History
Our Club
The club’s rise began when they were promoted to the Hampshire League in 1950 after two seasons in the Southampton Senior League (West). In just a year, they topped Division Three (West) and secured the Hampshire Intermediate Cup.
By 1955/56, Swaythling was competing in the Hampshire League Division 1. They returned to this level as champions of Division 2 in 1970. The club’s name changed to Eastleigh FC in 1980, and they became founder members of the Wessex League in 1986.
Eastleigh won the Wessex League in 2002/03 and were promoted to Division One East of the Southern League. They went on to secure promotion to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League eventually earning promotion to the Conference South.
Over nine years in the Conference South, Eastleigh twice came close to earning promotion to non-league’s highest tier but narrowly missed out on both occasions. They also had a memorable run in the FA Cup and secured silverware in the Hampshire Senior Cup in 2011/2012.
In 2014, Eastleigh clinched the Skrill South title, gaining promotion to National League and are now in the tenth season competing at this level.
Our Home
When formed, Swaythling Athletic began playing its home matches on Southampton Common behind where The Cowherds pub is now located.
In 1957, Swaythling Athletic moved to Ten Acres where the club has remained to this day and has been known as the Silverlake Stadium over the last ten season due to Eastleigh’s stadium right naming partnership with local automotive recycling company Silverlake Automotive Recycling.
The stadium has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including the addition of floodlights in 1976, the construction of a grandstand, and since Stewart Donalds arrival the ground has saw Sherwoods restaurant, Brooks hospitality suite as well as the brand new south stand developed in recent years.
Our Crest
The old crest came into being when the club changed its name to Eastleigh FC following the Annual General Meeting in May 1980.
Eastleigh Borough Council gave the club permission to use the Borough’s shield but not the borough motto. The crest is explained as follows:
- The Bishop Mitre refers to the connection of the Bishops of Winchester with Bishopstoke.
- The Two Sheaths of Corn symbolise the rural and agricultural nature of the Borough.
- The Two Narrow Bands represent railway lines, recalling the historical importance of railways. They also represent the cable making activities within the Borough.
- The Chequered Strip recalls that Eastleigh was once a Manor held by the Chamberlains of the Royal Exchequer.
- The Winged Wheel signifies the theme of progress and transport.
- The Medieval Ship represents shipbuilding and yachting activities within the Borough (at Bursledon and Hamble-le-Rice).
Eastleigh Football Club’s new crest is striking, bold, simple and iconic. It references the history of Eastleigh and brings the football club’s ‘Spitfires’ nickname to life.
Our League
Eastleigh won the Skrill South in 2013/14 and gained promotion to the Vanarama National League for the first time in the club’s history.
The Vanarama National League is the fifth tier of English football and the highest non-league division you can compete in before gaining promotion to the English Football League.
24 clubs compete in the Vanarama National League with 1 team gaining automatic promotion as champions to EFL League Two.
The 2nd and 3rd placed teams qualify for the play-off semi-finals and will face one of the 4th – 7th placed teams who compete in a two legged play off qualifier round.
