Charlie Smy | 2025/26 Q+A #1 | 08.05.2026 |

Reserves and Under-18's midfielder Charlie Smy reflects on 2025/26.

DK: How did you find the season from a personal perspective (Res/U18s) - arguably a successful one?

CS: Yeah I think it’s been a very good season, with the 18s in particular as we managed to get to the second round proper which was a massive achievement and also to win the league undefeated. Reserves season was a tough one but a good learning experience nevertheless.

DK: Can you pick 3 standout games from this season, if so which ones and why?

CS: 1- Erith Town in the first round proper - I thought we dominated the game from start to finish and it was a really good 4:0 display from the boys.
2 - County cup vs Sudbury- it was a very tough game and I was buzzing to get a goal and to go on to win it on penalties a very good moment.
3- Second round of the fa youth cup vs Southend - it was a very good opportunity to play against a very strong side in the second round proper and it was a good experience to play in front of so many people at Bloomfields. 

DK: How do you think this season ranks within your previous seasons at the club?

CS: I think this season has been a good one mainly due to the success in the cup run with the 18s and the league title and it’s a season that I will remember for a long time.

DK: Similarly, how'd you summarise your time at the club?

CS: It’s been a really positive experience, I’ve learnt a lot during my 2 years at the academy which I can take forward into my footballing career.

DK: What'd you make of the season for the Reserves?

CS: It’s been a season full of ups and downs with some good performances not getting the points they should have. However there’s also a lots of things I’ve learnt from the reserves season this year.

DK: A very historic season for the U18s - how proud are you overall?

CS: I’m very proud of the 18s season and to do it with the boys makes it so much more special. Definitely a season to remember.

DK: How special was it being part of that impressive FA Youth Cup run, the best the club's ever had?

CS: It was very special, obviously making history for the club in that competition was a massive goal for us at the start of the year and thanks to all the coaching staff that helped us along the way, we managed to get to the second round which is a very good accomplishment.

DK: Unfortunate to not quite retain the Suffolk Midweek Cup, but you must be otherwise proud of that run?

CS: We had a good run in the competition, with some big wins like the ones against Sudbury and Lowestoft but we were very disappointed to lose the final, a game where we never really found our rhythm. 

DK: An unbeaten U18 League Champion campaign though, how does that feel?

CS: It’s very good to win the league and to do it unbeaten makes it much more impressive.

DK: A largely unchanged team over the previous seasons, how much has that consistency and togetherness played a part in the success?

CS: All of us boys go to college together and it’s brought us all a lot closer over the 2 years we’ve been here which I feel has played a massive part in all of our success.

Needham Market U18 v Hadleigh United U18 | 16.04.2026 | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Central Division | Bloomfields |

Needham Market Under-18's overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat title rivals Hadleigh United 3-2 and move within 3 points of the summit with 5 games left to play.

Luke Betts' side have now won 12 of 13 league outings in the Thurlow Nunn Youth Central Division, drawing the other.

Dennet (8') and Youngs (33') gave the league leaders the lead, though James Coton's brace (39', 68') wiped it out.

Flynn Bobby (79') turned the game on its head, heading home at point blank range for an important win for the young Marketmen.

Jim Gregory (3') saw a close range shot from the left-hand side deflected just wide, while Riley Dennet's following corner was on target only to be denied by Bloom.

Flynn Bobby (5') however was fed into space down the left wing, whose low cross was cut out for a throw in, though Dennet intercepted an under-hit back pass (8') to slot into the bottom right-hand corner.

Brad Smith (9') in reply hit a low strike straight at the keeper from outside the box, as Flynn Bobby (10') jinked into space on the left-hand edge of the box only to fire narrowly wide of the bottom near corner.

Needham arguably had the better of the possession since the goal (16'), Charlie Smy was found after neat passing unmarked outside the area only to fire just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

Jake Bloom (17') meanwhile was on hand to re-adjust and divert a long shot behind for a corner, as Needham went close (20'). A partially cleared Bobby right wing corner fell to Evan Gledhill to loop a clever side-footed lobbed strike at goal, though the keeper reacted well to just hold on his line.

