MATCH PREVIEW: Eastleigh

Looking to springboard their Enterprise National League campaign after two narrow defeats thus far, Aldershot Town welcome nearby rivals Eastleigh to the EBB Stadium this midweek, in a Wednesday night clash that the result of which not only poses significance in terms of league prospects, but also bragging rights within Hampshire’s county lines.

‘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. Running in near tandem with the Shots’ current step-one tenure, this season marks the 12th consecutive campaign that the two sides have met in league action, which – discounting the top-flight – is the longest ongoing streak in all of English football.

Although the league table is admittedly anecdotal at this embryonic stage of the season, with two goalless losses from two so far, Eastleigh find themselves currently sitting just inside the relegation zone, in 21st place. Like the Shots, Eastleigh will be arriving onto the pitch with the knowledge that securing their first point(s) of the new campaign are of the utmost importance, giving an already typically high-octane derby even more intrigue on the night.

RECENT FORM

As mentioned, it has been a trying start for Eastleigh. A mixed pre-season schedule saw the club suffer four losses from five, form that would carry into the opening two weekends of the competitive season.

16/08/25 – Eastleigh 0-2 Gateshead
09/08/25 – Brackley Town 1-0 Eastleigh
02/08/25 – Farnborough 2-1 Eastleigh (Aaron Blair)
29/07/25 – Maidenhead United 2-1 Eastleigh (Aaron Blair)
26/07/25 – Eastleigh 2-3 Swindon Town (Tyrese Shade*, Paul McCallum)

* player no longer at the club

They would begin their Enterprise National League campaign with a piece of history, visiting Brackley Town for what was the Northamptonshire-based side’s first ever step-one fixture. Unfortunately for the Spitfires, last season’s National League North champions rose to the occasion, inflicting a 1-0 loss on their opponents with Shane Byrne’s penalty proving the only goal of the game.

Their maiden home fixture of the new term would prove equally disappointing, as a travelling Gateshead found themselves two-up within 25 minutes at the Silverlake Stadium, a scoreline that held for the remainder of the afternoon. Like the Shots, Eastleigh will be arriving onto the pitch in hopes of claiming their first win of the new campaign, giving an already typically high-octane derby even more intrigue on the night.

IN THE DUGOUT

Despite hailing from Bedfordshire, former Wimbledon, Ipswich and Sunderland goalkeeper Kelvin Davis has been forging his footballing legacy exclusively within the county of Hampshire for 19 years and counting. Having spent the final decade of his playing career with nearby Southampton, it is no mystery how the 48-year-old has ended up starting his managerial career with the Spitfires.

A much beloved figure at St. Mary’s, the former goalkeeper made over 300 appearances for the Saints, most notably featuring in all 92 matches amid successive promotion campaigns between 2010 & 2012 that saw the club finally return to the Premier League.

Retiring in the summer of 2016, he was soon granted backroom roles at the club in both youth player development and loan coordination, before eventually being appointed senior first team coach by Christmas the following year. This role would see him work alongside Mauricio Pellegrino, Ralph Hasenhüttl and fellow National League manager, Mark Hughes across the next four years.

It was the dismissal of ‘Sparky’ in 2018 that saw Davis take on an incredibly brief stint as interim boss. A solitary Premier League game in charge saw his Saints side lose 3-1 to Tottenham in front of 33,000 at Wembley Stadium. This was to be the former England U21’s only taste of first-team management before parting ways with the club in 2022.

Continuing to live in the area, Davis would join Eastleigh in February 2024, bringing in former teammate Danny Butterfield as his number two. Guiding the side to successive 13th place finishes, the pair will be hoping that further improvements can be seen from their second full season in the Ten Acres dugout.

FORMER SHOTS

Paul McCallum – Despite once donning red and blue during a brief loan spell from West Ham in 2013 – which saw the forward score three League Two goals in nine appearances – he has long since played the role of pantomime villain at the EBB Stadium, scoring eight goals against the Shots in 11 appearances.

Jake Taylor – The one-time Wales international joined on loan from nearby Reading in 2011. While playing just four times for the club, his stint wasn’t entirely forgettable, as a solitary start in the League Cup saw him play his part in a famous 2-1 win against West Ham United at Upton Park.

14 years on, Taylor is entering his third National League season as the Spitfires’ club captain.

MATCH HISTORY AND LAST TIME OUT

As previously mentioned, the two clubs have shared occupancy in the fifth-tier for twelve seasons and counting, making them incredibly familiar foes regardless of location. However, what may be surprising to learn due to their relatively close proximity, is that barring Hampshire Cup ties, prior to this ongoing stretch, the sides had never met competitively.

The two first shared a pitch at Ten Acres in August 2014, following Eastleigh’s promotion to the Football Conference three months prior. 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, with just four normal-time victories from 24 meetings.

Spoils were shared last term, as both sides managed to emerge victorious at home. An October tie at the EBB Stadium can be remembered fondly, as despite falling behind just after half-time, Jack Barham and Ryan Jones scored a goal apiece from the bench to turn the game around, as the Shots emerged 2-1 victors in front of over 3,000 spectators.

TICKET INFO

Tickets are available HERE, and are priced as follows, please note prices will increase at 3pm on the day of the match, these are noted in brackets: