2 Chairman’s Chatter Good afternoon, opportunity for anyone who wishes to join the everyone, and growing numbers and help provide additional welcome to the income to run the club on a day-to-day basis. Watson & Hillhouse The benefits include email updates of what’s Victory Road Stadium going on at the club; information about for this afternoon’s various events, including priority tickets for Southern League Sportsman’s evenings & Golf Days; etc. If you Premier Division would like to know more about becoming a Central fixture Vice President, please contact me directly for against AFC Rushden more details. & Diamonds. We welcome, as always, the Directors, Players and Supporters who have Recent results for all our senior teams have made the trip, and hope you enjoy your day been encouraging, in particular the first team. with us. Today’s match officials are Referee We’ve enjoyed a fruitful holiday period by Mr George Laflin and his two assistants Mr way of results against our local rivals Dario Matthewson & Mr Richard Pace. We Lowestoft & Needham Mkt, and, apart from hope you enjoy our hospitality this afternoon the Peterborough Sports reverse, are and officiate a fair and competitive match unbeaten since November. Our Reserve team between two good footballing sides. performances have been very encouraging; it’s been really enjoyable to have taken in a Today’s kind Match Sponsors are three few of their fixtures over the Christmas valuable members of our football club: Mr period. With the U18s having a fixture-free Steve Cooper, Mr Ron Baldry & Mr Gary time, it’s the A side that have taken centre Tibbenham. Steve has been an official of the stage. Today, they are playing in the Primary club for over 20 years and currently takes Cup against Stage FC after a comfortable 3-0 good care of our senior team fixtures; Ron win at Whitton Utd. Social Club last week. The looks after our travel arrangements and is a aim is an appearance for our youngsters at Vice President; Gary is one of our many Mr Portman Road, so lots for them to play for as Leiston supporters -he rarely misses a game the quarter final beckons. Look at our website both home and away. Today’s Ball Sponsor is for all the latest results & match reports. Mr Laurence Ball (also a Vice President); he kindly prepares our match day programme. A That’s about it for the time being. Just to say massive thank you from all at the club. It’s this thank you to all our Vice Presidents and all kind of support that makes us the club we are today’s kind sponsors. today. Enjoy the match, Andy. On the theme of LFC Vice Presidents, today is the club’s Vice Presidents’ Day. We are hoping the majority of members will join us for a pre- match meal and be our special guests for the afternoon. Becoming a Vice President is an 3 Leiston FC Club Information: Club Officials: President: Robin Watson Chairman: Andy Crisp Vice Chairman: Peter Mayhew Club Secretary: Trevor Elmy Director of Football: Trevor Elmy Fixtures Secretary: Steve Cooper Welfare Officers: Peter Douglass , Alastair Browning Safety Officer: Target Zero Safety Solutions Financial Board Members: Robin Watson, Andy Crisp, Peter Mayhew, Steve Team Management: Coulter, Peter Douglass, Trevor Elmy, Alisdair First Team Manager: Glen Driver Douglas First Team Assistant Manager: Tony Kinsella Reserves Manager: Wes Solomon Matchday Committee: U18 Manager: Rick Kerry Sue Tugwell Chris Barker, Steve Coulter Gerald U18 Assistant Manager: Matt Morling Bray, Kevin Smith, James Spink, A Team Manager: Trevor Elmy Roger Cowley, Stephen Barker, A Team Assistant Manager: Roger Hitchman Lance Freeman, Craig Cooper, Steve Cooper Club Goalkeeper Coach: Nigel Ling Hospitality: Kevin Smith Coach Development: Steve Foley Press Officer: Craig Cooper Physio: Sports-Med East Match Reports: Craig Cooper Head Groundsman: James Mayhew Programme Editor: Laurence Ball Asst. Groundsman: Matt Murphy Website Administrator: Peter Douglass Kit Manager: Trevor Harrison Marketing/Advertising: Janet Cooper, Filming Tech: Peter Phillips Andy Crisp, Peter Douglass Leiston FC is an unincorporated association controlled by its members under the constitution of Leiston Football Club and the LTAA. 4 Above, Vice Presidents and Match sponsors for our New Year’s Day fixture v. Needham Market, Tim Jacobs and Alan Crane, present the MotM award to Sam Donkin. Below, Vice President and joint Match Sponsor for today’s game, Ronald Baldry, enjoys the refreshments at Lowestoft Town FC on Boxing Day. Photo: Shirley D Whitlow 5 Introducing … AFC Rushden & Diamonds AFC Rushden & Diamonds were formed in to the Southern Football League Division One 2011, following the demise of Rushden & Central. Diamonds FC, as a supporter-owned, supporter-run football club. After a