Overview

The Blues host Long Melford Tuesday evening in the First Round of the Suffolk Senior Cup.

It is the only tie in this season’s Suffolk Senior Cup at the First Round stage, with there being 33 teams in this season’s competition.

Neil Smye’s side reached the final in the 2023/2024, losing to Trimley Red Devils 2-0 at Portman Road.

The side also beat last season’s SIL Senior Division winners in Old Newton United in last season’s First Round, before reaching the quarter-finals and going out 1-0 at home to Henley Athletic.

About the visitors

The sides met two weeks ago, with Long Melford winning 1-0 at Stoneylands, thanks to Ollie Hughes’ goal on 53 minutes in the League Challenge Cup Second Round.

Long Melford drew 1-1 at Holland on Saturday afternoon, and currently sit in 11th place in the league table, the U23s in 18th position.

Long Melford won the Suffolk Senior Cup on 1888, in just the competition’s third year, beating Woodbridge Town in a Replay.

Leiston’s first final came in 1892, when they lost 5-1 to Beccles College, before the Blues were beaten again by Beccles Caxton 1-0 in 1897 and they also lost in 1904 to Ipswich Town, 3-2. 2,700 people watched on at Saxmundham to see the game.

The Blues finally got their hands on the cup in 1913 after defeating Bury United 3-0. Leiston have also lost the 1949, 1966, 1986 and 2022 finals.

Long Melford, meanwhile, went on to win the competition in 1909 and 1921 while they won it three years on the bounce between 1953 and 1955.

They also beat Stanton in the 2003 final but lost to Hadleigh United on penalties a year later. In 2004 Long Melford defeated Leiston in the Senior Cup Semu Final at Woodbridge Town.

If the game ends level after normal time tomorrow night, the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.

The winners of Tuesday’s game will host Sporting 87 in the next round, at a later date.

League games coming up in September

Saturday 20th: Wroxham Reserves (A)
Tues 23rd: Diss Town (A)

Match Information
Blues v Long Melford
Suffolk Senior Cup First Round
7.45pm kick off
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission Prices
Adults £5
Concessions (over 65’s) £3
Students (with ID) £2
Under 16’s Free of charge