Football: Needham Market v Folkestone Invicta

Needham will want to get their 2017 up and running after a 5-1 thumping away at Leiston on January 2.

The Marketmen were undefeated in the seven matches before that though and are second in the table – though there opponents last time out have four games in hand on them and are enjoying a purple patch of their own this season.

Folkestone are solidly in mid-table having played a game less than their hosts this weekend. They have just two wins in their last seven in all competitions but were undefeated in the Ryman Premier during November.

The clubs’ previous meeting was in August, a 1-0 win for Needham.

Venue: Bloomfields, Quinton Road, Needham Market, IP6 8DA. Tickets: Adult £10, concession £6, child £3, under 12 free. Date: 3pm, January 7.

Rugby Union: Ipswich v Rochford Hundred

A close game could be in store here with Ipswich and their visitors separated by just three points and one place in the table (Ipswich 10th, Rochford ninth) after 12 games.

Ipswich will be hoping to burst out of the blocks and record a good result here in their first game of 2017 and also their first since December 17, with the London 2 North East league taking a break over Christmas along with the rest of the rugby world.

Both teams lost last time out so a win for either side will be a welcome boost.

Venue: Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich, IP4 3PZ. Tickets: Free. Date: 2pm, December 7.

Ice hockey: Chelmsford Chieftains v Invicta Dynamos

This is a clash of the top two sides with plenty at stake.

The Chieftains are four points clear of the visiting Dynamos at the summit and 11 points ahead of third-placed Streatham.

Add to that the fact Chelmsford have a game in hand over their opponents of Saturday evening and this weekend’s game is a chance to put even more clear daylight between them and the chasing pack.

The Dynamos will want to reign in that charge though so for them, a victory is crucial.

Chelmsford are bidding for a fourth consecutive title in the English National League One South, and have not finished outside the top two since the start of the 2010/11 season.

Saturday’s game is actually the first of a double-header for these two teams, who play the reverse fixture less than 24 hours later.

Venue: Riverside Ice and Leisure, Victoria Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1FG. Tickets: Adult £10.50, child £5.50, student £6.50, family (two adults, two children) £27, armed forces (via Tickets for Troops website) free. Date: 5.40pm, January 7.

Greyhound racing: Yarmouth Stadium

The track in Yarmouth offers greyhound racing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

You can watch from the grandstand or combine the racing with an evening in the stadium’s restaurant where you can watch the action while enjoying a meal.

This Saturday there are 14 races taking place with four of them offering trophies for the winner.

Part of the fun is the often amusing and unique names for the dogs and this weekend is no exception.

Who will you choose to support: Pawsome Tigalily, Gottabe Trouble or Do It For Twiggy?

Venue: Yarmouth Stadium, Yarmouth Road, Caister, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 5TE. Tickets: Adult £8, child free, senior citizen £6.50. Date: 7.30pm (first race), January 7.