{{short description|English football club}} {{Use British English|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Leiston | image = Leistonfc.png | image_size = 250px | fullname = Leiston Football Club | nickname = The Blues | founded = 1880 | ground = Victory Road, [[Leiston]] | capacity = 2,250 (250 seated)<ref name=I>[http://www.leistonfc.co.uk/a/club-information-46729.html Club Information] Leiston F.C.</ref> | owner = Andy Crisp | chairman = Andy Crisp | manager = Chris Wigger | league = {{English football updater|Leiston}} | season = {{English football updater|Leiston2}} | position = {{English football updater|Leiston3}} | pattern_la1 = _redborder | pattern_b1 = _whitevertical | pattern_ra1 = _redborder | pattern_sh1 = _kappa | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = FFFFFF | body1 = 0000FF | rightarm1 = FFFFFF | shorts1 = 0000FF | socks1 = FF0000 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = _blacksides | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = 00FFFF | body2 = 00FFFF | rightarm2 = 00FFFF | shorts2 = 00FFFF | socks2 = 000000 | website = http://www.leistonfc.co.uk }}
'''Leiston Football Club''' is a [[Association football|football]] club based in [[Leiston]], Suffolk, England. They are currently members of the {{English football updater|Leiston}} and play at Victory Road.
==History== Established in 1880, the club was initially closely linked to the [[Richard Garrett & Sons|Richard Garrett Engineering Works]]. They reached the final of the [[Suffolk Senior Cup]] in 1892, 1897 and 1904, losing on each occasion, although the club did win the Junior Cup in 1895. In 1894 Leiston joined the North Suffolk League, which they played in until 1909. In 1900 the club also joined the Ipswich & District League (later the [[Suffolk and Ipswich Football League|Suffolk & Ipswich League]]) and were champions in their first three seasons.<ref name=MB>Blakeman, M (2010) ''The Official History of the Eastern Counties Football League 1935–2010, Volume II'' {{ISBN|978-1-908037-02-2}}</ref> In 1904 they transferred to the [[East Anglian League|South East Anglian League]], but left in 1907 before rejoining in 1911 (when it had been renamed the [[East Anglian League]]).<ref>[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/EAL08.html East Anglian League] Non-League Matters</ref> Between 1912 and 1914 the club also played in the Ipswich & District League.
After [[World War I]] the club was reformed as Leiston Works Athletic and rejoined the Ipswich & District League and the East Anglian League. In 1920 they left the EAL and joined the [[Essex and Suffolk Border League|Essex & Suffolk Border League]]. At the end of the 1920–21 season the club left both the IDL and ESBL to join the [[Norfolk & Suffolk League]] before rejoining the IDL in 1926. After finishing bottom of the table in 1934–35 they were reformed as Leiston and dropped into Division 2B.<ref name=MB/> The club won all seventeen league matches in 1937–38 and were promoted to Division One after defeating Division 2A winners Manningtree Rovers in a play-off.
In 1948 Leiston rejoined the Norfolk & Suffolk League, but transferred back to the Ipswich & District League in 1953. Despite finishing bottom of the Senior Division in 1979–80, the club avoided being relegated as the division was expanded.<ref name=NLM1>[http://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/nlmnet/Aarg3E/ASaI79.html Suffolk & Ipswich League 1979–1999 + 2000–2004] Non-League Matters</ref> However, after finishing bottom again in 1981–82 they were relegated.<ref name=NLM1/> They were promoted back to the Senior Division at the first attempt,<ref name=NLM1/> also winning the Suffolk Junior Cup, which they retained in 1983–84. Leiston then spent several years as a [[yo yo club]] as they were relegated in 1988–89, promoted back in 1989–90, relegated again in 1991–92 and returned to the Senior Division in 1996–96. After finishing third in 2000–01 the club stepped up to Division One of the [[Eastern Counties Football League|Eastern Counties League]].
