Eastleigh FC

By Wendy Gee - full story in Ian Baird is hoping Eastleigh's funds will stretch to another new signing after securing the signature of utility man Steve Clark from Bromley this week. With Jamie Brown not yet up to playing two games a week after summer hip surgery and Andy Forbes still working his way back to fitness after a hernia operation, Baird wants another striker on board. "Ideally I'd love to bring in another forward, but it would be under the constraints of how much we can pay and whether the club would let me have £250 (a week) to go out and get someone," he said. "I've got a couple of people in mind and I've enquired about Manny Williams at Woking. "But the money he's on there is astronomical and we wouldn't even be able to afford half his wages." A local player from a lower league club would perhaps make more financial sense, but Baird said: "Would a player from say, Bashley or Totton want to come here if they're not...

EASTLEIGH v TOTTON & ELING TUESDAY 28th OCTOBER 2008 Hampshire Senior Cup 3rd Round By Ray Murphy Eastleigh eased through into the Quarter Finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup with this victory over Sydenhams Wessex League First Division's second placed Totton & Eling. Eastleigh grabbed six goals in the first half without reply before a goalless second period. Joe Maxwell who had grabbed a goal in the previous round opened the scoring after ten minutes applying a finishing touch after Totton could not get the ball cleared out of the area. A delicately placed shot into the top corner of goalkeeper Denis Wheeler's right hand side by Peter Adeniyi on seventeen minutes earned Eastleigh a second goal. Three minutes later a strike from Maxwell was too strong for Wheeler to hold as Eastleigh celebrated a third. Following a corner on twenty-four minutes Tony Taggart thundered home goal number four from the edge of the box. Ten minutes later Anthony Riviere controlled a difficu...

SUNDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2008 UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH LADIES 3-3 EASTLEIGH LADIES Eastleigh continued their unbeaten league run with a draw away to tough opposition Portsmouth University. On a day which saw continuous rain and wind, Eastleigh Ladies battled hard and scored within the first 5 minutes to the surprise of a strong opposition. The hosts soon equalised, but Eastleigh came back and levelled before going on to restore their lead. In an action packed first half, Portsmouth Uni. then pulled another back to make it level going into the break. The second half saw better football from Eastleigh who dug deep to see out the draw not after some good football from both sides, which saw both keepers tested throughout the match. In the end it was a tie, though Eastleigh were more than happy with that, Pompey Uni thought they should of have had a number of penalties. Speaking after the game, goalkeeper Alex Brooks commented: "I think that it was a good game against a very good side unde...

A club statement by Dave Malone confirmed the return of Warren Goodhind for the second time this season, and also news of a new signing. The statement read as follows: "We are pleased to announce the signing of Steve Clark from Bromley. We can also confirm that Warren Goodhind has also been retained, which we are able to do following the release of both James Baker and David Hughes. Both of these players have accepted terms that fall within the pay structure, which will be implemented from 1st November." Steve Clark, was born on the 10th February 1982. Profile from Bromley website: Comfortable anywhere across the back line, Steve was a member of West Ham’s very successful youth side of the nineties. He signed for Southend United in late 2001, where he spent three seasons, prior to spells at Hornchurch, Dagenham & Redbridge and Fisher Athletic. Began last season at Bromley before joining Chelmsford City where he helped them lift the Ryman Premier Division title. Returned...

Eastleigh Res. 2-1 Ashford Town (Middx) Res. Suburban Premier League TEAM: Fred Toomer, Adam Gatcumb, Aaron Blaxall, Adam Wiltshire, Aaron Martin ©, Scott Gilham, Joe Crook, Chris Mason, Andy Forbes, Ben White, Nick Watt Subs: Leonildo Simoes (on for Watt 84), Alex Easton (on for White 65), Fred Dukes, Samba M'Baye (on for Crook 75), Jon Webb By Jamie Montigue Eastleigh Reserves continued their eight game unbeaten run in the league in front of a good following of Spitfires fans due to the first team not having a fixture. Ian Baird's side were scheduled to play Team Bath this afternoon but as their Blue Square South counterparts were still in the FA Cup (where they emerged 1-0 victors over Eastleigh's local rivals Salisbury City), the Eastleigh first team were without a game. Hot-shot striker Andy Forbes came through a full 90 minutes, which again is very positive as he steadily comes back to full fitness. With first team manager Baird watching on, and the crowd making a lo...

