate to replace the current owner. However, five points from the last four games isn't a bad return for a side in the bottom three and this should be close. Charlton's record at Craven Cottage, however, is pretty awful with their last win coming 30 years ago. (Championship, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

4. Millwall v Peterborough United - the Lions have back-to-back home games to look forward to this week with this, to me, the more attractive of the two. At the time of writing, Millwall are the form team of League One with five wins from six propelling them into the play-off places. Peterborough, often contenders themselves, are a bit further back but there's still plenty of time for them to mount a challenge. Located less than an hour's train ride north of London, their fans should travel in reasonable numbers and we'll hopefully get a decent game. Posh acquitted themselves very well against Premier League side West Brom in the FA Cup on Wednesday (losing on penalties) but then got drubbed by Bradford on Saturday which kind of sums up their inconsistent midtable season. (League One, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

5. Barnet v AFC Wimbledon - it's derby time in League Two as north faces south. Both sides enjoyed great weekends with the Bees winning at Dagenham & Redbridge and the Dons thrashing Luton. As a result, Barnet moved 13 points clear of the relegation zone while Wimbledon kept their dreams of a play-off place alive. The head-to-head between these two is pretty tight with Neal Ardley's side winning the reverse fixture 2-0 back in October. (League Two, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

6. Boreham Wood v Torquay United - the Wood's fight for National League survival continues with this crucial game against fellow strugglers Torquay. The Hertfordshire club are, in terms of attendance, the smallest club in the division and it's highly impressive they made it up to this level for the first time this season. Unsurprisingly they find themselves in the bottom four but that's primarily because they've drawn too many games - 11 so far, the joint highest. Their recent results have seen them take points off Grimsby, Eastleigh, Tranmere and even league leaders Cheltenham so they're more than a match for anyone on their day. The Gulls were a Football League club until 2014 but off-field upheaval and budget cuts have seen them really struggle this year. Currently 10 points adrift of safety and with eight defeats in 10, Boreham Wood won't get a better chance to record a precious win. (National League, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

7. Kingstonian v Tonbridge Angels - no matches really scream 'pick me' in the Isthmian League this week but I've got a good feeling about this one. Both sides had looked like promotion or even title contenders a while back but some dodgy results knocked them back. However, both have regrouped and got themselves right back in it. The K's have taken 13 points from their last five games to move up to seventh and with two games in hand can still harbour outside ambitions of pushing the very top clubs. Fourth placed Tonbridge have managed three wins on the bounce since claiming a dramatic draw at leaders Hampton and Richmond and with two games in hand too, they are very much in the race for top spot. The last match between the pair ended in a 1-1 draw. (Isthmian League Premier Division, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

8. Enfield Town v Wingate & Finchley - in the Isthmian League Cup we have a tie between two north London rivals. Enfield are historically the much bigger club, currently drawing about three times more supporters through their turnstiles. They are, however, neck and neck in the league with the hosts just two points ahead. The table is very tight and a string of wins would put either of them in the top five. Launched just over 40 years ago, the original Enfield club won the cup twice in its early days while Wingate triumphed in 2011. Enfield have already won the two league games between the sides this season so you would expect them to start as favourites here. A trip to Kingstonian awaits the winners. (Isthmian League Cup Quarter-Final, Tuesday 16 February, 745pm. Ticket info)

9. Egham Town v Uxbridge - the Sarnies' quest for promotion stayed on track on Saturday as they won 1-0 at Potters Bar. The result means they've now won seven out of eight, leaving them fifth and eight points off top spot. But, and it's a big but, they have four games in hand on the leaders and two or three on all those above them. They begin the week by hosting Ware, before local rivals Uxbridge head to the Runnymede Stadium at the weekend. The ball is pretty much in Egham's court, they've just got to keep winning. Uxbridge are having the ultimate midtable season and seem in no danger of doing anything particularly noteworthy at either end of the table. They'll just really want to avoid a repeat of the 7-0 thrashing they suffered when playing Egham at home in September. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Saturday 20 February, 3pm. Club info)

10. Erith & Belvedere v Sheppey United - if the two big FA Cup ties on Sunday aren't for you, you could always head to Park View Road in Welling to see this Kent Senior Trophy semi-final instead. The Deres play in the Southern Counties East League a level above Sheppey from the Kent Invicta League. However, Sheppey are an up and coming club. Currently joint top and with crowds exceeding some sides three tiers above them, they look like a side to watch. E&B often challenge for the SCEFL title but it's not happening this year and they could be vulnerable. (Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final, Sunday 21 February, 3pm. Ticket info)

GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground within the London area for this blog then get in touch. You might also want to have a go at writing a 'Top Ten' one week. I also very much welcome photos of your football travels.

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

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

Weekends Are Still The Best

Hooray for Friday! I am going to be so happy to see this workweek end. Am I right? I know, I know... I should look forward to every day; I really do try but cmon, weekends are still the best. Especially when they aren't jam-packed and you know you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. I wanted to chime in with my "Friday 5" for today so here goes:

ONE: Weeknight dates! Last night we made a date out of our Lowe's trip and a local eatery we hadn't been to in quite some time. It was fun to sneak in a date-night during the week and just chat about life. I cherish every day with this guy!

Flashback to our Niagara falls trip last year!

TWO: When I get home today our baby boy's room will be all painted and ready to go! Jared and his dad are putting in all the hard work today and I cannot wait to see the final product. I'm thankful they are both excellent painters because that is something I do not excel at. Next week I plan to share some details/inspiration for the nursery.

THREE: A girl at work gave me a huge tub of maternity clothes that she no longer needs! I have made it pretty far with only a few maternity purchases- some basics like leggings and long tank tops + a couple of gifts I got at Christmas have carried me so far, but it's definitely time for some other items. I plan to go through everything this week and I'm hopeful lots of them will fit.

FOUR: Anyone watching Biggest Loser this season? I just love this show and this season has been really good so far! Bob Harper is the host this year which is different, but I'm still loving his role in the show. Usually I have a favorite right away but there are a lot of likable people this year. I'm also glad Kristin puts up with me texting her my every single thought throughout the episodes ;)

FIVE: This little guy wiggling in my belly! The movements are still small, but getting bigger each day it seems. I can feel him moving around mostly at night when I'm laying down, but I'm starting to notice little kicks and jabs during the day sometimes too. Craziest/best feeling ever.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, Val or Galentine's weekend! Speaking of Galentine's day- my Etsy shop is throwing in a fun FREEBIE for every order $10 or more through tomorrow night, check it out on Instagram!