Leiston skipper David Head has seen plenty of changes in his five seasons with the club.

Leiston skipper David Head has seen plenty of changes in his five seasons with the club.

From the Eastern Counties Premier, through into Ryman North and onto Ryman Premier, Head has seen much at the Victory Road club in recent years.

And on Boxing Day (1pm kick-off), it’s one of the biggest games of the season for Head’s Leiston side – a home clash against Lowestoft Town – guaranteed to attract a large crowd.

For Head it reminds him of days gone by on Boxing Day when Leiston used to play – Lowestoft Town – in the then Eastern Counties League!

“Both clubs have come along way in the last few years,” admitted Head.

“For me at Leiston things have got a lot more professional since I first joined. The club is almost a business really.

“We have gone up the pyramid whereas before I suppose we were just a small-town club.

“If you think of other smaller clubs in their leagues, like Braintree and Histon, then we are similar, with not the biggest budgets in the world, but with most of the best players from around the area.”

Calling a winner on Boxing Day will not be easy.

Lowestoft Town are having an up and down season in the Ryman Premier, but still sit in sixth position.

They have endured plenty of injuries recently and are grimly hanging on to the leaders, who are pulling away from the rest of the pack.

For Leiston, the picture is different.

After a poor start to the campaign, they have got their act together and new manager Steve Ball appears to have instilled confidence in the squad, with the team four games unbeaten and one of the league’s form sides.

“We knew Bally when he was with Mark Morsley with us here,” Head added.

“He’s likeable and some players just want to do well for him, that’s just some players’ nature.

“Things are done more professionally and his tie-up with Colchester United means he sees things at that level.”

Indeed Colchester United youth players Nnamdi Nwachuku and Jack Simmons are making quite an impact during their short-term loan at Victory Road, something Head appreciates.

“You don’t always know what you are getting with loan players from pro clubs, but the two Col U boys have been superb, with great attitudes,” he said.

Meanwhile Bury Town travel to Canvey Island on Boxing Day, 3pm kick-off, both sides neck and neck with each other in ninth and tenth places in Ryman Premier.

Richard Wilkins side are on a decent run of form in the League however, having lost just one of their last seven matches.

Canvey lost at Kingstonian last time out, although they did hammer Cray Wanderers 4-0 at home on their last home appearance.

Bury are back in home action at Ram Meadow on Saturday, with a 3pm kick-off against AFC Hornchurch.