THE CITIZENS POST WCFC v Eastleigh FC Saturday 28th July 2018 Pre-Season Friendly Winchester City Football Club is a committee run members club and as such is an unincorporated association. THE CITIZENS POST TODAY’S VISITORS – EASTLEIGH FC CLUB HISTORY Playing home matches firstly on Southampton Common, and then at ‘Westfield’ in Swaythling, the new club were promoted into the Hampshire League in 1950 after two campaigns spent in the Southampton Senior League (West). Within another year, Athletic, (that appellation was dropped in 1973) had topped Division Three (West) and won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup. By 1956, Swaythling were playing in the 1st Division of the County league. They would return to that level in 1970 as champions of Division 2. In keeping with their early progress, the club moved to a new ground at Ten Acres in 1957 – which remains home to this day. The change to their current name was made in 1980, six years before Eastleigh F.C. became founder members of the Wessex League. The club settled at that level, until a distinguished period under the management of present Sutton United boss Paul Doswell which began in 2002/2003. Eastleigh were that season’s Wessex League Champions. Twelve months later, they finished 4th in the Southern Football League Division One East. The club were beneficiaries of the F.A.’s restructuring of the non-league pyramid, and were elevated to begin 2004/2005 in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League. On-pitch advancement was being matched off the field. A new stand was constructed in time for the Isthmian campaign, which the team finished with a run of 14 unbeaten matches. That was enough to earn Eastleigh a play-off berth, which they capitalised on fully. Victories over Braintree Town (2-0), and Leyton (1-0) ensured that Doswell had taken his team from Wessex League to Conference South in the space of three heady years. Development of the ground has continued, with improvements made in 2006 both to the stand opposite the main grandstand, and that behind the goal furthest from the clubhouse. Eastleigh’s present owners, Bridle Insurance, whose purchase of a majority shareholding in the club was confirmed in February 2012, have further upgrading of the ‘Silverlake Stadium’ high on their list of priorities. Over nine years in the Conference South, Eastleigh have twice flirted with promotion to non-league’s highest tier. In 2009, under the management of former Leeds United forward Ian Baird, the Spitfires lost a play-off semi-final against Hayes & Yeading United. A 4-0 extra-time home defeat cancelled out Eastleigh’s 4-2 first-leg victory. In 2012/2013, a campaign which saw Baird replaced by current boss Richard Hill in September, the Spitfires’ second half of the season form took them from 21st to 4th place, and a play-off meeting with Dover Athletic. A 3-1 home reverse was wiped out with a 2-0 win in Kent, but, ultimately, a losing penalty shoot-out ended Eastleigh’s promotion aspirations. The intervening years brought the Spitfires’ only ever appearance in the F.A. Cup first round, and some silverware. The 2009/2010 cup adventure was ended by a last gasp goal which earned then Conference Premier team Barrow a 2-1 home win. Eastleigh’s trophy joy came in the 2011/2012 Hampshire Senior Cup. In a final played at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium against AFC Totton – on a night which featured the first live testing of goal-line technology – the Spitfires were 2-0 winners. Eastleigh can lay claim to their part in football history then, but they hope to make headlines all of their own in the coming years. The high ambition of all involved with the club comes at no cost to the inclusive and fan friendly atmosphere which exists at the Silverlake Stadium. That is a fact to which founder, Director, and Life President, Derik Brooks will undoubtedly testify. Eastleigh’s success didn’t stop there – promotion was gained from the Conference South in 2014, where they won the league title. The following season, the Spitfires made the play-offs, however they couldn’t get past a strong Grimsby Town outfit who went on to gain promotion. The following season saw an impressive FA Cup run, in which Eastleigh took Championship side Bolton Wanderers to a replay. The following season was the same story, with Eastleigh losing away to Championship team Brentford in the Third Round. TODAY’S VISITORS – EASTLEIGH FC PLAYER PROFILES GRAHAM STACK – Goalkeeper. Aged 36. Started his career at Arsenal and was there from 2000-2006. During that time, Stack had loan spells at Beveren, Millwall and Reading. He joined Reading permanently in 2006 and spent two seasons at the Madejski before signing for Plymouth. Whilst at Reading, he also served