This article is part of the ‘League Preview’ series, in which every day we take a detailed look at one of Aldershot Town’s 23 prospective opponents for the upcoming National League season.
Today’s focus is one of the Shots’ county neighbours, and a team entering their 12th successive National League season, the second-longest tenure of any side in the division (no prizes for guessing who’s first), Eastleigh FC.
Founded in 1946 as Southampton-based Swaythling Athletic, the club moved to nearby Eastleigh in 1957 before changing their name in 1980, fully devoting themselves to the town.
‘The Spitfires’, nicknamed as such due to the iconic aircraft being first flown in the Eastleigh Aerodrome, were crowned Conference South champions in 2013/14, and have since successfully avoided relegation for over a decade.
Now led by former Wimbledon and Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, can the Hampshire side make it an even dozen? Or even better, strive for a first ever Football League promotion?
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Where is Eastleigh?
As if Shots supporters need explaining, the town of Eastleigh is situated deep within the county of Hampshire, approximately five miles north of the city of Southampton. The town itself technically holds a population of roughly 24,000, though the surrounding built-up area raises this to over 75,000, making it the county’s fourth largest settlement. Situated 45 miles from the EBB Stadium, this 56 minute journey will mark Aldershot’s fourth-closest away trip of the upcoming league season.
Eastleigh is one of four professional football clubs in Hampshire, alongside Championship rivals Southampton and Portsmouth, and of course, Aldershot Town. While closer trips to Woking, Sutton United and Wealdstone may mean it cannot be reciprocated, in this season’s National League, Eastleigh’s trip to Aldershot will mark their closest away trip of the campaign.
Blocking off much of nearby Southampton’s catchment from the north, Eastleigh currently serves as the closest place to see fifth-tier football or higher in much of Hampshire and Wiltshire, including the towns of Salisbury (~45,000 pop.), Winchester (45,000), and most notably, Andover (63,000).
The Spitfires play their home matches at Silverlake Stadium, also known as Ten Acres. The 5,250 capacity ground has been the club’s home since 1957, and is the 15th largest ground in this season’s National League. The ground achieved its record attendance as recently as January 2024, when 5,075 watched the club host a FA Cup third-round replay against League Two Newport County, a game in which they lost 3-1.
Eastleigh finished the 2024/25 season with an average league attendance of 2,234, the 12th highest among teams in this season’s competition.
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Recent history and club highlights
As previously stated, Eastleigh’s recent history has seen a period of near-unrivalled stability. Entering their 12th successive season at step-one, discounting the Premier League, only Newport County and our very own Aldershot Town (both 13) boast a longer stint in the same division among the country’s professional clubs.
2024/25 – National League (13th)
2023/24 – National League (13th)
2022/23 – National League (9th)
2021/22 – National League (19th)
2020/21 – National League (9th)
2019/20 – National League (16th)
2018/19 – National League (7th)
2017/18 – National League (14th)
2016/17 – National League (15th)
2015/16 – National League (7th)
Their story could have been much different, however, if various play-off campaigns had gone differently. Achieving their highest ever league finish of 4th in the Football Conference in 2014/15, the Spitfires failed to make the most of home advantage against Grimsby, losing 2-1 to the Lincolnshire side in the semi-finals. However, their most heartbreaking setback came in 2019, where penalties decided a tie between the club and eventual Wembley winners Salford City.
Eastleigh have reached the third round of the FA Cup on three occasions, all occurring within the last ten years. These runs included famous wins against Football League clubs such as Crewe Alexandra, Swindon Town and Reading, as well as a home draw against a then-Championship Bolton Wanderers.
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Pre-season, incoming transfers and other news
At time of writing, Eastleigh have made 8 first team signings.
| Player | Pos. | Age | Arriving from… | Highest level played |
| Nick Townsend | GK | 30 | Newport County | Championship (Barnsley) |
| Kieron Evans | CAM | 23 | Cardiff City | Championship (Cardiff) |
| Jordan Cousins | CM | 31 | Cambridge Utd. | Championship (Charlton) |
| Aaron Pierre | CB | 32 | Shrewsbury Town | League One (Shrewsbury) |
| Josh Lundstram | CM | 26 | Oldham Athletic | League One (Crewe) |
| Temi Eweka | CB | 25 | Maidstone United | National League (Maidenhead) |
| Aaron Blair | CF | 25 | Maidstone United | National League (Dag & Red) |
| Archie Harris (loan) | LB | 20 | Bournemouth U21 | NL South (Torquay) |
Eastleigh supporters will be right to be quietly excited about their business this summer thus far, bringing in a wealth of professional experience that, combined, boasts exactly 900 appearances in the Football League.
They have also recruited an exciting forward in the form of Aaron Blair. The 25-year-old accrued 20 goals for Maidstone United in the National League South last term, including an 89th minute winner away to Eastbourne in the play-off semi-finals. While the club from Kent may have failed to reach step-one at the final hurdle, Blair will look to realise his fifth-tier potential at his new home in Hampshire.
Eastleigh’s current pre-season schedule, which began with a narrow loss against Championship Southampton, is as follows:
Eastleigh 1-2 Southampton (12/07)
Salisbury vs Eastleigh (22/07)
Eastleigh vs Swindon Town (26/07)
Maidenhead United vs Eastleigh (29/07)
Farnborough vs Eastleigh (02/08)
After preparations conclude with a trip to sixth-tier Farnborough, the Spitfires will begin their National League campaign with a piece of history, becoming the first away side to play a fifth-tier fixture at Brackley’s St. James’ Park on Saturday, 9th August.
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When will Aldershot and Eastleigh play each other?
Following the release of the National League fixture list, Aldershot are due to host their local rivals on Wednesday, 20th August, for only the Shots’ second home fixture of the league season. Tommy Widdrington’s men will make the short trip to the Silverlake Stadium at the start of the next calendar year, on Saturday 17th, January.
Unsurprisingly, due to their relatively close proximity and extended step-one stretches, the two have met as many as 24 times. However, it may be surprising to learn that, barring Hampshire Cup ties, the two first met as late as August 2014, following Eastleigh’s promotion to the Football Conference that same year.
The Spitfires won 1-0 that day, which set the precedent for what has thus far been a rivalry that the Shots have failed to get a stronghold on.
Games played: 24
Aldershot wins: 4
Eastleigh wins: 12
Draws: 8
Aggregate score: 25-39
Record Shots victory: 3-0 (2021)
Record Eastleigh victory: 3-0 (2023)
Spoils were shared last campaign, as both sides managed to emerge victorious at home. An October tie at the EBB Stadium can be remembered fondly, as a second-half Jack Barham brace secured a comeback victory, as the Shots won 2-1 in front of over 3,000 spectators.
With a head-to-head record to recuperate, can Aldershot Town get the better of their county rivals this campaign?
