Weekly Lessons

I figured I'd wait around until Wednesday to get rollin' in the blog world this week. Aka- my days somehow go so quickly and I don't pause long enough to sit and write. I was really excited to see that Mattie and Lex were starting a brand new link-up today called "Weekly Lessons" though, so it was perfect timing to try and actually post today. Here are my incredibly deep, thought-provoking life lessons this week...

I truly am a night owl and that's when I can get the most things done. I love my sleep... like, a lot- but sometimes it needs to be sacrificed in order to accomplish a few things. I just work better in the late evening. Be it writing, working on my Etsy shop or occasionally cleaning, I function better at night.

Coffee isn't ALL that bad. I have never been a coffee drinker, unless you count the occasional sugary-fancy beverage at Starbucks that doesn't taste like coffee. But late nights and new babies mean caffeine in a more pure form is necessary at times. I'm trying to make myself like good ol' fashioned coffee.

It's an illusion! That's just a hot chocolate in there!! ;)

Clorox wipes are awesome. Sometimes you don't have all the time in the world to scrub things down, but these have been lifesavers and time-savers lately.

If you try to plan a fun, date night at home- that will be the night your child decides he wants to stay awake 2 hours later than normal. True story, this has happened twice to us now. T apparently doesn't like missing out on anything fun.

If I want to get something done, I have to write it down. This isn't necessarily a new lesson for me, but it's just becoming more and more true with a baby now. I live by lists!

Speaking of lists, meal planning is so important. It's something else I've slacked on in the past few months, but after reading Amanda's post I feel so motivated again. Jared and I have revamped our budget due to all our life changes and cutting back on our food budget is a must.

Fall is going to be the.best.ever. I love fall every year, but I am just beyond thrilled it's almost here this year. Cooler temperatures mean more walks with T, beautiful colors and all the festivities beginning. I'm so excited to get out as a family more as it gets easier to be out and about with him.

Even the right decisions are hard to swallow sometimes. I'm thrilled that I'm able to be home with T, truly I am... I just never imagined how difficult it would be to not have my job. I find myself thinking about my boss and coworkers all the time and wondering how things are going at the office! With football season starting I feel so out of the loop, and it's a strange feeling. While I don't miss the long hours and the drunk fans, there are certain things that are tough not to miss. I'm sure it'll get easier as time goes on but with football kicking off there's a little piece of me longing to still be a part of the team.

Loving this link-up and definitely plan to join in the fun more often. Thanks for hosting, gals!

TLFG: 30 August - 4 September 2016

Last week I gave you a Bank Holiday Special, this week it's a Non-League Day Special.

Yes, it's that time of year when we at TLFG do our utmost to celebrate the semi-professional and amateur game and encourage you to check out your local team if you're not a regular already.

To reduce the temptation to go elsewhere, the Non-League Day team (i.e. me and a handful of other dedicated volunteers around the country) schedule the event to coincide with an international break so that there are no Premier League or Championship games to contend with. We also pick a day that England aren't playing on either so we can maximise our publicity.

If you really can't bear the thought of supporting the lower levels of the game with some of your hard-earned cash (fair enough), then there are a couple of League One games, a legends match and some women's football but I'm not going to give you any more details - you'll have to hunt them out on the match maps below.

Wealdstone are among the clubs hoping to welcome you on Non-League Day

Our charity fanfunder for Prostate Cancer UK is hovering around the £2,600 mark. A spectacular star prize of match tickets and accommodation to watch a Barcelona match at the Nou Camp have been added this week - it could be yours in return for a donation of just £10.

If you're a Chelsea fan there are some great signed books by Gianluca Vialli and if you're a 5-a-side footballer, there are places available in a special tournament at England's St George's Park facility (£250 for a squad of eight). There's also some exclusive NLD merchandise too.

Please take a look and if this blog has been of use to you, I'd really appreciate it if you could put a pound or two PCUK's way. Just to clarify - all profits will go to the charity, none of it will go to me or NLD in any way.

If you do want to take part in Non-League Day but don't know where to go or what to see, here's my list of recommendations:

TLFG'S NON-LEAGUE DAY TOP 10

1. Dagenham & Redbridge v Boreham Wood - in terms of league status this is the game of the day in London as two local clubs meet for this derby in the top division of the non-league pyramid. The Daggers have just returned to non-league football after several years in League One and Two while the visitors are one of the minnows of the division and did brilliantly to survive their first season in the fifth tier last year. A real David and Goliath contest. (National League, 3pm Ticket info)

2. Dartford v Maidenhead United - the Darts welcome leaders Maidenhead who have exploded out of the blocks with six wins out of seven. The hosts have ploughed a lot of time and effort into this year's NLD with events for kids getting underway at 10am. It's also free for U16s to attend the match, family tickets are available for £15 while season-ticket holders from any other club will get in for just £5.  (National League South, 3pm Ticket info)

3. Wealdstone v Poole Town - over in Ruislip the Stones are also throwing their full weight behind NLD in the hope of getting a mammoth crowd for this match between two play-off hopefuls. It's just £5 for adults (normally £13) and you might get to see the legendary Wealdstone Raider too. It's also £3 for U18s and free for U16s. With those prices and the effort they've put into marketing it, they'll be hoping for a four-figure crowd. (National League South, 3pm, Ticket info)

4. St Albans City v Hampton & Richmond Borough - normally I wouldn't include this game as the Saints play just outside TLFG's catchment area to the north of London but they're playing one of our clubs and are also making a real effort to get a big crowd. They are reducing admission prices for everyone and offering further discounts to kids and season-ticket holders of other clubs. They will also be raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK and I'm advised there will be more announcements later in the week about other things they're doing - oh yes and this is the match I'm currently scheduled to be attending so maybe see you there. On paper it also looks like a cracker as it's third versus second - huge! UPDATE - former England striker and current QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand will be guest of honour (National League South, 3pm, Ticket info)

