A Look ahead to the next three matches for the Ives!
Alvechurch VS St Ives Town (7 February2026) th
Kettering Town VS St Ives Town (14 February2026) th
Stamford VS St Ives Town (17 February2026) th Tickets for all remaining home games are available to purchase online!
BURY TOWN BURY TOWN THIS SEASON! THIS
SEASON!
LEAGUE CAMPAIGN SO FAR LEAGUE CAMPAIGN SO FAR
Games-26
Games-26
Wins-9
Wins-9
Draws-6
Draws-6
Losses-11
Losses-11
Points-33
Points-33
Today’s opponents are one of the newly promoted sides who made the jump from step four to step three following impressive 2024/25 campaigns, with Ed Upson’s dramatic 93 minute winner in the Isthmian North Play Off Final giving Blues a place in a very competitive Southern League Premier Division Central. Manager Cole Skuse will have been hoping that despite the daunting task of sharing a league with some of the biggest spenders at this level, his players would be relishing the opportunity to make sure that this Suffolk-based outfit are here for a long time and not just a good time.
So far, Blues have made a decent go of achieving the goal of stability in the division, with Skuse’s men currently sitting in 14 place on 33 points. A six game unbeaten run in the league coming into todays fixture has helped them move away from the danger zone for now at least. th
The Bury Town faithful will have to wait until next year for the possibility of a deep run in either of the two other FA competitions, with today’s opponents suffering two short-lived spells in the FA Cup and FA Trophy this season. A 2 Round Qualifying defeat to Woodford Town and a thumping 4-0 defeat to A.F.C Sudbury in the FA Trophy 3 Qualifying Round meant Blue’s cup dreams of making it to Wembley have been put on hold for another year.
BURY TOWN BURY TOWN THIS SEASON! THIS SEASON!
BURY TOWN-PLAYER IN FOCUS BURY TOWN-PLAYER IN FOCUS
GeorgeQuantrell
Age:23
Position:Midfielder
George has certainly made an impact since signing for today’s opponents from Leiston in the summer. The 23 year-old has made 32 appearances for Blues since joining on the 9 of August 2025, scoring 10 goals and earning himself seven player of the match awards for his efforts. Most recently, George scored in their 1-1 draw with Bromsgrove Sporting on the 17 of January. th th
The young attacking midfielder came through Norwich City’s academy set-up and made appearances for their U18s side before moving on to Stowmarket Town. George has also applied his trade at Dereham Town, Braintree Town as well as Leiston.
No doubt George will be looking to showcase his talents when he takes to the pitch this afternoon at Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.
BURY TOWN-PLAYER IN FOCUS BURY TOWN-PLAYER IN FOCUS
LAST MATCH LAST MATCH REPORT! REPORT!
Banbury United v St Ives Town
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 27-01-2026
Written by Nigel Howlett
Tuesday 27th January
A battling away performance looked like it was going to glean Ives some reward courtesy of a Michael Richens header ten minutes from time only for the visitors to be undone as they failed to defend a free kick delivered into their box from the left five minutes later. The night almost started perfectly for Ives as Theo Alexandrou blocked an attempted clearance from Josh Flanagan the rebound flashing inches wide of Jack Harding’s right hand upright as the startled keeper looked on Sadly that was to be Alexandrou’s only noteworthy action as he limped off five minutes later with a worrying hamstring injury to be replaced by Kellan Hickinson.
From that point on the host’s took control of the rest of the first period and started to rack up chances In a pre-rehearsed ninth minute move Alex Prosser delivered a low corner to the edge of the box where Chris Wreh met it at pace but the lively striker flashed his effort wide of the post.
