LEISTON welcome Horsham to Suffolk in the Isuzu FA Trophy third qualifying round on Saturday afternoon, 3pm kick-off at Victory Road.

The Blues will face the West Sussex club for the first-time ever this weekend. ‘The Hornets’ are currently playing in the Isthmian Premier Division, the same level as the Blues at Step 3.

Horsham are currently 15th, taking ten points from their seven league games so far, but, like Leiston, remain in the Emirates FA Cup after winning three games in the competition.

Horsham have beaten Virginia Water (4-0, H), Dorking Wanderers (1-0, H) and Margate in a Replay (2-0, H) after drawing 1-1 in Kent last Saturday. They host Gorleston next weekend for a place in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup.

Leiston had a fantastic 3-1 win at Hornchurch on Tuesday night. The Blues came from behind as an Eddie Jackson goal and a brace from Jamar Loza (taking his tally in the competition to five) secured a date with Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday 12th October. The win meant Leiston reached the 4th Round Qualifying for the sixth time in their history. (1945, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2020, 2024).

Horsham were founded in 1881 and are managed by Dominic Di Paola. They finished 5th in the Isthmian Premier Division last season but went out in the semi-finals of the play-offs. They reached the Second Round of the FA Cup last season, losing to Sutton United. Their highest-ever attendance was also in the FA Cup in November 1966. It was 7,314 against Swindon Town at their old ground, Queen Street. At their current venue, they played in front of 3,000 people last season against Barnsley in the First Round, a game they went through as Barnsley played an ineligible player.

Blues keeper Billy Johnson said: “The team is on a great run, one defeat in 10. And that was a 98th-minute loss at Bedford, so we’re not doing bad at all. As a group we’re happy with that and looking to continue it for as long as we can.”

“While scoring goals was a bit of an issue for Leiston at the start of the season, that’s not proving a problem now. It’s a busy run of games. But when you are on a good run, it’s not too bad, the momentum is there. We just hope we can continue our FA Cup run, start an FA Trophy run this weekend, and give our fans the performances they deserve.”

In fact, the Blues have netted 13 goals in five FA Cup matches this season. The winners of this weekend's tie will receive £2,450 while the losers will pick up £625.

Match Information
Blues v Horsham
Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Qualifying
3pm kick off
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, Leiston, IP16 4DQ
Tel: - 01728 830308.

Match Ball Sponsors:- KP Glass Fibre Ltd.

Admission Prices:- Adults £12, Concessions £9 (over 65’s), Students (with ID) £7, U16’s £3, U5’s FOC.