Phillips joins the Spitfires

Eastleigh Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Lee Phillips from Bath City until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old striker will be available to manager Ian Baird for selection for this Saturday’s vital home match at the Silverlake against Farnborough as the Spitfires continue to attempt the impossible mission of a playoff place this season.

Phillips was born in Cornwall and was an exceptional sportsman from a young age. He started his sporting career playing rugby union for England at both under 15’s and Under 21 levels.

However, he soon concentrated his attention on football, signing professionally with his local club Plymouth Argyle in 1996 and made over 50 appearances for the Pilgrams.

While at Plymouth he suffered a career threatening broken leg but recovered and joined Conference side Weymouth in January 2001 where he made 67 appearances scoring 33 goals.

Having also had notable spells at Newport County, Exeter City and Torquay United, Phillips joined Bath at the end of the 2009-10 season where he has continued to score goals and was a favourite among the Twerton faithful.

Manager Ian Baird comments: “Phillips will complement our attacking threat and add vital competition for places for the remainder of the season.

"He has a good pedigree and this gives me an ideal opportunity to have a close look at him.

"We were not the only team interested in Lee but the fact that he is willing to drop down from the Conference National to try and earn a contract for next season shows how far Eastleigh have progressed over the last few months and is a very positive sign for the Football Club.”

In addition to his Rugby exploits, Phillips' claim to fame was to score the opening goal when Plymouth famously played Carlisle on the last day of the 1998/99 season. Carlisle needed to win to avoid relegation from the Football League and having equalised earlier, an injury time winner from Carlisle goalkeeper Jimmy Glass saved them from the drop.