Eastleigh Athletic F.C.

Football club

Eastleigh Athletic

Eastleigh Athletic in 1911

Full name| Eastleigh Athletic Football Club
Nickname(s)| Railwaymen
Founded| 1891
Dissolved| 1977
Ground| Dutton Lane, Eastleigh

Home colours

Away colours

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Eastleigh Athletic were a long-running amateur football club, based in Eastleigh, Hampshire.[1] They were one of the early pioneers of football in the area and were the main team in the town until the loss of their ground and the emergence of other local sides.

## History

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The Eastleigh Railway Depot was opened by the London & South Western Railway Company in 1891 and shortly afterwards workers formed a football team, initially known as Eastleigh LSWR.[2]

The company owned their own sports ground at Dutton Lane in the town, which over the years was developed with an oval cycling track and grandstand for spectators.

In 1896 the club adopted their best known identity of Eastleigh Athletic and were one of the eight founder members of the Hampshire League. On 5 September 1896 they took part in an historic match against Freemantle \- the first ever game of the new competition.[3] On a sunny afternoon, the two teams provided plenty of entertainment for the large crowd with the match receiving full coverage from the Hants & Dorset press. Eastleigh narrowly lost that day 4-5 and fielded the following team: Collins, Dexter, Brocklehurst, Silverman, Bull, Service, Jeffcote, Bastock, Woodhouse, Knox and Sharp. Eastleigh finished the season in 4th place.

During the course of the AGM on 26 July 1897, it was mentioned by the Assistant Hon. Secretary, William Powley, that the colours of the club would be changed to chocolate and blue. This decision was to prove inspirational as in 1897–98, they were league champions and Hampshire Senior Cup winners, after a 2–1 victory against the 2nd Gordon Highlanders (Aldershot). The final was played at the County Ground, Southampton in front of a large crowd.[4]

In order to generate a full fixture list, it was not uncommon for clubs in those days to enter more than one league during the same season and in 1897–98 Eastleigh also entered a side in the Western League (Professional Section).[5] Also playing in this eight-team Division were Swindon Town, Reading, Bristol City and Eastville (now Bristol Rovers) - Eastleigh finished in 7th place.[6] The following season they then joined the Southern League Division 2 (South West Section), finishing 5th out of six clubs, but on the scrapping of this short-lived division the main focus switched back to the more realistic Hampshire League.[5]

In 1903 the league was divided into regional sections with Eastleigh placed in the South Division where they consolidated, however, they still maintained a strong cup pedigree. Eastleigh Athletic were regular entrants in the national competitions and in 1902–03 enjoyed their best run in the FA Cup when they reached the 4th Qualifying Round, losing 1–3 away to Whiteheads, the Dorset League champions.

The Southampton Football Association was formed for the 1908–09 campaign and Eastleigh became founder members, entering sides in its Senior and Junior Leagues - the club would retain their membership for the remainder of their existence. There was further cup glory that season when they recorded a fine double by again winning the Hampshire Senior Cup after a 2–0 victory against the 2nd Cameron Highlanders (Tidworth) and also the inaugural Southampton Senior Cup after a 2–0 victory over Bitterne Guild (both games were played at The Dell, Southampton).

The 1910–11 season saw the 'Railwaymen' reach another two finals; the Hampshire Senior Cup was won for the third and final time after a 4–2 success against Kings Royal Rifles Corps (Gosport) at Fratton Park, Portsmouth but they were denied another double after losing the Southampton Senior Cup final 0–3 (in a replay) against Bitterne Guild, who gained revenge for their defeat two years previously.

The club closed down for the Great War (1914–18) but reformed once peace resumed and the early twenties saw them reach another two Southampton Senior Cup finals and yo-yo between the county league's two divisions, winning the West Division title in 1922–23. In 1925, after a poor season, they opted to join the less demanding Southampton League, where they soon found their feet again as they consecutively won the Junior 3, Junior 2 and South Hants Division titles during the final three seasons of the decade.

