Eastleigh FC

By Wendy Gee -  BRADLEY BUBB stole the show as Ian Baird's nouveau-riche Eastleigh condemned former Spitfires boss Paul Doswell to a miserable Silverlake Stadium return. The on-loan Aldershot striker helped himself to a brilliantly taken hat-trick to pull the rug from under Doswell's fifth-placed Sutton United side who were soundly beaten 4-0 in the Blue Square Bet South. Bubb's man-of-the-match performance will linger long in Spitfires' memories - not least for the ease with which he outwitted Sutton's former Havant & Waterlooville goalkeeper Kevin Scriven for his first and third strikes. But while Eastleigh fans were marvelling at Bubb's master class in finishing, the hat-trick hero was thanking his lucky stars that his former Farnborough team-mate Daryl McMahon had followed him down south. After a decent debut against Salisbury in midweek, midfielder McMahon's ability to unlock defences was again in evidence as he set up two of Eastle...

By Wendy Gee - AS MORE new signings flood into Eastleigh, inevitably some of the old guard have had to move on. Young frontrunner Andrew White had his contract cancelled by mutual consent this week as midfielder Ian Herring was starting a month's loan with Southern Premier outfit Chippenham Town. Meanwhile 18-year-old former Portsmouth trainee defender Billy Tsovolos is returning to his native Australia to pursue a university career. Both White, 20, and Tsovolos joined Eastleigh during the summer as part of the Spitfires' newly-launched player development scheme. At the time, both fitted the profile the Spitfires were after - ambitious, young players released by Football League clubs who were looking for a route back into the professional game. But some six months later, both have decided to go a different way. Having shown initial promise at the start of the season, White - formerly of Reading and Gillingham - went off the boil and was loaned out to Blue Square Bet South riva...

Eastleigh Football Club Fixture List February 2012 FIRST XI   Saturday 4th - away to Salisbury City - Blue Square Bet South, 3pm Tuesday 7th - Home to Havant & Waterlooville - Blue Square Bet South, 7.45pm Saturday 11th - Home to Tonbridge Angels - Blue Square Bet South, 3pm Tuesday 14th - away to Staines Town - Blue Square Bet South, 7.45pm Saturday 18th - away to Hampton & Richmond Borough - Blue Square Bet South, 3pm Saturday 25th - Home to Truro City - Blue Square Bet South, 3pm RESERVES (Suburban League side) Saturday 4th - Home to Tooting & Mitcham United Reserves - Suburban League Premier Division, 3pm Saturday 11th - away to Tonbridge Angels Reserves - Suburban League Premier Division, 3pm Saturday 18th - Home to Tonbridge Angels Reserves - Suburban League Cup, ...

Winchester City will host Eastleigh in the Hampshire Senior Cup semi-finals. The Sydenhams Wessex Premier leaders will take on Ian Baird Spitfires on March 13th.

Ray Murphy has gained an entry for the 2012 London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April. This is his second entry into the field of fun runners and again only the second time that he will have attempted to do such a feat. Although delighted to have completed his first marathon back in 2008 the finishing time of six hours was a disappointment. Remembering the day well Ray can recollect how his hamstrings caused concern from the midway point of the course though he was determined to finish he would have taken twice as long as long as he got to the finish line. Again the ambition is to finish obviously but also the goal is to take an hour off his time in 2012. The 2012 run will also see two charities benefiting from his run. As previously Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, which is where one of his twin boys, Ian Murphy, (now aged 29) spent the first few weeks of his life in an incubator recovering from a split intestine weighing less than three pounds having arrived some six weeks ea...

EASTLEIGH 4-0 SUTTON UNITED SATURDAY 28th JANUARY 2012 Blue Square Bet South Match report by Jamie Montigue Eastleigh brushed past Sutton United with a finishing master class from outstanding hat trick hero Bradley Bubb. The on-loan striker from Aldershot Town was in lethal form in front of goal in a man of the match winning display with three clinical finishes firing Ian Baird's Spitfires into a 3-0 lead. Damian Scannell rounded off a convincing and dominant win for Eastleigh by scoring a fourth goal eight minutes from time. Baird made just one change to the side that drew with Salisbury City on Tuesday night. Jamie Slabber returned from injury to make the starting eleven in place of Jamie Brown. The visitors, managed by former Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell, made a bright start to the game and looked to be the better side in the opening stages of the first half, but the Spitfires went on to control the second half comfortably as shown by the full time score. Sutto...