EASTLEIGH v DORCHESTER TOWN TUESDAY 21st OCTOBER 2008 Blue Square South By Jamie Montigue Eastleigh's unbeaten home run in the Blue Square South finally came to an end against a Dorchester Town side who had lost four games on the bounce. Shaun Brook's visitors' last and only other win came over two months ago on the opening day of the season. Ian Baird's men had ended a run of three straight defeats (Chelmsford and the infamous two cup exits), with a positive performance and a 3-3 draw against high-flying Hayes & Yeading United at the weekend. Skipper Andy Harris was missing through suspension following the red card he picked up in the Setanta Shield versus Havant at the beginning of October. Meanwhile, Trevor Challis was back in the starting line up having served his ban; these the only changes to Saturday's starting eleven. The Spitfires dominated the first half but were unable to turn their domination into something that would ultimately show for it – a go...

EASTLEIGH v HAYES & YEADING UNITED SATURDAY 18th OCTOBER 2008 Blue Square South By Jamie Montigue This top of the table clash saw sixth placed Eastleigh take on third placed Hayes & Yeading United. Eastleigh have had a troublesome week or so with the exit of two important cup competitions leading to several cut backs being made due to the loss of what has been estimated at approximately £20,000. Spitfires legend David Hughes has already left the club this week by mutual consent as has six goal striker James Baker who is believed to have moved to Welling United. Warren Goodhind meanwhile, who was said to be released in a club statement last weekend, looks to see out the remainder of the month at the club before the reduction in wages at the beginning of November. The South African centre half lined up along side Tom Jordan this afternoon in the heart of the defence in place of the injured Trevor Challis. In attack Jamie Brown came in to fill the void left by the departed Ja...

By Adrian Kajumba - full stories in today's Ex-Saint Hughes leaves Eastleigh FORMER Saints midfielder David Hughes has left Eastleigh by mutual consent. The 35 year-old player/assistant manager, who has been instrumental in Eastleigh’s rise up the non-league pyramid in recent years, agreed to leave The Spitfires in order to help the club reduce its wage budget and at the same time try and get first team football elsewhere. The Spitfires financial problems have been well documented, with the club having lost a six-figure sum of sponsorship income and an estimated further £20,000 as a result of two cup defeats last week. Hughes joined Eastleigh in June 2002 from Saints where injury brought a premature end to his professional career. Back then Eastleigh were in the Wessex League but in Hughes' first season they won the title to earn promotion to the Southern League. While making over 250 appearances for the Stoneham Lane club, scoring 38 goals, Hughes also helped Eastleigh up ...

Eastleigh Football Club can today confirm that we have agreed (by mutual consent) to release David Hughes. As is typical of Hughsey, he has agreed to leave the Club in order to help reduce our costs and, at the same time, in order to ensure first team football for himself in the twilight of his career. David Hughes has been an integral part of the rise through the Leagues for EFC. Since joining the Club from Southampton in 2002, he has made well in excess of 250 appearances – many more than any other current player. He has also worked tirelessly to promote the Club, and was instrumental in encouraging other ex Saints players (Matt Le Tissier, Francis Benali, Jason Dodd et al) to adorn Eastleigh colours. During the past two seasons, Dave has acted as both Manager and Assistant Manager and has always been 100% behind the Club. This Club owes David Hughes an immense debt of gratitude, and of course we wish him well for the remainder of his career. He will always be welcome at the Silverl...

By Adrian Kajumba - full stories in today's Cash-strapped Eastleigh call for player loyalty EASTLEIGH director of football Dave Malone has called for a show of loyalty from the club’s players after they were told they will have to take a wage cut from next month. The bad news was delivered to the playing squad and coaching staff at an emergency meeting late on Monday in response to The Spitfires losing “a six-figure sum” of income from sponsorship as the effects of the credit crunch begin to take hold in the non-league game. That financial hit was compounded by two cup defeats last week, which cost the Stoneham Lane club £10,500 in prize money. Director of football Malone also predicted that, with the loss of gate receipts from at least two additional ties, the club has missed out on a total of £20,000. The double financial whammy resulted in the club having to come up with a way to “reduce the (wage) budget to an amount we are confident of sustaining.” A club statement on th...

