Eastleigh FC

07 July Fixture List - Revision 1

Following the departure of Paul Williams, Blue Square Bet South club Eastleigh have announced that Kevin Braybrook has agreed to take the role of first-team coach to replace Williams and Matt Gray, who both departed in the summer. Braybrook joined Eastleigh in June as ‘Head of Recruitment’ as Eastleigh took the ambitious step to take a full-time view on their side to take their place in the Conference South. Although new to Eastleigh, Braybrook has a whole wealth of background that clearly indicates his knowledge of players at all levels. The 34-year-old Basingstoke-born former midfielder with Portsmouth, Yeovil Town and Salisbury City, had his playing career cut short through injury and switched his attentions to coaching. Finishing last season as assistant to Winchester City’s Guy Butters, but that was after Braybrook's coaching expertise gained as one of the youngest coaches in Europe to obtain a UEFA Pro Licence, saw him have successful stints with Southampton's Aca

As has been previously reported, Paul Williams has not joined Eastleigh FC and has been offered a full time position at another Club. ( See here ) We are pleased to announce that Kevin Braybrook will now assume the role of 1st Team Coach and will commence his duties when pre-season training starts on Saturday. As we have previously detailed, Kevin is a highly qualified and respected coach - and is a welcome addition to our Management team. Our recruitment of players is gathering momentum, and numerous potential signings will participate in our pre-season fixtures during July.

Eastleigh Football Club are proud to announce that following a meeting of the Football Association last month, Eastleigh FC are now Full Members of the Football Association, an honour that is currently only issued to 215 member clubs, from over 900 clubs that are affiliated with the Association, and one of those is the world famous amateur representative side Middlesex Wanderers. Having been taken on as Associated Members of the Football Association back in 2007, Eastleigh applied to upgrade to Full Membership earlier this season and following a successful interview procedure led by Eastleigh Chairman Paul Murray and Stadium Manager Mick Geddes, the application was considered at a recent Membership Committee meeting at the Association and the application was accepted.

Eastleigh Team v Falkland Islands:  Photos by Tony Smith - http://efc.smugmug.com / Match Report by Ray Murphy - Here Andrew Smallpiece Joe Crook Tyrone Mings Danny Smith Jack Vallis Nathan Peprah-Annan David Abe Sam Wilson Ben Wilson Stuart Duff Ben Chambers Courtney Chinn Dean Faithfull Joe McDonnell Dean Lincoln Liam Hibberd Will Aimson Tom Boyle Eastleigh Starting XI (using rolling subs): Andrew Smallpiece, Joe Crook, Tyrone Mings, Danny Smith, Jack Vallis, Nathan Peprah-Annan, David Abe, Ben Wilson, Sam Wilson, Stuart Duff, Ben Chambers. Subs: Courtney Chinn, Dean Faithfull, Joe McDonnell (GK), Kyle Lincoln, Liam Hibberd, Will Aimson, Tom Boyle (GK). Goals: Ben Chambers, Sam Wilson, Stuart Duff, David Abe, Courtney Chinn, Liam Hibberd.

EASTLEIGH v FALKLAND ISLANDS FRIDAY 24th APRIL Friendly Report by Ray Murphy Eastleigh Starting XI (using rolling subs): Andrew Smallpiece, Joe Crook, Tyrone Mings, Danny Smith, Jack Vallis, Nathan Peprah-Annan, David Abe, Ben Wilson, Sam Wilson, Stuart Duff, Ben Chambers Subs Courtney Chinn, Dean Faithfull, Joe McDonnell (GK), Kyle Lincoln, Liam Hibberd, Will Aimson, Tom Boyle (GK) Goals: Ben Chambers, Sam Wilson, Stuart Duff, David Abe, Courtney Chinn, Liam Hibberd. With only one recognised first-teamer on parade in Danny Smith, Eastleigh were comfortable winners against a Falkland Islands side that had arrived in England less than twenty-four hours earlier and also with three more players still not having arrived in the country. It was though a good work out for both sides with Eastleigh finding six different scorers on an afternoon when it was really looking at new trialists for the start of the season. After missing several early chances Eastleigh went ahe