In 1930 the club returned to the Hampshire League Division 2 under the name of SR Eastleigh Athletic (S.R. stood for Southern Railway, the new owners of the locomotive works in Eastleigh) and the team soon re-established themselves as they pushed for promotion. After several near misses they were champions in 1938–39 only to have their progress halted by the outbreak of World War II.

In 1947 Eastleigh again returned to the county League when they were placed in Division 3 East and when British Rail took over the works two years later their name was amended to BR Eastleigh Athletic. Until this point they had been the town's senior club, but the post war era saw the emergence of local rivals Pirelli General, Eastleigh Spartans and Swaythling Athletic in the Hampshire League and this saw increased competition for the area's best players.

Disaster struck soon after when they lost their ground after the Railway Goods Yard was expanded and after this, the club endured a somewhat nomadic life for the remainder of their existence. They initially moved the short distance to a pitch at Chickenhall Lane in Bishopstoke, and after several steady seasons they won promotion in 1956–57 as Division 3 runners-up.

Further enforced moves saw them ground share with local rivals Ford Sports in Swaythling before moving back to Eastleigh, using Fleming Park (a council owned sports centre still used today) for home games, but despite some steady performances, they had to leave the competition in 1961 due to the venue's inadequate facilities. A year later they were re-admitted back after agreeing a groundshare with league rivals BTC Southampton at nearby Stoneham Lane. They were placed in Division 3 but things were never quite the same and after several seasons of struggle they were relegated in 1964–65 after finishing bottom. Their fortunes did not improve back in the Southampton League and BR sadly folded early during the 1966–67 campaign.[7]

After several years inactivity, the club reappeared under the guise of B.R.S.A. (British Rail Staff Association) and again ran teams in the now defunct Eastleigh & District League (1905–91) and the lower junior divisions of the Southampton League, where they enjoyed moderate success before finally calling it a day in 1977.[citation needed]

## Honours

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* Hampshire League
* Division 1 Champions 1897/98
* Champions 1938/39 and Runners-up 1931/32
* Division 3 Runners-up 1956/57
* West Division Champions 1922/23
* South Division Runners-up 1919/20
* Southampton League
* Junior Division 2 Champions 1927/28
* Junior Division 3 Champions 1926/27
* South Hants Division Champions 1928/29
* Hampshire FA
* Senior Cup Winners 1897/98, 1908/09 and 1910/11
* Junior 'A' Cup Winners 1932/33 (Reserves)
* Southampton FA
* Senior Cup Winners 1908/09, Finalists 1910/11, 1919/20 and 1922/23
* Junior 'A' Cup Winners 1929/30 (Reserves)
* Junior Consolation Cup Winners 1929/30 (Reserves)

## Famous Players

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Eastleigh Athletic had many fine players during their long history; most notably a number of former professional players worked at the site. These included Tommy Bowman, Samuel Meston, Bert Paddington, Baven Penton and Joe Turner, whilst Jim Swinden and Richard Brookes both their careers there before moving on to greater things.[8] [9]

## Home Ground

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For many years, Eastleigh Athletic played at Dutton Road in Eastleigh but were forced to leave when the railway yard was expanded after World War II. They then spent the Fifties playing on a pitch at Chickenhall Lane, Bishopstoke but losing the ground they had a rather nomadic existence which no doubt eventually contributed to their demise.

## Local Rivalries

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With there being so many teams in the area, Eastleigh Athletic had many local rivals. These mostly included Swaythling Athletic, Pirelli General, Eastleigh Spartans, BTC Southampton and Ford Sports - both of whom they groundshared with.

## Playing records

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### League

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Season  | Division  | Position  | Significant events

