Eastleigh FC

By Wendy Gee - BRETT Williams has proved he has the talent to hold down a regular place for Eastleigh in the Blue Square Bet South. Now all he needs is the consistency to go with it. The 23-year-old frontrunner, in his third spell with the Spitfires, won over an army of admirers two seasons ago when he rejoined the Silverlake club from Winchester City and played a key part in getting them into the play-offs. But that form tailed off last season and he ended up dropping into the Zamaretto South & West with AFC Totton before rejoining Eastleigh, initially on loan, for the start of the current campaign. After a promising start to the season Williams found himself warming the bench but, with Richard Gillespie out with a broken hand and Jamie Brown leaving, he has turned in two pleasing performances at Sutton United in the FA Trophy and in Tuesday's 2-0 league win at Weston-super-Mare. "We lost Jamie Slabber to flu, so we played Brett up front on his own at Weston and he did r

Eastleigh Football Club - Fixture List January 2011 Revision 1 FIRST  TEAM Saturday 1st away to Farnborough Blue Square Bet South - 3pm Monday 3rd Home to Havant & Waterlooville Blue Square Bet South - 3pm Saturday 8th away to Lewes Blue Square Bet South - 3pm Monday 10th away to Havant & Waterlooville Hampshire Senior Cup - 7.45pm Saturday 15th Home to Worcester City F A Trophy - 3pm Monday 17th  i) If F A Trophy match v Worcester drawn then away to Worcester in replay 7.45pm,   ii) If Trophy match has result and we beat Havant in Hampshire Cup then we will be at home to Winchester City in Hampshire Senior Cup Quarter Final - 7.45pm. Tuesday 18th away to Welling United  Blue Square Bet South - 3pm (if Monday 17th is not played) Saturday 22nd Home to Dorchester Town  Blue Square Bet South - 3pm Tuesday 25th away to St Albans City Blue Square Bet South - 7.45pm Saturday 29th away to Thurrock Blue Square Bet South - 3pm RESERVES Saturday 8th Home to To

WESTON-SUPER-MARE v EASTLEIGH TUESDAY 28th DECEMBER 2010 Blue Square Bet South Report by Ray Murphy Before the Christmas break this match was in severe doubt of being a victim of the big freeze. In fact twenty-four hours previous, the Woodspring Stadium pitch was under 75mm of snow. The rain throughout the night though assisted with the sudden upturn in temperature saw this fixture get an early morning approval. For Eastleigh it was their first league outing since an away trip to Woking back on 23rd November though two FA Trophy encounters with Sutton United were staged some fourteen days earlier. Weston themselves must have been cursing the cancellation of fixtures having just recorded a highest ever victory for themselves at this level having scored seven times without reply against second placed Bromley back on 11th December. Eastleigh were still without the services of striker Richard Gillespie with his broken hand whilst fellow strike partner and current leading scorer Jami

By Adrian Kajumba - DIRECTOR of football Dave Malone praised head groundsman Tony Shiner for going beyond the call of duty to try and get Eastleigh's Boxing Day clash against Farnborough on. Shiner, who works at the club on a part-time basis, spent a significant part of his Christmas Day at the Silverlake Stadium trying to clear snow, ice and frost off the pitch. His efforts looked like they had paid off when he headed for home on Saturday. But sub zero temperatures and further frost overnight meant the pitch was frozen solid by the time the referee conducted his match morning pitch inspection and he had little option but to call the game off. Shiner's hard work didn't go unnoticed, though. "He spent most of Christmas Day clearing snow and frost off the pitch," Malone said. "I just popped in to see what it was like and he was there trying to disperse frost and ice. "He spent hours on it. "He was going around on his tractor and looked like

Eastleigh's Boxing Day clash with Farnborough has been called off this afternoon due to the freezing conditions making the pitch unplayable.

The Club are delighted to confirm that Jamie White has signed as a non-contract player, and will hopefully be available for our up-coming busy period of games. "Jamie is seeking to regain full fitness, following his injury in the summer. We trust that his time with us, however long, will be of great mutual benefit." Jamie played for Eastleigh in the 2009/10 season where he moved from Southampton to play for the Spitfires on loan in October 2009. The young forward made three starts and ten substitute appearances scoring one goal for the club before returning to Saints in January 2010. Name: Jamie White Nationality: English Date of Birth: 17/11/1981 Height: 5' 8" (173cm) Weight: 11st 7lbs (73.0kg) Previous Clubs: Southampton, Eastleigh (loan), Shrewsbury (loan) Position:  Striker