Wolves and Leeds on loan. Whilst at Plymouth, he returned to Leeds on loan again, and also temporarily switched to Blackpool. Signed permanently for Hibs in 2009 and spent three seasons in Edinburgh. Then played for Barnet from 2012-2016 before a brief spell in India at Kerala Blasters. He then joined Eastleigh in 2017. JOSH HARE – Defender. Aged 23. Was at Gillingham from 2012 to 2016. Whilst playing for the Gills, Hare served Eastbourne Borough and Leatherhead both on loan. He then signed permanently for Borough in 2016 before joining Maidstone United last season and now he has, this summer, switched to the Silverlake. MIKE GREEN – Defender. Aged 29. ‘Greener’ played for Brockenhurst as a youngster before he signed for Sydenhams Football League side, Christchurch. Then signed for Eastleigh first in 2009 before moving on for two seasons at AFC Totton. After 68 appearances for the Stags, he left, in 2011, to join Port Vale. Greener returned to Eastleigh on loan in 2011 before signing permanently that summer. OSCAR GOBERN – Midfielder. Aged 27. Much-travelled former England Under-19s international. Started out at Southampton. Spent three seasons with Saints, but during that time he served MK Dons on loan. Left Saints in 2011 to join Huddersfield Town. He was there for four years but again had a loan spells, this time at Chesterfield. Signed for QPR for the 2015-16 season, but left during the season to play on loan for Doncaster Rovers. 2016-17 season was spent at Mansfield Town for Gobern before he joined Ross County. He left County without making an appearance and signed for Yeovil Town before eventually joining Eastleigh this summer. REDA JOHNSON – Defender. Aged 30. Benin International. Began career in France in 2005 for Gueugnon. After two years there, Johnson joined Amiens for a further two seasons. In 2009 he moved to England to sign for Plymouth Argyle. In 2011, he left Home Park to join Sheffield Wednesday. Three years and 75 appearances later in 2014, Johnson switched to Coventry City. He left the Ricoh Arena two years later when he signed for Eastleigh. RYAN CRESSWELL – Defender. Aged 30. Graduated from the Sheffield United youth academy in 2006. Spent two seasons at Bramall Lane. In that time, Cresswell played for Halifax Town, Rotherham United, Morecambe, Macclesfield Town and Ferencvaros all on loan. He signed for Bury in 2008. Two years later he returned for a second spell at Rotherham United. Another two years on and in 2012-13 season, Cresswell played for Southend United. A season at Fleetwood Town followed before two seasons with Northampton Town and then Cresswell joined Eastleigh in 2016. SAM WOOD – Left sided Defender. Aged 31. Started out playing non-league with Cray Wanderers between 2002 and 2005. Wood then had a further three years with Bromley. He broke into the Football League with Brentford in 2008 and spent four seasons at Griffin Park. Wood joined Wycombe Wanderers permanently in 2012 (after a brief loan spell at Rotherham United in 2011) and spent five years at Adams Park before joining Eastleigh. JAMES CONSTABLE – Striker. Aged 33. Experienced, much-travelled forward. Constable started out at Cirencester Town as a youngster. He left the Corinium in 2003 to join Chippenham Town. Spent three seasons at Hardenhuish Park, scoring 29 goals in that time. Constable then signed for Walsall in 2006. He served Kidderminster Harriers on loan that season before joining them permanently in 2007. A successful season at Aggborough saw Constable switch to Shrewsbury Town. In 2009, he left Town after a loan spell at Oxford United, to join the U’s permanently, where he remained for five years. In 2014 he joined Eastleigh permanently. Apart from a loan spell at Poole Town last season, he has been an ever-present for the Spitfires since. PAUL McCALLUM – Striker. Aged 24. McCallum hails from London and started his career as a youngster at Dulwich Hamlet before he signed for West Ham United. He was a Hammer for four years, but played for Hearts, Rochdale, AFC Wimbledon, Aldershot Town, Torquay United and Portsmouth all on loan during that time. He left the Hammers in 2015 to join Leyton Orient and spent two seasons at Brisbane Road before he joined Eastleigh in 2017. MARK YEATES. Experienced Midfielder. Aged 33. Three caps for Republic of Ireland Under 21s. Started as a youngster at Tottenham Hotspur and was there from 2002 to 2007. In that time, he had loan spells at Brighton & Hove Albion, Swindon Town, Colchester United, Hull City and Leicester City. Signed for Colchester in 2007 for two years before going on to Middlesbrough. Short spells then followed at Sheffield United, Watford, Bradford City, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool and Notts County before he signed for the Spitfires.