Spitfires' Unsung Hero is Captain Tom

By Wendy Gee -

SKIPPER Tom Jordan leads Eastleigh into the FA Trophy last 16 for the first time in their history at home to Chasetown tomorrow buoyed by words of praise from manager Ian Baird.

The 6ft 5in central defender was this week named Blue Square Bet South player-of-the-month for January - an accolade long overdue in Baird's book.

Jordan, who turns 30 in May, has been a tower of strength for the Spitfires since controversially following Baird along the M27 from Havant & Waterlooville in July 2008.

The move stirred up bad blood between the clubs with Jordan having resigned as Hawks captain midway through the previous season.

But, nearly three years on, Baird still believes that securing the big man's services was well worth the six-month wrangle.

"The player-of-the-month award is totally well deserved," said Baird.

"Tom doesn't get the praise he deserves.

"I've had the best part of six years working with him and, for me, his consistency levels are spot on. He sets the right example, he defends well and he's always a threat at set pieces.

"He's not a loud captain, but he leads by example. That's why I made such a big effort to get him."

The son of ex-Saints, Manchester United, Leeds and Scotland centre forwards Joe Jordan, Eastleigh's skipper has been brought up with the right footballing habits.

"Albeit that Tom's semi-professional, he's been extremely well educated by his dad," said Baird. "He's been exemplary for me, but don't think for one minute that I don't have a go at him. He's probably one I have a go at most.

"I know what makes Tom tick and he knows what I expect from him.

"And it's no coincidence to me that losing Tom towards the end of last season cost us.

"Going into the first week of March we were still in the play-off spots but we lost five first-team players, one of whom was Tom who got a five-inch gash in his shin which got infected.

"To lose our captain at that stage was very disappointing and I couldn't replace him.

"We'd brought in young Luke Wilkinson from Portsmouth and won a couple of games when he was playing alongside Tom, but then Luke lost his form when Tom got injured and our season went downhill."

In the same way, Baird believes Jordan had a positive influence on Aaron Martin's career.

It was Martin's rock-solid partnership with the Eastleigh skipper that alerted Saints to his talent and clinched him a dream move to St Mary's in November 2009.

"Aaron played all his time in our first team alongside Tom and I'm sure that if you spoke to Aaron at this stage of his career, he'd say he owes a big thank you to Tom," said Baird.