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Match Preview - Coalville Town

Match Preview - Coalville Town

LFC Media8 Aug 2018 - 20:34
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Coalville Town the first visitors for our opening fixture in the Southern League Premier Division (Central)

Match Information
EVO STIK Southern League Premier Division (Central)
Blues v Coalville Town
Saturday, August 11th 2018
Kick Off 3pm
LTAA, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission charges
Adults £11
Concessions £8
Students (with ID) £6
Under 16’s £2

Matchday Programme £2

Car Parking (free of charge)
Main Car Park and overspill car park available

Catering Information
Large bars, Internal and external catering facilities with hot and cold food

MATCH SPONSORS – ALAN GODBOLD PROPERTIES LIMITED
MATCHBALL SPONSOR – STEVE COOPER

Match Preview
Matchday 1 of 42. Its 105 days since the last home game and here we are again embarking on a seventh season at step three and its another new chapter to add to our 138 year history. This will be our inaugural season in the EVO STIK Southern League Premier Division Central, a new Division of 22 teams created by the FA to help reduce travelling. So a new restructuring in an exciting new League with new faces and some old foes along the way.

Like ourselves, our visitors this weekend have also been moved across into the new set up. Coalville Town had just completed their second season in the EVO STIK Northern Premier Division where they finished 20th. After promotion via the play offs at the end of the 2015/2016 season after two previous play off final defeats in three seasons, the Ravens were set to compete in their third successive season at step three prior to the relocations. Founded in 1926 as Ravenstone Miners Athletic, they changed their name after moving to nearby Coalville in 1995. The Ravens rise through the Leagues has been similar to our own and like ourselves, also had a fantastic FA Cup run in 2004/2005 in their first ever season in the FA Cup when a step five side, reaching the FA Cup First Round proper after starting at the extra preliminary round stage.

Despite the geographical distance between the two clubs (161 miles door to door) this will be the third meeting between the sides, each sharing a 1-0 victory. Stuart Boardley netting the all important winner from the penalty spot in the October Victory Road sunshine in 2008 in an FA Cup tie while the Ravens gained revenge with a similar score line in March 2011, Anthony Carney netting the winner in the FA Vase Quarter Final in Leicestershire.

The Blues will be looking to protect an impressive opening day record. They are unbeaten on the opening day over the last seven years, five of those being wins and they have won their last three opening day games all at Victory Road.

So what about the new League? Well there are certainly some big Non League hitters in the shape of AFC Rushden and Diamonds and Kettering Town and along with Tamworth, these are all sides who have played in the National League. Other than the fellow Suffolk sides, there are also four sides who we have faced before in Cup competitions and have all visited Victory Road previously namely Coalville Town, Royston Town, St Ives Town and St Neots Town.

So another exciting season beckons and the squad has had some excellent additions. It all bodes well for some more top quality entertainment.

Further reading