Eastleigh Football Club is an English professional football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Silverlake Stadium. was formerly known as Swaythling Athletic, which then changed to Swaythling. In 1950 they joined Hampshire League, and in 1980 were renamed Eastleigh. In 1986 they were accepted as one of the founding members of the Wessex League. In 2002–03 they won the league and were promoted to Division One East of the Southern League. After finishing fourth in their first season, the club were promoted due to the formation of the Conference North and South taking clubs from the division above, and were transferred into the Premier Division of the Isthmian League.
The club finished third in its first season in the Premier Division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Braintree Town 2–0 in the semi-final, they were promoted to the Conference South after a 1–0 victory over Leyton in the final. In 2008–09 they finished third, but lost to Hayes & Yeading United in the play-off semi-finals.
I've managed many big teams in FM 2012 But now fancy taking a team from the very bottom tier of english football and take them to the Premier League. Im an Arsenal fan but fell in love with Eastleigh FC while randomly doing a season with them on FM 2011 and only took them as far as League 1, this time im going to take them all the way to the Premier League. Since FM 2011 ive even started following there season progress in the Blue Square Bet South so I have good knowledge of their team which will aid me in this adventure to take them to the top, so keep up with this story, its going to be a good one
! Pre Season :
[preseason_34922.jpg
As you can see from my pre season matches it hasn't exactly been the perfect warm up for the season, but im still confident of having a good season and pushing for promotion.
Transfers in:
Ryan Doble: on Loan (Southampton)
Gill Sorensen: Free Transfer
Chris Lever: £6k (Southport)
Jake Harris: On loan (Newport County)
Aaron Martin: On loan(Southampton)
Joe Tabiri: Free Transfer
Daniel Wishart: On Loan (Hayes&Yeading)
Dean Rance: On Loan (Gillingham)
Jack Morris: Free Transfer
Ricky Byrne: Free Transfer
Aiden Palmer: Free Transfer(Chelmsfor)
David Mannix: Free Transfer (Vauxhall)
As my transfer budget was only £8K I looked at bringing in alot of tree transfers of players been released by lower league sides also decided to loan 1 or 2 players due to the partnership Eastleigh have with Southampton.
Transfers out:
Ross Bottomley : Released
Blue Square Bet South:
1st League game
Eastleigh 1-0 Dartford (Jordan Holder-Spooner 21)
Happy with a win in my our 1st league game which was very important, only dissapointment in the game was the sending off of Aaron Martin who is my main Centre Back so to lose him to suspension already is a kick in the teeth.
2nd League game:
Havant&Waterlooville 2-0 Eastleigh
Was Very dissapointed with this performance and things wern't made any easier when 1 of my centre backs went off injured and I had already used all my subs up, made the players know how I felt.
3rd League Game:
Sutton Utd 0-2 Eastleigh (Smith 3,Sorensen 67)
Very happy with the performance and of course the scoreboard, perfect way to bounce back from a defeat.
4th League Game:
Eastleigh 2-0 Basingstoke (Smith 28,Mannix 65)
Yet again a goal for Danny Smith and an absolutely beaty of a 30 yard strike from David Mannix, will upload a video of the goal at some point.
5th League Game:
Welling 1-2 Eastleigh (Cumbers 13,Slabber 38,Sorensen 73)
Very happy with this win after going a goal down. Great to see the players heads didn't drop especially as we were set as huge underdogs in the media before the game. Only dissapointment was a red card for my left back Aiden Palmer who has been a superb signing in the 78thmin.
So this is how the table looks at the end of August:
September:
6th League Game:
Eastleigh 2-2 Eastbourne Boro (Doble 20,Martin 65,Treleaven 71,Weatherstone 74)
Completely dominated the match and were comfortable at 2-0 but unfortunately the players got complacent and managed to concede to horrendous goals in 3minutes which was devestating.
7th League Game:
Truro 2-0 Eastleigh (Watkins 38, Pugh 78)
Very dissapointing result which put an end to a 5 match unbeaten run, completely dominated possesion before conceding the 1st goal, after that TRURO took control, My keeper Barfoot had a terrible game and was largely at fault for both goals.
Changes
After the Truro game I released club captain KEVIN BRAYBROOK after coaches insisted at 34 years of age that he was surplus to requirements and hadn't even played a minute of football for the club this season, I have know appointed 1 of my new signings Chris Lever (Righ back from Southport) as club captain.
8th League Game:
Eatleigh 2-0 Staines (Slabber 10, Martin 50)
Brilliant performance, completely dominated play, made 1 change before the game bringing young keeper FRED TOOMER (19Years of age) and he made some crucial saves in the game getting a clean sheet in the process. Next match is Title Favourites WOKING FC, a win would put us within a point of the play offs.
9th League Game:
Eastleigh vs Woking
FT: Eastleigh 1-0 Woking (Smith Pen 32)
A massive win against a very good team, my player of the season so far Danny Smith with a super penalty, gave young keeper Toomer my trust in playing him in this big match and he came out of it with another clean sheet and a brilliant performance making some amazing saves. Also the change of Sorensen out and Holder Spooner in up front made a big difference, held up the ball well and caused the Woking defence alot of problems.
So this is how the table looks at the end of September:
October:
FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round:
Eastleigh 1-0 Salisbury (Doble 43)
Very happy with the win considering it was against the side who are currently top of the Blue Square Bet South,Ryan Doble scored an absolute cracker from 25yards out and his loan deal from Southampton set to end soon so im hoping to extend his loan until the end of the season, as hes scored 3 goals and 5 assists in 9 games. For Some reason there's 21 days until my next league match against DOVER so updates will be made soon.
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round:
Basingstoke 0-2 Eastleigh (Slabber 56, 81) Jordan Smith Red Card for Basingstoke (56)
Very good performance, brought in Eastleigh legend Jamie Brown for Ryan Noble as he rejected the oppertunity to extend his loan and went back to Southampton, very dissapointed but nothing can do. Slabber had a brilliant performance took both his goals well but went off injured couple of minutes after his 2nd and has broken his colerbone (out for 2months) big dent to our season.
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