Eastleigh fans on red alert
By Adrian Kajumba - 
Eastleigh fans making the long trip to Cumbria for the club’s historic FA Cup tie this weekend have been urged to paint Barrow red.
As they did in the last round against Dover, the Spitfires will wear their all red away strip when they make their first round debut against Barrow on Saturday.
Eastleigh will make the change as their first choice white and blue strip clashes with Barrow’s home strip.
And Eastleigh director of football Dave Malone said: “We are playing in red so let’s hope that all of our supporters making the long trip to Barrow try hard to adorn just about anything red.
“Their support will mean a heck of a lot to all our lads – so make yourselves both seen and heard on the day.”
Malone added that he hoped the Spitfires will be backed by between 150 and 200 fans at Barrow Holker Street on Saturday, a reasonable amount considering it is a 600-mile plus round-trip.
Just over 50 of those will be doing the whole journey in a day, heading up on a coach that will leave the Silverlake Stadium at 6am on Saturday morning.
The Eastleigh players and club officials will head north the day before on a coach leaving the ground at 8.30am and returning south after the game.
Many more fans are expected to negotiate the long trek to Barrow on trains, in cars and some possibly even by plane.
Jason Small, 34, persuaded the club to put on an official coach for travelling fans.
And he and his fellow Spitfires supporters will be heading for Barrow’s Holker Street home in a quietly confident mood.
“It’s a very big game,” Mr Small said.
“Not only have we never been in the first round proper anyway but for the players, staff and fans this is huge, and also financially as well.
“If you can win this game and go on to round two and get someone like Leeds United away then the money is like an extra bonus to Eastleigh.”
He added: “I would be happy to go there and get a draw and bring them back to our place.
“If we can get more then that’s even better and then you say bring on someone like Leeds United away.
Rendel Ingram, 27, one of the first to book his seat on the coach bound for Barrow, said:
“This was definitely a game not to miss. It’s a real special day for everyone at the club.
“Obviously, Barrow are the clear favourites.
“They are in the league above us but Eastleigh have got a decent chance. Dover were strong favourites in the last round but we turned it into a cup match and won so I think we have got a reasonable chance.”
Another Spitfires supporter, Ian Richardson, 44, who will also be on the coach.
He said: “I am friends with a few Salisbury supporters and as soon as the draw came through they said they said they have been to Chester and been to Barrow and they have said either one was a winnable game for us.”
Eastleigh fans making the long trip to Cumbria for the club’s historic FA Cup tie this weekend have been urged to paint Barrow red.
As they did in the last round against Dover, the Spitfires will wear their all red away strip when they make their first round debut against Barrow on Saturday.
Eastleigh will make the change as their first choice white and blue strip clashes with Barrow’s home strip.
And Eastleigh director of football Dave Malone said: “We are playing in red so let’s hope that all of our supporters making the long trip to Barrow try hard to adorn just about anything red.
“Their support will mean a heck of a lot to all our lads – so make yourselves both seen and heard on the day.”
Malone added that he hoped the Spitfires will be backed by between 150 and 200 fans at Barrow Holker Street on Saturday, a reasonable amount considering it is a 600-mile plus round-trip.
Just over 50 of those will be doing the whole journey in a day, heading up on a coach that will leave the Silverlake Stadium at 6am on Saturday morning.
The Eastleigh players and club officials will head north the day before on a coach leaving the ground at 8.30am and returning south after the game.
Many more fans are expected to negotiate the long trek to Barrow on trains, in cars and some possibly even by plane.
Jason Small, 34, persuaded the club to put on an official coach for travelling fans.
And he and his fellow Spitfires supporters will be heading for Barrow’s Holker Street home in a quietly confident mood.
“It’s a very big game,” Mr Small said.
“Not only have we never been in the first round proper anyway but for the players, staff and fans this is huge, and also financially as well.
“If you can win this game and go on to round two and get someone like Leeds United away then the money is like an extra bonus to Eastleigh.”
He added: “I would be happy to go there and get a draw and bring them back to our place.
“If we can get more then that’s even better and then you say bring on someone like Leeds United away.
Rendel Ingram, 27, one of the first to book his seat on the coach bound for Barrow, said:
“This was definitely a game not to miss. It’s a real special day for everyone at the club.
“Obviously, Barrow are the clear favourites.
“They are in the league above us but Eastleigh have got a decent chance. Dover were strong favourites in the last round but we turned it into a cup match and won so I think we have got a reasonable chance.”
Another Spitfires supporter, Ian Richardson, 44, who will also be on the coach.
He said: “I am friends with a few Salisbury supporters and as soon as the draw came through they said they said they have been to Chester and been to Barrow and they have said either one was a winnable game for us.”
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