Leiston Football Club

Leiston FC were first affiliated with the Suffolk County FA in 1880, undoubtedly this club was closely associated with the Richard Garrett Engineering Works at that time, and in the 1980’s received the “Illuminated Address” from the Football Association, to celebrate the club’s centenary.

Over the years, Leiston FC has been blessed with many able and willing Chairmen, Secretaries and committee members and the club has proud itself on its family attitudes. Leiston FC has also been very fortunate over the years to have players of note in their ranks and include many links with Ipswich Town including Ted Phillips and Jackie Warne who both played for Ipswich Town.
In the early days, games were played on the old Recreation Ground adjacent to Gas Hill (now known as Park Hill), players would change at either the White Horse Hotel or at the Works Hall.
The home ground was changed to the LWAA (Leiston Works Athletic Association) when Garretts’ bought the ground in Victory Road in the early 1920’s and has remained the home ground for Leiston FC to this day. The ground name was changed in the 1980’s to LTAA (Leiston Town Athletic Association).
During the Second World War the King’s Regiment was stationed at Leiston, which included most of the players of Liverpool FC and they played some of their matches on the LTAA ground.

Leiston FC were “full members” of the Football Association from the early 1950’s until approximately 1982 (the only other Suffolk teams to be full members at that time were Ipswich Town and Lowestoft Town). During this period Leiston were accepted and played in the FA Cup, FA Amateur Cup and later the FA Vase. Leiston FC Youth team were the first club in Suffolk to enter the FA Youth Challenge Cup. Playing Arsenal FC Youths at Highbury in 1954.
The club spent many years in the Suffolk & Ipswich League and only narrowly avoided a drop to Division Two in the late 1980’s. Slowly the club climbed its way back and after narrowly missing out on the Senior Division title in 1986 they achieved their long term goal of progression to the Eastern Counties set up in 2001 finishing third and the necessary promotion placing. Despite their prestigious history, Leiston FC has not had the best of fortune with regards to silverware.

Six times they have been losing  finalists in the Suffolk Senior Cup (1892, 1897, 1904, 1949, 1966 and 1986) and have also been losing finalists in three Suffolk Premier Cup Finals at Portman Road. An extra time 3-2 defeat against Lowestoft Town (2006) an 8-0 reverse against Ipswich Town in 2007 and a penalty shoot out defeat to Needham Market in 2008. However, in the Suffolk Junior Cup fortunes have faired more favourably. Four  finals and three wins, in 1895, 1983 and 1984, with 1984 also seeing the club lift the SIL Division One  trophy as well. More recently, and in there first Jewson League season, Leiston lifted the Division One trophy in 2002. The club did manage to secure silverware lifting the prestigious East Anglian Cup after a penalty shoot out over Brentwood Town in May 2008. The Reserves continue to progress and currently a very successful third season for the Youth side certainly bodes well for the future.

Season 2008/2009 will be long remembered in the History of Leiston FC as we became only one of three sides to reach the First Round proper of the FA Cup in its history after starting in the Extra Preliminary Round. Memorable wins at higher ranked Carshalton Athletic and Conference Premier Lewes in a run that lasted nine games and ended in a replay defeat at Conference North Fleetwood Town in front of 2000 fans after 1250 had watched the First Round goal less draw at Victory Road. The club also reached the Fourth Round of the FA Vase (last 32) for the very first time and also reached the Ridgeons League Cup Final, losing a penalty shoot-out to Stanway Rovers. Last  season saw a best ever third place League finish.

Today, Leiston FC has some of the best facilities in East Anglia and comments are often made about the excellent condition of the pitch and excellent facilities, mainly down to the current Chairman Andy Crisp and Vice Chairman Peter Mayhew. The club is always looking to improve both on and off  the pitch and the appointment of current First Team Manager Mark Morsley will hopefully take the club to the next progressive level. Further development continues with Youth Football for the stars of the future. Now in our tenth  season in the Eastern Counties League we are now competing in the very competitive Ridgeons Premier League for the seventh consecutive season and have never been below tenth in that  time.