Eastleigh FC

Forest Green Rovers 4 Eastleigh 1 Match Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh produced an excellent display in this F A Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay, the final score showing no reflection of the game that had taken place. With Andy Harris and Andy Forbes both fit enough to return to the starting line up this somewhat compensated for the loss of David Hughes from the side with a back injury, Robbie Marshall being the other alteration from the match some seventy-two hours earlier. Eastleigh had by far the better start. Matt Hann had already seen a shot deflected away for a corner before Eastleigh went ahead on the third minute. Chris Piper’s corner was only pushed to the edge of the box by home goalkeeper Ryan Robinson where Paul Sales produced an acrobatic over head kick that was again only parried by Robinson and Forbes was on hand to slot home the opening goal. Both sides produced some neat flowing football to make it an entertaining opening but neither goalkeeper were forced into h...

EASTLEIGH v FOREST GREEN ROVERS SATURDAY 27th OCTOBER 2007 FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round A cracking cup-tie at the Silverlake Stadium this afternoon, saw six goals shared between the two sides. With a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup at stake, both sides were determined to get their name in the hat for the draw. Before the game, Eastleigh were hit with the news that both Andy Forbes and Andy Harris would miss arguably the club’s biggest ever match through injury. This meant a place in the starting line up for Anthony Riviere and a return to the side for Rob Marshall, who was named as captain. Damian Scannell operated as a striker alongside Paul Sales. Just thirty seconds into the game, Eastleigh had a scare as Blue Square Premier leading goalscorer Stuart Fleetwood was gifted a clear opportunity. Luke Byles’ slip in front of goal saw the prolific marksman pounce on the mistake but fail to trouble Pullen from close range. Eastleigh might have had a penalty at the other end...

All of today's press releases can be found at the club's official website - http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk Player Information: Justin Bennett - has agreed to join Gosport Borough on a permanent basis, after the two Clubs negotiated an acceptable fee. We are pleased that Justin is well on the road to recovery from his long term injury, and wish him every success in the future - we will watch his progress with interest. Ian Oliver - is in the process of joining Farnborough on a loan basis, with a view to a possible permanent transfer. Again, we wish Ollie well for the future. Dani Rodrigues - has been released by the Club. Totti - has joined Brockenhurst, on loan. We will review his progress in one month. The statement continued. "It is anticipated that one or two other players will be offered for loan during the course of the next few weeks. One further piece of news. Wayne Shaw is now concentrating all his coaching efforts on our younger keepers, and Gareth Howells has be...

Weston Super Mare 0 Eastleigh 3 Match Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh scored a convincing three-goal victory away at Weston Super Mare. The home side were on the wrong end of a four goal defeat on Saturday so Eastleigh were expecting to be up against a side that were out for a quick recovery. Showing one change from the side that had beaten Lewes forty-eight hours earlier with Adam Everitt making his debut at the expense of Matt Hann, the opening half started as a tense affair. Weston had a good effort on nineteen minutes when a Craig Rand header from Ben Willshers free kick was saved by James Pullen. In response Chris Piper drilled a shot narrowly wide of the upright on the next attack. The game suddenly flourished to life with a host of chances at either end, the better ones falling the way of The Spitfires. Midway through the half a long range Marc McGregor shot was pushed up and then over the bar by Pullen, whilst Piper won the ball in the middle of the park and progressed some...

EASTLEIGH v LEWES SATURDAY 20th OCTOBER 2007 Blue Square South Sticking with the same eleven that made club history for Eastleigh last weekend in the 5-0 cup success, Ian Baird’s men took on the most consistent side in the division - an unbeaten Lewes sat at the top of the table going into this match. The opening exchanges were fast and furious with both sides competing well at a high tempo. The tackles were flying in from all directions from the first whistle with David Hughes on the receiving end of a dangerous tackle inside 60 seconds. Eastleigh begun the game well winning a couple of free kicks and a corner early on just about edging the play. On eight minutes, a late tackle by Paul Sales on Tom Selley led to a meleé on the halfway line which resulted in whistle-happy Harry Lennard producing the yellow card to both Paul Sales and Jamie Brown. Sales then went from villain to hero in an instant as he produced a moment of glory to give Eastleigh the lead. In the build up to the goa...

