AT the start of the new Millennium, Leiston were plying their trade in the Suffolk & Ipswich League, Step 7 of the FA National League system structure, with aspirations of promotion up the leagues.

Fast forward 20 or so years and the Blues are now regularly locking horns with former Football League clubs at Step 3. It's been a remarkable rise and the most successful period in the club's long history.

Leiston were promoted to Step 3 in May 2012 after back-to-back title successes in first claiming the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and then the Isthmian League Division One North title.

Twelve and a half years later and Leiston are celebrating their 500th match at Step 3. For a town the size of Leiston with a population of around 6,000, that is some achievement.

Putting it into context, clubs in this season’s Southern League Premier Division Central include Bedford Town (192,000 population), AFC Telford (147,000) and Redditch (82,000) who are 32, 24 and 13 times respectively, larger in size than Leiston. The old adage ‘punching above your weight’ could never be more apt.

Last week Leiston celebrated their 500th Step 3 game in style, a victory over second-placed Stratford Town that lifted Chris Wigger's side up into eighth in the table, their highest league position this season.

The win was their 198th at this level of the game, of which 116 of those have been at home. But the stats don’t really do the club justice as they go about their business.

This season is the Blues' 13th at Step 3, the last seven of which have been in the Southern League. But the side fared better when members of the Isthmian League for six seasons, the overall statistics back that up.

In those six years in the Isthmian League, the side finished on average eighth, compared to 13th in the Southern League (although in fairness, three of those seasons were affected by the Covid pandemic).

The Blues have reached the end of season play-offs once in each League, Southern and Isthmian, although they did finish third in the Southern League in the 2022/23 season, the highest finish in the club’s history.

Of the 500 games they have played at Step 3, 272 were in the Isthmian League.

The 100th game at Step 3 was in October 2014, Gareth Heath scoring the only goal at Kingstonian. Boxing Day two years later saw the side beaten 3-2 at Lowestoft Town (Matt Blake and Niko Muir) in their 200th game and a 1-1 draw at AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Matt Rutterford) in February 2019 brought up the 300 milestone. A 2-1 home defeat to Kings Langley (Will Davies) was the 400th game.

In all, there have been 198 wins (39%), 116 at home and 82 away, 130 draws (60 home/70 away) and 172 defeats (74 home/98 away). The 500 games have seen 1,552 goals, that’s a 3.1 goals per game average. 792 goals have been scored (471 home/375 away) and 760 conceded (322 home/438 away).

Step 3 has seen Leiston rise to the highest placing in their history. They have not just coped with being at this level, but held their own... and more.

And who is to say what this season will bring? Could a third play-off at this level be achieved? There is so much to play for.

All we do know is, Leiston have a club to be proud of.