Leiston beat AFC Sudbury in the first game between the sides on Tuesday 21st October, with the Blues winning 3-1. Ben Fowkes, Jack Manly and Joao Rangel were all on target for Leiston while Kaidon Tower-King scored for Sudbury.

PREVIOUS GAMES AT AFC SUDBURY

THE two sides first met at AFC Sudbury in the Suffolk Premier Cup First Round in October 2004 with AFC Sudbury winning 1-0.

Leiston played AFC Sudbury away for the first time in the league on 23rd April 2005 in their inaugural year of the Eastern Counties Premier League with AFC Sudbury running out 3-0 winners. AFC Sudbury won the league that season, losing just four games out of a 42 league games. Sam Banya and Gary Bennett (2) scored the goals for the hosts on that afternoon with Leiston finished a credible 9th on their first season at Step 5.

The following season saw the teams meet at AFC Sudbury in March 2005 and the hosts again won, this time by a score line of 4-1. Neil Calver, Andrew Claydon (2) and Lee Owen were on target for AFC Sudbury while Blake Saker scored for Leiston. AFC Sudbury came third that season but gained promotion to Step 4 while Leiston did well again, coming 9th with 68 points and winning half their league games (21).

The sides didn’t meet again at Sudbury until January 2012 when the Blues won 3-2. Stuart Boardley, Gareth Heath and Rhys Henry netted for the Blues while Jamie Baker scored a brace for Sudbury.

The next meeting at The Mel Group Stadium came in November 2016 when Leiston won 3-1. Matt Blake, Gareth Heath and Patrick Brothers were all on target for the Blues while Liam Wales added a late consolation for the home team.

Last season, the sides drew 1-1 at AFC Sudbury. Ross Crane scored for Leiston but AFC Sudbury drew level in the second half through Reuben Swann.

Last season Leiston were victorious 2-1 at Sudbury on Saturday 8th March, 2025. Oliver Peters had given Sudbury the lead early on but Jamar Loza levelled just before half time. In the second period, substitute Kyran Clements netted a goal in injury time to seal the three points for the Blues.

This season, Sudbury beat Leiston 2-1 in the FA Trophy First Round on Saturday 25th October 2025. Ben Fowkes was on target for the Blues that afternoon but two goals from Kaidon Tower-King saw Sudbury go through to Round Two.

SUDBURY FACTS

ACCORDING to the 2021 Census, just under 24,000 people live in the town of Sudbury.

Sudbury was an Anglo-Saxon settlement from the end of the 8th century, and its market was established in the early 11th century. Its textile industries prospered in the Late Middle Ages, the wealth of which funded many of its buildings and churches.

AFC Sudbury were formed in 1999, when Sudbury Wanderers and Sudbury Town joined forces. As AFC Sudbury, they lost in three successive FA Vase finals between 2003 and 2005, to Brigg Town 2-1 at Upton Park, West Ham, Winchester City 2-0 at St Andrews, Birmingham City and Didcot Town 3-2 at White Hart Lane, Tottenham.

The painter John Constable worked in and around the Sudbury area.

Sudbury is twinned with Höxter in Germany, Clermont in France and Fredensborg in Denmark.

FORM GUIDE:

AFC SUDBURY: D L L L L

BLUES: D W D D L

Games until the end of March for the Blues

Saturday 28th Feb: Real Bedford (Away)
Saturday 7th March: Stratford Town (HOME)
Saturday 14th March: Stamford (Away)
Sat 21st March: Worcester City (HOME)
Saturday 28th March: Banbury United (HOME)

Game 32/42

MATCH INFORMATION
AFC Sudbury v Blues
Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central
Saturday, February 21, 3pm kick off
The Elite Travel Stadium, Brundon Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 7HN
Tel: 01787 275957