5. Clapton v FC Romania - although they play several divisions below some of the clubs above, this game could well attract one of the highest attendances of the day in London. I attended Clapton's match against Ilford on NLD last year which pulled in nearly 800 people which is almost unheard of for clubs in the ninth tier. If you've not heard of them, the Tons are one of the oldest clubs in London and play at the city's oldest ground. The Old Spotted Dog is a place all football fans should visit to see it in all its ramshackle glory. The Clapton Ultras (politically left wing) who pack out the ground these days are fairly new on the scene and some people have their reservations but they generate a fantastic atmosphere and are regularly told off for the use of flares (naughty). Given their pro-migrant and pro-refugee views, a match against FC Romania (who are made up almost exclusively of expats) is one of the highlights of their season. There's talk of getting more than 1,000 on Saturday which would surely break some record. UPDATE - some discounts have now been announced so please see the club's website for details (Essex Senior League, 3pm, Club info)

6. Hanwell Town v Enfield Town - there are also several FA Cup ties on Saturday and if I was picking some for Match Of The Day I would go for those where the underdog hosts a bigger club that they could conceivably beat. This game definitely fits that criteria. The Geordies, from the eighth tier, went two rounds further than this last year and played in front of then FA chairman Greg Dyke on last season's NLD. Enfield play a level above, have a significant fanbase and were among the favourites for the Ryman League title at the start of the season. However, they've flattered to deceive so far with one win in six so could be there for the taking. (FA Cup First Qualifying Round, 3pm, Club info)

7. Sun Sports v Hayes & Yeading United - this is one of the biggest games in the Sun's history as it marks the Watford club's first appearance at this stage of the competition. When I started NLD in 2010, Hayes were in what is now the National League but they sold their ground soon after and have been groundsharing at various places until a few weeks ago when they finally came home. They've dropped two divisions since 2010 and are in pretty poor shape on the pitch again this season. The hosts hail from the ninth tier so are massive underdogs on paper but the talk on their website appears bullish and anything could happen. (FA Cup First Qualifying Round, 3pm, Club info)

8. VCD Athletic v Kingstonian - this all-Ryman League tie is also flashing the word 'cupset' at me. Both these sides were in the Ryman Premier a couple of years ago but VCD, who to be fair were punching above their weight, came back down after a brief stint. Neither side have started well this time round but the K's have begun winning again and will be dangerous. (FA Cup First Qualifying Round, 3pm, Club info)

9. Tooting & Mitcham United v Horsham - the Terrors have begun well and are yet to lose. A win on Monday at Corinthian Casuals would actually have put them top but they drew 3-3. The visitors are still finding their way in the division after winning promotion from the Southern Combination so will start as underdogs. TMU charge only £5 to armed forces and emergency service personnel, students, the unemployed and season-ticket holders from any other club other than their opponents on the day. It's also £1 for U16s and free if accompanied by an adult. (Ryman League Division 1 South, 3pm, Ticket info)

10. Cray Valley PM v Croydon @3pm - it's third versus first in this exciting looking clash in the Southern Counties East League and I hope it gets a bumper crowd. CVPM are always happy to help the NLD cause and this year they're offering £5 entry to season-ticket holders or members from any other team and free entry to armed forces and emergency services personnel. (Southern Counties East League Premier Division, 3pm, Club info)

I have heard from some clubs that news of their plans are still to be finalised so further information could be added as the week goes on

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UPDATE - 01/09/16 (@1755)
Several clubs have announced their NLD plans since Monday so here's the info:

Aveley - the Ryman League side have announced half-price admission for season-ticket holders from other clubs for the visit of Wroxham (Club info)

Haringey Borough - it's FA Cup time at Coles Park where regular NLD supporters Haringey host Witham Town, they are also slashing admission prices to just £3 for adults and then giving the lot to Prostate Cancer UK. Awesome! (Club info)
Phoenix Sports - it's Pay What You Want for their Ryman League game against Brentwood and all money from programme sales will be given to charity (Club info)

Erith & Belvedere - the Deres welcome partner charity Sands to their match against Whitstable who will be doing some awareness work and fundraising (Club info)
West Essex - the Essex Senior League new boys have made their game against Barkingside 'Pay What You Want' (Club info)

Hillingdon Borough - I've had it confirmed in a tweet that the club will be giving all gate receipts to Prostate Cancer UK for their Spartan South Midlands League game against Langford (Club info)

THE REST OF THE WEEK

Despite there being an international break there are still well over 60 matches in the London area over the next week.

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 - something which often happens at this time of year. 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
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures
Magenta pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Black pin - Friday fixtures

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Tuesday 30 August

Checkatrade Trophy - previously known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, the competition has received a controversial revamp which allows the top clubs' U23 sides to enter and play against League One and League Two first teams much to the dismay of many of the clubs and fans involved. It begins this week with meagre attendances predicted, as a result most clubs are charging nominal admission prices of around £10 to get in.

