When it comes to figuring out which football team to support, most people have no choice whatsoever. It is often the case that parents will brainwash their children to support specific teams because they support them, which is why you’ll end up with someone speaking in a broad cockney accent talking about Liverpool or girl from Birmingham espousing the brilliance of Arsenal.
For those that haven’t been forced to support a certain team, however, there is a decision to be made. Often, it is the geography of where you find yourself that will dictate who you support, but what do you do if you live in the sprawling metropolis that is London?
Breaking it Down by Borough
There are 32 different boroughs in London, with 12 of them being classed as Inner London and 20 of them thought of as Outer London. In truth, London isn’t real one city, but rather several different cities stuck together to form the capital. To make matters even more confusing, there is also the City of London, which isn’t actually a Borough but a ceremonial county that would take the list up to 33. The City of Westminster as well as the Royal Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames, Kensington and Chelsea and Greenwich don’t have ‘London Borough’ in their official names, but they are boroughs.
Here is a look at the 32 boroughs that we’re going to be offering you a footballing guide to:
- Barking and Dagenham
- Barnet
- Bexley
- Brent
- Bromley
- Camden
- Croydon
- Ealing
- Enfield
- Greenwich
- Hackney
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Haringey
- Harrow
- Havering
- Hillingdon
- Hounslow
- Islington
- Kensington and Chelsea
- Kingston upon Thames
- Lambeth
- Lewisham
- Merton
- Newham
- Redbridge
- Richmond upon Thames
- Southwark
- Sutton
- Tower Hamlets
- Waltham Forest
- Wandsworth
- City of Westminster
Barking and Dagenham
Dagenham & Redbridge FC play their matches just East of the centre of the borough of Barking and Dagenham, with no other clubs all that close.
Barnet
As with Enfield, Barnet is rather isolated in terms of nearby clubs and even Barnet FC’s the Hive Stadium is actually located in Harrow. Even so, it’s going to be the closest club for pretty much everyone in the borough.
Bexley
If you live in Bexley then you’re almost certainly going to be looking at Welling United as your closest club, on account of the fact that you’ll find it pretty much in the centre of the borough.
Brent
The sprawling nature of the borough of Brent is such that those in the North are likely to be closest to Barnet, whilst those down South will see Queens Park Rangers as their best bet.
Bromley
Bromley is a decent-sized borough, with Bromley Football Club serving the local residents. Anyone in the North-North-West might actually be geographically closer to Crystal Palace, whilst those in the North-North-East could find that Welling United is their closest club.
Camden
Arsenal is also going to be the closest club to the vast majority of people living in Camden, but it is especially close to those in the East.
Croydon
Sitting in the Northern section of Croydon is Crystal Palace, with only those in the very South-West of the borough tempted to look towards Sutton United. Those in the South-East might find Bromley FC to be a little bit closer, but with Crystal Palace being a more successful side it is likely that most people will choose to support the Eagles.
Ealing
Ealing is another large and sprawling borough, with people living in the North-North-West likely to see Wealdstone as the football club that is closest to them geographically. If you’re in the South, however, then Brentford will almost certainly be the closest team. Queens Park Rangers isn’t too far away if you’re in the East.
Enfield
Sitting at the Northernmost borough in London, Enfield doesn’t have many clubs all that close to it. Tottenham Hotspur are to the South, but otherwise your choice is somewhat limited.
Greenwich
Charlton Athletic is the best close for most people in Greenwich, albeit located in the North of the borough. It is reasonably easy to access, though, so it’s where the majority will call home.
Hackney
People living in the North of Hackney will probably find themselves looking towards Tottenham Hotspur, whilst though in the West will likely be closer to Arsenal, showing just how close the two teams are to one another. If you’re in the East then both Leyton Orient and West Ham United can be considered.
Hammersmith and Fulham
Another borough that tells you what you need to know in its title is Hammersmith and Fulham, bearing in mind that there isn’t a football club called ‘Hammersmith FC’. There is one called Fulham, however, and Craven Cottage will be where you’ll want to head for your footballing fix. Again, those in the North might look more towards Queens Park Rangers.
Haringey
It is in the borough of Haringey that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is located, sitting to the East and slightly to the North. The lack of other stadiums to the West means that Spurs remain the best club for you, but if you’re in the South then you will have to decide whether you think you’re closer to the Gunners.
Harrow
As mentioned, the Hive Stadium, which is the home ground of Barnet, is located in the East of the borough and will be the closest stadium for pretty much everyone. The exception is those on the very West of the borough, who will probably be able to get to Wealdstone FC quicker.
