The Christmas break is over, and already teams have been playing re-arranged fixtures to try to catch up with their schedules due to a horrendous few weeks before Christmas.

We will take a look at the men’s leagues first. Ipswich are in 7^th place in Premier A, 8 points clear of the relegation zone, but 18 points off top, it looks like a mid-table finish is almost certain for Ipswich, unless something drastic happens. Ipswich’s 2^nd team have worked their way up to 4^th place, with a game in hand on 3^rd placed Old Southendian who are only a point ahead, a good second half of the season could see them make a challenge for a return to Premier B. At the other end of the table Felixstowe are 3 points ahead of the drop zone, but will need to pick up some points against Dereham 2’s this weekend if they are to begin a climb up the table. Bury St Edmunds look doomed at the bottom of the table with only 3 points, they are 11 points behind Felixstowe and safety.

In Division 2 North Ipswich-East Suffolk are also in a relegation battle, 9^th is their current position, but with the league being so tight they are only 3 points off 4^th. Keep your eyes on this division, I have a feeling it won’t be over until the last game of the season.

Division 3NE looks to be a two horsed race, with Sudbury and Gorleston almost certain to be promoted to Division 2 North. Ipswich 3’s who are 3^rd will be hoping that the top two have a drop in form. Ipswich Cranes have had a good first season in Division 3 following their promotion last year, they current sit in a respectable 5^th.

Finally Division 4NE see’s Lowestoft Railway 5 points clear with a game in hand, I think it’s safe to assume that their next stop will be Division 3!

Ipswich Ladies will return to Outdoor National League action in February with a double header at home to Sevenoaks, and away to Cambridge City. Ipswich are just one point off Surbiton in top spot, and with Chelmsford level and Sevenoaks 2 points behind, the league is extremely tight.

In the East Premier, Lowestoft Ladies and Ipswich 2’s have 19 points each, and appear to be safe. With Dereham sat rock bottom of the National League, and the next 4 clubs above them being from the East, it would appear that the National League relegation play-off will be of interest to our East Premier clubs. If the team who finishes 9^th in the East Conference fail to win a 3 way play-off with the 9^th place teams from the West and the North, 5 teams will be relegated from the East Premier. This means that 8^th place will be relegated, and if this is the case Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury will need to have a seriously good run to get themselves out of the drop zone.

Ipswich 3’s and Ipswich-East Suffolk are also in the relegation zone, but they are both not that far behind and hopefully a string of good results will see them both climb up the table.

Carlton Park are hunting promotion, with 10 games to go the are sat in 2^nd, but with teams below having games in hand they could be in for a close end to the season. They are only 2 points off Norwich City, which means 1^st place isn’t totally out of the question. Christchurch are in 10^th, just above the relegation zone, but Haverhill are bottom, both will be hoping for a few victories early on to aid their survival chances.

In the Suffolk Premier league Sudbury Ladies 2’s have put themselves in contention of restoring their East league status, they are currently 5 points clear. Their 3^rd team however appear to be favourites to accompany Lowestoft Ladies 3’s to Divison 1 for next season.