AFC Wimbledon v Swansea City U23 @745pm  - the Dons are so against the new format that they are actively encouraging their fans not to attend this match so you might have the place to yourself
Charlton Athletic v Southampton U23 @745pm - the Saints' academy is famous for producing great players (e.g. Gareth Bale) so they should be a good test for the Addicks
Millwall v West Bromwich Albion U23 @745pm - one of the goals of this competition is to toughen up the youngsters and prepare them for first-team football, a night at the Den should leave an impression
Leyton Orient v Stevenage @745pm - the only genuine tie of the night, from the purists' point of view, is this all-League Two encounter at the Matchroom Stadium

Combined Counties League
Raynes Park Vale v Colliers Wood United @745pm - Tuesday night sees our first A3 derby of the season, neither have started their Premier Division campaigns spectacularly so will want to win
Chessington & Hook United v Epsom Athletic @745pm - in the division below we have a groundshare derby to look forward to

Spartan South Midlands League
Wembley v Cockfosters @745pm - locked together with several teams on six points, a win could propel either side into the upper echelons of the table

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Wednesday 31 August

Essex Senior League

Sporting Bengal United v Tower Hamlets @745pm - it wasn't hard to pick the Mile End derby between these two groundsharers as game of the day

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Thursday 1 September

FA Women's Super League 1
Chelsea v Notts County @730pm - the Blues are second in the league but a whopping 10 points behind Manchester City - however, they have two games in hand so must win here against one of the league's also-rans

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Friday 2 September

Southern Counties East League
Erith Town v Fisher @745pm - get your Non-League Day weekend underway with a south-east London derby down at VCD Athletic's ground

The Wembley Cup @730pm - to be honest I've read and re-read the blurb describing what this event is all about and I still don't get it - essentially there will be some legends and some people from YouTube kicking Xboxes around for charity at Wembley Stadium. Well I think football's involved somewhere - you'll have to find out for yourself because I can't fathom it.

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Saturday 3 September: Non-League Day - see above

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GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground 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.

3 Months Old!

Today I feel like I've reached the biggest milestone yet of motherhood. My little man is THREE months old! Everyone always said the first 12(ish) weeks are the toughest so the fact that we've made it past that mark makes me feel relieved almost. It has been hard... so hard! But also so incredibly rewarding and awesome. It's amazing to watch a tiny little human grow and learn new things- literally overnight at times. I don't plan on always doing monthly updates on T but I figured a 3-month check in was worthy of a blog post.

According to my unofficial weigh-in's at home he is around 13.5 pounds. He is getting so chunky and I love it. It makes me proud to know I can feed him and he's growing because of ME and what my body can provide! T is wearing mostly 3 month clothes, although sizes are SO weird, so he wears some 0-3 still too. If it's Carter's brand (and the majority of his clothes are!) the 3 month stuff fits perfectly right now.

As of last week T is SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT. I repeat, SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT. I'm talking 10-11 hour stretches. It's incredible. I've probably completely jinxed myself by typing that and telling the world, but right now it is glorious. He goes to bed around 7:30 and is down for the night. Praise the good Lord! Naps during the day still aren't consistent which can be frustrating, but I will happily take the night sleeping and be on my merry way for now :)

His hair is starting to come in more and more which I love. He's got a funny little patch of it in the back, and then some fuzzy stuff going all directions on top. His eyes are still super blue like momma's- and I'm hoping they stay that way. Our doctor commented on them and said even though it's still possible for them to change color, he doesn't see that happening with how incredibly blue T's are.

T is smiley 99% of the time, but I love his serious faces too. We are getting some sounds that are super close to actual laughs. He loves to coo and talk, I've captured some "conversations" on camera that are just the cutest ever. I'm that crazy mom that looks at all her pictures and videos of her kid once he goes to bed for the night. I'm exhausted and so ready for a 'break' and then I instantly miss him when he's sleeping.

I'm sure every stage with a child is so fun but I'm definitely loving the stage we're in now...getting into a groove, being able to predict his needs/moods more, watching him learn, etc. Even if I do look at his newborn pictures and want to cry just a little bit sometimes... Time truly goes SO fast!

Happy weekend everyone :) 

Crappy vs. Happy

Sometimes crappy things just happen. Little, big... it doesn't really matter. I like to focus on the positive side of things but sometimes you just need to vent about the not so awesome things that happened before you can move on, amiright? So today I'm telling you the crappy stuff from the week, followed by the happy thing that makes it okay. Like...

Crappy:  Jared's super long days right now. Coaching, even at the junior high level, takes up a ton of time. Me and T are missing Jared a lot these days- and vice versa, I hope ;)

Happy: Jared is working with kids in a sport that he loves and making a little extra money in the meantime. Plus, it's a short season in the grand scheme of things. They only play about 8 games and I'm looking forward to watching him coach a couple games this year!

He's the best :)

Crappy:  Living so far from people you love. My parents and grandparents are an hour away, one of my best friends lives an hour away and my only sister is about 9 hours away from me. I wish I could visit those people all the time but I don't know how people do that with babies. Seriously, you people who take long car rides and flights and such?! Mind blown.

Happy: Technology that let's me stay in touch with those people. As much as social media and technology can get annoying (hello, political rants/opinions EVERYWHERE!) I'm thankful for things like Facebook and Skype to talk to those I can't see in person.

Crappy:  Not feeling like there are enough hours in the day to get everything done. Aka- my house never seems to be fully cleaned.

Happy: I'm busy filling my days with my little boy and that is truly all that matters.

Crappy:  Switching insurance plans. With me leaving my job we are having to change all of our insurance which means lots of annoying paperwork and phone calls.

Happy: Thank goodness for Jared's ability to work and the blessing of having medical insurance. It might be a hassle but I'm thankful for it.

Crappy:  Being sore in all kinds of strange places. I started working out last week and whew... It's going to be a challenge to whip this body back into any kind of shape.

Happy: Being sore in all kinds of strange places. Yep! It means I'm moving and doing the right things!

What's the crappy/happy in your week right now??

The Last 10

I saw someone else post about recent photos on their camera roll last week and since I am constantly lacking inspiration for posts lately, I hijacked their idea today! Now, I'm cheating just a tad because if we're being honest here, probably the last 32 pictures on my phone are of my kid with only a couple other things sprinkled in. Since I don't care to post 32 photos (maybe taken in one day... just saying) of T, I figured I'd share the last 10 non-baby pictures on my phone ;)

1 // A fun mural in Cincinnati. I haven't been downtown much at all since going on maternity leave but I happened upon this on my last stop down there.