Havering
Although Havering doesn’t boast any football clubs of its own, its proximity to Barking and Dagenham means that Dagenham & Redbridge is probably the closest. If you’re in the very South then you might prefer to cross the river and go to Welling United, but it’s likely to be as wide as it is broad.
Hillingdon
Wealdstone FC is the closest football club to anyone living in Hillingdon. Those in the North-North-East might want to consider Barnet just to be a bit different, but it’s not exactly going to be the easiest commute in the city.
Hounslow
Brentford will be the closest club for pretty much anyone in Hounslow; although that says more about the scarcity of clubs in the vicinity than it does about anything else.
Islington
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium sits pretty much slap bang in the middle of Islington, so that will almost certainly be the closest football club to those living in the borough irrespective of whereabouts they find themselves.
Kensington and Chelsea
When it comes to the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the clue is in the name in terms of which team you’re almost certainly to be closest to. Stamford Bridge is located in the borough after which Chelsea takes its name, although those in the very North might consider themselves to be closer to Queens Park Rangers.
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is a little bit isolated in terms of the nearest football clubs, with AFC Wimbledon arguably being the closest to most. Sutton United might also have a shout, but in truth none of the clubs are all that nearby.
Lambeth
Lambeth is one of the few boroughs without a team all that close to it, with those on the West probably closest to AFC Wimbledon, those in the South not too far from Crystal Palace and those in the in East possibly looking to Millwall. If you’re in the North then there really isn’t a club all that close, but Arsenal are just across the Thames.
Lewisham
Millwall sit at the top edge of Lewisham, whilst Charlton Athletic aren’t too far away from people in the North-North-East. Anyone in the South may consider Bromley to be their team, if for no nether reason then it will give you the excuse to avoid going to Millwall.
Merton
AFC Wimbledon is the club that is located in the borough of Merton, pretty much in the middle of the North section. If you’re in the South then you might actually be closer to Sutton United.
Newham
West Ham United’s London Stadium sits on the Western edge of Newham, meaning that it will be the closest club for a lot of people. If you’re in the North then Leyton Orient might actually nick it, whilst people in the South that are happy to cross the River Thames will be able to make it to Charlton Athletic easily enough.
Redbridge
In spite of the name of the club, only those in the South and East of Redbridge are likely to be all that close to Dagenham & Redbridge. If you’re in the West then there’s a good chance that Leyton Orient will be the nearest team for you to support, geographically.
Richmond upon Thames
Brentford is also the closest club to those living in the north of Richmond upon Thames, whilst those in the North-East will likely be looking towards Fulham.
Southwark
For those in the North, Millwall is definitely the closest club. In the South, you’ll need to hop down into Croydon to head to Crystal Palace. In truth, there isn’t really a club near those in the East or West.
Sutton
As you might imagine from the name, Sutton United is definitely the club for residents of Sutton, located pretty centrally for relatively easy access.
Tower Hamlets
Those in the North and East will find that West Ham United is their closest club, although Leyton Orient isn’t too far away. If you’re in the South then you can cross the river and head to Millwall.
Waltham Forest
Head to the South of the borough of Waltham Forest and you will find Brisbane Road, which is where Leyton Orient play their matches. That is likely to be the closest football ground for most, with only those in the very North and the West closer to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Wandsworth
Which football club will be closest to those living in Wandsworth will largely depend on whether or not you’re willing to cross the river. If so, both Fulham and Chelsea are not too far away but are very much on the other side of the Thames. If you want to stick South of the river then AFC Wimbledon is right at the bottom of the borough.
City of Westminster
For those that find themselves fortunate enough to be living in the City of Westminster, the most likely club that you’ll learn towards geographically will be Chelsea. Although it is to the West of the borough, meaning that those in the North-West will be closer to Queens Park Rangers, it is one of the most successful clubs around and therefore the one that most people will want to follow. If you’re in the North/North-East then you might be closer to Arsenal.
What to Think About
Ultimately, what will dictate the closest club to you will be exactly where you live. Someone in the very South of Lambeth might consider themselves to be spiritually part of Croydon, for example, whilst those on the very Eastern edge of Bromley might not even think of themselves as being in London at all. The above should act as something of a guide, but don’t consider it to be hard and fast if you think that you live slightly closer to a different ground.
Then there are other considerations that you might want to take into account. You might be the sort of person that really only wants to watch the very best football on offer, for example, in which case you might want to massage the reality of where you live in order to position yourself closer to one of the Premier League clubs. Doing that will come with an added expense, however, so you should bear that in mind before settling on your final decision if you want to go and see your chosen in team in person when you can.