Eastleigh v Sutton United

By Kieran James Ian Baird’s Spitfires will look to extend there unbeaten home league run to nine games when they entertain Sutton United at the Silverlake Stadium tomorrow (3pm kick off). Eastleigh’s last game was at home to then 15th-placed Salisbury City which proved to be a tough game after The Whites made Ian Baird's side battle for a share of the points. It took seventeen minutes before former Spitfire Robbie Matthews put the visitors in front. Eastleigh’s Andy Forbes missed an interception, which led to Matthews finishing off following a long ball forward from the right. After a disallowed Salisbury goal in the second half and much pressure from the visitors, former Aldershot Town winger Graeme Montgomery came on as a substitute in the 80th minute. Montgomery popped up with the late equaliser with a superb 30-yard strike that curled in to the bottom right corner six minutes after he came on, much to the delight of the Eastleigh management team and players. The...

By Wendy Gee -  Eastleigh manager Ian Baird has earned himself the nickname ‘Roberto’ from the man who will occupy the Sutton United dugout at the Silverlake Stadium tomorrow. But despite ex-Spitfires boss Paul Doswell jokingly likening him to Manchester City’s big-spending Italian boss Roberto Mancini, Baird has no immediate plans to dive back into the transfer market. Since the arrival of Bridle Insurance as majority shareholders and main sponsors, the Spitfires have bucked the downward economic trend by splashing the cash on their playing squad with the long-term goal of achieving Football League status. But having secured the signatures of Eastbourne Borough defender Gary Elphick and Boreham Wood midfielder Daryl McMahon in the last seven days, Baird feels it’s time to call a halt on the spending and concentrate on moulding his new-found wealth of talent into a winning team. “As far as I’m concerned we don’t need any more signings for the moment,” said...

Youngsters from our flourishing academy will launch the Spitfires guard of honour this Saturday for the eagerly anticipated home fixture against high-flying Sutton United. The lucky boys and girls will form the guard of honour as the players emerge for the clash with the U’s, before taking their seats to cheer the Spitfires to victory. The U’s are managed by ex-Eastleigh manager, Paul Doswell, who will no doubt receive a ‘warm’ reception and a victory for Eastleigh will see them close the gap on Doswell’s team who currently sit in the final playoff spot. We are awaiting confirmation from Sutton to see if their lucky mascot, Jenny the Giraffe will be attending or not – let’s hope she’s not so lucky Saturday and the Spitfires fly to victory. We are also delighted to announce this Saturday’s Matchday Mascots will be Scarlett Jewell (ten) and Freddie Fox (six). Scarlett and Freddie will be receiving the full VIP treatment with a tour of the ground and meeting players and manager Ian Ba...

EASTLEIGH 1-1 SALISBURY CITY TUESDAY 24 th JANUARY 2012 Blue Square Bet South Match report by Jamie Montigue Eastleigh's first home game of 2012 resulted in an enthralling 1-1 draw against rivals Salisbury City as the hosts had to fight back from a goal behind to salvage a point. Ian Baird's side had a new look to it with a host of new signings on show this evening. Philip Appiah and Bradley Bubb both made their Silverlake Stadium debuts as did the Spitfires’ most recent signing Daryl McMahon. Defender Gary Elphick was amongst the substitutes. The only change to the starting eleven from the side defeated by Basingstoke at the weekend saw Chris Flood make way for talented midfield playmaker Daryl McMahon, who joined the club yesterday from Boreham Wood.   The first chance of the game came in the third minute which saw Eastleigh fans get a glimpse of their latest recruit McMahon. The Dublin born midfielder burst into the penalty area and saw his left ...

Eastleigh v Salisbury City

By Kieran James Ian Baird Spitfires made it one month and four days since they have scored a league goal on Saturday when they were slayed by Hampshire rivals Basingstoke Town in the Blue Square Bet South at The Camrose. Eastleigh went into the game with new signing Gary Elphick on the bench as well as Graeme Montgomery who has started most games for Eastleigh this season. The Spitfires were enjoying much of the possession in the first and were disappointed not to go in front however without last seasons top scorer Jamie Slabber, chances were narrowly missed or saved by Basingstoke keeper Ashley Bayes. Fifteen minutes from time, Basingstoke’s second half pressure finally paid off with former Aldershot Town and Oxford United striker Tim Sills securing Basingstoke’s first double over Eastleigh in history with a powerful header from former Eastleigh player Shaun McAuley’s cross. The Spitfires will look to forget Saturday’s performance with three points at The Silverlake Stadium tonigh...

