Thank you to Eastleigh FC Supporter Callum for answering these questions!
<b>Last Season's League Finish?</b>
A fairly comfortable seventh, although we took it to the last day, the players had ran out of steam by March and the playing surface at Ten Acres was destroyed after the Bolton game and it really affected how we played.
<b>What Do You Think Of Your Manager?</b>
Ronnie is quite obviously one of the most experienced managers you could get at lower level professional English football, he cleared out a few players early doors and has continued to bring in his own signings ever since. Whether he would like to stay on long term remains to be seen.
<b>Hopes/Expectations This Season?</b>
The hope has to be play offs and then get lucky and advance at least to Wembley. I think the league is much tighter than it has been in recent seasons.
<b>One(s) To Watch?</b>
Coulson really has kicked on this season, just earning an England C call up, Mandron also shows he has an excellent footballing brain most of the time and goals will come for him.
<b>Top Five Predictions?</b>
Not in order but, Tranmere Rovers, Eastleigh FC, Forest Green Rovers, Dagenham & Redbridge and Lincoln City.
<b>Bottom Four Predictions?</b>
Guiseley AFC, North Ferriby United, Braintree Town and Torquay United.
<b>Thoughts on Lincoln City?</b>
A club that genuinely should not be in the Conference, I made the trip up to the game 2 seasons ago, a fantastic ground for this level and it had the sense that if the fans could get on side and everyone worked together this club could easily shift itself back up to League One. Cowley was a major coup for the club this season, I think a few at Eastleigh would have liked him, his methods and thoughts are quite different and more akin to some one fresh like Eddie Howe.
<b>Score Prediction?</b>
1-1.
<b>Random Fact About Your Club?</b>
The Fleming Arms pub where Swaythling Athletic (which became Eastleigh FC) were formed, also hosted Bob Marleys first U.K. Gig.
<b>What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as an Eastleigh FC?</b>
Proudest moments have to be Crewe away last season and some of the victories on the way to the Conference South title which at one point we were 12 points behind Bromley. Most embarrassing has to be any loss against a former football club called Salisbury City.
<b>Is there someone in the wings to fill the massive hole in your finances once the chairman realises he is better off at the club he actually supports Oxford?</b>
No, there wasn't ever a plan for SD to come on board, he came to watch a few games liked what he saw and decided to help out. He had to clear our debt to effectively buy the club, it was on its knees anyway and with only 300 fans a week it wasn't going anywhere quick. He has always been open about what he wants to achieve but has always listened to level headed fans. We all realise he won't be around forever and at the moment this is his 'thing' but he really does enjoy it. We have increased our fan base for the time being by offering very low (for this level) entry prices, he has engaged with everyone in the town and borough by doing multiple free games and offer days, he really has tried his hardest I believe to make sure that when the time comes the club can sustain itself, we will not truly know of course until that time comes.
<b>Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?</b>
We have a Supporters Club rather than a Trust, it arranges the away travel, player of the month competitions, various charity arrangements, it has helped with the ground improvements and day to day social media help to help engage and continue to build the club. They play a really big role, SD will often come to a TSSC meeting and there will always be atleast one representative at meetings to listen, you have to realise how small this club was/still is, the 'hardcore' still can't quite believe what's happening. We have around 5-10 'last of the summer wine' club who potter around the ground daily to help out with anything really, and to my knowledge that's always happened.
<b>Where are you with your new ground redevelopment and is this the plan to be a self sustaining club?</b>
There is currently a new clubhouse/gym/executive box type building happening at the back of the 'shed end' that's started this week, the aim for that is obviously to increase match day refreshment facilities and also better facilities for groups and clubs within the town and community to use. SD doesn't just want the football ground to be used for footballing purposes and he realises you must engage with the communities to get them coming down on a Saturday. There are already things on site that bring in money, multiple offices use it as a park and ride daily , we have airport parking and also a 3G pitch which is used for 5 a side and such like.
<b>Your Chairman wrote off nearly £5m of debt. What on earth have you spent £5m on?</b>
It's no so much debt as SD saying that that is what he has spent personally, the ground is undescribable compared to even 3 years ago let alone from when he came in, 3 new stands are now in situ, pitch has had a lot of money spent on it, then there's the wage bill....
<b>Even though he's written off the debt, is there something in place whereby he covers any outstanding contracts if he leaves?</b>
100%.
<b>Which was your most favourite match involving Eastleigh FC?</b>
Favourite match is very hard, Basingstoke at home to clinch the Conference south title, 11 years ago when we won the Ryman Prem play off final v Leyton, Crewe was amazing because of the players mainly, every player on that pitch that day was such a lovely human being and the story with our then manager Chris Todd with him having been through a lot, it really summed that group up.
<b>Which was your least favourite match involving Eastleigh FC?</b>
Like I say any loss to Havant & Waterlooville or Salisbury City but definitely our home leg of the Conference South semi final play off match v Hayes & Yeading, at one point in the away first leg we were 4-0 up and Hayes had 10 men, the rest, well the rest is history and I still have nightmares over it.
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=465284' target='blank'><b>WHO ARE YA? - Eastleigh FC (#2)</b></a>
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=465305' target='blank'><b>WHO ARE YA? - Eastleigh FC (#3)</b></a>
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=465286' target='blank'><b>EASTLEIGH FC (H): Team News & Match Updates!</b></a>
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=465298' target='blank'><b>EASTLEIGH FC (H): Form, Past Results & More!</b></a>
<b>Last Season's League Finish?</b>
A fairly comfortable seventh, although we took it to the last day, the players had ran out of steam by March and the playing surface at Ten Acres was destroyed after the Bolton game and it really affected how we played.
