Location : Silverlake Stadium, Eastleigh, Hampshire
Match : Eastleigh 1 Southampton 1
Date : Saturday 4th July 2009
Competition : Pre Season Friendly
Level/Step : 6/2
Attendance : 1714
Well this is my first proper season of hopping and decided to include Friendlies. My first ever game away from Torquay United was a Pre Season Friendly between Dawlish and Weymouth in 1987 so i couldn't that as a new ground so i don't see why not and to be honest thats a month worth of possible new grounds wasted if not. July 4th is one hell of an early start for footie only seems yesterday i was at Wembley in May. I was looking forward to getting things started: Had a nice train trip to Southampton Airport Parkway. For those reading this Eastleigh rail station is NOT nearest tot he ground SAP is. It was still a damn good walk to the ground. Was quoted 0.5 miles but it was more like a mile. Must say though the way i walked is through Lakeside Country Park. Must say it is gorgeous and as a lover of Country Park walks in the past its so nice. Turned down another road with no path and fionally found the ground. Your typical step 2 Ground maybe even Step 3. Grandstand covering a third of one side: (see picture: sadly my phone is playing up so all pics taken are unobtainable for now. Maybe if i can access them i will post at a later date. Please note the picture is from www.footballconference.co.uk). Just fencing behind one goal but a bar that end as well. Another fenced terrace on the other side plus a small seated stand of about 100 behind the other goal. Was disappointed that the club shop, that was pitiful to tell you the truth ina portacabin and had sod all apart from some programmes and stuff, didnt have any pin badges. "Come back at the start of the season" she said. Don't think so. Shame as it was a fiar attendence and maybe one or two hoppers, although i didn't meet any' may have upped the coffers. Ah well there loss!!! It was a poor game with Soton being rubbish in first half it was very much so Eastleigh's game. 0-0 at half time. Into the 2nd half and Soton took an early lead undeserved in my book. But The Spitfires got there reward with a last minute equaliser. Must say it was like a Torquay United Old Boys Reunion: Firstly as per programme Michael Poke was listed in the Soton team. Wayne Thomas was there too, in fact he is there Captain. But a few suprises nthe Eastleigh team. Making his debut: Marcus 'Carthorse' Richardson, he set the world on cinders at Plainmoor. And looking at the programme again the substitute goalie was Gareth Howells. Last time i saw him was at the Play Off FInal in 1991 when He SCORED the winning penalty of sorts. It couldnt be the same player STILL playing. I checked the personnel at the front and he was there Goalie coach. It WAS the same man. I managed a chat with him after and reminiced about that game when he was just 21, a day we will both never forget. So Ground Visit Number 47, nearly 50 and can i get to 100 this season we shall see!!!!
Entry : £6 with NUS Card i think it was £10 without.
Programme : £1 8 pages. I know it was a PSF but even for £1 it was a waste of money.
Pin Badge : As previously stated, none on sale.
Refreshments : Cheese Burger £2.70 Flimsy, Chips £1.10 A Cone Hardly worth it.
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