Eastleigh FC are thrilled to announce the signing of midfielder Daryl McMahon from Boreham Wood on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Dublin born McMahon goes straight into the squad and is available for selection against local rivals Salisbury City on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has had an impressive career to date starting as a trainee at West Ham United, turning professional in Auguast 2002. After being released by the Hammers, Daryl signed for Leyton Orient playing 72 times including 33 games in the O's promotion winning campaign of 2005-06. Following a loan spell at Notts County Daryl then joined then conference side Stevenage making 74 appearance and scoring 7 goals. Following a short spell at Cambridge United Daryl then moved to Farnborough making almost 100 appearances before a summer move to Boreham Wood. First team manager Ian Baird said "We are delighted to have secured Daryl's signature. The lad has undoubted quality and I know Boreham Wood were ...

AFC STONEHAM 2 EASTLEIGH RESERVES 1 (after extra time) Southampton Senior Cup Roger Allen reports from Chestnut Avenue This was a full blooded cup tie and if the flowing football was sporadic, the players had the excuse of a difficult pitch and a strong cross wind to cope with. Stoneham were off to a flying start in the third minute as a Pat Blackmore corner was headed into the roof of the net past a static defence by Liam HALL . This was the prelude to a man of the match performance in which Hall gave the promising Sam Wilson hardly a sniff of a chance. For much of the first half Eastleigh controlled possession as Stoneham struggled to build on their lead. Eastleigh’s best chance came from a free kick just outside the penalty area on the half hour. Sam Wilson’s shot was heading for the top corner but Danny Chapman in the home goal just got his fingertips to the ball to push it over. The second half started with both sides going full pelt to create an opening but it t...

BASINGSTOKE TOWN 1 -0 EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 21st JANUARY 2012 Blue Square Bet South Match Report by Ray Murphy When these two teams met on the opening day of the current season, some twenty-three weeks ago, the expectation on Eastleigh was nowhere near as high as it is now. That was reflected in the team sheet for the two sides in this fixture where from that opening fixture Basingstoke Town showed only one change in centre back Angus MacDonald on loan from Reading, whilst the Eastleigh side showed eight changes from that initial starting line up. The latest arrival at the club, Gary Elphick, started his career as an Eastleigh substitute where he was joined on the bench by Graeme Montgomery who lost his wide roaming role to Chris Flood from the last league outing two weeks ago at Dover Athletic. The injured Jamie Slabber's number nine shirt was taken by recent loan signing Bradley Bubb from parent club Aldershot Town though his last outing was for Basingstoke Town...

Match Preview by Kieran James Ian Baird’s Spitfires will play in the Hampshire derby against Basingstoke Town this afternoon at the Camrose on the back of a strong Eastleigh side defeating Wessex Premier League outfit Romsey Town. The Spitfires won 3-2 on Tuesday night at the Silverlake Stadium in the Hants Senior Cup to book their place in the semi-final. A goalless first half saw Eastleigh miss many chances with Richard Gillespie, who recently ended his one month loan spell at Bashley, denied a great chance on goal, however Romsey keeper Matt Brown did very well to keep it level after 45 minutes. It took only two minutes after the break for Eastleigh to break the deadlock when Chris Flood fired home a volley to put Eastleigh on course for a semi-final tie. Ian Baird made three second half substitutions when his side pulled ahead: Graeme Montgomery, Damian Scannell and Richard Gillespie all made way for Sam Wilson, Jamie Brown and Jordace Holder-Spooner. Two minutes after the brav...

In a busy day at Eastleigh Football Club we can advise of the following: The arrival of centre back Gary Elphick has been confirmed from Eastbourne Borough and is available for selection at Basingstoke Town tomorrow. 26-year-old Brighton born Gary has also made two appearances for his home town club as well as having experience with St Albans City, Aldershot Town and Havant & Waterlooville. It has been confirmed that the semi final draw for the Hampshire Senior Cup will be made on the Radio Solent Non League show on Saturday 28th January, the show starting at 6pm. With Eastleigh and fellow Quarter Final victors Winchester City, the other two semi finalists will be decided during next midweek when A F C Totton entertain A F C Portchester and also Havant & Waterlooville entertain Sholing. The semi finals are scheduled to be played during week commencing 13th March. Leaving the club today was Ali Fuseini . The former Millwall and Lincoln City midfielder who only made one appe...

