The Blues, although drawing 2-2 at home to Barwell at the weekend, dropped to 9th place. Goals from substitute Jack Manly (68 mins) and Ronnie Blois (94 mins) helped Chris Wigger’s side claim a point after being two goals down at the break.

AFC Sudbury are 21st in the table. They lost 5-1 at Spalding United on Saturday. Kai Fletcher put the ‘Suds’ ahead but the Lincolnshire club fought back to take the three points.

Adam Mills could return to the squad as he is eligible again after a suspension.

This is the first to two clashes in five days between the sides, as they meet at the Elite Travel Stadium, Sudbury on Saturday in an FA Trophy first round tie.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS AT LEISTON

The first ever League meeting between the sides took place on Saturday 13th November 2004, in front of 271 people. Tim Sparkes scored for the Blues while David Head and Simon Hyde netted for Sudbury as the visitors won 2-1.

Just over a year later, on Saturday 26th November 2005, Leiston won 4-2, in front of 190 spectators. Lee McGlone (2), Stewart Roach and Danny Stanley all netted for Leiston. A. Hayes and David Head scored for Sudbury.

Danny Smy scored the opener for the Blues in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday 8th November, 2011. However, Michael Shinn got a last-gasp leveller for Sudbury in front of 327 people.

The sides then didn’t meet again in league action until 2016.

On 27 September that year, the Blues won 2-1 in front of 311 people, with Patrick Brothers and Christy Finch on target for Leiston. James Baker got a late Sudbury goal. Sudbury were relegated that season and the sides didn’t meet until January 27th 2024 in league action at Leiston. The Blues won again, with George Quantrell and Seb Dunbar scoring for Leiston. Callum Page had equalised for the visitors in the first half.

On Tuesday 10th September 2024, Leiston won 3-2. Jamar Loza, George Quantrell and Ben Fowkes scored for the hosts as Joshua Allen and Thomas Dickens scored for Sudbury.

SUDBURY FACTS

SUDBURY had a population of just under 24,000 in the last Census (2021). The River Stour sits besides the town.

In the 1700s, Sudbury became known for its art. It is the birthplace of the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough. His beautiful landscape paintings inspired another well-known Suffolk artist, John Constable.

The local rugby club, Sudbury R.F.C., plays in the London 2 North East league. Their ground is in the nearby village of Great Cornard. Sudbury Cricket Club is the town's oldest sports club, started in 1787. They play in the East Anglian Premier League.

AFC Sudbury were formed in 1999. It was formed merging Sudbury Wanderers and Sudbury Town. The club won five Eastern Counties Premier Division titles in a row (between 2000 and 2005) and they are managed by Danny Laws, who managed Leiston in 2013. They also won three back-to-back Suffolk Premier Cups between 2001 and 2004 and won the Isthmian North Division in 2015/2016 while also winning the Isthmian North play-offs in 2022/2023.

They reached Round One of the FA Cup in 2000-2001 and they reached the same round again in 2021/2022.

FORM GUIDE:

(League games only, starting with the most recent)

BLUES: D W D D D
AFC SUDBURY: L L D L W

NEXT FIVE FOR THE BLUES

Saturday 25th Oct: AFC Sudbury (Away) Isuzu FA Trophy First Round
Saturday 1st Nov: Bromsgrove Sporting (Away)
Saturday 8th Nov: Worcester City (Away)
Saturday 15th Nov: Stamford (Home)
Tuesday 18th Nov: Bishop’s Stortford (Home)

MATCH INFORMATION
LEISTON v AFC SUDBURY
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
Tuesday, October 21, 7.45pm kick off
Flannery Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission Prices: Adults £13, Concessions (over 65’s) £10, Students (with ID) £8, Under 16’s £3, Under 5’s Free of charge

Matchday programme available on the turnstiles and in the ground:£2.50

Match Sponsor: Fisher’s Gin

Match Ball Sponsor: Jason Burns Gardnening Services

Game 13/42