Lowestoft Town are currently 18th, with a point picked up in their latest game, a 1-1 draw a home to St Ives Town last weekend. They are one point above the drop zone at present but have a game in hand on all the four teams in the relegation zone.

RECENT CLASHES

THE Blues and the Trawlerboys met first in 1895 (with Lowestoft doubling the Blues) with Leiston’s first win coming in 1904.

Both teams played numerous times until the mid 1920’s when Leiston switched divisions and Lowestoft Town had moved up into the Eastern Counties League by the mid 1930’s. This meant that the first teams of both Leiston and Lowestoft Town didn’t meet again until October 2004, with Lowestoft winning 2-0 at Crown Meadow in front of 211 people, with Ross King netting both goals.

However, while the Blues record at Crown Meadow remained poor (Leiston didn’t record their first win their until August 2017), winning 2-0 thanks to an own goal and Joe Marsden goal, Leiston’s record on home soil is very good against Lowestoft.

In April 2005, in the return fixture, Steven Wright’s team drew 1-1 with Lee McGlone scoring for Leiston and Dale Cockerill netting for Lowestoft, in front of 225 supporters.

On a warm September Friday night the following season, goals from Glen Driver, Donny George and a double from Gavin Jennings secured a 4-2 win in front of 243 people. Russell Stock and Richard Woodrow were on target for Lowestoft.

In August 2006, the sides drew 2-2, with Donny George and McGlone scoring for Leiston. Cockerill and Jamie Godbold netted for Lowestoft in front of 258 people while, in February 2008, Leiston won 2-0 with Gavin Crane and Danny Cunningham help beating Lowestoft on this occasion.

The last time the sides met in the Eastern Counties League was in January 2009. 631 people watched on as Leiston won 3-1. Stuart Boardley, McGlone and Chris Sillett all scored for the Blues while Damian Hilton scored for Lowestoft. However, Lowestoft would go onto win the league that season with Leiston finishing in 7th place.

The sides then didn’t meet until March 2013 in the league at Leiston, in which more than 600 people watched as the game ended goalless. Lowestoft then won the next couple of games (both 1-0) at Victory Road before Leiston were beaten 4-0 in April 2019.

The Blues won 4-2 and 5-3 (at Lowestoft Town) in the 2021/2022 campaign in the teams' last meeting in league action.

The Blues 2-1 win at home last month in the Suffolk Premier Cup meant that the teams are level in Premier Cup ties now at four each. Ben Fowkes and George Quantrell goals helped send the Blues through back in November.

LOWESTOFT FUN FACTS

THE TOWN is the most easterly point of the UK.

In the Domesday Book, Lowestoft was called Lothuwistoft.

Some of the earliest signs of settlement in Britain have been found near Lowestoft. Flint tools discovered at Pakefield, just south of the town in 2005 allow human habitation of the area to be traced back 700,000 years.

Lowestoft lighthouse was built in 1874 and, as you would expect, is the UK's most easterly lighthouse.

Famous people born in the town include: Terry Butcher (footballer), Anthony Ogogo (boxer), Justin Hawkins (singer with The Darkness), Reece Ritchie (actor), best know for his role in 2014's Hercules, Benjamin Britten (composer, conductor and pianist).

FORM GUIDE
(Most recent first)
BLUES: WLLLW
LOWESTOFT TOWN: DLDWL

BLUES' BOSS CHRIS WIGGER
GIVES HIS THOUGHTS

“A DERBY is a leveller. There has always been a close rivalry between the two sides, so any type of form or good feeling can sometimes go out of the window. But I’m happy going into the game on the back of two very good performances where we’ve created lots of chances. We come into this game in a good head space.

“It’s an important game for the fans as well as anyone associated with the club. The players and management feel the pressure. But you must thrive on the pressure if you want to compete. We’re up for that challenge not to let anyone down.”

400 AWARD FOR SEB

CLUB skipper Seb Dunbar completed 400 appearances across all competitions recently for the Blues. We will be presenting him with an award before the game.

There will also be a minute’s applause in memory of supporter and volunteer, Arnold Savage. Arnold was a committed volunteer at LFC for a number of years and will be sadly missed.

UPCOMING BLUES

LEISTON end 2024 away at Harborough Town on Saturday and then head to Hertfordshire on New Year's Day to face Royston Town.

Match Sponsor: RUBYROOSTER LIMITED

MATCH INFORMATION

Blues v Lowestoft Town
Pitching In Southern League Central Premier
1pm kick off
Watson & Hillhouse Stadium, Victory Road, LTAA, IP16 4DQ
Tel: 01728 830308

Admission Prices:- Adults £12, Concessions (over 65’s) £9, Students (with ID) £7, U16’s £3, U5’s FOC
44-page Printed programme available on the turnstiles and inside the ground: £2.50

Game 21/42.