Eastleigh snap up goal-getter Gillespie
By Wendy Gee - 
EASTLEIGH last night completed the signing of Bashley ‘legend’ Richard Gillespie.
Although just 24-years-old, the player nicknamed ‘Mr Goals’ will go down in history as one of the Foresters’ all-time greats having banged in 173 goals in 308 appearances for the Southern League club.
He has finished as top Bash marksman for the last five seasons and, with statistics like those, Eastleigh’s director of football David Malone is convinced he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of former Winchester City hotshot Andy Forbes.
Forbes has netted 131 times in 234 Spitfires appearances since stepping up from the Wessex League in 2004.
Despite injury restricting Forbes to just nine league starts last term, Eastleigh made it through to the Blue Square South play-offs and enjoyed the most successful season in their history.
So the mind boggles at the damage they could do with a fit-again Forbes and Winchester-based goal machine Gillespie on board.
Eastleigh's top scorer last season was wideman Tony Taggart, who struck 15 times in league and cup. Leading the way for the strikers was Matt Groves with ten goals – nine of them in the league.
But he has since returned to his old club Dorchester with Baird admitting he did not see him as a first-choice frontman.
“For me, that’s what makes Gilly’s signing so exciting,” said Malone. “Last year we finished third in the league and made the play-offs and yet we didn’t have a striker who scored more than ten goals.
“Now we have the prospect of having not one, but two proven strikers in a fit-again Forbes and Gillespie.
“Along with Brett Williams, who impressed on the recent trip to Hong Kong, and (striker/midfielder) Jamie Brown, it will give us a lethal group of frontmen.”
Malone knows better than most what Gillespie is capable of, having twice worked with him before in his days as Bashley chairman and director of Salisbury City, where the frontman spent a brief spell on loan in 2005.
“I’ve known Gilly since he was a youth player at Bashley and he broke into the first team at 17,” he said. “That’s part of his appeal. He’s only 24, but he’s already got so much experience.
“When we signed Brett Williams it was more of a gamble because we didn’t know if he could play at Conference South level, whereas I’m pretty sure Gilly can.
“If he’s anywhere near as good as Forbes, we’ll have done really well.”
No fee has been disclosed, but Malone confirmed both clubs were “happy with the financial arrangements agreed” for ex-Saints Academy player Gillespie, who had another year left on his Bashley contract.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/football/4460695._Legend__signs_for_Eastleigh/
EASTLEIGH last night completed the signing of Bashley ‘legend’ Richard Gillespie.
Although just 24-years-old, the player nicknamed ‘Mr Goals’ will go down in history as one of the Foresters’ all-time greats having banged in 173 goals in 308 appearances for the Southern League club.
He has finished as top Bash marksman for the last five seasons and, with statistics like those, Eastleigh’s director of football David Malone is convinced he has the potential to follow in the footsteps of former Winchester City hotshot Andy Forbes.
Forbes has netted 131 times in 234 Spitfires appearances since stepping up from the Wessex League in 2004.
Despite injury restricting Forbes to just nine league starts last term, Eastleigh made it through to the Blue Square South play-offs and enjoyed the most successful season in their history.
So the mind boggles at the damage they could do with a fit-again Forbes and Winchester-based goal machine Gillespie on board.
Eastleigh's top scorer last season was wideman Tony Taggart, who struck 15 times in league and cup. Leading the way for the strikers was Matt Groves with ten goals – nine of them in the league.
But he has since returned to his old club Dorchester with Baird admitting he did not see him as a first-choice frontman.
“For me, that’s what makes Gilly’s signing so exciting,” said Malone. “Last year we finished third in the league and made the play-offs and yet we didn’t have a striker who scored more than ten goals.
“Now we have the prospect of having not one, but two proven strikers in a fit-again Forbes and Gillespie.
“Along with Brett Williams, who impressed on the recent trip to Hong Kong, and (striker/midfielder) Jamie Brown, it will give us a lethal group of frontmen.”
Malone knows better than most what Gillespie is capable of, having twice worked with him before in his days as Bashley chairman and director of Salisbury City, where the frontman spent a brief spell on loan in 2005.
“I’ve known Gilly since he was a youth player at Bashley and he broke into the first team at 17,” he said. “That’s part of his appeal. He’s only 24, but he’s already got so much experience.
“When we signed Brett Williams it was more of a gamble because we didn’t know if he could play at Conference South level, whereas I’m pretty sure Gilly can.
“If he’s anywhere near as good as Forbes, we’ll have done really well.”
No fee has been disclosed, but Malone confirmed both clubs were “happy with the financial arrangements agreed” for ex-Saints Academy player Gillespie, who had another year left on his Bashley contract.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/football/4460695._Legend__signs_for_Eastleigh/
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