Wreh had another opportunity only seconds later as Luke Stokoe cut out Duncan Idehen’s intended ball into the feet of Jahrel McKoy Stokoe fed in Wreh, this time cutting in from the left but the result was the same as the striker’s previous effort as he again failed to hit the target
The host’s early pressure continued and they pulled the first real save out of Ollie Taylor in twelfth minute Patient build up ended with a probing run down the right from Keegan Bloom His ball inside picked out Wreh who this time hit the target with a fierce drive forcing Taylor into a sharp save at his near post Bloom was working well down the right with Connor Ferguson and the two combined well in 18 minute. The move ending with Ferguson cutting inside Aaron Smith and forcing another save out of Taylor who this time held the crisp low shot well.
th
th
The Puritans went even closer in 24 minute as Stokoe strode into the box and let fly with a screamer that beat the diving Taylor, thumped the inside of the post and was eventually scrambled clear. The one way traffic towards Ives goal continued and although they buckled at times their resistance was not to be broken. Taylor pulled off another excellent save on the half hour Ferguson again got down the right and delivered a ball into the box where Wreh nodded it down to the feet of Stokoe Taylor reacted brilliantly to hurl himself to his left and palm away the big number ten’s first time effort
LAST MATCH LAST MATCH REPORT! REPORT!
Tuesday 27th January
The home side’s pressure continued right up to the break with the final effort of the half coming from the excellent Prosser who curled a 25 yard effort inches over having been teed up by the busy Wreh.
Prosser continued to boss the midfield at the start of the second period and his perfectly weighted clip down the right put Ferguson away again. The winger’s cross into the centre was met by Wreh in the centre of goal eight yards out but once again the centre forward failed to hit the target.
Ives were providing a little more going forward after the restart and did create a half chance of their own from a 52 minute free kick Kellan Hickinson delivered deep to the far post where Idehen won the header and directed the ball back into the mix. Ethan Creary got on the end of it six yards out but his header lacked power under pressure from defenders and Harding’s first save of the night was a comfortable one. nd
Back up the other end Banbury tried their luck down the left with Joel Anker and Stokoe combining well to set up an opportunity for Prosser but the silky midfielder fired his 25 yarder wide. But Ives resistance was finally broken on the hour with a goal of real quality Prosser’s clever back heel fed Ferguson into the box and he unleashed the perfect curling effort past Taylor and into the top corner from just inside the right corner of the box
Ives reacted well to going behind and Jonny Edwards had a deflected effort from just outside the box well held by Harding two minutes later. The deflection seemed to help the keeper as it directed the ball straight into his hands.
Prosser went for an audacious second with twenty minutes to go He initially robbed McKoy inside the centre circle and looked up to see Taylor well off his line But the agile keeper reacted well back peddling fast to catch the ball just in front of his goal line.
The visitor’s equaliser came from a Liam Cross corner with ten minutes to go. The ball clearing the players at the near post and being met by the head of skipper Michael Richen’s by the penalty spot His header was directed towards the far post where the Puritans had not positioned a defender but Flanagan would probably have hacked it off the line but for Edwards using his body to cleverly shield the ball as it bounced over the line.
LAST MATCH LAST MATCH REPORT! REPORT!
Tuesday 27th January
Both sides made changes with James Alabi and George Ball replacing Wreh and Anker for the hosts and Alfie Shepherd and Gibou Njie coming on for Matty Miles and Hickinson for Ives. One of those replacements was heavily involved in the Puritants winner five minutes from time as Alabi wriggled his way past Creary just outside the left edge of Ives box only to be upended by the struggling defender Creary picked up a yellow card for his misdemeanour but there was much worse to follow for the battling visitors as Nico Jones rose above the crowd at the back post to power home Aaron McCreadie’s free kick.
Ives huffed and puffed in the remaining time but the hosts survived without further scares to stretch their winning run to three games and move up into the top ten Ives are now without a win since Boxing Day and remain fifteenth, seven points above the drop zone wit a run of vital games coming up against the teams around them in the table.
Final Score: Banbury United 2 St Ives Town 1 Half Time 0 - 0
RESERVES, ACADEMY RESERVES, ACADEMY RESERVES NEWS!
Since our last edition of the match programme, the reserves have been in action as they made the trip to the Master Abrasives Stadium to take on Daventry Town Reserves last Saturday.
It what turned out to be a very close affair, the ressies came out on top thanks to a late winner from Casey Fitzgerald, who scored a brace on the day. Reuben Huggins also bagged two important goals for his side as St Ives ran out 3-4 winners.