season in In 2015-16, the club finished fifth in the SL1C, youth football in 2011-12, they were reaching the playoff final and winning allocated a place in the United their County Cup. The club was Counties League Division One for transferred to the Northern Premier 2012-13 (Step 6). League First Division South for the 2016-17 season, where they again They gained promotion from that reached the end of season playoffs. league at the end of their first season, For 2017-18, the club returned to the and followed that with third place in Southern League to play in Division the UCL Premier Division before winning the One East, known as EVO-Stik League South, title in the 2014-15 season, also winning the East, winning promotion at the end of that League Cup. This meant they won promotion season to Step 3 of Non-League Football. Ben Heath Tom Lorraine 23-year-old goalkeeper who 29-year-old striker who joined the club in October joined the club from 2016. Recorded 22 clean Cogenhoe United at the end sheets in the 42 league of March 2014. He is the games during the 2017/18 Club’s top overall goal- season. scorer with 90 goals. He was the Supporters’ Player of the Season 2018/19 and winner of the Golden Zack Reynolds Boot award for the top goal scorer of the 25-year-old full back who season. can also play in wide midfield. He joined the club from Chesham United prior Nathan Hicks to the start of the 2018/19 27-year-old attacking season. Zack won the central midfielder who 2018/19 Players’ Player of the Season award. joined the Club shortly before the start of the Nat Gosnal-Tyler 2018/19 season. Nathan was named as the Nat recently signed from Rushden & Higham Manager’s Player of the United, having impressed in friendlies against Season at the end of the 2018/19 season. Histon and Northampton Town. 6 Alex Collard Jesse Akubuine Alex is a 23-year-old centre- Midfielder Jesse Akubuine back who joined the signed following some Diamonds at the end of impressive performances November 2018. during pre season so far, 21-year-old Jesse came through the Brentford academy, and has recently had a couple of years in Patrick Casey Scotland with Queen of the South and Cumbernauld Colts. Young defender who graduated to the 1st team Matt Slinn squad after impressing at Academy level and in pre- Midfielder Matthew Slinn signed for the Club season games. On loan having been released from Northampton season at Bugbrooke FC. Town Academy. Jordan Macleod Ben Acquaye 23-year-old striker who joined the club from Peterborough Sports in October 2019. Ben is an attacking Jordan had been dual registered at Deeping midfielder who joined the Rangers FC where he scored 20 goals in 16 club from Kempston Rovers games. at the end of December 2018. Nabil Shariff 27-year-old striker, Nabil recently re-signed for the Club following spells at Alfreton FC, St Ryan Dove Neots Town FC and Stratford Town FC. Ryan is a new signing for the 2019/20 season having Will Jones played at Cogenhoe Utd last season. He is a proven goal- Will is a graduate from the Academy who scorer, scoring 28 goals in 29 was part of the all-conquering 2018/19 games last season. season U16 Academy squad. He also plays for the Academy U18s and Aspire, He made his League debut as a substitute in the game Ryan Hughes at Kings Langley in December 2019. 18-year-old defender currently on loan from Northampton Town FC. 7 Introducing … AFC Rushden & Diamonds Sam Brown Liam Dolman 26-year-old defender who was a junior at the 31-year-old defender, who joined the club Centre of Excellence at Rushden & Diamonds from Daventry Town during June 2014. He FC. He has made over 250 appearances for has made over 100 appearances for the club the club. and has now scored 30 goals for the club. Jack Ashton Ben Farrell 28-year old defender, who joined the 32-year-old midfielder who joined the club Diamonds on a dual registration basis with from Bedford Town in December 2016. He Stamford AFC in March 2014. Despite injury was the club’s top goalscorer in the 2017-18 problems during 2015/16 he picked up the season, scoring 19 goals. goal of the season award for his late winner that clinched the Hillier Senior Cup against Kettering Town FC. Greg Kaziboni 26 year old midfielder currently on loan from Tamworth FC. 8 “It’s been brilliant,” said Steve Wilkes, The introduction of VAR is causing a significant stir at the top levels of the manager at Northwich Victoria, who saw midfielder Harvey Whyte sent to the sin- game, but how has the launch of sin-bins in bin as punishment for sarcastically Non-League faired this season? The FA applauding a decision by the referee when trialled the scheme, where a referee can temporarily dismiss a player for ten Vics visited Longridge for a Premier Division fixture in October.