Thursday 18th October 2007 Home Draw but Rovers flying high - Eastleigh News Extra EASTLEIGH manager Ian Baird had mixed views after drawing a home tie against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday week, writes WENDY GEE. The Gloucestershire club notched their fifth win on the bounce 2-1 at Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday to go sixth in the Blue Square Premier and, in 15-goal former Hereford United striker Stuart Fleetwood, they boast the Conference national's leading marksman. "It could have been a better draw, but it could have been a lot worse - like Forest Green away!" said Baird. "I watched them on Setanta TV earlier in the season when Salisbury beat them 3-0, but all I know about them is that they're doing really well at the moment. We'll have them watched this Saturday. "The bonus for us is the game is at home, but having drawn Conference sides in the past, I know they're always very difficult games. "I...

FA CUP 4th QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW Following the emphatic 5-0 cup success over Clevedon Town at the weekend, Eastleigh were today handed a home tie with Blue Square Premier outfit Forest Green Rovers . Forest Green are currently 6th in the table having notched up five straight wins. The match will be played on Saturday 27th October at the Silverlake Stadium.

EASTLEIGH v CLEVEDON TOWN SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER 2007 FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round Eastleigh turned in a performance of the highest standard to rewrite history by reaching the fourth qualifying stage of the FA Cup for the first time ever. Following the midweek cup upset to Dorchester Town in the Setanta Shield, Ian Baird made three changes to the starting line up that lost 3-2 having been 2-0 ahead after 10 minutes. With the unsuccessful Chris Tardif moving on after just one game between the sticks for the Spitfires, James Pullen came back in to the side. Meanwhile, player-assistant manager David Hughes, one of the three goalscorers in the Hamworthy tie that helped to secure our place in today’s 3rd Qualifying round, returned along with Chris Piper who adopted a left back role. Both Anthony Riviere and Rob Marshall dropped to the bench. The warning signs were out for BGB Premier side Clevedon in the early stages of the game and indeed throughout the match. Matt Hann caused a problem...

- New Eastleigh Boss Brings in New Signings After failing to land Adam Everitt for Havant & Waterlooville during the summer, he has made short work of recruiting the 25-year-old former Luton Town left-back for his new club. And with former Portsmouth goalkeeper Chris Tardif moving on after just one trial game for Eastleigh, Baird has returned to his old club Havant for Gareth Howells, who will double up as goalkeeping coach and number two keeper to James Pullen. Everitt joined Cambridge City in the summer from Yeading, where he had been skipper and player-of-the-year. The signing of Fitzroy Simpson from Havant & Waterlooville has now gone through, but the former Jamaica, Manchester City and Portsmouth midfielder/defender is unavailable for tomorrow's FA Cup third qualifying round home tie against Clevedon Town.

Dorchester Town 3-2 Eastleigh Report by Ray Murphy A truly unbelievable game, all five goals scored in sixteen first half minutes and Eastleigh surrendering a two goal lead to become the victims of defeat in their first ever Setanta Shield fixture. Chris Tardif just signed from Oxford United was given his debut in goal allowing Jamie Pullen to rest having been an ever present so far this season. Anthony Riviere, Andy Forbes and Damian Scannell were all recalled to the starting line up following Saturday’s match at Bishops Stortford. Eastleigh started brightly, Forbes headed a Scannell cross just wide after only four minutes and they were in front with their next attack on eight minutes. It was the same combination with Riviere setting up Scannell to provide a cross from which Forbes slotted home. A minute later and The Spitfires were two goals ahead. Scannell again the provider, this time laying the ball into the path of Riviere to roll a shot past the advancing keeper Darren Behcet...

Following Ian Baird to Eastleigh is former Manchester City and Portsmouth midfield stalwart, Fitzroy Simpson. The 37-year old has joined up with the man who managed him for two seasons whilst at Havant and Waterlooville becoming the second man to join from our local rivals. This, following the arrival of Matt Gray who has taken up a coaching role here at the Silverlake Stadium. Speaking to the Echo, Ian Baird spoke highly of Simpson. In particular of his character and what he can bring to the Spitfires both on and off the pitch. Daily Echo Article by Wendy Gee FORMER Manchester City and Portsmouth midfielder/defender Fitzroy Simpson is set to follow manager Ian Baird from Havant & Waterlooville to Blue Square South rivals Eastleigh. Depending how negotiations fare between the clubs, the 37-year-old Jamaica international may feature in tonight's (7.45) Setanta Shield first round trip to Dorchester Town. Although Simpson made only 25 starts for Havant & Waterlooville after ...