BURGESS HILL TOWN v EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER 2008 FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round By Ray Murphy Eastleigh provided a disappointing performance to exit the F A Cup at the Third Qualifying Round stage at Ryman League Premier Division side Burgess Hill Town. Keeping faith with the starting eleven that had been defeated by Havant & Waterlooville four days earlier, James Baker passing a fitness test to take his place in the side. Eastleigh started on top. After two minutes Tony Taggart's free kick was turned away by home goalkeeper Craig Stoner. Seven minutes later Matt Bodkin's pass into Matt Groves saw the striker’s weak finish easy to collect for Stoner. A Taggart cross on seventeen minutes saw Baker's header saved by Stoner. On twenty minutes Anthony Riviere and Peter Adeniyi exchanged passes on the edge of the box, Adeniyi then strode into the area before sending a shot across the face of goal with nobody able to add a finishing touch. Groves was unable to fully c...

EASTLEIGH v HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE TUESDAY 7th OCTOBER 2008 Setanta Shield Round 2 By Jamie Montigue In this Setanta Shield 2nd Round tie the Spitfires took on local rivals Havant and Waterlooville in an exciting cup encounter that was made all the more important by the money at stake for tonight's winners. An eventful first half started in the worst possible manner for the hosts as Ian Baird's side, against his former club, were reduced to ten men. With just six minutes on the clock, Andy Harris went in for a 50:50 challenge with Brett Poate not far from the half way line. Poate went to ground hobbling about under the heavy but fair challenge, with the Eastleigh skipper playing the ball right under the noses of the Havant dugout as manager Shaun Gale and the rest of the dugout influenced the referee by waving their arms about making the challenge out to be worse than it was. Out came a straight red card for the extremely hard done by Harris, and Eastleigh were now down ...

CHELMSFORD CITY v EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER 2008 Blue Square South Report by Ray Murphy Chelmsford City moved up into second place of the Blue Square South with a competent display against Eastleigh. Matt Bodkin and James Baker were relegated to the substitutes bench at the expense of David Hughes and Jamie Brown as Eastleigh took on a home side on a pitch that had a strong wind blowing the full length. City also included ex-Eastleigh players Bertie Brayley and Kevin James in their line up in a side recovering from the previous weeks F A Cup defeat at the hands of Bury Town of the BGB Midland Division. Eastleigh started brightly and an Andy Harris cross in the sixth minute caused concern in the Chelmsford area before they managed to get the ball clear. Eastleigh went behind though on eleven minutes. Brayley and Ollie Berquez combined before Brayley was bundled over by Andy Harris. Dave Rainford stepped up and confidently sent Jason Matthews the wrong way from the penalty spot. ...

EASTLEIGH v FLEET SPURS WEDNESDAY 10th OCTOBER 2008 Hampshire Senior Cup 2nd Round By Jamie Montigue In this Hampshire Senior Cup 2nd round tie, Eastleigh took on Fleet Spurs at the Silverlake Stadium with a blend of youth and first team players. Amongst the more experienced members in the starting line up were Gareth Howells and Tom Jordan at the back to provide a solid base, whilst David Hughes orchestrated the midfield alongside the fit again Neil Davies. Andy Forbes and James Baker provided a strong attacking force with Adam Roberts complementing those already mentioned and was a potent threat down the right flank. Inside the first minute of the game an early cross from Taz saw Forbes head the ball down into the path of Davies whose attempt at goal was cleared away. With eleven minutes played, James Baker forced a corner kick, from which, young central defender Tom Nicholas headed narrowly wide of the target. The Spitfires took the lead just three minutes later. Fleet Spurs...

Eastleigh travel to Sussex on 11th October to face Burgess Hill Town of the Ryman Isthmian League in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round. Burgess Hill drew 0-0 with the Rocks on Saturday 27th September at home, before running out 2-0 winners in the replay with the Blue Square South club, three days later. The draw in full can be found here .