2 // Kayla's 25th Birthday Surprise. A couple weeks ago my brother-in-law organized a fun little surprise dinner and I somehow made it out of my house with T so I could be there! Okay, okay... I missed the actual "SURPRISE!" part but I still made it there and even showered that day. #bigdeal

3 // Snapchat fun with Jared. I don't use Snapchat to narrate my day or do anything remotely interesting, but I do love seeing what filters they'll come up with next.

4 // Goodbye, Bengals. The last photo I snapped in my office on the day I cleaned it out and said bye to everyone. Still makes me a little sad to look at it, I won't lie. Never thought it would have been as hard as it was to leave that place.

5 // A Halloween Puzzle. Jared and I love puzzles and do them all the time, especially now that date nights are mostly at home for the time being. We have a ton of Disney puzzles we love but decided to mix it up and grab a festive one we found on Amazon. I cannot wait to bust this one out!

6 // Share 4 Adoption. Wendy's donates $5 toward adoption anytime someone makes the heart with their cup and shares it. Done and done! I love adoption.

7 // We are So Cool! If we aren't doing jigsaw puzzles, you can probably find us nerding out over some Wii games. We have a 3D Toy Story Mania game that we love :)

8 // Best Caeser Chicken Ever. I always screenshot recipes/ingredients on my phone. Anyone else do this? This is my favorite way to make a big batch of caeser chicken in the crockpot. So easy and delicious.

9 // Little clothes! We have the sweetest family and friends. They are always thinking of our little man and always spoiling him. At this rate, Jared and I may not have to buy him clothes until he goes to Kindergarten.

10 // My Buddy. Okay, okay, you knew I couldn't resist sneaking in ONE pic of my little buddy. The day we found out he was a "he" I started referring to him as my little buddy and I still call him that now. I vividly remember how amazing it felt to know "who" was in there kicking around! 

TLFG: 22-29 August 2016

Greetings one and all and welcome to the August Bank Holiday special edition of TLFG.

If you thought last week's football menu was extensive and tasty, then you'll be left drooling by what's on offer this time.

Not only are there over 130 games taking place, many of them are derbies and on the Bank Holiday (29 August) the Combined Counties League are starting most of their games at 1130am meaning you can see at least two games in a day.

And that's not all - for the first time ever we have a guest ground review from reader Nick Willis who took the time and effort to produce a piece on his trip to AFC Wimbledon as they played their first home game in League One against Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

Also, there's only 13 days until this year's Non-League Day which is keeping me incredibly busy alongside this blog.

By the middle of the week we should get final confirmation of all the day's fixtures following the FA Cup replays so keep checking the map on our site to see what's on come the 3rd September.

If you want to see and hear what I've got to say then watch this short film

Our charity fanfunder for Prostate Cancer UK is now up and running and we're getting close to £2,000. As with all such pages, there's an obligatory video which I make an appearance in alongside the likes of far greater football luminaries like Les Ferdinand, Gianluca Vialli, Matt Elliott and Guillem Balague.

All have donated rewards and prizes which you can buy or bid for and there's also some exclusive NLD merchandise too. Please take a look and if this blog has been of use to you, I'd really appreciate it if you could put a pound or two PCUK's way. Just to clarify - all profits will go to the charity, none of it will go to me or NLD in any way.

That's enough from me, enjoy your week and let me know what you've been up to. Now over to Nick and AFC Wimbledon...

GUEST GROUND REVIEW: AFC WIMBLEDON

by Nick Willis

AFC Wimbledon were promoted via the playoffs in May 2016 to League One (the third tier of English football), their sixth promotion in 14 years. ​The feel­good factor from the League Two play-off win still hangs in the air, and I was keen to see this occasion at Kingsmeadow.

Bolton find themselves in League One after relegation from the Championship, and presumably fixtures like these represent something of a novelty given some of the grounds they are used to seeing their team play at in recent years.

 

I travel by train to Norbiton station and then walk for 10 minutes through a tidy looking residential area until arriving at the Cambridge Road, passing a cafe and a fish and chip shop, both full of supporters. The ground is situated down a small side road, just past the row of shops. It is not a ground that one sees coming from miles around (though I suppose this could be different on a night fixture, with the floodlights turned on). 

The grand entrance to AFC Wimbledon's Kingsmeadow home

The ground (official name the Cherry Red Records Stadium) was leased by local club Kingstonian until 2003, when AFC Wimbledon took it over. It has undergone quite a few changes since then. The Chemflow end ­ formerly the Tempest end ­ had a roof installed and the John Green stand became seated, while access was improved for away fans as well. 

Away fans are mainly housed in a section of the newly renamed RyGas stand, a partially covered shallow­roofed terrace that runs along the sideline of the pitch opposite the main stand. Some away fans are also seated in a small area of the adjacent John Green stand. There are around 800 tickets available for away fans, and presumably these are likely to be sold out quickly against League One opposition this season. 

Many supporters are proudly wearing the latest iteration of the Dons' replica kit, an attractive, round­collared, electric blue number with canary yellow trim. There is lots of yellow and blue on show in general, with some supporters opting for shirts that date back to the Premiership era, and some inevitably sporting the 1988 FA Cup winning shirt. A few are bravely wearing the Dons’ third kit ­ and it’s not for the faint­hearted ­ of alternating vertical stripes of pea green and swamp green. One supporter wearing this shirt assures me that despite the garish colour combination, the shirt is viewed with affection ­ the team achieved some important results at the end of last season while wearing it. 