<b>What Do You Think Of Your Manager?</b>
Ronnie is quite obviously one of the most experienced managers you could get at lower level professional English football, he cleared out a few players early doors and has continued to bring in his own signings ever since. Whether he would like to stay on long term remains to be seen.
<b>Hopes/Expectations This Season?</b>
The hope has to be play offs and then get lucky and advance at least to Wembley. I think the league is much tighter than it has been in recent seasons.
<b>One(s) To Watch?</b>
Coulson really has kicked on this season, just earning an England C call up, Mandron also shows he has an excellent footballing brain most of the time and goals will come for him.
<b>Top Five Predictions?</b>
Not in order but, Tranmere Rovers, Eastleigh FC, Forest Green Rovers, Dagenham & Redbridge and Lincoln City.
<b>Bottom Four Predictions?</b>
Guiseley AFC, North Ferriby United, Braintree Town and Torquay United.
<b>Thoughts on Lincoln City?</b>
A club that genuinely should not be in the Conference, I made the trip up to the game 2 seasons ago, a fantastic ground for this level and it had the sense that if the fans could get on side and everyone worked together this club could easily shift itself back up to League One. Cowley was a major coup for the club this season, I think a few at Eastleigh would have liked him, his methods and thoughts are quite different and more akin to some one fresh like Eddie Howe.
<b>Score Prediction?</b>
1-1.
<b>Random Fact About Your Club?</b>
The Fleming Arms pub where Swaythling Athletic (which became Eastleigh FC) were formed, also hosted Bob Marleys first U.K. Gig.
<b>What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as an Eastleigh FC?</b>
Proudest moments have to be Crewe away last season and some of the victories on the way to the Conference South title which at one point we were 12 points behind Bromley. Most embarrassing has to be any loss against a former football club called Salisbury City.
<b>Is there someone in the wings to fill the massive hole in your finances once the chairman realises he is better off at the club he actually supports Oxford?</b>
No, there wasn't ever a plan for SD to come on board, he came to watch a few games liked what he saw and decided to help out. He had to clear our debt to effectively buy the club, it was on its knees anyway and with only 300 fans a week it wasn't going anywhere quick. He has always been open about what he wants to achieve but has always listened to level headed fans. We all realise he won't be around forever and at the moment this is his 'thing' but he really does enjoy it. We have increased our fan base for the time being by offering very low (for this level) entry prices, he has engaged with everyone in the town and borough by doing multiple free games and offer days, he really has tried his hardest I believe to make sure that when the time comes the club can sustain itself, we will not truly know of course until that time comes.
<b>Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?</b>
We have a Supporters Club rather than a Trust, it arranges the away travel, player of the month competitions, various charity arrangements, it has helped with the ground improvements and day to day social media help to help engage and continue to build the club. They play a really big role, SD will often come to a TSSC meeting and there will always be atleast one representative at meetings to listen, you have to realise how small this club was/still is, the 'hardcore' still can't quite believe what's happening. We have around 5-10 'last of the summer wine' club who potter around the ground daily to help out with anything really, and to my knowledge that's always happened.
<b>Where are you with your new ground redevelopment and is this the plan to be a self sustaining club?</b>
There is currently a new clubhouse/gym/executive box type building happening at the back of the 'shed end' that's started this week, the aim for that is obviously to increase match day refreshment facilities and also better facilities for groups and clubs within the town and community to use. SD doesn't just want the football ground to be used for footballing purposes and he realises you must engage with the communities to get them coming down on a Saturday. There are already things on site that bring in money, multiple offices use it as a park and ride daily , we have airport parking and also a 3G pitch which is used for 5 a side and such like.
<b>Your Chairman wrote off nearly £5m of debt. What on earth have you spent £5m on?</b>
It's no so much debt as SD saying that that is what he has spent personally, the ground is undescribable compared to even 3 years ago let alone from when he came in, 3 new stands are now in situ, pitch has had a lot of money spent on it, then there's the wage bill....
<b>Even though he's written off the debt, is there something in place whereby he covers any outstanding contracts if he leaves?</b>
100%.
<b>Which was your most favourite match involving Eastleigh FC?</b>
Favourite match is very hard, Basingstoke at home to clinch the Conference south title, 11 years ago when we won the Ryman Prem play off final v Leyton, Crewe was amazing because of the players mainly, every player on that pitch that day was such a lovely human being and the story with our then manager Chris Todd with him having been through a lot, it really summed that group up.
<b>Which was your least favourite match involving Eastleigh FC?</b>
Like I say any loss to Havant & Waterlooville or Salisbury City but definitely our home leg of the Conference South semi final play off match v Hayes & Yeading, at one point in the away first leg we were 4-0 up and Hayes had 10 men, the rest, well the rest is history and I still have nightmares over it.
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=465284' target='blank'><b>WHO ARE YA? - Eastleigh FC (#2)</b></a>
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=465305' target='blank'><b>WHO ARE YA? - Eastleigh FC (#3)</b></a>
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=465286' target='blank'><b>EASTLEIGH FC (H): Team News & Match Updates!</b></a>
<a style='color:#DA2027' href='http://www.lincoln.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=465298' target='blank'><b>EASTLEIGH FC (H): Form, Past Results & More!</b></a>
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