Over less than 48 hours, a football fan watched five matches in London, spanning men's non-league, Women's Super League, Women's National League Cup, and the men's UEFA Nations League at Wembley. Despite no Premier League or Championship games, the weekend proved there is plenty of football beyond the top two tiers.
Friday Night: Bedfont Sports vs Jersey Bulls
The weekend began with a delayed kick-off at Bedfont Sports, where Jersey Bulls' travel issues pushed the start to 8.15pm. The ground, under the Heathrow flight path, saw planes landing during the walk from Hatton Cross. A 2-2 half-time score featured Dan Williams' equaliser for the hosts, but Jersey's Sammy Henia-Kamau sealed a 3-2 win for the visitors.
Saturday: Charlton Athletic vs Manchester City and Cray Valley vs Herne Bay
At The Valley, Charlton hosted Manchester City in the WSL, with a few thousand fans in attendance. Despite early pressure, City's Beth Mead scored a free-kick to secure a 1-0 win. Later, Cray Valley Paper Mills recorded a rare home victory, 3-1 against Herne Bay, with Chris Dickson scoring twice.
Saturday Night: England vs Spain at Wembley
The third match saw over 84,000 fans at Wembley for the Nations League opener. England's performance was mixed, with moments of quality from Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham, but also defensive lapses. The match ended in a draw, though the final score was not specified.
Sunday: Dulwich Hamlet vs Crystal Palace Academy
The weekend concluded at Champion Hill, where Dulwich Hamlet's women's team won 3-1 against Crystal Palace Academy but missed out on cup progress. The match featured a lively crowd, nine dogs, and a unique atmosphere, including chants inspired by Depeche Mode and West Side Story.
In total, the five matches saw 18 goals, 87,794 attendees, and a memorable mix of footballing experiences.