There was a turnout of 4,600 for this game, which is nearly a sell­out. Tickets to Wimbledon’s home games are going to be hard to come by this season ­ the programme informs us that 3,100 season tickets have been sold. Once up to 800 away fans have been subtracted, it doesn’t leave many tickets in a ground of 4,800 capacity. 

Pre kick­-off I talk to Dennis, in his late forties, with a Van Halen haircut, who has travelled over from Berne in Switzerland with a group of friends to watch Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Wimbledon.

He is particularly knowledgeable about English football, and is very interested in the wording of the chants going on around him. He seems upset when he is told that Adebayo Akinfenwa is not at the club anymore. That a middle­aged man from Switzerland would know who was playing upfront for a then fourth­tier English football club is evidence of the broad international appeal of the English game.

The ChemFlow end I am stood in, behind the goal furthest from the Cambridge Road, is by a stretch the noisiest in the ground. The area of this stand directly behind the goal is seemingly responsible for the generation of most of the chanting. The roof that covers the stand does a decent job in amplifying the sound out on to the pitch. 

Nick's friends enjoy some refreshment despite a disappointing result

Wimbledon don’t seem to have any real bitter local rivalry. When asked, people might murmur about ‘Palace’, and there are a couple of chants about Chelsea, but most of the real feeling is reserved for a team that moved to Milton Keynes. There is no need to go into the history of this here as I’m sure most readers will be aware of the story, but safe to say that AFC Wimbledon’s supporters have not forgotten about that decision to move their club to a new town in Buckinghamshire.

The toilets for the Chemflow end are a small outhouse near to the exit. There is one door in and out, and by the time I get there after half­time, there is a sizeable queue. There is an even bigger queue for the ‘Gourmet Burger’ stand positioned at the corner of the Chemflow and main stand. Even though the burgers that people are holding with sheets of kitchen tissue paper look better quality than the average football ground fare, I decide it will take too long to queue and head back to the stand. 

With the game over, a large number of fans meet in one of the three bars positioned under the main stand. The atmosphere is genuinely convivial, which is something of a surprise given that the home team have just lost (Bolton come back from a goal down to beat AFCW 2­1). There are groups of friends catching up with each other over a post­match pint, some watching the late kick­off Premier League fixture, some spilling out on to the outdoor area in front of the bars, enjoying the afternoon sun.  

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As well as Nick's fine review, our good friends at 'Two Men In Search...' have also put up their latest piece about a visit to QPR so you're really spoilt this week.

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are well over 100 matches in the London area over the next week thanks in part to all the extra Bank Holiday games.

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 - something which often happens at this time of year. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

Orange pin - Sunday fixtures
Grey pin - Bank Holiday Monday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 22 August

Premier League 2
West Ham United v Newcastle United @7pm - the Hammers' U23 side play the first of their games at Dagenham & Redbridge who they will groundshare with for most of this season's games

Essex Senior League
Tower Hamlets v Ilford @745pm - staying on the east side of town, we've got a derby at the Mile End Stadium between sides looking to bounce back from FA Cup defeats at the weekend

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Tuesday 23 August

EFL Cup

Chelsea v Bristol Rovers @745pm  - having failed to qualify for Europe, the Blues enter a round earlier than normal and host League One opposition, tickets are available
Crystal Palace v Blackpool @745pm - on paper the Eagles have an even more beatable opponent in the form of the Seasiders from League Two, tickets are also available which is rare for non-members
Watford v Gillingham @745pm - it's Premier League against League One here too, although it might not be the most enticing fixture it is a great way to get on the Hornets' ticket database so you can qualify for bigger games in future

FA Cup Preliminary Round Replays
Thamesmead Town v Guernsey @745pm - the Green Lions travel to the mainland after the sides fought out a 2-2 draw on Saturday in what was the first ever FA Cup tie played in the Channel Islands
Walton & Hersham v Greenwich Borough @745pm - the Swans did well to hold Greenwich, from the division above, on Saturday so will hope to go one better here
Harefield United v Wembley @745pm - as above, Harefield did well to draw at higher ranked opposition in the original game and will want to make the most of their second chance here

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Wednesday 24 August

EFL Cup

Fulham v Middlesbrough @745pm - the Cottagers take on Premier League new boys Boro and it's only £15 to get in

FA Cup Preliminary Round Replays
Croydon v VCD Athletic @745pm - the Trams have a chance of causing a cupset at the Croydon Arena as they welcome a Ryman League outift
Colliers Wood United v Banstead Athletic @730pm - the hosts should have too much for Banstead but anything's possible at this stage of the competition

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Thursday 25 August

Europa League
West Ham United v Astra Giurgiu @745pm - after drawing the first leg in Romania, the Hammers should be favourites to progress but they came unstuck against Astra last year so won't take anything for granted

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Friday 26 August

Premier League 2
Arsenal v Liverpool @7pm - it may only be the U23s in action but it's a great way to see a game at the Emirates Stadium and at a fraction of the cost but please bear in mind that tickets must be bought in advance

Combined Counties League
Colliers Wood United v Epsom & Ewell @730pm - the best non-league option of the night sees two sides from south-west London duel at the Wibbandune

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Saturday 27 August

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool @1230pm - two of the big boys meet in the televised lunchtime kick-off in a game that doesn't really need any selling
Watford v Arsenal @3pm - the Hornets continue their ridiculously tough run of Premier League games with this derby against the Gunners

EFL
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday @3pm - with two wins and two defeats, the Bees will be happy enough with their form as they prepare to welcome one of the favourites for promotion
Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers @3pm - these sides suffered relegation together last season but have both begun life in League One well, a top-five clash
Leyton Orient v Mansfield Town @3pm - the O's started their League Two campaign well last season but fell away, again they've got off to a good start but will they be able to keep it going...