This win keeps up their perfect start to 2026 and leaves them in a respectable 3 place in the GCE Hire Fleet United Counties Football League Reserve Division.
ACADEMY NEWS
The Scholars returned to National Cup action as they took on Dagenham and Redbridge in the Round of 16. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for our youngsters as they were narrowly beaten 3-2 on the day.
The U18S continued their impressive league campaign as they secured a 51 win over Ely City to avenge their only loss of the season so far and cement their place at the top of Thurlow Nunn Youth Football League West Division.
LADIES NEWS AND LADIES ROUND-UP! AND LADIES ROUND-UP!
Our Women’s side have been in Alan Boswell Group Cambridgeshire Girls and Women's Football League Division two action as they secured a 2-1 away win at South Lincolnshire Swifts. Goals from Kellie-marie Dixon and Matilda Marshall help move Ives up to 5 in the table having picked up seven points from eight games.
1.How many English teams qualified automatically for the next round?
1.How many English teams qualified automatically for the next round?
2.Who did Chelsea beat 3-2?
2.Who did Chelsea beat 3-2?
3.Who scored for Benfica in the dying seconds to keep them in the competition?
3.Who scored for Benfica in the dying seconds to keep them in the competition?
4.What was was the score when Newcastle took on PSG?
4.What was was the score when Newcastle took on PSG?
5.Who finished up as Group Stage top goal scorer?
5 Who finished up as Group Stage top goal scorer?
6.Which Dutch giant failed to qualify for the knockout rounds?
6.Which Dutch giant failed to qualify for the knockout rounds?
7.Who scored for Tottenham Hotspur in their 2-0 win over Frankfurt?
7 Who scored for Tottenham Hotspur in their 2-0 win over Frankfurt?
8.Who did Liverpool beat 6-0?
8.Who did Liverpool beat 6-0?
9. What was the score in Arsenal’s game vs Kairat?
9 What was the score in Arsenal’s game vs Kairat?
10.Erling Haaland scored his 7 goal of the campaign against which side? th
10.Erling Haaland scored his 7 goal of the campaign against which side? th
Want to find out how you got on?
After 28 rounds of fixtures, Ives find themselves in... 15TH
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IWE ARE officially at the stage of both the Isuzu FA Trophy and FA Vase competitions where we can say: the Wembley arch is on the horizon.
Over the next two weekends, the final eight in each cup will become clear (weather permitting) and then it really is time to start dreaming.
Trophy holders Aldershot Town are out but, in the Vase, Whitstable Town are still in with a chance of going back-to-back.
As always, the Vase feels wide open but so does the Trophy with eight of the last 16 from Step 1. The rest are all Step 2 apart from Walton & Hersham, who host Woking this weekend, and Chatham Town. The Isthmian Premier Chats host Southend United having seen off another National League big hitter in Carlisle United last time out.
“I’m getting laughed at a little less now! I’m a Manchester United fan so to have Mark Hughes come down to the Bauvill with his team who are top of the National League and come away with the win, it was a real pinch-yourself moment,” their chairman and manager Kevin Hake told The NLP.
“These clubs coming down to us, it’s quite surreal when you think about it. Southend and Carlisle are massive clubs and it shows how far we have come in such a short space of time. It wasn’t so long ago we were playing county-league football.”
Kevin Wilkin has experienced the highs and lows of the competition. His Wrexham side famously fell to North Ferriby United on penalties in the final but he returned a few years later with Brackley Town, then of the National League North, to beat Bromley – also on spot-kicks.
Wilkin is in charge of AFC Telford United now and they are set to welcome Yeovil Town.
“The further you get down the line, I wouldn’t say the more you want to win, but the more serious it gets,” Wilkin told The NLP. “There are some real big hitters left in there. We know we’ve got a real tough tie against Yeovil.
“It’s great for the supporters to still be in the competition at this stage outside of what we’re trying to do in the league.
“The club has maybe been a little bit starved off it late. I know they got to the semi-final a few years back but outside of that I don’t think there’s been too many other than when you look way back. We’ve got a great game to look forward to.”