Harry Hopkins (22') drew a smart stop from the keeper soon after, the midfielder's ferocious strike from distance was tipped just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

Bobby's resulting corner caused more havoc, albeit flick on at goal was deflected agonisingly just wide of the bottom far corner - which Bobby's set-piece was headed just over at the far post.

Great work from Oscar Wakeling (24') won back possession high up the right wing, which James Coton latched onto the loose ball to play a smart one-two with the former to drive freely into a shooting position, but to slice his shot wide.

Wakeling (26') then received the ball in space to shoot, which was blocked.

Needham continued to pile the pressure on (28'), Brad Smith's clever throw released Gledhill down the right-hand side, spinning his man excellently to cross for Wakeling who controlled it well but shot just agonisingly wide of the top far corner.

Hadleigh (33') doubled their lead rather against the run of play, Jervel Youngs challenged Jake Bloom for the ball from a long range free-kick before finding the unguarded net.

Wakeling (35') floated a dangerous right wing cross towards goal, which was tipped away crucially, before a big stop (36') thwarted Hadleigh at close range.

Bloom (39') held onto Youngs' header from Dennet's left wing free-kick, as Needham halved the deficit moments later.

A right wing cross picked out James Coton arriving at the far post to wrap home into the bottom far corner from an acute angle.

Needham (41') saw a close range header following a right wing cross seemingly tipped over, but for a goal-kick to be given, as Bloom (42') held onto a low tame strike at his left-hand post.

Evan Gledhill (45') was denied by a sharp save from the keeper, again turned passed his man on the right-hand side before dinking a great strike towards the top far corner only for the keeper to tip it onto the inside of the post to bounce back into his grateful gloves.

Gledhill (45'+2') spun into space only to fire narrowly over from inside the box to end the first half.

Wakeling (52') exploited space, albeit shooting low and straight at Bell at his near post, as Gledhill (54') curled a free-kick from just outside the box narrowly over.

Bloom (63') meanwhile was forced into an incredible stop, launching low to his right-hand side to tip a thunderous volley behind, as two crucial blocks a minute later, one from Drake at close range, denied Hadleigh from the resulting corner.

Coton (68') rifled Needham level. After Gledhill, Wakeling and Smy - the duo playing a smart one-two - linked up nicely, Coton was threaded through down the right-hand side by the forward to lash home into the bottom far corner.

Bobby's (71') good left wing free-kick was met by Fiddy leaping highest at the far post whose header was held by Bell, as Bobby (74') headed Needham in front.

Henry Vieira's great right wing cross was headed in off the underside of the crossbar by Flynn Bobby at close range to give Luke Betts' side a 3-2 lead.

Wakeling (76') fired straight at Bell, while Bobby's cross-shot was held by the keeper (79').

Gledhill (80') saw a low shot from a tight angle held by Bell, as Needham smashed narrowly over (81').

Fletch Stalford (83') fired over from outside the penalty area, as Hopkins' (85') far post header was headed off the line from Bobby's left wing corner as appeals for a penalty wwere waved away.

Needham remained on top, Henry Vieira (87') darted through onto the left-hand only for his low cutback to be turned behind for a corner, which was nodded wide of the far post by Drake.

Gledhill intercepted Bell's clearance (89'), though the stopper recovered to dive and gather the ball before it could trickle over his goal-line.

Bloom (91') advanced to claim a long range free-kick.

Needham Market return to league action on Thursday, at home to Ipswich Wanderers (7:45pm).


Needham:- 1 Jake Bloom, 2 Brad Smith, 3 Tyler Wright, 4 Kellen Fiddy (C), 5 Xavi Drake, 6 Charlie Smy, 7 Flynn Bobby, 8 Harry Hopkins, 10 James Coton (73' Vieira), 14 Oscar Wakeling, 19 Evan Gledhill. Subs: 9 Henry Vieira, 15 Kyle Roper, 16 Riley Parker, 17 Alfie Mark. 88' Smy & Bobby off for Parker and Mark.