By Wendy Gee - IAN Baird's Christmas wish for Eastleigh is that the Blue Square Bet South promotion chasers steer clear of injury, illness and suspension. Having lost Richard Gillespie for six weeks with a broken hand and terminated fellow frontman Jamie Brown's contract by mutual consent, the Spitfires are running low on bodies for a packed festive programme of league matches which, weather permitting, kicks off at home to Farnborough on Boxing Day (3pm). They then travel to Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday, December 28 (3pm) before meeting Farnborough again at Cherrywood Road on New Year's Day (3pm). Just 48 hours later, they welcome south coast rivals Havant & Waterlooville to the Silverlake Stadium on Monday, January 3 (3pm). Despite being up against it with both Luke Byles (virus) and Warren Goodhind (calf) unavailable and Brett Poate still not back from a broken arm, Eastleigh turned in one of their most professional performances of the season to blow away Paul

Tonight’s Hampshire Senior Cup match against Havant & Waterlooville has been postponed due to the current weather conditions. The Westleigh Park pitch remains frozen and the surrounding area and car park are dangerously icy. Having been postponed twice, the game now becomes a home tie for Eastleigh, which is currently scheduled to take place on Monday 10th January.

Tomorrow's game against Dover has been postponed due to freezing weather conditions. It was thought better to call the game off early, as the pitch is frozen and the weather is due to get colder.  

Eastleigh Football Club - Fixture List December 2010 Revision 2 FIRST TEAM Saturday 11th Home to Sutton United F A Challenge Trophy 3pm Tuesday 14th away to Sutton United F A Challenge Trophy First Round Replay 7.45pm Saturday 18th Home to Dover Athletic Blue Square South   3pm Monday 20th away to Havant & Waterlooville  Hampshire Senior Cup   7.45pm        Sunday 26th Home to Farnborough Town  Blue Square South   3pm Tuesday 28th away to Weston Super Mare  Blue Square South 3pm RESERVES Saturday 18th away to Northwood Suburban League Premier Division 3pm YOUTH TEAM  (Football Conference Youth)  Home games at The Silverlake Stadium Wednesday 8th away to JMA Reading  Football Conference Youth League 2pm Wednesday 15th Home to Kettering Town  Football Conference Youth League 2pm Wednesday 22nd Home to Birmingham City  Football Conference Youth League 2pm

By Wendy Gee - PROUD Eastleigh boss Ian Baird praised the “professionalism” of his side after an emphatic 4-0 FA Trophy first round replay win at Sutton United last night. Sutton, managed by former Spitfires Paul Doswell, had come within a couple of minutes of victory at the Silverlake on Saturday before Tony Taggart threw Eastleigh a late lifeline. But the Ryman Premier Division leaders were firmly put in their place last night as goals by Chris Holland, Jamie Slabber, Anthony Riviere and Taggart earned the Spitfires £5,000 in prize money – plus a distinctly winnable home tie against Worcester City in the last 32 on January 15. “I was surprised by the score but it was a thoroughly professional performance. We did very, very well,” said Baird. “We created seven chances and scored four goals and you’ve got to be pleased with that. “We worked extremely hard, which was all the more pleasing considering we had one or two players carrying knocks or a bit of illness.” “There w

By Wendy Gee - JAMIE Brown is on his way out of Eastleigh after more than four years at the Blue Square Bet South club. Although the recent disciplinary issues which resulted in Brown serving a two-week ban for a breach of club discipline were amicably resolved, it was mutually agreed the striker/midfielder needed more first-team football having made just seven league and cup starts this term. A former BAT youngster, Southampton-born Brown joined Eastleigh from Dorchester Town in September 2006. In his 146 appearances for the Spitfires, he won over the fans with his battling, never-say-die approach, but following a succession of serious injuries he has struggled to pin down a regular place this term. A club statement read: “Eastleigh FC and Jamie Brown have mutually agreed to the termination of his contract with the club. “Jamie is seeking first-team football, something that at Eastleigh we are unable to guarantee.This agreement allows Jamie an opportunity to play regularl

SUTTON UNITED v EASTLEIGH TUESDAY 14th DECEMBER 2010 FA Trophy - 1st Round Replay Report by Ray Murphy  The drama of this FA Challenge Trophy First Round Replay started long before the prospects of a frozen pitch were brought into the equation with the Eastleigh playing ranks down to the bare minimum. There was even a request to the FA if there was a possibility of the game being postponed owing to the nature of some of the ailments.  With Brett Poate still on the longer term injured list, Richard Gillespie and Warren Goodhind joined the walking wounded. In addition to that Luke Byles was absent with a viral infection that had made Tom Jordan pull out of Saturday's original tie less than thirty minutes before the kick off. Jordan’s central defensive partner Chris Holland was also struck with the virus, but both eventually declared themselves fit to play, whilst Richard Graham is also recovering from the infection. This led to call up for the reserves for Joe Crook, Liam Robinso