The [[2003–04 Eastern Counties Football League|2003–04 season]] saw Leiston finish third in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division. The club reached the final of the [[Suffolk Premier Cup]] three times in succession between 2006 and 2008, but lost on each occasion; 3–2 after extra time against [[Lowestoft Town F.C.|Lowestoft Town]] in 2006, 8–0 to [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town reserves]] in 2007, and on penalties to [[Needham Market F.C.|Needham Market]] in 2008. In the same season they beat [[Brentwood Town F.C.|Brentwood Town]] on penalties to win the East Anglian Cup. In the [[2008–09 FA Cup]] the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time; drawn at home to [[Conference North]] club [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]], they drew 0–0 in front of a record crowd of 1,250, before losing the replay 2–0.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7726900.stm Fleetwood Town 2–0 Leiston] BBC Sport, 18 November 2008</ref>
[[File:MargateLeiston.jpg|thumb|right|Leiston (in red) playing [[Margate F.C.|Margate]] in 2013]] In [[2010–11 Eastern Counties Football League|2010–11]] Leiston won the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, earning promotion to Division One North of the [[Isthmian League]]. In [[2011–12 Isthmian League|2011–12]] they won Division One North, achieving back-to-back promotions and moving up to the Isthmian League Premier Division.<ref name=FCHD>{{fchd|id=LEISTON|name=Leiston}}</ref> They finished fifth in the Premier Division in [[2017–18 Isthmian League|2017–18]], going on to lose 1–0 in the play-off semi-finals to [[Dulwich Hamlet F.C.|Dulwich Hamlet]]. The club were transferred to the Premier Division Central of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] at the end of the [[2017–18 Isthmian League|2017–18 season]] as part of the restructuring of the non-League pyramid.
==Ground== Leiston initially played at the old Recreation Ground, today known as Park Hill,<ref name=MB/> with players changing in the White Horse Hotel or at the Works Hall. In 1921 they moved to their current ground on Victory Road, then known as the Leiston Works Athletic Association, after Garretts bought the ground. It was later renamed the Leiston Town Athletic Association.
==Current squad== {{updated|11 February 2026}}<ref name="Leiston">{{cite web | title = Leiston | url = https://www.leistonfc.co.uk/teams/54880/the-team | work= www.leistonfc.co.uk | access-date = 20 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/leiston-fc/12257/squad/|title=Leiston: Squad|website=Soccerway}}</ref> {{Football squad start|nonumber=y|bg=0000FF|color=FFFFFF|border=000}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=GK|name=Oliver Dawson}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=GK|name=[[Billy Johnson (footballer)|Billy Johnson]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=GK|name=Marcus Mehew}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=DF|name=Ben Batho}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=Republic of Ireland|pos=DF|name=[[Kyle Callan-McFadden]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=DF|name=Seb Dunbar | other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=Canada|pos=DF|name=Wyatt Hill}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=DF|name=Eddie Jackson}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=DF|name=Billy Jordan}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=DF|name=Ethan Oldman}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=[[Fraser Alexander]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=Bermuda|pos=MF|name=[[Willie Clemons]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=Jude Frostick}} {{Football squad mid|nonumber=y|bg=0000FF|color=FFFFFF|border=000}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=Ollie Griggs}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=Mitchell Jackson}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=[[Ryan Jarvis]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=[[Jack Manly]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=Adam Mills}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=Timor-Leste|pos=MF|name=[[João Rangel]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=Cameron Rayworth}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=[[Harvey Sayer]]}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=MF|name=Billy Walsh}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=FW|name=Charlie Atkin}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=FW|name=Ronnie Blois}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=FW|name=Ben Fowkes}} {{Football squad player|nonumber=yes|nat=England|pos=FW|name=Joe McNeill}} {{Football squad end}}
<small>''The [[Southern Football League]] does not use a squad numbering system.''</small>
==Management and coaching staff== ===Boardroom=== {{updated|24 December 2024}} <ref name="Leiston"/> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Name |- {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Chairman |s=Andy Crisp}} |}
===Current staff=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Position ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Name |- {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Manager |s={{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Wigger}} {{Fb cs staff |bg=y |p=Head Coach |s={{flagicon|NZL}} [[Lee Norfolk]]}} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Player-coach |s={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ryan Jarvis]]}} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head of Football Strategy |s={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Darren Eadie]]}} |}