Hadleigh:- 1 Josh Bell, 2 Alex Spraggons, 3 Theo Stalford, 4 Zach Simpson, 5 Alfie Tynan (C), 6 Luke Hyde, 7 Hasim Koksal, 8 Riley Dennet, 9 Jervel Youngs, 10 Rico Aubrey, 11 Jim Gregory. Subs: 12 Fletch Stalford, 14 Daniel Senah, 15 Charlie Smith, 16 Tyce Aubrey, 21 Oli Rose.

Booked: H GK (44'), Bobby (79')
Goals: James Coton (39', 68'), Flynn Bobby (74'); Dennet (8'), Youngs (33')

Brantham Athletic U23 v Needham Market Under-23s | 17.04.2026 | JLS Catering Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Final | Walsham Le Willows |

Needham Market U23's valiant performance ended in defeat to double winning Brantham Athletic U23's in the JLS Catering Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup Final.

A good showing from Simon Nunn's side started well for the young Marketmen, who broke the deadlock on 23 minutes through Zak Tamila, only to be pegged back just before the break.

A brace from Adam Wrathall meanwhile turned the tie in the unbeaten Imps' favour with a brace, who had not lost all season, and won the cup last season.

Jake Bloom (2') claimed a left wing cross on his line, who then comfortably held onto a low left wing cross.

Brantham (6') shot wide of the bottom left-hand corner, as Aston Seymour (7') broke through down the left-hand side but his shot was deflected just wide of the bottom far corner.

Olly Bowman (11') was released through on the left-hand side but was dispossessed just before he could shoot.

Brantham skipper Oughton (15') was sin binned, during which Needham grew into the game well and broke the deadlock (23'), Leyton Coote was threaded clear through down the left wing to cross low on a plate for Zak Tamila arriving at the far post to cleverly lash home into the bottom far corner.

Oliver Seymour (37') was offside as he finished one on one inside the box, while Brantham (39') wrapped a low free-kick from the left-hand edge of the box narrowly wide of the bottom near corner.

Michael Guscins (43') however equalised, after being threaded through by Morton onto the right-hand side the former slid home into the net to end a fairly even first half.

Brantham (53') took the lead, after a good close range save from Bloom Adam Wrathall turned home the rebound.

Zak Tamila (58') saw a ferocious strike from an in-direct free-kick blocked, while the goalscorer weaved into space from the loose ball but was dispossessed.

Tamila (65') saw a low shot from the right-hand edge of the box held by the keeper, while Konik was fed in space onto the left-hand side of the area only to curl a shot straight at the keeper at head height (67').

Leyton Coote (67') then saw a low shot from distance on the left saved by the keeper, gathering at the second attempt, though Wrathall netted his second (72') to make it 3-1.

The Imps drove down the right-hand side before Wrathall smashed home off the underside of the crossbar.

Zak Tamila (83') was threaded through on goal down the right-hand side whose clever lobbed effort over the onrushing keeper went agonisingly just over the top far corner.

Leyton Coote (85') raced through close to goal but saw his shot smothered away by the keeper, as Kaio Brittain (91') swerved an excellent strike from distance just over.

The two sides meet again on Tuesday (28th April, 7:45pm) at Brantham in the league.

Brantham - 22 Preston Palmer, 30 Sam Morton, 32 Callum Freak, 24 Cohen Cooper-Macklin, 34 Kenzie Oughton (C), 31 Michael Guscins, 23 Liam Battersby, 33 Josh Hawkins, 25 Adam Wrathall, 27 Oliver Seymour, 35 Aston Seymour. Subs: 26 Louis Gallant, 28 Ashton Ramsey, 36 Jack Moss, 41 Ryan Ward.