By Wendy Gee - EASTLEIGH must make do without two – and possibly three – key players for tonight’s FA Trophy first round replay at Paul Doswell’s Sutton United. The sickness that ruled skipper Tom Jordan (pictured) out of Saturday’s 1-1 Silverlake Stadium draw has been confirmed as a viral infection that means the towering defender is highly unlikely to travel. To make matters worse, it looks as if left-back Luke Byles has gone down with the same virus and he, too, could miss the trip to Gander Green Lane (7.45pm). The most depressing news of all, however, is that Richard Gillespie broke a hand on Saturday, sidelining him for six weeks.  It rules the lively frontrunner out of the entire festive programme which will be pivotal in Eastleigh's push for the Blue Square Bet South play-offs. The Spitfires have had wretched luck with injuries ever since they joined the Conference South. In the old pre-recession days when tonight's opposing manager Doswell was in charge, they

By Wendy Gee - EASTLEIGH'S relief at salvaging a 1-1 draw against Sutton United in the FA Trophy first round has been tempered by news that striker Richard Gillespie faces six weeks sidelined with a broken hand. After 65 tireless minutes spearheading Eastleigh’s 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation, Gillespie made way for Jamie Slabber as manager Ian Baird shuffled his pack in an attempt to wipe out Craig Dundas’s early opener for the Us. Baird knew Gillespie had hurt his hand earlier in the half, but his decision to withdraw the former Bashley striker was more tactical than injury-related. Indeed it wasn’t until later that evening, after Gillespie had been sent to hospital, that the shattering news came through that he had broken the fourth metacarpal. “It was a bit of an innocuous challenge. I think Gilly just caught his hand on someone’s chest,” said Baird. “I knew he’d hurt his hand and when I took him off I asked him if everything was okay and he said ‘no problem.’ But we sent h

  Eastleigh will be rewarded with another home FA Trophy tie if they manage to overcome Sutton United in tomorrow night’s (Tuesday, 7.45pm) first round replay at Gander Green Lane. If successful, Ian Baird’s men would entertain Worcester City, currently 15th in the Blue Square Bet North, on Saturday, January 15. Salisbury City – 2-0 victors at Basingstoke Town on Saturday – have been drawn at home to their old Conference National rivals Wrexham in the last 32. FA TROPHY Second round proper (to be played on Saturday, January 15): Gateshead or Southport v Hampton & Richmond Borough, Boston Utd v Circencester Town or Gloucester City, AFC Wimbledon v Woking, Droylsden v Ebbsfleet Utd, Chasetown or Kettering v Grimsby Town, Alfreton or Hyde v Cambridge Utd, Ashford Town (Middx) v Crawley Town or Dartford, Luton Town or Welling Utd v Uxbridge, AFC Telford Utd v Rushden & Diamonds or Eastwood Town, Darlington or Tamworth v Bath City, Worksop Town or Mansfield Town v Newport Cou

EASTLEIGH v SUTTON UNITED SATURDAY 11th DECEMBER 2010 FA Trophy - 1st Round Report by Jamie Montigue The much talked-about return to the Silverlake Stadium for ex-manager Paul Doswell, goal-scoring Eastleigh legend Andy Forbes and fellow former Spitfires; brought added excitement in the build-up to this afternoon’s FA Trophy first round tie. Doswell’s Ryman Premier table-toppers came into the game as underdogs against Ian Baird’s Conference South side, but it was always going to be a close game and an interesting battle to see if one team would triumph. Tom Jordan was withdrawn from the starting line up ten minutes prior to kick off due to an illness so Ross Bottomley was drafted in at centre half. Eastleigh opted to stick with a 4-5-1 formation, which was used in the Spitfire’s last fixture (a 1-1 draw away to Woking), so Richard Gillespie led the attack as a lone striker. With the lack of fixtures owing to the winter weather in recent weeks, there was certainly some rust to shake

The following games in the Blue Square Bet South have been re-arranged as follows: Welling United (Away): Tuesday January 18th (KO 7:45pm) St Albans City (Away): Tuesday January 25th (KO 7:45pm) Ebbsfleet United (Away): Tuesday 8th February (KO 7:45pm)