National League
Dagenham & Redbridge v Wrexham @3pm - the Daggers dropped out of the Football League at the end of last season but have raced out of the blocks and are second only to former second-tier club Tranmere at the time of writing
Wealdstone v Hampton & Richmond Borough @3pm - in the southern section of the league, new boys Hampton seem to have made a pretty seamless transition from Ryman League football and should be confident heading into this derby against the Stones who are also looking good

Ryman League
Staines Town v Kingstonian @3pm - it is very early days but of our local teams, Staines are the pick of the bunch in the Premier Division and they should feel confident of beating the K's who have had a bit of a shocker so far
Phoenix Sports v Heybridge Swifts @3pm - in Division 1 North, Phoenix are the early pacesetters having scored a spectacular nine goals over the course of their two games thus far
Tooting & Mitcham United v Dorking Wanderers @3pm - this top-six clash at the well appointed Imperial Fields looks like the match of the day in Division 1 South

Spartan South Midlands League
Oxhey Jets v London Colney @3pm - the hosts have won two of their three opening games and they'll need to be at their best as they welcome the only team in the Premier Division with a 100% record

Combined Counties League
AC London v Cobham @3pm - not much is floating my boat in the Premier Division but this game between two of the top four in the division below looks decent

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Sunday 28 August

FA Women's Super League
London Bees v Aston Villa @2pm - with nothing else on, this is a great chance to catch some women's football at Barnet's ground

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Monday 29 August

National League
Sutton United v Dagenham & Redbridge @3pm - it wasn't hard to pick this one as both sides are currently in the top three and it's also a derby
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Dartford @3pm - Boro will look to continue their great start against the Darts who have only lost one of their first five

Ryman League
Hendon v Dulwich Hamlet @3pm - the London contingent, often among the powerhouses of the Premier Division, have made a slow start and both of these will want to start building some momentum
VCD Athletic v Phoenix Sports @3pm - in Division 1 North we have possibly the closest derby in the whole league, you can sometimes hear what's going on at the other ground if they're playing at the same time
Corinthian Casuals v Tooting & Mitcham United @3pm - at the time of writing these sides are in the top six in Division 1 South and it's another derby too

Combined Counties League
Bedfont Sports v Bedfont & Feltham @1130am - it's derby day in the CCL and these clubs are even closer than VCD and Phoenix, they are literally next to each other
Chertsey Town v Abbey Rangers @1pm - the Chertsey/Addlestone derby between two sides who were several divisions apart until recently
Banstead Athletic v AC London @1130am - a groundshare derby between sides in Division 1's top five

Southern Counties East League
Crockenhill v Orpington @3pm - a derby featuring sides in the top six of Division 1
FC Elmstead v Holmesdale @3pm - elsewhere in the division we have a groundshare derby near Bromley

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.

Football Friday {Link-Up!}

Today might be my most favorite day of the blogging year so far. I get to talk about football - not like I don't do that weekly anyway- but I get to read everyone else's posts on the topic too! Today it doesn't matter who you root for, we are all fans. :) If you've been to my blog even one time, it's pretty obvious I'm a Cincinnati Bengals fan through and through. But just in case you're new here, I figured I would clarify. While I love watching college football, the NFL has always been #1 in my heart.

Something I'm pretty excited about this year is the potential to GO to a home game as a fan since I'll no longer be working game days. The last time Jared and I got to see a game in Cincinnati together was in 2008! A very, cold December game during a season the Bengals only won 4 games. Ouch!

We've been able to get away to a couple of away games over the past few years though and those are still some of my favorite memories with Jared. I've been to games in Cleveland, Indianapolis and Nashville... hoping to keep crossing stadiums off my list! It's fun to be an away fan, too.

We are so crazy about the Bengals that we got engaged on the field and also announced our pregnancy on the field! I wanted to bring T home from the hospital in a Bengals outfit but they were SO big on him it was pointless to try to put it on him. He's all set for this season though and truly, my heart might explode when I get to put a little jersey on him for the first time.

This season will be so different for me and I truly am excited about sitting on my couch with my little family every Sunday afternoon (and night.. and Monday night... And Thursday night! ;)) Maybe football isn't your thing but it's certainly ours. All of my favorite times seem to revolve around either football or a holiday- sometimes both! I love having a house full of people cheering on our favorite team and stuffing ourselves with chips and dip. My favorite cookbook for this time of year is even Bengals-themed!

Family, friends, loads of food and football- what else could a girl need?!

Anyone remember this Super Bowl commercial from last year??

I hope you'll link-up your football related post below and join in the fun. I just ask that you use please good link-up etiquette and link back to my blog/post :) Be sure to hop around and meet some other football lovin' bloggers! As always- WHODEY!

It's Time...

...To get back into shape! I knew this day was coming, and to be honest it's probably been looming for awhile, but I can't put it off any longer. I need to be healthier and get back into shape finally. And not just pre-baby shape. Better. Let's crunch some brutally honest numbers and see what we're working with, shall we?

Total weight gain from pregnancy:  40 pounds
10 days postpartum:  Down 20 pounds
3 weeks postpartum:  Down 30 pounds

Today? I'm still hanging around at that 'down 30' mark. Meaning I've got 10 pounds to lose to be back where I was before T was born. However, I was a good 15-20 pounds overweight when I got pregnant. Womp, womp womp. There's no more time to sulk about this weight gain and the work I've got to do though... now is the time to actually get up and DO something about it.