===Managerial history=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Period ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Manager ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #000;" scope="col"|Notes |- | 2006–2007 || style="background:#efefef;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jason Dozzell]] || |- | 2008–2010 || style="background:#efefef;"| Carl Chenery || |- | 2010–2013 || style="background:#efefef;"| Mark Morsley || |- | 2013 || style="background:#efefef;"| Danny Laws || |- | 2013 || style="background:#efefef;"| Steve Pitt || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Brammer |first1=Chris |date=20 October 2013 |title=Leiston chief reveals reasons behind appointments of Steve Pitt and Steve Ball |url=http://www.greenun24.co.uk/non-league/leiston_chief_reveals_reasons_behind_appointments_of_steve_pitt_and_steve_ball_1_2908963 |newspaper=Green'Un |location=Ipswich |access-date=3 January 2016 }}</ref> |- | 2013–2014 || style="background:#efefef;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Ball]] || <ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacon |first1=Mike |date=4 December 2013 |title=New Leiston boss Steve Ball takes charge with Rob Bate at Victory Road |url=http://www.greenun24.co.uk/non-league/new_leiston_boss_steve_ball_takes_charge_with_rob_bate_at_victory_road_1_3068529 |newspaper=Green'Un |location=Ipswich |access-date=3 January 2016 }}</ref> |- | 2014–2016 || style="background:#efefef;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Richard Wilkins (footballer)|Richard Wilkins]] || |- | 2016–2018 || style="background:#efefef;"| Glen Driver || <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.leistonfc.co.uk/news/glenn-driver-appointed-new-blues-boss-1621261.html | publisher = Leiston F.C. | access-date = 26 May 2016 | title = Glenn Driver appointed new Blues boss}}</ref> |- | 2018–2019 || style="background:#efefef;"| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stuart Boardley]] || <ref>[https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/boardley-looking-forward-to-new-challenge-1-5757332 Boardley and Head take over at Leiston as Victory Road club announce new management team] East Anglian Daily Times, 30 October 2018</ref> |- | 2019 || style="background:#efefef;"| Ian Cornforth || <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.leistonfc.co.uk/news/blues-manager-stuart-boardley-resigns-2466462.html | publisher = Leiston F.C. | access-date = 16 September 2019 | title = Blues manager Stuart Boardley resigns}}</ref> |- | 2019–2020 || style="background:#efefef;"| Glen Driver || <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.leistonfc.co.uk/news/glen-driver-and-tony-kinsella-return-to-victory-road-2485808.html | publisher = Leiston F.C. | access-date = 11 November 2019 | title = Glen Driver and Tony Kinsella return to Victory Road}}</ref> |- | 2020–2024 || style="background:#efefef;"| [[Darren Eadie]] & Chris Wigger || <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.leistonfc.co.uk/news/blues-appoint-darren-eadie-and-chris-wigger-as-joint-first-team-managers-2523826.html | publisher = Leiston F.C. | access-date = 18 March 2020 | title = BLUES APPOINT DARREN EADIE AND CHRIS WIGGER AS JOINT FIRST TEAM MANAGERS}}</ref> |- | 2024– || style="background:#efefef;"| Chris Wigger || |}
==Honours== *'''Isthmian League''' **Division One North champions 2011–12 *'''Eastern Counties League''' **Premier Division champions 2010–11 **Division One Cup winners 2001–02 *'''Suffolk & Ipswich League''' **Champions 1900–01, 1901–02, 1902–03 **Division 2B champions 1937–38 *'''East Anglian Cup''' **Winners 2007–08 *'''Suffolk Premier Cup''' **Winners 2017–18, 2018–19 *'''Suffolk Junior Cup''' **Winners 1894–95, 1982–83, 1983–84
==Records== *Best [[FA Cup]] performance: First round, 2008–09<ref name=FCHD/> *Best [[FA Trophy]] performance: Fourth round, 2022–23<ref name=FCHD/> *Best [[FA Vase]] performance: Quarter-finals, 2010–11<ref name=FCHD/> *Record attendance: 1,250 v [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]], [[FA Cup]] first round, 8 November 2008<ref name=I/> *Most league goals: Lee McGlone 60<ref name=NLCD>Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) ''Non-League Club Directory 2013'', p561 {{ISBN|978-1-869833-77-0}}</ref> *Most league appearances: Gareth Heath, 201
==See also== *[[:Category:Leiston F.C. players|Leiston F.C. players]] *[[:Category:Leiston F.C. managers|Leiston F.C. managers]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.leistonfc.co.uk}}
{{Southern League}} {{Eastern Counties League}} {{coord|52|12|15.84|N|1|34|17.13|E|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
[[Category:Leiston F.C.| ]] [[Category:Men's football clubs in England]] [[Category:Football clubs in Suffolk]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1880]] [[Category:1880 establishments in England]] [[Category:Leiston]] [[Category:Suffolk and Ipswich Football League]] [[Category:East Anglian League]] [[Category:Norfolk & Suffolk League]] [[Category:Essex and Suffolk Border Football League]] [[Category:Eastern Counties Football League]] [[Category:Isthmian League clubs]] [[Category:Southern Football League clubs]]