Match Preview

Match Information
Felixstowe & Walton United v Leiston
Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Final
7.45pm kick off
Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich Wanderers FC, IP4 3NR
Tel: - 01473 720691

Admission Prices
Adults £11
Concessions £6 (over 65’s)
12-16 years old £3
U12’s Free of charge

Printed Programme for £2

The Blues turn their attentions to the Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final tie against Felixstowe & Walton United at Ipswich Wanderers FC tomorrow night. After three losses on the bounce the side will be hoping to gain a win and get into their 8th Suffolk Premier Cup final.

Leiston have defeated Brantham Athletic (2-1, H) and Lowestoft Town (1-1, A, 5-4 on pens) to reach this stage while the Seasiders have beaten Lakenheath (4-1, A) and Hadleigh United (2-1, H) to get to the semi-finals. The sides met in the 2019 final at Portman Road, with Leiston winning 3-2 thanks to a Matt Blake hat-trick. Felixstowe reached the final in 2014 as well, losing 4-1 to Bury Town.

Felixstowe are second in the Isthmian North table, with just five league games left, after losing 2-0 at Crown Meadow to Lowestoft Town on Saturday.

Stuart Boardley, who played over 400 games for Leiston, is the ‘Seasiders’ manager while ex Blues Leon Ottley-Gooch (over 250 games) and Tom Bullard (over 200 games) are also in Felixstowe’s ranks. Other ex Blues players are Noel Aitkens, who played for the Blues between 2018 and 2020 is in midfield and Zak Brown, while Josh Hitter, who made appearances for both the Blues second and first team, will also be involved. Sam Ford and Josh Mayhew lead the Felixstowe front line as well whilst Jack Ainsley made over 100 appearances for the club between 2016 and 2018, collecting supporters players of the year in 2017-2018.

Jamar Loza is back involved after serving a suspension whilst the Blues have everyone else available for the tie.

The Suffolk Premier Cup was first played in the 1958-1959 season and was won by Bury Town. They beat Long Melford United 2-1 in front of a crowd of over 3,000. The Cup was mainly shared by Lowestoft Town, Bury Town, Ipswich Town and
Sudbury Town in the early years.

Leiston’s first appearance in the competition was in 1986, after the side had lost 4-1 to Westerfield United. John Anderson was the Blues scorer in the final at Portman Road. The Blues defeated Brantham Athletic 1-0 in the First Round that campaign. They then had to wait until 2004 to return to the competition, with Leiston going down 1-0 at AFC Sudbury in Round 1.

The Blues reached the final three years on the trott between 2006 and 2008.

Lee McGlone and player-manager Glen Driver were on target in 2006, in a game the Blues went down 3-2 to Lowestoft Town after extra time.

A year later, and Leiston lost 8-0 to an Ipswich Town eleven. In 2008, Carl Chenery’s Leiston drew 0-0 with Needham Market after extra time, again at Portman Road, with Danny George having a spot kick to win the penalty shoot out, but his kick was saved and Needham won 5-4 in front of an 803 attendance.

Tomorrow’s winners will face Needham in the final in a date and venue yet to be arranged.