The Vase hopefuls have to wait a little longer for their games, which take places on the February 7 weekend.
The competition still has Step 6 representatives with Eastern Counties League Division One South Lymore Gardens – a relatively new name on the Non-League scene – dreaming big.
Founded by chairman/manager Lee Benjamin ten years ago, the self-sustained club have progressed through the grass-roots leagues in Essex with players playing solely for the love of the shirt. And it’s been the place to go for a game too.
“We get a lot of groundhoppers,” Benjamin revealed. “And they are now starting to enjoy it because we try and make a big experience of everything, on and off the field.
“We make some jerk chicken for them at half-time and they seem to enjoy eating the food and watching some good football, as I do myself.
“Then, on top of that, we've been getting a lot of foreign groundhoppers too;
We’ve had people from Germany, France and Poland, loads of them.
“It’s swelled our average numbers to around 120-150, which, bearing in mind we were playing in a park team not very long ago, is incredible.” Who will be playing on the greatest park of all come May?
By Matthew Badcock Editor,
MEET TODAY’S OPPONENTS
RCOLE SKUSE – MANAGER: A former professional who made 615 league appearances for Bristol City, Ipswich Town and Colchester United. Now in his third season as the manager at Ram Meadow, having led the club to promotion to the Southern Premier Division Central last season with a dramatic play off final victory
PAUL MUSGROVE – ASSISTANT MANAGER: Paul joined with Cole Skuse and is now into his third season with the Blues Previously a manager at Stowmarket Town and Walsham-Le-Willows, he has an extensive knowledge of the local scene and lead Stowmarket to the Isthmian League play off’s in their first season in the division.
CHARLIE BECKWITH D.O.B 14/01/2000: Goalkeeper who joined in October 2023 from Thurlow Nunn League side Lakenheath where he won both the Suffolk Senior Cup and Thurlow Nunn League Cup Has previous experience at step 3 with Leiston and missed just one game on our way to promotion last season.
HARLEY CURTIS D.O.B 09-02-2003: Harley joined the Blues in February 2025 from Ipswich Wanderers where he was dual registered with Leiston A product of the Ipswich Town academy, he joined National League side Chesterfield on a one-year contract for the 2023-24 before heading back to Suffolk and Needham Market for the start of 2024-25
JOE CARROLL D.O.B 02-10-2003: Joe joined from Stowmarket Town in January 2024 having joined them from AFC Sudbury. Joe is a strong defender with a great turn of pace who likes to burst forward, and with a giant throw in, he can cause all types of problems for defences Sat out last season with an injury but is back and ready to go for 2025-26.
ALLY CONWAY D.O.B 22-12-1998: Ally joined the club in the summer of 2025 from Newmarket Town The attacking minded midfielder had joined the Jockeys from Cambridge City and scored 16 goals to earn them promotion to the Isthmian League in 2024, but opted to make the short move up the A14 in the summer to join us at step 3
MEET TODAY’S OPPONENTS
JOSH CURRY D.O.B 24-11-1992: Josh joined the Blues ahead of the 2023-24 season from Stowmarket Town. He was with our youth system before going onto play for Lowestoft Town and Stowmarket Town Captained the side to the play off’s for the first time in 10 years in 2023-24 before going one better last season and seeing the side to promotion
MIKEY DAVIS D.O.B 05-10-1999: Joined in the summer of 2024 from Cambridge City Mikey was with EFL side Grimsby Town as a scholar but after leaving the Mariners he joined both Haverhill club, initially playing for Borough and then to Rovers His performances prompted higher level Cambridge City to sign him in November 2018.
TOMMY HUGHES D.O.B 28-10-2000: Tommy joined Bury Town from King’s Lynn Town in the summer of 2025. Made 71 appearances for the Linnets between 2023-25 in the National League North, but returns to Ram Meadow having previously had a short loan spell with us in 2018 from the Ipswich Town academy, making 5 appearances. Has also spent time on loan at Torquay United
RYAN JOLLAND D.O.B 20-09-1996: 27 year old midfielder who started out with the Ipswich Town academy before joining our partnership academy at West Suffolk College. Ryan has now gone on to serve the club for 10 years and play an important part in regaining our step 3 status
MAX MAUGHN D.O.B 26-06-2001: Max is now into his 6th year with the club, having joined in the summer of 2019 after being released by Colchester United. Over the years he has gone on to become a mainstay of the team, an exciting midfielder who is popular with the fans, who creates plenty of chances with his pace down the wing.
