Eastleigh 3 Reading Reserves 2 (9/07/2011)
In 1957 Harold Macmillan became Prime Minister, Sputnik 1 started the space age, Boeing launched their first commercial jet liner, and a 16 year old John Lennon formed a band called The Quarrymen. In the same year, Eastleigh also moved into their current ground. While the space age, Boeing and The Beatles certainly “never had it so good” in the years to follow, it rather harder to pick out what’s happened at Eastleigh.
It’s not ramshackle or anything, but for a Conference south ground, it is rather basic. The main stand is decent enough, holding about 500 seats, but the next most interesting feature of the ground is a spitfire shaped sign above the club bar.
One side has a long bike shed style cover, with the odd park bench at the back for anyone who find standing a little taxing on this completely flat side. The footpath continues uncovered round the bar end.
The other end is covered, with the addition of three rows of seats behind the goal, set so shallow that they offer a worse view than standing, unless perhaps wee Jimmy Krankie was paying Eastleigh a visit.
Not that the Reading XI can use the surroundings, or changing the whole team at half time, as an excuse for an incredibly limp display. Even by the usually low standards shown in friendlies, the players, who should have been using the game to show why they deserve to push towards the first team, instead showed why only one of them has made a 1st team start this season.
Stadiums and Cities (UK) 