Needham:- 1 Jake Bloom, 2 Ben Mendrys, 3 Leyton Coote, 4 Zane Baker, 5 Riley Coote, 6 Jack Nunn, 7 Josh Tennial, 8 Aden Chandler, 9 Ned Howarth, 10 Olly Bowman, 11 Zak Tamila. Subs: 12 Seth Garza, 14 Daniel Thompson, 15 Danylo Konik, 16 Fenton Grimmer, 17 Kaio Brittain.

Booked: Josh Tennial (36'), Jack Nunn (71'), Konik (81').
Sin Binned: Kenzie Oughton (15').
Goals: Michael Guscins (43'), Adam Wrathall (53', 72'); Zak Tamila (23').
Att 200.

Needham Market U18 v Leiston U18 | 20.04.2026 | The Martello Ground Felixstowe Walton United | veo Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final |

Needham Market U18's third straight veo Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final ended in a high scoring 5-4 defeat to Leiston at Felixstowe.

Luke Betts' side took the lead early through Oscar Wakeling, but were pegged back by and eighth minute penalty, prior to going into the interval trailing 3-1.

Kell Fiddy struck early in the second half, though Leiston restored their two goal lead for 4-2.

Harry Hopkins meanwhile replied shortly after, scoring twice albeit either side of a Leiston fifth.

Kell Fiddy nearly sent the tie to penalties at the death, but hooked over the crossbar, with Needham also being denied numerous times by the woodwork.

Needham started brightly, Evan Gledhill's first minute low strike was initially spilt by the keeper, ahead of the striker's dangerous 25-yard fierce free-kick (3') being held by the keeper.

Leiston (4') shot wide from point blank range, before Needham broke the deadlock (6').

A mazy run from Oscar Wakeling, driving through the defence onto the left-hand side, drew the keeper off his line to slide home cooly into the bottom far corner.

Leiston (8') soon equalised from the spot, Jack McLeavy sent Skinner the wrong way to find the bottom right hand corner after a foul by Charlie Smy.

Wakeling (10') in reply had a ferocious dipping strike tipped over, which Flynn Bobby's resulting corner (11') was met by Olly Reynolds who glanced wide of the far post.

Leiston (18') volleyed fiercely over from outside the box, with a great block from Olly Bowman (20') denying a close range shot at goal.

An excellent tackle from Reynolds (22') cut out a counter attack at the expense of a corner, though Needham forced a strong save from the keeper (28').

Flynn Bobby weaved into space outside the area, only to see his thunderous low strike across goal shovelled behind by the keeper, low to his left.

Needham (29') had the ball in the net, albeit ruled out for offside against Harry Hopkins.

Charlie Smy's deep cross was glanced on by Hopkins for the arriving Olly Reynolds to turn home, but the flag was up against Hopkins.

Bobby's 32nd minute low strike was held by the keeper, prior to Skinner expertly holding onto a close range effort two minutes later.

The woodwork (35') prevented Gledhill from regaining Needham's lead, the striker jinked into space to bend an excellent strike destined for the top far corner only to clatter back into play off the inside of the post.

James Coton exploited space, though his low shot was saved (37'), albeit Leiston took the lead moments later - Ollie Long ran through one on one to find the roof of the net.

A slip at the back meanwhile saw Ewan Parlett free on the right-hand side to wrap a third home, into the bottom far corner after 41 minutes.

After the restart, Charlie Skinner (50') blocked a close range strike from an acute angle, prior to the woodwork again thwarting Needham at the other end (52').

Flynn Bobby's excellent left wing corner towards goal clattered off the inside of the near post, that trickled across the line but bounced out off the opposite post.

A spree of goals followed at both ends, with the two teams sharing 5 goals in the space of 16 minutes.

The first saw Bobby once more cause mayhem with a corner, Kell Fiddy rose highest among a chaotic six yard box to loop his header over the onrushing keeper and into the net, reducing the deficit to 3-2 after 56 minutes.