Eastleigh v Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands football team have been given clearance to leave the Island having been delayed by the Chilean Ash cloud. They will arrive in England via Chile and Spain late on Thursday afternoon. The match against Eastleigh therefore will take place at The BTC Sports Ground at 3pm on Friday 24th June. Darren Waterman will be in charge of the Eastleigh side that will be selected from: Andrew Smallpiece, Dean Faithfull, Kyle Lincoln, Tyrone Mings, Jack Vallis, David Abe, Nathan Peprah-Annan, Stuart Duff, Courtney Chinn, Joe McDonnell, Sam Wilson, Liam Hibberd, Ben Chambers, Jordan O'Donnell, Will Aimson, Joe Crook and Ben Wilson. The Islanders are changing their onward travel arrangements to The Isle of Wight to play this fixture, citing the chance to play a game in this hemisphere before their matches in the Island Games as a much needed build up to their tournament chances. The Falkland Islands team is made up of a mixture of local l

The match between Eastleigh Football Club and the Falkland Islands will now take place on Friday 24th June at 3pm and not on Wednesday 22nd as previously posted. The Falkland Island team has been unable to leave the island, due to an ash cloud from a volcano in Chile, but air restrictions have now been lifted, allowing the re-arranged fixture to take place. The Falkland Islands side are en route to the Isle of Wight where they are participating in the NatWest Island Games. Their first match in a four-team group being on Sunday 26th June against Guernsey. The Falkland Islanders have also got Gotland and Isle of Man in their Group. This will be the Falklands fourth entry into the Island Games. It will also be their fourth time of facing the Isle of Man in the competition too. Twice the Isle of Man have recorded 9-0 victories and to complete the set, the Isle of Man also recorded a 2-1 victory. Having been formed in 2001 the Falkland Islands have only played a total of 13 games an

By Wendy Gee -  EX-SAINT Paul Williams has stepped down as assistant manager of Blue Square Bet South side Eastleigh – just three weeks after accepting the post. The former Southampton, Coventry and Derby defender is heading to the north of the county to take over as a head of youth at npower League Two outfit Aldershot Town. He replaces Tim Coe, who is leaving the Shots after three seasons at the Recreation Ground. Spitfires boss Ian Baird explained: “Willo applied for the Aldershot job a month ago, but they had interviewed various people and he didn’t think he would get it. “But he got a call from Nicky Banger (Aldershot’s corporate sales manager) on Friday asking him to go back for another interview and he rang on Sunday to tell me he’d got the job. “Me and Willo have not fallen out over it. “I told him to take the Aldershot job and go and further his coaching career. “It’s a full-time post as well and he said he can’t believe how lucky he’s been.” Bassett-based

General News from around the Club for the week: The expected signature and return to Eastleigh FC of Andy Forbes from Sutton United is now complete with all forms having been cleared and lodged with the Football Association. Andy is under a one-year deal with The Spitfires. The Football Association have announced that the new sponsor for The FA Challenge Cup on a three-year arrangement is Budweiser. The details of the sponsorship have not yet been circulated. The early Rounds of the FA Cup, FA Trophy (which will not include Eastleigh as yet), plus the FA Youth Cup; should be available on the FA web site from 1st June. The Football Conference hope to distribute the fixtures for the 2011/12 season on July 5th. This is dependent on all issues being sorted and league constitutions remaining unaltered. The Wyvern Football League Eastleigh side have four pre season games arranged: They are - Monday 25th July away to Guildford City, 7.45pm Saturday 30th July away to Bush Hill, 3pm

July Fixture List

Eastleigh FC have arranged the following eleven pre-season fixtures for their Blue Square Bet Southern Division side: The first game for manager Ian Baird to run the rule over new faces, will be away at Sydenhams Wessex Football League side Winchester City on Tuesday 5th July. This match is a chance to have a run out only three days after their first training session, but also before Eastleigh entertain a Reading XI on Saturday 9th July as part of the transfer deal that saw former Eastleigh striker Brett Williams join Reading last October. Reading who were involved in the Championship Play Off Finals at the end of last season losing at Wembley against Swansea City, have delayed their return to pre season training owing to that fixture and this will be Reading's first outing of the season before they go to Slovenia for a pre season tour. Eastleigh then make the short trip to Zamaretto League Premier Division Bashley on Tuesday 12th July with a trip the ne

An Eastleigh XI will play the Falklands Islands on Wednesday 22nd June at the BTC Sports Ground in Stoneham Lane with the kick off at 3.00pm. All are welcome and admission is free. The bar at Eastleigh Football Club will be open after the match, and both teams will return to the Eastleigh Clubhouse after the game. This is not a First Team fixture.