Eastleigh Football Club - Fixture List December 2010 Revision 1    FIRST TEAM Saturday 11th Home to Sutton United F A Challenge Trophy 3pm Monday 13th away to Havant & Waterlooville Hampshire Senior Cup 7.45pm OR Tuesday 14th F A Trophy Replay if required away at Sutton United Saturday 18th Home to Dover Athletic Blue Square South 3pm Sunday 26th Home to Farnborough Town Blue Square South 3pm Tuesday 28th away to Weston Super Mare Blue Square South 3pm RESERVES Saturday 18th away to Northwood Suburban League Premier Division 3pm YOUTH TEAM (Football Conference Youth) Home games at The Silverlake Stadium Wednesday 8th away to JMA Reading Football Conference Youth League 2pm Wednesday 15th Home to Kettering Town Football Conference Youth League 2pm Wednesday 22nd Home to Birmingham City Football Conference Youth League 2pm

Tonight's Hampshire Senior Cup game versus Havant & Waterlooville has been postponed. The game now looks likely that it will be re-scheduled for next Monday (13th December), - which means that Eastleigh's league game versus Ebbsfleet will almost certainly be postponed due to the Hampshire Senior Cup taking priority over League fixtures. Should Saturday's FA Trophy 1st round tie versus Sutton United on Saturday (at the Silverlake Stadium, 3pm kick off) end as a draw, then the replay will be next Tuesday (14th December) - and the HSC tie will be postponed, as the FA Trophy takes precedence over the HSC!

MILLS MAKES GREAT START AT BOOTHAM CRESCENT Gary Mills from York City has been named the Blue Square Bet Premier ‘manager of the month’ for November . In his first full month as manager of the Minstermen Mills has seen his new side remain unbeaten in seven matches. They have progressed to the Third Round of the FA Cup by overcoming League 2 Rotherham United and fellow Blue Square Bet Premier team Darlington. In the league they have climbed to 14 th with two wins and two draws. York have conceded only one goal in over 600 minutes of football during the month as Mills looks to take his side into a challenge for a play-off place. The Blue Square Bet North ‘manager of the month’ for November is Mick Tait from Blyth Spartans . Tait’s side moved up to sixth place in the table with an unbeaten month, which also included progression to the First Round of the FA Trophy. They go into December off the back of an eight match unbeaten run in all competitions. The Blue Square

EASTLEIGH have agreed terms with winger Tony Taggart to return to the club on a permanent basis. After two years with the Spitfires, Taggart signed for BSB Premier outfit Newport County during the summer but has been back on loan at the Silverlake for the last two months. The 29-year-old Londoner was outstanding in Eastleigh's last match, a 1-1 draw at Woking, which went a long way to persuading the club that he should stay. Taggart previously played for Baird at Havant & Waterlooville and the Eastleigh boss said: "This is the third time I've signed him. I like him. He knows what's expected and Taggs has always said I get the best out of him. "He was outstanding at Woking, so when I had to go to a board meeting to discuss his future it gave me a bit more credence."

By Wendy Gee - Jamie Brown's future at Blue Square Bet promotion chasers Eastleigh is in the balance. The braveheart striker/midfielder has been suspended for two weeks for a breach of club discipline. He has been told not to report back until next week when chairman Paul Murray returns from holiday. Eastleigh are not prepared to go public on the reasons for Brown's suspension, but director of football Dave Malone confirmed: "We have a code of conduct at the club which we feel Jamie Brown has breached. "The chairman is due back from holiday next week and we will decide what course of action to take." Southampton-born Brown has been with Eastleigh for more than four years having joined them from Dorchester Town in September 2006. His 100 per cent commitment and battling qualities have made him a firm favourite with Spitfires fans, but a succession of injuries have limited him to just 146 appearances. He had major hip surgery three yea

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We regret that the proposed friendly with Portsmouth tonight (Monday) has been called off. A small section of the pitch has not thawed, and with temperatures set to plummet again this evening, we have reluctantly postponed the game. Guy Whittingham and Ian Woane came over at luch time, and along with Bairdy we all agreed that the risk of injury was not one any of us were prepared to take. We are also mindful that the really cold weather would detract from a decent possible attendance and perhaps endanger safety - thus the decision to put the game off. We have agreed with PFC to re-arrange the fixture as soon as a better spell of weather looks imminent (subject to a mutually convenient date).

Today's game at St. Albans has been called off due to a frozen Clarence Park pitch, following a pitch inspection this morning.