Leiston struck right back (57'), Stan Horne picked out the bottom far corner from close range to restore their two goal lead, but for Needham to reply once more on the hour mark.

Harry Hopkins lashed home into the bottom left-hand corner to reduce to deficit right back to 4-3.

Leiston (64') lashed wide of the bottom far corner, as the second half remained a very pulsating encounter.

The fifth, and ultimately decisive Leiston goal arrived in the 69th minute after a ball across from the left was cushioned over Skinner by Long at point blank range.

Needham responded three minutes later, setting up a dramatic 18 minutes. Olly Reynolds lofted an exquisite diagonal ball threading Hopkins through expertly on the far side of the box to expertly lob the keeper and find the top corner, picking up a brace in the process for 5-4.

Luke Betts' side then came a whisker away from an equaliser (77'), Gledhill's brilliant 25-yard free-kick curled round the wall, destined to find the top near, right-hand, corner but for the keeper to outrageously but deftly tip it onto the angle of post and bar, but for a goal-kick to be given.

Needham threw wave after wave of attacks at the Leiston goal, Gledhill (77') saw a fierce shot held, while Bobby's left wing corner (86') was met by Kellen Fiddy whose header was blocked off the line. Reynolds latched onto the rebound, although his header was held by the stopper.

A crucial block from Reynolds kept out Horne's goal-bound effort (89'), who'd rounded Skinner, followed by Leiston glancing a free-kick wide of the near post (92').

Skinner meanwhile narrowed down the angle to smother a shot behind for a corner two minutes later, before the young Reds went marginally close three times in the space of two minutes.

Gledhill broke into space at close range only to shoot wide (98'), ahead of a fantastic cross being glanced onto Fiddy only to hook agonisingly over at close range moments later.

Needham then swung a long range free-kick (90'+10') to the far post, just evading Skinner but falling to Brad Smith whose header at goal was comfortably pouched by the keeper.

A valiant performance in a thrilling cup final ended in defeat for Needham, who return to league action - at home to Ipswich Wanderers on Thursday (7:45pm), in pursuit of a second league triumph.

Needham: 1 Charlie Skinner, 2 Olly Bowman (65' Wright), 3 Brad Smth, 4 Kellen Fiddy (c), 5 Oliver Reynolds, 6 Charlie Smy, 7 Oscar Wakeling (70' Vieira), 8 Harry Hopkins, 10 James Coton (88' Tamila), 11 Flynn Bobby, 19 Evan Gledhill. Subs: 9 Henry Vieira, 14 Tyler Wright, 15 Fenton Grimmer, 16 Jack Nunn, 17 Zak Tamila.


Booked: L16 (83'),

Goals: Jack McLeavy (8'pen), Ollie Long (37', 69'), Ewan Parlett (41'), Stan Horne (57'); Oscar Wakeling (6'), Kellen Fiddy (56'), Harry Hopkins (60', 72').

Att 475.

Stowmarket Town U18 v Needham Market | 02.04.2026 | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Central Division | Greens Meadow |

Needham Market Under-18's continued their unbeaten Thurlow Nunn Youth League Central Division campaign with a 2-0 hard fought away win at local rivals Stowmarket Town. 

In truth, the young Marketmen were on top in the first half, but defended stoutly in the second half to bat off a good second half from the hosts, not only preserving their clean sheet - also grabbing a crucial second goal.

Harry Hopkins' header (23') gave Needham a deserved half-time lead, while Zak Tamila (76') was set through to wrap up an impressive tenth win from eleven league outings in 2025/26 for Luke Betts' side.

Danylo Konik (6') was fed through smartly down the left-hand side, only to curl his shot over the top far corner.

Oscar Wakeling (11') latched onto a through ball onto the right-hand side, but saw both of his close range efforts denied, the first smothered with the second tipped just over for a corner.

Zak Tamila (13') shot wide from outside the box, while Olly Bowman (14') rasped a ferocious strike back into the box which was deflected behind for a corner.

