There will be a lot more than just local pride at stake when Gorleston and Great Yarmouth Town go head to head in the first derby of the season at Emerald Park on Boxing Day morning.

It has been a disappointing season so far for the coastal rivals in the Premier Division of the Thurlow Nunn League after an exciting 2016-17 campaign that saw them both claim top five finishes.

Gorleston currently lie 16th in the table with 29 points from 20 games while the Bloaters are five points and three places below them, having played one more fixture.

Both sides will therefore be looking for a boost on Tuesday morning (11am kick-off) - especially as proposed league reorganisation could result in as many as seven teams going down in May.

Gorleston will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten league run to five games going into the derby when they welcome Coggeshall Town to Emerald Park tomorrow afternoon.

Coggeshall were promoted to the top flight at the start of the season and are currently the main challengers to runaway leaders Felixstowe and Walton.

The Essex side haven’t lost in the league since the beginning of September and have scored 13 goals in their last three matches so it will be a tough game for the hosts.

After the match the Christmas raffle will take place in the clubhouse, starting at 6.30pm.

Gorleston will have an extra match to play this season. The league have decided they must replay the home game against Fakenham because the Ghosts fielded two ineligible players in the original game, which they won 1-0.

The original result has now been removed from the league table.

Meanwhile Great Yarmouth Town warm up for the derby with a trip to Hadleigh, who are immediately below them in the table, tomorrow and could do with a lift after winning just one of their previous seven league fixtures.