Double Boost for Leiston as Key Duo Pen New Deals

Joe Marsden and Ollie Saunders have become the latest players to put pen-to-paper on new deals with Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central club Leiston.

Marsden, 30, re-joined Leiston in June 2021.

He had been a summer 2018 signing for Needham Market from Leiston.

He initially rose through the ranks of youth and reserves at Lowestoft Town, he moved on to appear for before re-joining the Trawlerboys in the summer of 2014 where he played Conference football.

Marsden said ‘it only feels right to stay’ as the popular defender/midfielder signed for the Blues for the forthcoming season.

Marsden, who has already made more than 150 appearances for Leiston, 45 of them last season, where he also netted 5 goals, signed on the dotted line and admitted he was pleased to do so.

“Last season was such an enjoyable one for us, it feels so right to stay,” he told his club’s website. “There’s a great dressing room at Leiston, one I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of. It’s also a club with exciting projects in progress, so it definitely feels like the right decision.

“As for the coming season, we know it will be tough. We’ve set our standards high, we now need to maintain, or even better them. We certainly believe we can, and we hope to see lots of fans turning out to support us.”

Marsden has proved a key cog for the Blues, on and off the pitch in recent seasons, where his popularity with everyone at Victory Road is well recognised.

Ollie Saunders has given a huge boost to the Blues, signing a new two-year deal with the club.

The 22-year-old former Lowestoft Town and Grimsby Town defender, who was voted both managers’ and committee’s player-of-the-year, put pen-to-paper, saying the decision was an “easy one” to make.

“I’m very happy to get this new contract signed,” he told his club’s website.

“The decision was an easy one after the year we had last year. It felt right to go again as a squad and try and go one better this season.

“We’re confident as a group to produce another good season and we will try and get the club to the next level, which the fans and everyone involved deserves.”

Saunders, who has made 126 appearances for the Blues, including 49 last season, had an impressive campaign just gone, and joint boss Chris Wigger is delighted to get his signature again: “Having Ollie commit to us for another two seasons is fantastic news.

“Ollie has continued to develop in mine and Darren Eadie’s time here and we both believe he still has more in the tank. Last season was his best so far and it’s players like Ollie that will continue to push this group onwards and hopefully upwards”.

Leiston Web Site