My incision is still healing, goodness that's a slow process so I'll be gradually getting back into the swing of things. I'm definitely able to do brisk walks and some light weights at this point, but anything involving a lot of jumping or quick moves (Zumba, plyometrics, etc) will still be out for awhile longer. Those are the only things that cause me some pain around my incision, but every day that gets a little bit easier

I'm also hoping to clean up our eating as well. The first crazy couple of months with T were too easy to just grab fast food, accept unhealthy (but delicious!) meals from friends and family or just not even make time to eat enough throughout the day (guilty!) because we were so occupied with our new baby. Jared and I are determined to make our meal plans and stick with them going forward.

Looking back at the ups and downs of my fitness levels has motivated me to really step it up and stick with it. I was looking back at all the various photos of fitness achievements I've done over the years and I want to get back to those feelings. It's been a long time since I got in some good, sweaty workouts and I'm more than ready. I'm a little bit scared of how difficult I know this will all be. Hello, I had a baby and haven't truly exercised in months, yikes!

I think I'm going to start the Couch to 5K program, because sure I've ran a couple half-marathons but I truly feel like I'm starting from scratch now. I figured that program would be an easy way to get back into things and I can still add in other works outs when I can.

Anyone else starting a training plan or have any new fitness goals they're working on? I'd love some motivation :) 

Mommin' is Hard

Oh hey! Long time no chat. The last week or so has been absolute chaos for me, so I'm extra appreciative of all the sweet comments you left on last Friday's post. While I never, ever want to complain about my new role I will quickly admit that it's HARD. Well, just being a mom in general is hard whether you work in the home, outside the home, whether your baby is 3 weeks old or 3 years old or probably even 13 years old ;) It ain't easy, I know that much. Over the weekend Jared was gone for 2 nights at football camp and I didn't know if I was going to survive on my own. Spoiler alert- I did, but it wasn't pretty.

So besides being completely sleep-deprived, forgetting to shower and obsessively watching the Olympics I have nothing else going on. Someone told me that as soon as you feel like you're getting in a routine with your baby they will totally change it up and throw you for a loop and that's exactly what's going on for us. T is fighting naps these days and/or only taking short catnaps which makes us both want to cry. He's sleeping great at night though so I'm hanging onto the hope that eventually we'll get both down pat.

Summer was kindof a wash for me. With a brand new baby I wasn't out and about at ALL and I've been hesitant still to take him to overly crowded places. It's been so incredibly hot and humid that lugging a baby and a carseat and/or stroller anywhere just sounded miserable for everyone. So you best believe I am looking forward to fall. Bring on the cooler temperatures, the football (obviously) and the fact that I feel like Jared and I will be able to get out more with T in the coming months. He's getting older (12 weeks tomorrow!) and I'm looking forward to enjoying the fall season with our squishy little boy.

I realized this post turned into just a giant diary entry, but I'm okay with that. Sometimes we just need to catch up on life and the post isn't pretty, you don't have Pinterest-worthy photos... the post just is what it is. Happy Wednesday :)

PS- Even though my blog has been stinking as of late, I'm still hosting the Football Friday link-up this Friday so I hope you'll join in. Any football topic goes!!

TLFG: 15-21 August 2016

My oh my, what a week of football we have to look forward to.

It seemed there were quite a few games on as it took far longer than normal to put the match map together.

When I totted them up I found we have a whopping 109 to choose from!

We've got Premier League, EFL, National League, Ryman League and loads of exciting looking FA Cup ties as the competition reaches its second round or 'Preliminary Round' to give it its official name.

I've tried to keep the 'Daily Digest' below as concise as possible and as a result I've definitely missed a few good games off so make sure you have a good look round the match maps to see if there's anything you'd prefer.

I've been starved of  live football again this week as the build up to Non-League Day continues.

For someone who is heavily involved in football and writes about it in his spare time, the amount I actually get to watch is staggeringly low. That's why I rely so much on other bloggers and writers to do the ground reviews and visits that sometimes appear here.

As I mentioned last week, there were several ground openings taking place and I would've dearly liked to go to at least one - Fisher, Hayes & Yeading United and Hendon apologies for not getting down but hopefully a few people will have read about proceedings here and gone along. Let me know if you did.

Lastly this week, there's just time for another plug for Non-League Day (NLD). Scarily there's less than three weeks to go now and there still feels like there's a lot to do - it always does at this stage.

If you want to see and hear what I've got to say then watch this short film

Our charity fanfunder for Prostate Cancer UK is now up and running and we're getting close to our first £1,000. As with all such pages, there's an obligatory video which I make an appearance in alongside the likes of far greater football luminaries like Les Ferdinand, Gianluca Vialli, Matt Elliott and Guillem Balague.

All have donated rewards and prizes which you can buy or bid for and there's also some exclusive NLD merchandise too. Please take a look and if this blog has been of use to you, I'd really appreciate it if you could put a pound or two PCUK's way. Just to clarify - all profits will go to the charity, none of it will go to me or NLD in any way.

This time next week we'll have almost finalised all the fixtures taking place on the day. There are loads of confirmed games all over the country already so have a look at our match map and see what takes your fancy.

That's enough from me, enjoy your week and let me know what you've been up to. 

THE WEEK AHEAD

There are well over 100 matches in the London area over the next week as the season gets into full swing.

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 - something which often happens at this time of year. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND MATCH MAP
Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

Orange pin - Sunday fixtures

TLFG DAILY DIGEST

In the following section I list, by day, what are in my opinion the most notable games of the week and give some brief reasons for my choice. Check the maps above for kick-off times, ticket info and directions.