ETHAN MAYHEW D.O.B 27-02-2002: Ethan joined the club from Hadleigh United of the Thurlow Nunn League in the summer of 2023 A highly rated prospect who was a product of the AFC Sudbury academy, who has gone on to establish himself in our midfield over the last three seasons.
MEET TODAY’S OPPONENTS
JAMIE McGRATH D.O.B 15-09-1998: Jamie joined in October 2025, transferring across from Needham Market. A striker that spent 3 years at Needham, helping them to the Southern League Premier Central title in 2023-24.
LEWIS O’MALLEY D.O.B 06-11-2001: Lewis joined from local rivals AFC Sudbury in July 2022, having captained their side to the first round of the FA Cup A tough defender who is one of the first names on the team sheet each week.
TAYLOR PARR D.O.B 18-12-1993: Primarily playing as a centre half, Taylor was with Cambridge United as a youth player before playing two seasons at Royston Town He then spent 3 seasons as part of a successful St Neots Town side before making a move back to Royston Town. He moved to Cambridge City in 2021 and spent three years with them, making 107 appearances and scoring 14 goals before joining us in the summer of 2024.
GEORGE QUANTRELL: D.O.B 30-08-2002: George joined in the summer of 2025 from fellow Southern League Premier Division side Leiston. He scored 20 goals from an attacking midfield position last season but this season opted to join us at Ram Meadow, and will be looking to perform similar this season.
CEMAL RAMADAN D.O.B 02-01-1997: Cemal has led our forward line for the best part of 10 years, having made his debut on loan from Ipswich Town in November 2015, scoring away at Waltham Abbey Spent the next season away before rejoining permanently in the summer of 2017 and has now gone on to score over 150 goals for the club. Cemal has been our leading goal scorer for the past six seasons in a row
JOE WHITE D.O.B 17-10-1996: Joe has been with the club for 10 years now, having worked his way up through to youth system after being with Ipswich Town at a young age A well-respected tough-tackling defender who has been loyal to his hometown club for a number of years
HISTORY OF BURY TOWN
TTHE HISTORY OF BURY TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB - FOUNDED 1872:
Bury Town FC was founded by Mr William Lake at a meeting at the Suffolk Hotel in 1872, making the club one of the oldest non-league clubs currently still in existence in England
The first official name of the club was Bury St Edmunds FC and royal blue and white were chosen as the club’s official colours. The clubs first home ground was located on Kings Road, and was also known as the Cemetery Road ground The Club was a founder member of the Suffolk County Football Association in 1885.
A notable player for the club in the early days was Reginald De Courtney Welch who appeared as a defender for Bury St Edmunds in 1877. De Courtney Welch was a member of The Wanderers side that won the first ever FA Cup in 1872 and he also played in the first ever official international match for England, against Scotland in November 1872
The club played in various local leagues until it became a founder member of the Eastern Counties Football League in 1935 The Club spent 22 consecutive seasons in the League, winning the League Challenge Cup in two occasions in 1961-62 and 1963-64
Kings Road was the first football ground in East Anglia to operate floodlights when on Monday 12th January 1953, the Blues played their first ever floodlit game against Cambridge City in front of 2,105 spectators. A total of 14 bulbs of 1500 watts illuminated the Suffolk skyline for the first time and history was created The lights were financed by the Bury Town Supporters Club..
The 1963-64 season was a memorable one for the club as it lifted the ECL league championship, the League Cup and the Suffolk County FA Premier Cup to record an historic treble
HISTORY OF BURY TOWN
This success saw the club elect to move to the Metropolitan & District Football League for the 1964-65 season and it was another period of success as the Club won the Metropolitan League championship in 1965-66 and 1968-69. There was another treble in 1965-66 as along with the championship, the Club won the Metropolitan League Cup and the Suffolk Premier Cup again.
