Last week’s 4-0 win at AFC Kesgrave helped the Blues move up to 6th place in the league table with Rajiv Forrester (2), Stanley Horne and Ashton Rayworth all on target.

Henley Athletic, meanwhile, have four wins and one loss from their five league games thus far. Their only loss was against Leiston in August at Henley when Ollie Long’s goal halfway through the first half helped Neil Smye’s team to a 1-0 victory.

Henley have ex-Blues player Tom Bullard in their ranks in defence. Bullard made 219 appearances and netted 15 times for the Blues and while he never played against Leiston in August, he could make an appearance on Saturday. The last time the two sides met at The Flannery Stadium came in February 2025 when a late Henley goal in stoppage time saw them progress 1-0 in the Suffolk Senior Cup to reach the semi-final stage.

Henley won the Suffolk & Ipswich League Premier Division three times between 2021 and 2024 while in 2025 they came 5th and last season they came ended the season in 7th.

U23 BOSS NEIL SMYE SAYS...

“We’ve had different levels of performances over last two games collecting four points in the process.”

“Against Kirton Athletic at home we started slowly. In the first 15 minutes we had Max (Crane) sent off and lost Ollie (Long) through injury. We now faced with playing one of the favourites for the league we were up against it with ten men. A change in approach, a slight adjustment to the formation, and the boys coped well.”

“The second half especially saw us play some very controlled football.

"Last Saturday we faced AFC Kesgrave away. A quick start and we went in front early in the game. A scrappy period followed with our standards dropping way below what we’re capable of. A more controlled and dominant second half performance saw a comfortable win, gaining three valuable points.

“This Saturday we have a quick return game with Henley, having only played them three games earlier. Henley Athletic are one of the favourites to win the league so a tough game is expected.”

September fixtures for the Under 23’s

Saturday 12th Sep: East Bergholt United (Away) KO 2.30pm
Saturday 19th Sep: Carlton Colville Town - Suffolk Senior Cup (Away) KO 2pm
Saturday 26th Sep: AFC Kesgrave (HOME) KO 2.30pm

MATCH INFORMATION
Blues Under 23’s v Henley Athletic
Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League Premier Division
Saturday, September 5th, 2.30pm kick off
The Flannery Stadium, Victory Road, Leiston, Suffolk, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Free Entry
Game 6/32