Monday 15 August

Premier League
Chelsea v West Ham United @8pm - a cracking London derby to get the season underway for these two

Premier League 2
Fulham v Blackburn Rovers @7pm - just a short walk from Stamford Bridge we have this U23 game at Craven Cottage where it's only £3 to get in

Ryman League
Kingstonian v Hendon @745pm - both of these teams lost on opening day so will be looking for an instant recovery

Essex Senior League
Barkingside v Redbridge @745pm - east London derby between sides who used to groundshare

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Tuesday 16 August

EFL

Brentford v Nottingham Forest @745pm  - with a win and a loss apiece, this Championship match looks like being pretty even
AFC Wimbledon v Scunthorpe United @745pm - the Dons have struggled in their first two games in League One and it's not likely to get much easier against the Iron
Barnet v Blackpool @745pm - the Bees have made a solid start and should fancy themselves against their troubled visitiors

National League
Boreham Wood v Tranmere Rovers @745pm - we're only three games in but this is a top-two clash thanks to minnows Boreham Wood getting off to a sensational start

Ryman League
Dulwich Hamlet v Enfield Town @745pm - both have gone close to getting promoted over the last couple of seasons and that's why they're among the favourites to win the title this time

Essex Senior League
London Bari v Clapton @745pm - groundshare derby at the oldest ground in London, Clapton prevailed in the recent FA Cup tie between the two

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Wednesday 17 August

Ryman League

Grays Athletic v AFC Sudbury @745pm - now fan-owned, the Gravelmen host newly promoted Sudbury in their first home match of the season

Combined Counties League
Bedfont Sports v Hanworth Villa @745pm - the visitors have made a good start to the season and come into this derby as joint leaders

Southern Counties East League
Croydon v Beckenham Town @745pm - there's also a local derby on the south side of town between sides who live very much in the shadow of Crystal Palace

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Friday 19 August

FA Cup Preliminary Round
Aveley v AFC Hornchurch @745pm - what better way to start a weekend of football watching than an Essex derby in the FA Cup

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Saturday 20 August

Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace @3pm - both made unremarkable starts to the season on Saturday and will hope for better in this derby
Watford v Chelsea @3pm - the Hornets managed to draw both games against the Blues last season and I'm sure they'll be more than happy with another point here

EFL
Fulham v Cardiff City @3pm - the Cottagers have got off to a flyer, winning all three of their games so will look to push on against the Bluebirds
Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End @3pm - QPR have fared even better and are top of the Championship on goal difference at the time of writing
Millwall v Sheffield United @3pm - according to bookmakers, these clubs are ranked as the two most likely to win the League One title this season so it's a biggie

National League
Sutton United v Macclesfield Town @3pm - newly promoted to the division, the U's welcome former third-tier team Macclesfield for a game which could propel one of them into the top five

Ryman League
Wingate & Finchley v Hendon @3pm - the other north London derby, more of a North Circular derby if you will

FA Cup Preliminary Round
Sporting Bengal United v Clapton @3pm - after seeing off London Bari in the opening round, the Tons have landed a derby against another local rival over in Mile End
Sun Sports v Northwood @3pm - the hosts play in Watford so if you can't get a ticket for the Chelsea game, this derby is well worth a look at instead
Wembley v Harefield United @3pm - if there's a chance of seeing an FA Cup tie at Wembley and you've never been to Vale Farm before, one should never pass it up

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Sunday 21 August

Premier League
West Ham United v Bournemouth @4pm - the first ever top flight game to be played at the Hammers' new home

FA Cup Preliminary Round
Cray Valley PM v Hastings United @3pm - a short walk from the historic Eltham Palace, where Henry VIII spent time as a youngster, you'll find yourself able to enjoy a game in possibly the most historic cup competition in the world
Romford v Hullbridge Sports @3pm - if shopping's more your thing, you could combine this match with a trip to the mammoth Lakeside Shopping Centre which is just yards away

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GET INVOLVED

If you're going to see a game, whether you're a local or a visitor, please let me know what you've been up to. If you're interested in reviewing a ground 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.

This Season will be Different

It all begins again tonight. The Cincinnati Bengals will take the field for the first time of the 2016 season and I am SO excited!! I feel like time goes so slow when there is no football, but then I blink my eyes and we're back at it all over again. Although it's just preseason for a few more weeks, there is nothing better than seeing the orange and black uniforms back out on the field again. I am SO ready for football, although this season? It's going to look just a little bit different for me.

While I should be running around the stadium like a crazy person today, sweating my tail off, dealing with confused season ticket members and just general chaos... I won't be. I'll be sitting at home with my family, in my comfy Bengals attire instead of business clothes. This will be the first season in seven years that I'll be "just a fan" because I've decided to stay home full-time with our little boy.

Maybe I should type that again for some clarification, or maybe just for my own sake. I've decided to stay home full-time. I quit my job. I'm so thankful for the ability and option to stay home with T, but it's definitely not what we had in mind just a couple of months ago so I'm still coming to terms with it all. My boss was incredibly supportive and happy for us but of course sad to let me go- which meant a lot. It's a bittersweet time in my life for sure. I definitely won't miss a lot of crazy/crappy things about my job- but I'm going to miss the people I've shared so much of life with over the span of seven years. 

Last week I officially cleaned out my office and said some really hard good-byes to so many wonderful people. It's tough when you know you're making the right decision but you're letting go of something you also loved. When I started maternity leave the plan was always to come back to work but once Jared and I sat down and really thought about the logistics of it all, we started to doubt our decision. After many long talks, countless prayers and a zillion tears we came to decide that what makes the most sense right now for our family is for me to be at home.

This job was my first real job after college and I never imagined how long I'd stay there or all I'd get to experience as a result of the organization. It's hard to "give up" something I've put countless hours into and something I thought would always be a part of my life. I'm so thankful for my time there and closing this chapter of my life is terrifying yet exciting. So this is my new life adventure! I'm a SAHM for right now and I don't have a clue what life without working a football season is like but I'm ready to find out.