WOKING v EASTLEIGH TUESDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2010 Blue Square Bet South Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh returned to the scene of their disappointing FA Cup exit exactly a month earlier for this Blue Square Bet South fixture, with the hosts still in a buoyant mood from their later cup matches against Brighton & Hove Albion, the replay being just seven days earlier at the Kingfield Stadium. There was 4193 in attendance for the Brighton fixture, the draw of Eastleigh though for a league fixture was only 654. The Woking line up was the same that had won at Dover three days earlier in an FA Trophy fixture, whilst Eastleigh had Warren Goodhind replacing Ross Bottomley at full back and Peter Adeniyi coming into the side replacing Brett Williams leaving Gillespie as the only recognised striker in the side bringing a change of system to combat the fast raiding Woking wingers and strike force prevalent in the recent cup fixture. In a tentative start to the fixture Woking had the first cha

By Adrian Kajumba -   IAN BAIRD says the return of Paul Doswell will add a “large amount of spice” to Eastleigh’s FA Trophy first-round tie against Sutton United. The Spitfires were paired with the Ryman Premier Division leaders in yesterday's draw, setting up an emotional return to the Silverlake Stadium for Us manager Doswell. Doswell made his managerial name with Eastleigh, leading the club on their meteoric rise from the Wessex League to the Conference South. He won’t be the only member of the Sutton squad returning to Eastleigh. Ex-Silverlake favourite, striker Andy Forbes, is currently on loan at Sutton from Woking, while another popular ex-Spitfire, goalkeeper Wayne Shaw, is a coach at the Londoners. Karim El-Salahi, Steve Watts and Karl Murray are three other Sutton players who will come up against their former employers. Spitfires boss Baird said: “Obviously there is a lot of history between Eastleigh and Paul Doswell and that will add a large amount of spice

We are delighted to confirm that today we were contacted by Portsmouth FC - who have asked that we play a friendly against them on Monday of next week - 29th November - (ko 7.45pm). Portsmouth will be fielding a strong team including many 1st team squad players. Normal entry prices will apply - and (of course) we look forward to a large crowd at the game.

By Wendy Gee - Eastleigh have been paired with Sutton United in today's FA Trophy first round draw - setting up a return to the Silverlake Stadium for former Spitfires manager Paul Doswell. Doswell, who led Eastleigh on their fairytale march from the Wessex to the Conference South, will bring his Ryman League table-toppers to the Silverlake on Saturday December 11. Ian Baird's Eastleigh reached the first round after seeing off another Ryman Premier side, Folkestone Invicta, 2-1 on Saturday. Doswell is not the only one in the Sutton camp with Eastleigh links. Andy Forbes, Karl Murray, Karim El Sahali, Steve Watts and U's player-coach Wayne Shaw are all ex-Spitfires currently on Sutton's books. Havant & Waterlooville host Basingstoke tonight in a third qualifying round replay after their first clash at The Camrose on Saturday ended 2-2. The winners will face Salisbury City at home in another mouth-watering first round clash. All first round winners wi

EASTLEIGH v FOLKESTONE INVICTA SATURDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2010 FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round Report by Jamie Montigue Eastleigh are through to the 1st Round of the FA Trophy for the first time since the 2007/2008 campaign. That year the Spitfires went on to the second round where they were defeated by Conference Premier side Crawley Town. Having been eliminated at the first hurdle in five of the last six seasons in this competition, Ian Baird’s side had the task of navigating a potential banana-skin in the form of facing Ryman Premier strugglers Folkestone Invicta. Following last weekend’s 4-1 drubbing at home; where Staines Town came to the Silverlake Stadium to defeat Eastleigh comfortably, Baird made a number of changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s cup clash. Danny Smith returned to action having missed the previous two fixtures with a bout of flu and then suffering from shingles. Gareth Barfoot was preferred to Jason Matthews between the sticks after the experienced

EASTLEIGH v STAINES TOWN SATURDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2010 Blue Square Bet South Report by Jamie Montigue  Eastleigh were by far and away second best this afternoon as their unbeaten run of three league games came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Staines Town. The Spitfires named an unchanged starting eleven from the side who were minutes away from winning at Hampton & Richmond on Tuesday night, but were disappointingly well beaten by the Swans today. The first of the action saw the visitors force an early corner following good work down the left flank. Eastleigh only half-cleared with the ball dropping to the feet of Andre Scarlett, but the midfielder failed to capitalise on the opportunity and shot harmlessly over. Two minutes later Tony Taggart was close to picking out Richard Gillespie’s run with a neat through ball. Louis Wells was alert to the threat and raced off his line to cut out the danger at the edge of his area. Chris Holland came close in the eighth minute when