Needham (23') broke the deadlock, Olly Bowman's excellent right wing cross was headed back across by Oscar Wakeling for Harry Hopkins to head home from point blank range.

Needham nearly doubled their lead (26'), a right wing corner was superbly swung to the far post which Fenton Grimmer could only shoot agonisingly just wide of the top far right-hand corner.

The young Marketmen were denied a second by a great stop on 32 minutes, Leyton Coote's smart left wing cross was glanced goal wards by Wakeling but for Freddie Foreman in goal to leap high to his left-hand side to beat it away.

Underwood (36') however, fired a low free kick wide of the bottom left-hand corner from 30-yards out, in Stowmarket's first chance of note.

At the other end, Olly Bowman (37') was fed driving onto the right-hand side, but for his rifled strike to be swatted over by the sharp reactions of Foreman, as Tamila (40') flashed a good low strike from the right-hand side just wide of the bottom far corner.

While Needham controlled the vast majority of the first half, Stow (45') saw two close range shots blocked following a corner, though the loose ball was shot wide of the bottom corner, who then (45'+1') shot over from the edge of the box.

After the break - which Stowmarket arguably had the better of the play, Underwood (50') saw a low shot from outside the box deflected behind, as Coote (51') blocked Underwood's close range shot from the right-hand side.

Tom Simmons (54') fired low and narrowly wide, prior to Fenton Grimmer (56') weaving into space for the visitors only to wrap his shot over from just outside the Stow penalty area.

Needham skipper Olly Bowman (57') has a great chance to double his side's advantage, the full-back broke into space on the right, albeit dragged his shot just wide of the bottom far corner.

Dan Thompson (59') exploited space from 30-yards on the left-hand side to thump a great half-volley across goal, forcing Foreman to dive across and beat away.

Wakeling (60') was again denied by a solid stop from Foreman. Bowman's fantastic right wing cross found Oscar Wakeling whose low strike was destined to nestle into the bottom far corner until the stopper dived across to tip it wide.

Grimmer meanwhile (63') slid in at the vital moment to deflect Luke Simmons' low strike across goal, after darting freely onto the left-hand side, behind, while Stow fired low and wide from the resulting corner.

Wakeling (64') on the other hand went agonisingly close to making it 2-0, Tamila was fed down the right to square across for the forward arriving at point blank range, whose effort went just wide of the bottom near corner. 

Tom Simmons (66') wrapped a low 35-yard free-kick from distance, which Bloom watched well to get behind and hold onto, as Grimmer tracked back expertly (72') to block Simmons' shot.

Needham doubled their lead on 76 minutes, Zak Tamila was slotted through down the right-hand side past his defender to fire home into the bottom far corner. 

Grimmer (85') clear a goal-bound shot off the line, which Bloom gratefully gathered, as Stow fired over in the 89th minute.

Needham U18s travel to Walsham Le Willows on the 9th April (7:45pm).

Stowmarket:- 1 Freddie Foreman, 2 Morton Prentice, 3 Cameron Studd, 4 Fin Perry, 5 Caleb Wright, 6 Liam Turner, 7 Dan Harden, 8 Beau Szyszlyk, 9 Archie Underwood, 10 Tom Simmons, 11 Luke Simmons. Subs: 

Needham:- 1 Jake Bloom, 2 Olly Bowman (C) (73' Fox), 3 Leyton Coote, 4 Dan Thompson, 5 Fenton Grimmer, 6 Jack Nunn, 7 Zak Tamila (78' Mark), 8 Josh Tennial (68' Chandler), 9 Oscar Wakeling (68' Roper), 10 Harry Hopkins, 14 Danylo Konik. Subs: 15 Riley Parker, 16 Charlie Fox, 17 Alfie Mark, 18 Aden Chandler, 19 Kyle Roper.

Booked: Caleb Wright (8').

Goals: Harry Hopkins (23'), Zak Tamila (76')