The Eastleigh Football Club Suburban League Reserves side under the guidance of Darren Waterman has eight pre-season fixtures before they commence their Suburban League Premier Division programme on Saturday 20th August. All of the games that the side will face are away from home on the grounds of Sydenhams Wessex Football League Premier Division sides, including the newly promoted Downton and Horndean. Other games also see the Spitfires face Romsey Town on Saturday July 16th and Fawley AFC on Saturday 23rd July. The full list reads : Reserve Team (Suburban League) Friendlies Wednesday 13th July Totton & Eling away 7.45pm Saturday 16th July Romsey Town away 3pm Tuesday 19th July New Milton Town away 7.45pm Saturday 23rd July Fawley AFC away 3pm Wednesday 27th July Downton away 7.45pm Saturday 30th July Horndean away 3pm Tuesday 2nd August GE Hamble away 7.45pm Tuesday 9th August Blackfield & Langley away 7.30pm Saturday 20th August Suburban League commences

As voted for by all the managers in the division in 4-3-3 formation….. NATHAN McDONALD (Braintree Town) PAUL LORRAINE (Ebbsfleet United) TOM JORDAN (Eastleigh) JACK PARKINSON (Welling United) STEPHEN ROBINSON (Farnborough) DARYL McMAHON (Farnborough) DAVE RAINFORD (Chelmsford City) DALE BINNS (Farnborough) ADAM BIRCHALL (Dover Athletic) SEAN MARKS (Braintree Town) BRADLEY BUBB (Farnborough)

The new Wyvern Combination Football League will kick off the 2011/12 campaign with 36 teams across three divisions. A strong-looking Premier Division contains the Conference South second strings of Dorchester Town and Eastleigh - managed by David Hazelgrove - plus Southern League Premier Division pair AFC Totton and Bashley. The new Wyvern season will commence on Saturday, August 20. Eastleigh plan to stage their home games on Monday evenings. Wyvern Combination Football League: Premier Division (13 teams): AFC Totton, Bashley, Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Christchurch, Dorchester Town, Eastleigh , Fleet Town, Gosport Borough, Moneyfields, Newport IoW, Poole Town, Sholing, Wimborne Town.

By Wendy Gee - IAN Baird reckons Jamie Slabber's handsome return of 21 Blue Square Bet South goals for Eastleigh last season proved him right in letting go of fans' favourite Andy Forbes. But with Forbes now on his way back to the Silverlake Stadium, the Spitfires boss believes the club can have the best of both worlds. Slabber - one of just six senior players retained by the club - will again spearhead the attack next term. And 32-year-old Forbes - scorer of 143 goals in 268 appearances during six seasons with Eastleigh - is likely to concentrate on his alternative role as a central defender. Prior to parting company with the Spitfires when his contact expired last summer, the Reading-based marksman had been placed on the transfer-list - and subsequently removed again - by ex-Saint Baird who was frustrated by his lack of consistency. Initially Baird indicated he would be keeping him for 2010/11, but he concluded that, taking his age and number of games he had played o

By Wendy Gee - FORMER Eastleigh centre-back Chris Holland has joined the Spitfires' bitter south coast rivals Havant & Waterlooville. The 30-year-old defender is one of two new signings unveiled by the Hawks this week along with pacy left-sided winger Craig Braham-Barrett from Farnborough. Holland spent one season with Eastleigh after moving to the Southampton area from Bath City last summer to live with his Hamble-based girlfriend. He had been a key member of the Bath squad that secured promotion to the Blue Square Bet Premier via the play-offs in 2009/10. Holland made 46 league and cup appearances for the Spitfires, scoring six goals in an ultimately disappointing campaign which ended in failure to reach the BSB South play-offs. Eastleigh boss Ian Baird was keen to keep him, but it is understood that Holland had a better financial offer from Havant and was put off by the massive summer changes at the Silverlake Stadium which have seen a dozen senior players depart. J

