THE Blues head to Lincolnshire this weekend to face top of the table Spalding United in the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier, writes Craig Cooper.

Leiston stayed 8th after an excellent 1-0 win at home against Real Bedford last Saturday, with a really good defensive display in the second half, after creating some good chances in the first period.

The Blues will be without defender Kyle Callan-McFadden, who begins a three game suspension, after picking up a red card last weekend. Jack Manly could return though after missing the last couple of games.

Spalding United have lost just one game in 11 league matches, and have won their last four consecutive league games. They won three games in the Emirates FA Cup this season, beating Ilkeston Town (2-1, A), Alfreton Town (3-0, H) and Dagenham & Redbridge (2-1, H), before losing 4-0 at South Shields in the 4th (and final) qualifying round.

In the Isuzu FA Trophy, the team won 2-0 at Rushall Olympic before going out at home to Corby Town, 1-0.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN LINCOLNSHIRE

LEISTON defeated Spalding United 2-1 last season on Tuesday 22nd October 2024. Ben Fowkes and Jamar Loza goals either side of the interval saw the Blues into a two goal lead and even though Bartosz Cybulski got a goal back for the home side, Leiston took the points in front of a crowd of 282.

SPALDING UTD FACTS

THE club were founded in 1905 and they are nicknamed ‘the Tulips’. Their manager is Jimmy Dean while Andrew Killingsworth is their chairman. They came 7th in the league last season.

In 1957, they lost 3-1 away at Durham City in the FA Cup First Round before reaching Round One again in 1964, but they went down 5-3 at Newport County.

Spalding United won the United Counties League in the 1974-75 season, before rejoining the Midlands League. They won the United Counties League again in 1988.

After getting back into the Southern League, they were relegated again, while they went on a 17 game unbeaten run in 2013/2014 and were eventually promoted.

After losing 2-1 to Halesowen Town in the 2022/2023 play-off final, they won the Division One Midlands League the following season.

SPALDING FACTS

SPALDING sits on the River Welland and in the 2021 Census, approximately just over 30,000 lived there.

The town became famous for the their Flower Parade, which started in 1959 and but ended in 2013. Around 100,000 people use to watch it every year.

FORM GUIDE: -

(Most recent league game first): -
SPALDING UNITED: - WWWWD
BLUES: - WWLLW

BLUES GAMES AHEAD

Tues 9th Dec: - NEEDHAM MARKET (H, Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup quarter-final)
Sat 20th Dec: - Halesowen Town (A)
Sat 27th Dec: - NEEDHAM MARKET (H)
Sat 3rd Jan (2026): - Bury Town (A)
Sat 10th Jan: - KETTERING TOWN (H)
Sat 17th Jan: - STOURBRIDGE (H)
Tues 20th Jan: - ALVECHURCH (H)
Sat 24th Jan: - Harborough Town (A)
Sat 31st Jan: - ROYSTON TOWN (H)

MATCH INFORMATION

Spalding United v Blues
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
Saturday, December 6, 3pm kick off
Sir Halley Stewart Field, Winfrey Avenue, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 1DA
Tel: - 01775 713328.

Admission Prices: Adults £14, Concessions (Over 65s or Students with ID) £9, U16s £5, U5’s - FREE with a paying adult.

Game 21/42.