WITH Ipswich Town having an away match on December 27th, and then an evening kick-off on Monday, December 30th, there are plenty of local matches for Suffolk sides across the festive period, including a number of derbies which should provide thrilling viewing.

There are five local derbies scheduled for Boxing Day alone – two of them in the Isthmian League North Division – as Felixstowe & Walton United entertain Ipswich Wanderers in the east of the county, while in the west it’s Mildenhall Town hosted Bury Town.

There are two more in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division as Hadleigh United host Brantham Athletic and Long Melford, under new management, welcome Walsham Le Willows.

However, arguably the game of the day is the Southern League Premier Central clash between Leiston and Lowestoft Town, while AFC Sudbury are also at home.

Both Bury Town and Ipswich Wanderers have important home matches on Saturday 28th December, and will be hoping for good crowds given Ipswich Town are away on 27th and home on 30th December.

In the Thurlow Nunn League, there are four all-Suffolk ties – three in the Premier Division at Brantham Athletic, Cornard United and Kirkley & Pakefield who host Long Melford, Stowmarket Town, and Woodbridge Town respectively, while Framlingham Town welcome Whitton United in Division One North.

There are games across all divisions of the Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League on December 28th, including four in the Senior Division. All SIL games kick off at 1:45pm.

The New Year opens with a couple of cracking-looking local derbies as Lowestoft Town face off against AFC Sudbury in the Southern League Premier Central and it’s the top-of-the-table Isthmian League North Division clash between Bury Town and Felixstowe & Walton United. Ipswich Wanderers welcome Essex rivals Brightlingsea Regent to The Doucy.

New Year’s Day also sees National League North action as Needham Market host Peterborough Sports, before welcoming Curzon Ashton three days later.

Both AFC Sudbury and Leiston are at home in the Southern League Premier Central on Saturday, January 4th, while there are home fixtures for Felixstowe & Walton United and Mildenhall Town, who welcome Newmarket Town, in the Isthmian League North Division.

There are two outstanding county cup matches and it’s also the second round of the Morrison Freight Cup in the Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League.

Women’s football returns the following day with home matches for both Ipswich Town and Needham Market and seven scheduled games in the Suffolk Girls’ & Women’s Football League.

Veterans' matches also restart on the first Sunday of the new year, with a comprehensive fixture list across all divisions.

Spectators attending all matches are advised to check the match is on via the club or league website or social media feeds prior to travelling.

Action is pictured above from the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round 2-2 draw between Bury Town (blue shirts) and Felixstowe & Walton United (red & white striped shirts) at the Getaway Cars Stadium back in August. The two teams meet in Isthmian League North Division at the same venue on New Year’s Day.

 Festive Fixtures

Only fixtures where Suffolk sides are at home are included. Sides not in Suffolk appear in italics. Kick-off 3pm unless stated otherwise:

Thursday, December 26^th

Southern League Premier Central Division

AFC Sudbury v Bishop’s Stortford (1pm)

Leiston v Lowestoft Town (1pm)

Isthmian League North Division

Felixstowe & Walton United v Ipswich Wanderers (1pm)

Mildenhall Town v Bury Town (1pm)

Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division

Hadleigh United v Brantham Athletic (11am)

Lakenheath v Thetford Town (11am)

Long Melford v Walsham-le-Willows (12noon)

Saturday, December 28^th

Southern League Premier Central Division

Lowestoft Town v Barwell (1pm)

Isthmian League North Division

Bury Town v Concord Rangers

Ipswich Wanderers v Tilbury

Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division

Brantham Athletic v Long Melford

Cornard United v Stowmarket Town

Kirkley & Pakefield v Woodbridge Town

Thurlow Nunn League Division One North

Framlingham Town v Whitton United

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division

Halesworth Town v Debenham LC (1.45pm)

Henley Athletic v Haughley United (1.45pm)

Leiston St Margarets v Coplestonians (1.45pm)

Sporting 87 v Grundisburgh (1.45pm)

Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League Division One

Capel Plough v AFC Kesgrave (1.45pm)

Kirton Athletic v Stanton (1.45pm)

Saxmundham Sports v Woolverstone United (1.45pm)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Essex & Suffolk Border League Division One

Cavendish v Frinton & Walton (2pm)

Wednesday, January 1^st 2025

National League North Division

Needham Market v Peterborough Sports

Southern League Premier Central Division

Lowestoft Town v AFC Sudbury

Isthmian League North Division

Bury Town v Felixstowe & Walton United

Ipswich Wanderers v Brightlingsea Regent

Friday, January 3^rd 2025

Thurlow Nunn League Division One North

Haverhill Borough v Stanway Pegasus (7.45pm).