In 1968, the Blues reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup and drew Third Division side Bournemouth & Boscombe at Kings Road. 3,000 spectators assembled and witnessed Bury hold the Football League side to a goalless draw. The replay saw Bournemouth win through by 3 goals to 0 at Dean Court.
After the Metropolitan League folded at the end of the 1970-71 season, the Club joined the Southern Football League for the first time in their history. Success at the higher level was harder to come by and after 5 seasons, the Club elected to drop back down to the Eastern Counties League
On Wednesday 28th April 1976, Bury Town played their final match at the historic Kings Road ground when West Ham United were the visitors. 1,750 watched on as the sides drew 2-2, and a pitch invasion signalled the end of the Blues spiritual home
It was another two years before the club had a permanent home, with the proposed new ground at Ram Meadow under construction During this time the club were forced to play home matches on a local heath with a blanket collection before each game the only source of income and the club was in very real danger of ceasing to exist
Thankfully the new home at Ram Meadow was completed and opened in 1978 and was celebrated with a visit from FA Cup holders Ipswich Town who paraded the trophy around the pitch before the opening game
HISTORY OF BURY TOWN
The Club stayed in the Eastern Counties League from 1976 to 1987. During this period the Club set the Ram Meadow record attendance when they took on Enfield FC in a 4th Qualifying Round FA Cup Replay. 2,500 packed into the ground with many more outside. The ground was creaking at the seams as Enfield won 1-0 to progress
The Blues were promoted back to the Southern League for the 1987-88 season after finishing 3rd in the Eastern Counties League. Despite a promising first few seasons, the Club struggled at this level, finishing bottom of the Southern Division in 1992-93 and 1993-94 In 1995, the Club swapped places with Forest Green Rovers to move into the Midland Division, but fortunes did not favour any better and the club were relegated back to the Eastern Counties League for the 1995-96 season.
After some early seasons of struggle, the Club turned the corner with the appointment of former Colchester United captain Richard Wilkins. He led the club to consecutive runners-up spots in 2004-05 and 200506 and also the Semi Final of the FA Vase, narrowly going out over two legs to Hillingdon Borough.
At the end of the 2005-06 season, the club’s board decided to accept promotion to the Isthmian Football League for the first time in the club’s history. They entered in the newly re-organised Division One North and spent two seasons there before an FA re-organisation saw the Club moved to the Southern League for their third spell of membership.
It was during this spell that the Club reached the FA Cup First Round Proper for the second time in its history, progressing through five qualifying rounds before bowing out at Alfreton Town
HISTORY OF BURY TOWN
TThe 2009-10 season saw the Blues storm to the Southern League Midland Division championship recording 102 points and with it promotion to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League, clinching the title at home on the final day of the season in front of 1,550 spectators against Marlow FC
The Club enjoyed a successful start to life at Step 3 in the Isthmian League and finished 3rd in 2010-11 season and 5th in the 2011-12 season, qualifying for the end of season Play Off’s on both occasions, but losing to Lowestoft Town and AFC Hornchurch respectively
The 2011-12 season saw the Club pick up honours in the form of the Isthmian League Challenge Cup, defeating the now defunct East Thurrock United 1-0 in the final at Staines Town’s Wheatsheaf Park.
The Club spent a total of 5 seasons in the Isthmian Premier Division and won the Suffolk County FA Premier Cup on three occasions in 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2013-14 before relegation in the 2014-15 season, with the side placed back in Division One North.
For the past 9 seasons, the club competed in the Isthmian Division One North. Despite some encouraging seasons, the Club did not come close to a return to step 3 until the appointment of former professional Cole Skuse, who led the club to runners up spot in the 2023-24 season, but the Blues were defeated in the Play Off’s by Brentwood Town.
The 2024-25 season saw the club again reach the Isthmian League play off’s, defeating Waltham Abbey 4-0 in the semi final and then a dramatic 93rd minute winner from Ed Upson saw the Blues clinch promotion with a 1-0 win over Brightlingsea Regent in front of 2,136.