Eastleigh are delighted to announce the signing of Eastbourne Borough defender Gary Elphick for an undisclosed fee. Gary started his career at Brighton & Hove Albion where he made a couple of league appearances along with loan spells at Eastbourne Borough, Aldershot Town and St Albans City. Indeed, whilst at St Albans he played for the England National Game XI. In the 2005-06 season he was released by Brighton and signed for newly-promoted Conference side St Albans City where he made 84 appearances scoring 7 goals. Gary then opted to leave in December 2007 joining local rivals Havant & Waterlooville.  Elphick went on to sign for Conference National side Eastbourne Borough in 2009 where he has made around 80 appearances scoring 7 goals. Eastleigh director of football Dave Malone confirmed the signing of Gary Elphick for the Spitfires saying: "We are delighted to welcome Gary to the club, he is a player with a good pedigree and we had to fight off stiff competitio...

As the date chosen for the league match against Havant & Waterlooville is outside of the leagues requested 42 days to rearrange, the league have instructed that this fixture will now be played on Tuesday 7th February 2012 at 7.45pm.

EASTLEIGH: Gareth Barfoot, Andy Forbes, Michael Green, Scott Rogers, Mitchell Nelson, Ian Herring (c), Chris Flood, Danny Smith, Richard Gillespie (Sam Wilson 61), Damian Scannell (Jamie Brown 61), Graeme Montgomery (Jordace Holder-Spooner 61). Subs (Not used): Billy Tsovolos, Ben Wilson. Eastleigh Goalscorer(s): Chris Flood, Jamie Brown, Mitchell Nelson Romsey Town Goalscorer(s): Ryan Long 2 Eastleigh are through to the semi-final of the Hampshire Senior Cup after a 3-2 win over Romsey Town at the Silverlake Stadium. The Spitfires opened the scoring through Chris Flood early in the second half after a goalless opening 45 minutes. Ryan Long hit back for the visitors with an equaliser, before goals from Jamie Brown and Mitchell Nelson (his first for the club) looked to have put the tie out of reach for the visitors at 3-1. Eastleigh, who played a large part of the second half with ten men having lost Jordace Holder-Spooner to an injury; with three substituti...

By Kieran James Ian Baird’s Spitfires will take on Romsey Town tomorrow night in the Hampshire Senior Cup Quarter Final at the Silverlake Stadium (7:45 pm kick off). The Spitfires did not have a game on Saturday as Salisbury City were playing in the FA Trophy against York City, however the previous Saturday, Eastleigh travelled away to Dover Athletic. The Eastleigh squad travelled up on the Friday before the game to get extra rest for the Blue Square Bet South clash at The Perry’s Crabble Stadium, however it took just fifty-six seconds for Dover to break the deadlock when Barry Cogan squared a ball to George Purcell who made no mistake from six yards out. Purcell then doubled Dover’s lead in the second half which killed the game off to seal the points for the hosts.  Philip Appiah made his Eastleigh debut in midfield following his transfer from Blue Square Bet South league rivals Farnborough. Wessex Premier League outfit Romsey town...

A quick round up of former Eastleigh players that have linked up with clubs recently that you may not be aware of: Staforde Palmer - Had two brief spells at the club first in season 2009/10 on loan from Hayes & Yeading United when Staforde netted two goals from three league games. Staforde returned to Hayes & Yeading but then linked up with Eastleigh again for the pre season of 2010/11 playing in friendlies and the South West Joma Cup and the first two league games of the season before being injured and drifting away from the Club having made a grand total of twelve appearances scoring five goals. Staforde spent this pre season with Farnborough but has now signed for Ryman League Division One side Metropolitan Police. Carl Wilson-Denis - Staforde's strike partner at Metropolitan is Carl Wilson Denis. Carl joined Eastleigh back in December 2006 and made 23 appearances for the Club all in league fixtures though thirteen as a substitute from his appearances Carl netted ...

BECOME A JUNIOR SPITFIRE & GET YOUR CHANCE TO BE THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MASCOT It's time to join the club everyone is talking about and become a Junior Spitfire member and enjoy the benefits of being part of the coolest group in town! For just £15 you will receive: * Exclusive entry into our ‘Matchday Mascot draw' * A Junior Spitfire membership pack featuring some fantastic Eastleigh FC goodies, including drinks bottle, key ring, Bridle bag and more. * 10% discount on all school holiday soccer courses. * Reduction on official replica shirts. * Membership card. * Two tickets to attend a match around your birthday, one for you and one for an accompanying adult! * Spitfire Birthday and Christmas cards. * And much more! So, what is the Official Matchday Mascot I hear you ask.... Get involved and call us on 02380 645526 or email fic@eastleigh-fc.co.uk for an application form.