Blue Square Announce “Player of the Month” Winners for September September was an exciting month for all three Blue Square leagues, which saw an unprecedented number of goals. Games in the Blue Square Premier averaged over three goals per game. There were a number of exciting comebacks and last minute dramas littered throughout the fixture list. Contributing to the excitement with 8 goals in 8 games was Forest Green striker Stuart Fleetwood who has been voted by fans as the Blue Square Premier “Player of the Month”. Stuart was in remarkable form towards the end of the month and he netted 5 times in 2 games as his side overcame Stevenage and Cambridge United at home. Fleetwood finished the month at the head of the scoring charts, with his team on the edge of the play-off positions. The award in the Blue Square North goes to Ciaran Kilheeney of Burscough. The former Manchester City trainee found the net 4 times in 5 games, as the division newcomers consolidated their good position i...

Eastleigh 2nd XI 6-0 Burgess Hill Town Res. Suburban Premier League TEAM: Andy Wynn, Jon Horner, Ian Oliver, Niall Bryant, Tom Roberts (c), James Screen, Aiden Sainsbury, Adam Sheppard, Totti, Justin Bennett, Dani Rodrigues SUBS: TJ McClory-Cuthbertson (on for Screen 58), Scott Waters (on for Sheppard 70), Zach Glasspool (on for Bryant 75). Unsed: Liam Winzar and Grant Porter Match Report by Jamie Montigue Boosted by several first team faces namely: Ian Oliver, Portuguese duo Totti and Dani Rodrigues, and Justin Bennett; Eastleigh's 2nd eleven put together a performance of the highest standard. Justin Bennett netted a fine hattrick in a match that the Spitfires fully controlled. Dani Rodrigues, Aiden Sainsbury and Totti were the other goalscorers as Eastleigh hit their opponents for six. This result coming just a week after their draw with league leaders AFC Wimbledon. With Burgess Hill sitting in fifth position going into this game, it came as a polite surprise to see ninth p...

Bishops Stortford 2 Eastleigh 2 Blue Square South Match Report by Ray Murphy The new management structure that saw Ian Baird and Matt Gray in overall charge for the first time, produced dividends on Saturday with a goal in the third minute of stoppage time by now assistant manager David Hughes giving Eastleigh a thoroughly deserved point from a battling display. A few eyebrows were raised before the game kicked off. It was the first start of any match this season for Jamie Brown having recovered from a hip injury incurred at the end of last season. In addition to that Andy Harris was occupying an unfamiliar right back role, with Rob Marshall switching back to the centre of defence and Chris Piper given a left flank role with Matt Hann on the right. Leading scorer Andy Forbes along with two absentees from last weekend Damian Scannell and Anthony Riviere were on the bench. It was a somewhat scrappy opening and neither side had created a chance until the nineteenth minute when the home...

In a report in today's Daily Echo it has been confirmed that our very own wing sensation, Damian Scannell will be staying with Eastleigh despite doubts over his furture at the club. Here is the snippet that will delight Eastleigh fans young and old:

Following a statement on the club's official website this afternoon, it has been confirmed that an agreement was met between both Eastleigh and Havant which sees Ian Baird take to the helm at the Silverlake Stadium as first team manager. Welcome aboard Ian! His first game in charge will be this Saturday's Blue Square South clash with Bishops Stortford away from home. The statement read: "Eastleigh Football Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Ian Baird as our 1st Team Manager. This follows the reaching of an amicable agreement with Havant & Waterlooville in respect of his contract with them. The Board would like to wish Ian a long happy and successful association with this Club. We would also like to thank David Hughes and Paul Doswell for their efforts this season, and we look forward to our new Management team achieving the success we all crave." - Baird confirmed as new Eastleigh boss

Board Statement from Official Website: http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk "The Board of Eastleigh Football Club can confirm that we have made an official approach to Havant & Waterlooville for permission to talk with Ian Baird, with a view to him becoming our 1st team Manager. This approach was made in the full knowledge and support of our existing Management team (David Hughes & Paul Doswell). The Club will make a further statement in due course." - Baird's on Brink of Shock Switch