Want to be a full time footballer? Contact: Head of Recruitment: Kevin Braybrook - 07976 819 689 Director of Football: David Malone - 07798 792 628  E-mail: dmjm@btinternet.com Mick Budny on 07973 507 755

By Wendy Gee - EASTLEIGH are ready to renew their love affair with fans’ favourite Andy Forbes. The Reading-based hitman has verbally agreed a return to the Blue Square Bet South club and is expected to sign a contract in the next few days. It comes just over a year after the Spitfires brought down the curtain on Forbes’s six prolific seasons at the Silverlake Stadium which reaped 143 goals in 268 appearances. The 32-year-old initially signed for BSB South rivals Woking but, having struggled to make an impact at Kingfield, he linked up again with ex-Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell at Sutton United. He finished as the Us’ second highest league and cup scorer with 15 goals in 34 games as they roared to the Ryman Premier title, but was released last week because Doswell had a “strict budget” to adhere to. Finances were also a key factor in Forbes’s departure from Eastleigh last summer but, as director of football Dave Malone explained, he will be returning on vastly dif

By Wendy Gee - DAVE Malone believes Eastleigh have got just the right blend of League and non-League managerial experience to make a success of their venture into full-time football next term. The Spitfires' director of football reckons newly-appointed first-team coach/assistant manager Paul Williams's knowledge will dovetail in nicely with that of team boss Ian Baird and head of recruitment Kevin Braybrook. Although ex-Saint Williams, 40, is new to the non-League scene, he boasts all the right credentials for Eastleigh's new Player Development Scheme which will focus on rehabilitating young players released vy Football League clubs and helping them back into the professional game. The 6ft centre-back made more than 300 appearances for Derby County and Coventry City before signing for Gordon Strachan at St Mary's in October 2001. He went on to make 40 league and cup starts for Saints before moving to Stoke City. More recently Bassett-based Williams has been busy

The club are pleased to announce that we have agreed terms with Andy Forbes, and anticipate that we will conclude the formalities in the next few days. Andy spent last season at Woking and then Sutton United. We will be delighted to welcome him back to the Silverlake Stadium. D.O.B: 28/05/1979 Birth Place: Reading Previous Clubs: Sutton United, Woking, Winchester City, Andover, Basingstoke Town, Reading Position: Forward Nationality: English Andy Forbes - Andy began his career as a trainee for Reading Football Club before playing for Winchester City (where he won the FA Vase) and Andover. Andy made his move to the Silverlake Stadium in August 2004 for an undisclosed fee despite several other clubs in the Football League showing an interest in his talent. Andy had scored over 350 goals with Andover and Winchester City prior to joining Eastleigh; and in his first attempt to prove his goalscoring ability outside the Wessex and Hampshire Leagues, Andy proved t

We have now completed the re-signings of the following players: Tom Jordan Jamie Slabber Danny Smith Ross Bottomley Gareth Barfoot Richard Gillespie is already under Contract for the coming season. We did offer terms to both Tony Taggart and Chris Holland - both of whom appear to have declined, and taken (in their words) "better financial offers" elsewhere. We are in talks with several players with BSS experience, and so far we have offered terms to 3 other potential full time players. We anticipate around 25 further players attending our next assessment days in the middle of this month.

Paul Williams - Playing recently at St. Marys >> Source: www.saintsfc.co.uk We are delighted to confirm that we have today appointed Paul Williams as our 1st Team Coach/Assistant Manager. Paul is a highly experienced and respected ex-player, and will be a valued addition to the Management team. Profile - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_%28footballer_born_1971%29 The Spitfires have unveiled ex-Saints centre-back Paul Williams as their new assistant manager and first-team coach. The 40-year-old replaces Ian Baird’s former right-hand man Matt Gray, who resigned last month. Williams, formerly of Derby County and Coventry City, signed for Gordon Strachan on a free transfer at St Mary’s in October 2001. He made 40 league and cup starts for Saints and was an unused sub in the 2003 FA Cup final before leaving for Stoke City that summer. He has since played and coached in the USA, assisted ex-Saints teammate Jason Dodd while he was caretaker manager at Alders