HISTORY OF LEISTON FC

Leiston Town Football Club were first established in 1880 and at the time were undoubtedly closely associated with the striving Richard Garrett Engineering Works based in the town. The club joined the North Suffolk League in the early 1890’s and games were played on the old Recreation Ground adjacent to Gas Hill (now known as Park Hill) and players would change either at the White Horse Hotel or at the Works Hall. At the turn of the century the club competed in the FA Amateur Cup and after the First World War made their FA Cup debut.

The club has competed in nine League competitions in their history namely North Suffolk, Suffolk & Ipswich (Ipswich & District), South East Anglian, East Anglian, Essex & Suffolk Border, Norfolk and Suffolk, Eastern Counties, Isthmian and Southern. After the First World War Richard Garrett’s bought the land off Victory Road, providing a sports area and clubhouse for the local community naming it the Leiston Works Athletic Association in 1921 and this has been the home for the Football Club for over 100 years although the ground name was changed in the 1980’s to LTAA (Leiston Town Athletics Association) following the closure of the Garrett’s Works.

The first season after the First World War saw a name change to Leiston Works Athletic and before the start of the Second World War the club reverted back to be called Leiston Town. After the majority of many years in the Suffolk & Ipswich League the club achieved promotion to the Eastern Counties League Division One in 2001 and then promotion to the Premier Division in 2004. In 2011 Leiston clinched the Premier Division title securing promotion to the Isthmian League Division One North where they sealed the title at the first attempt gaining promotion to Step Three in 2012, a level where they have maintained to the present day. The highest ever League finish (5th) occurred in 2018, losing in the Divisional Play Offs before a switch to the Southern League.