We are delighted to announce 7 (yes seven) additional sponsors, with hopefully more to follow. Following yesterday's announcement that Lawshield UK Limited will appear on the players shorts, with help from Bridle Insurance we have been very busy trying to generate that all important revenue and are delighted to announce the arrival of 7 additional sponsors. A beaming Director of Football Dave Malone said "Our main sponsors Bridle Insurance are really getting behind the club and are making an immediate impact helping to secure an additional eight sponsors (including Lawshield yesterday) with lots more irons in the fire. We are all very excited and can't remember the last time we scored eight times in a day! " Darren Nangle of Bridle Insurance says on their website "We are very keen for other local businesses to get involved to either sponsor or advertise with Eastleigh FC no matter how large or small. We have been very encouraged by the response we have received s...

Eastleigh FC can confirm the signing of Bradley Bubb on loan from Aldershot, until the end of the season. Bradley is an exciting forward, and was a key player for Farnborough last season - prior to joining Aldershot. Bubb has most recently been on loan with Blue Square Bet South neighbours Basingstoke Town. Bubb boasts an outstanding scoring record in a career that has taken him from the Spartan South Midlands League with Chalfont St Peter to the npower League Two. He netted 38 times in two years for Chalfont before banging in 35 goals in a single season with Beaconsfield SYCOB in the Southern One South & West. A move to Farnborough followed where he scored 40 times in 88 games over two seasons and was a member of the side that finished runners-up in the BSB South last term. That clinched him a full-time contract at Aldershot, but Bubb, who represented Grenada in the CONCACAF Cup in the USA during the summer, has found opportunities limited at the Recreation Ground. Manager...

Two Eastleigh loan strikers scored in victories for their adopted clubs at the weekend. Andrew White bagged Dorchester's 14th-minute opener in a 3-0 Blue Square Bet South win over Thurrock - his first Magpies' goal. And Richard Gillespie helped Bashley triumph 3-2 at Barwell in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division, by grabbing his fifth goal in the Foresters' last three league games.

By Wendy Gee -    Eastleigh are breathing a huge sigh of relief after confirming that star striker Jamie Slabber suffered no broken bones in Saturday’s 2- 0 defeat at sixth-placed Dover Athletic. Much as the Spitfires were disappointed to lose ground in the Blue Square Bet South play-off chase, they can at least rest assured that Slabber’s injury lay-off should be measured in weeks rather than months. The fear was that Slabber had suffered a broken left leg when he was caught by Michael Corcoran’s hefty challenge right by the dugouts with 40 minutes gone. But a hospital X-ray found no signs of a break under his badly cut shin. Players from both teams gathered round as tempers flared and, once peace had been restored, Corcoran was shown a yellow card while former Spurs frontman Slabber – scorer of eight league goals this season – was stretchered off. “We can confirm that Jamie Slabber has sustained a bad cut on his shin, requir ing several stitches, but there...

Eastleigh Football Club are thrilled to announce that Lawshield UK Limited, have agreed to become sponsors of the club and Lawshield will appear on the players shorts. Director of Football, Dave Malone said "The last few weeks have been very exciting for all those involved with the club and Lawshield agreeing to sponsor the shorts is just further confirmation of the exciting times ahead. It would be fair to say this Lawshield support would not have been possible without the Bridle Insurance involvement and our thanks go out to both Lawshield and Bridle". Lawshield specialise in providing quality insurance products which are underwritten by leading insurers. Their products and services offer comprehensive cover and a seamless integrated service solution to Insurers, Brokers, Fleet Managers and Affinities. They provide a one stop shop offering outsourced claims assistance solutions for household insurance and personal/commercial motor insurance which includes access to replace...

DOVER ATHLETIC 2-0 EASTLEIGH SATURDAY 7th JANUARY 2012 Blue Square Bet South Match Report by Ray Murphy It was a disappointing afternoon for the Spitfires as their charge towards the play offs fell off the rails slightly against other play-off contenders Dover Athletic. Arguably more disappointing than the result though was the overall performance when not troubling the home goalkeeper Mikhael Ruiz through the match and the worrying sight of Jamie Slabber being stretchered from the pitch following an awful looking challenge on the Eastleigh leading scorer. Manager Ian Baird gave a debut to midweek signing Philip Appiah from Farnborough, the midfielder having also seen service with Preston North End and Hayes & Yeading United. Danny Smith dropped to the substitutes bench, that being the only change from the sides last outing on Boxing Day at Havant & Waterlooville. The match could not have got off to a worse start for Eastleigh. Eastleigh kicked off, the ball w...