IN THE footballing calendar here in the UK, both professional and non-league, December 26 has always been a very important fixture date.

The Boxing Day fixture has invariably meant local derbies, large crowds, with friends and family attending the big holiday game.

Back in the late 1880’s and early 1900’s, matches were regularly played on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day and often matches would be played on Christmas Day and the following day and often against the same opposition (home and away).

The first recorded Boxing Day match for Leiston Town took place in 1894 and it was a friendly fixture, the 2nd Kings Regiment (Liverpool) were based in the area and defeated Leiston 7-0 on the Recreation Ground.

The first League fixture on Boxing Day came in 1900 when Leiston won 9-1 at near neighbours Saxmundham in the North Suffolk League, J. Fletcher scored four times with goals also from A. Lockwood (2), E. Titlow (2) and W. Turner.

The fixture schedule always pitted clubs with their nearest rivals and with the leagues more local in those days, it was easy to select. As an example, Leiston faced Beccles Town four times in consecutive seasons. The first-ever Boxing Day fixture played at the LTAA (then the LWAA) was in 1922 as Sydney Gibbs (2) and Oliver Ralph scored the goals in a 3-2 win over Beccles Town. A year later Sid Daniels scored two of the four goals as Leiston again beat Beccles Town and for a third successive year, Jordan Archer (2), Sy Allen and Keith Harman were on target in a 4-3 win again, over Beccles Town. Beccles did however, gain some revenge in 1925 with a 3-2 victory.

With Leiston now in the Ipswich & District and then the Suffolk & Ipswich League, Boxing Day fixtures were few and far between and it wasn’t until 2005 and in the Eastern Counties League that the Boxing Day fixture returned to the LTAA. Stewart Roach scored twice as Leiston defeated Woodbridge Town 3-0. The following year Danny George scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Woodbridge but the Woodpeckers gained revenge with a 3-1 win at Leiston in 2007.

When Leiston gained promotion to the Isthmian League, the Boxing Day fixture was common place and in 2011 Leiston recorded a thumping 5-0 win at Needham Market with all the goals from Danny Smy (2), Luke Hammond, Gareth Heath and Rhys Henry coming in the second half. Twelve months later Enfield Town were beaten 3-1 with goals from Heath (2) and Emmanuel Osei.

In the last ten years the Blues have played seven games on Boxing Day and twice this year's opponents Lowestoft Town were victorious (2016 & 2017). A goalless draw at Bury Town in 2014 was followed in 2015 by a 3-0 home success over Needham Market (Christy Finch, Joe Francis, Leon Ottley-Gooch).

In the last three Boxing Day matches Leiston have beaten Needham Market 2-1 in 2018 (Byron Lawrence & Ashley Nicholls), Lowestoft Town 3-1 in 2019 (Tom Debenham, Rhys Henry and Jon Sands) and two years ago, Needham Market 2-1 thanks to goals from Joe Marsden and a stoppage time winner from Ben Fowkes.

So, what now for 2024 and today's visit of the Trawlerboys? Well, whatever happens the Boxing Day fixture will remain one of the most anticipated of the year at all levels of British footie... And yes, I do believe there's still space for a final mince pie or three!