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1896/97 | Hampshire League | 4/8 | Founder Members
1897/98 | Western League Professional Section | 7/8 | Left competition
| Hampshire League | 1/8 | Champions
1898/99 | Southern League Division 2 South & West Section | 5/6 | Left competition
| Hampshire League | 6/8 |
1899/1900 | Hampshire League | 3/8 |
1900/01 | Hampshire League | 5/5 | Re-elected
1901/02 | Hampshire League | 6/7 |
1902/03 | Hampshire League | 3/8 |
1903/04 | Hampshire League South Division | 5/9 |
1904/05 | Hampshire League South Division | 3/9 |
1905/06 | Hampshire League South Division | 4/8 |
1906/07 | Hampshire League South Division | 7/8 |
1907/08 | Hampshire League South Division | 7/10 |
1908/09 | Hampshire League South Division | 5/8 |
1909/10 | Hampshire League South Division | 7/10 |
1910/11 | Hampshire League South Division | 3/9 |
1911/12 | Hampshire League County Division | 6/8 |
1912/13 | Hampshire League County Division | 6/8 |
1913/14 | Hampshire League County Division | 5/8 |
1914-19 |  |  |
1919/20 | Hampshire League South Division | 2/5 | Runners-up, promoted
1920/21 | Hampshire League County Division | 12/12 | Relegated
1921/22 | Hampshire League Sectional Division | 5/11 | Re-organisation
1922/23 | Hampshire League West Division | 1/10 | Champions, promoted
1923/24 | Hampshire League County Division | 16/16 | Withdrew, record expunged
1924/25 | Hampshire League East Division | 9/9 | Left competition
1925-30 |  |  |
1930/31 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 9/13 |
1931/32 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 2/14 | Runners-up, not promoted
1932/33 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 7/13 |
1933/34 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/12 |
1934/35 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 3/16 |
1935/36 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 4/15 |
1936/37 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/16 |
1937/38 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 3/14 |
1938/39 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 1/15 | Champions, not promoted
1939-47 |  |  |
1947/48 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 6/12 |
1948/49 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 8/14 |
1949/50 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 12/14 |
1950/51 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 9/14 |
1951/52 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 10/14 |
1952/53 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 13/14 | Re-elected
1953/54 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 6/14 |
1954/55 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 8/11 |
1955/56 | Hampshire League Division 3 East | 10/16 |
1956/57 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 2/16 | Runners-up, promoted
1957/58 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 10/16 |
1958/59 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 7/16 |
1959/60 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 6/16 |
1960/61 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 9/16 | Left competition
1961/62 |  |  |
1962/63 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 14/16 |
1963/64 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 14/16 |
1964/65 | Hampshire League Division 3 | 16/16 | Left competition

### FA Cup

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Season  | Round  | Opponents  | Result

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1895/96 | 1st Qualifying Round | H v Clifton | W 9–0
| 2nd Qualifying Round | A v Reading | L 1–2
1896/97 | 1st Qualifying Round | H v Royal Artillery Portsmouth | L 1–7
1897/98 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Oxford Cygnets | W 6–2
| 2nd Qualifying Round | A v Reading Amateurs | W 4–1
| 3rd Qualifying Round | A v Eastville Rovers | L 0–2
1898/99 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1899/1900 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1900/01 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1901/02 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1902/03 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Basingstoke Town | W 2–0
| 2nd Qualifying Round | A v North Hants Ironworks | D 2-2
| Replay | H v North Hants Ironworks | W 3–0
| 3rd Qualifying Round | H v Staplehill | W 7–0
| 4th Qualifying Round | A v Whiteheads | L 1–3
1903/04 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1904/05 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1905/06 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1906/07 | 1st Qualifying Round | A v Winchester City | W 4–2
| 2nd Qualifying Round | unknown |
1907/08 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1908/09 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1909/10 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1910/11 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1911/12 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1912/13 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1913/14 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1914/15 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1919/20 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1920/21 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1921/22 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1922/23 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |
1923/24 | 1st Qualifying Round | unknown |

## References

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1. ^ Lambert, Tim (14 March 2021). "A History of Eastleigh". Local Histories. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
2. ^ "Rise of the Railway – Part 1 – History of Bishopstoke, Hampshire". Retrieved 15 July 2025.
3. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampshire_League
4. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampshire_Senior_Cup
5. ^ a b "Football Club History Database - Eastleigh{1}". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
6. ^ "TownEnders.com - Swindon Town Record vs. Eastleigh Athletic". townenders.com. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
7. ^ https://hantssoccerarchive.co.uk/southampton/
8. ^ name = ABC>Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 327\. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
9. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. p. 77\. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.