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Leiston F.C.

Coordinates: 52°12′15.84″N 1°34′17.13″E / 52.2044000°N 1.5714250°E / 52.2044000; 1.5714250
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Leiston
Full nameLeiston Football Club
Nickname(s)Blues / LTFC
Founded1880
GroundVictory Road, Leiston
Capacity2,500 (124 seated)[1]
ChairmanAndy Crisp
ManagerRichard Wilkins
LeagueSouthern League Premier Division Central
2023–24Southern League Premier Division Central, 13th of 21

Leiston Football Club is an English football club based in Leiston, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division as of the 2016-17 season and play at Victory Road.

History

Established in 1880, the club was initially closely linked to the Richard Garrett Engineering Works, and played at the old Recreation Ground adjacent to Park Hill, with players changing in the White Horse Hotel or at the Works Hall. They reached the final of the Suffolk Senior Cup in 1892, 1897 and 1904, losing on each occasion, although they did win the Junior Cup in 1895. In 1894 they joined the North Suffolk League, which they played in until 1909. In 1900 they also joined the Ipswich & District League (later the Suffolk & Ipswich League) and were champions in their first three seasons.[2] In 1904 they transferred to the South East Anglian League, but left in 1907 before rejoining in 1911 (when it had been renamed the East Anglian League). Between 1912 and 1914 they also played in the Ipswich & District League.

After World War I the club was reformed as Leiston Works Athletic and rejoined the Ipswich & District League and the East Anglian League. In 1920 they left the EAL and joined the Essex & Suffolk Border League. At the end of the 1920–21 season they left both the IDL and ESBL to join the Norfolk & Suffolk League before rejoining the IDL in 1926. After finishing bottom of the table in 1934–35 they were reformed as Leiston and dropped into Division 2B.[2] They won all seventeen league matches in 1937–38 and were promoted to Division One after defeating Division 2A winners Manningtree Rovers in a play-off.

In 1948 they rejoined the Norfolk & Suffolk League, but transferred back to the Ipswich & District League in 1953. After finishing bottom of the Senior Division in 1981–82 they were relegated, and the following season finished below local side Leiston St Margarets. However, they did win the Junior Cup, retaining it in 1983–84 when they also won the Division One title and were promoted back to the Senior Division. They then spent several years as a yo yo club as they were relegated in 1988–89, promoted back in 1989–90, relegated again in 1991–92 and returned to the Senior Division in 1996–96. After finishing third in 2000–01 they stepped up to Division One of the Eastern Counties League.

In 2003–04, they finished third, and were promoted to the Premier Division. The club reached the final of the Suffolk Premier Cup three times in succession between 2006 and 2008, but lost on each occasion; 3–2 after extra time against Lowestoft Town in 2006, 8–0 to Ipswich Town reserves in 2007, and on penalties to Needham Market in 2008. In the same season they beat Brentwood Town on penalties to win the East Anglian Cup.

In the 2008–09 season the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time after beating Conference club Lewes 3–1 in a replay. In the first round, the club was drawn at home to Conference North club Fleetwood Town. After drawing 0–0 in front of a record crowd of 1,250, they lost the replay 2–0.[3] In 2010–11 Leiston won the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, earning promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League.

Leiston (in red) playing Margate in 2013

In 2011–12 Leiston won the Isthmian League Division One North, achieving back-to-back promotions, moving up to the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Ground

Leiston initially played at the old Recreation Ground, today known as Park Hill.[2] In 1921 they moved to their current ground on Victory Road, then known as the Leiston Works Athletic Association, after Garretts bought the ground. It was later renamed the Leiston Town Athletic Association.

Honours

  • Isthmian League
    • Division One North champions 2011–12
  • Eastern Counties League
    • Premier Division champions 2010–11
    • Division One Cup winners 2001–02
  • Suffolk & Ipswich League
    • Champions 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03
    • Division One champions 1983–84
    • Division 2B champions 1937–38
  • East Anglian Cup
    • Winners 2007–08
  • Suffolk Junior Cup
    • Winners 1894–95, 1982–83, 1983–84

Records

Former players

Several professional footballers began their careers at Leiston or played for them after ending their time as professionals, including:

References

  1. ^ a b Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p561 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
  2. ^ a b c Blakeman, M (2010) The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II ISBN 978-1-908037-02-2
  3. ^ Fleetwood Town 2–0 Leiston BBC Sport, 18 November 2008
  4. ^ Leiston Green 'Un

52°12′15.84″N 1°34′17.13″E / 52.2044000°N 1.5714250°E / 52.2044000; 1.5714250

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