Saturday, January 4^th 2025

National League North Division

Needham Market v Curzon Ashton

Southern League Premier Central Division

AFC Sudbury v Banbury United

Leiston v Stratford Town

Isthmian League North Division

Felixstowe & Walton United v Grays Athletic

Mildenhall Town v Newmarket Town

Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division

Hadleigh United v Soham Town Rangers

Long Melford v Harleston Town

Walsham Le Willows v Heacham Town

Woodbridge Town v Cornard United

Thurlow Nunn League Division One North

Haverhill Rovers v Holland FC

Whitton United v Needham Market Res

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League Morrison Freight Cup Second Round

AFC Kesgrave v Henley Athletic (1.30pm)

Bacton United 89 v Old Newton United (1.30pm)

Capel Plough v Stowupland Falcons (1.30pm)

East Bergholt United v Haughley United (1.30pm)

Framlingham Town ‘A’ v Gipping Gnats (1.30pm)

Halesworth Town v Kesgrave Kestrels (1.30pm)

Ipswich Wanderers Development v Wenhaston United (1.30pm)

Kirton Athletic v Debenham LC (1.30pm)

Saxmundham Sports v Elmswell (1.30pm)

Sporting 87 v Claydon (1.30pm)

Tattingstone United v Leiston St Margarets (1.30pm)

Thurston v Achilles (1.30pm)

Wickham Market v Grundisburgh (1.30pm)

Gateway 14 Suffolk & Ipswich League Division One

Cockfield United v Somersham (1.45pm)

Woolverstone United v Stanton (1.45pm)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Parkers Pitches Suffolk Junior Cup Third Round

Exning United v Beccles Caxton (1.30pm)

McDonald’s Suffolk Primary Cup Third Round

Hundon Res v Ipswich Exiles (1.30pm)

Lowestoft & District League sponsored by Lauren Lou Storage Facilities Mick Johnson Knock Out Cup

Bungay Town U23s v Electra (1.30pm)

Corton & Carlton Colville Development v Beccles Town ‘A’ (1.30pm)

Lowestoft & District League sponsored by Lauren Lou Storage Facilities Division One

Mutford & Wrentham Res v Bohemians (1.30pm)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division

Sudbury Sports v Brightlingsea Town

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division

Bungay Town v Wroxham Res (1.30pm)

Cambridgeshire County League Senior A

Haverhill Rovers Res v West Wratting Res (2pm)

Cambridgeshire County League Senior B

Thurlow v West Abington United (2pm)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Sunday, January 5^th 2025

Ipswich Sunday Football League Premier Division

AFC Bergholt v Borussia Martlesham (10.30am)

Bourne Vale United v Ipswich Galaxy (10.30am)

Fat Cat v Shotley Rose (10.30am)

Holbrook Swan v Kitchener Taverners (10.30am)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Bury & District Sunday League Open Cup

Bury Town Bisons v Hardwick (10.30am)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division

Ipswich Town v Exeter City (2pm)

East Region Women’s Football League Premier Division

Needham Market v Haringey Borough (2.30pm)

Suffolk Girls’ & Women’s Football League Premier Division

Capel Plough v Bury Town Community (2pm)

Needham Market Development v AFC Kesgrave (2.30pm)

Stowupland Falcons v Brantham Athletic (2pm)

Suffolk Girls’ & Women’s Football League Championship Division

Bacton United 89 v Saxmundham Sports (2pm)

Coplestonians v Halesworth Town (2pm)

Ipswich Valley Rangers v Brantham Athletic (2pm)

Kesgrave Kestrels v Ramsey & Mistley (2pm)

Norfolk Women & Girls’ Football League Women’s Division One

Bungay Town v Costessey Sports (2pm)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans' League Premier Division North

Lowestoft Casuals v Spexhall Huntsman & Hounds (2pm)

Waveney ETC v Lowestoft Town (2pm)

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans' League Premier Division South

Bury Town v AFC Hoxne (2pm)

Whitton Colts v Ransomes Sports (2pm)

Woodbridge Town v Ipswich Wanderers (2pm)

Matches in other divisions are also scheduled