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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Pirelli General F.C. go to the doctor? It was feeling deflated.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pirelli General F.C.
Full namePirelli General Football Club
NicknameCablemen
Founded1916
Dissolved2003
GroundJubilee Sports Ground, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh

Pirelli General F.C. were a long-running amateur football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. For a time they were the top club in the town and played in the Hampshire League until they ceased to exist in 2003.

History

[edit]

The club was founded in 1916 as the works side of the Pirelli General cable making company.[1] They initially played in the Winchester & District and Eastleigh Leagues before transferring to the larger Southampton League.[2]

By 1933 Pirelli's were playing at Dew Lane (fondly known locally as 'Eastleigh Wembley') and were fielding six sides. The 1st Team enjoyed an excellent season, winning the Senior Division 1 title and the Southampton Senior Cup for first time. This saw them elected to the Hampshire League Division 2 where they finished runners-up in their debut season before winning the title the following year and establishing themselves in Division 1.[3]

Once normal football had resumed after World War II, Pirelli's returned to the county league where they were placed in Division 2 and 'The Cablemen' were regular FA Cup entrants at this time, although never progressing beyond the preliminary rounds.[4] However, despite winning the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1955–56, it was not until 1962–63 that Pirelli's returned to top flight when they won the Division 2 title.

In 1965 Pirelli's moved to their best known home ground at Chestnut Avenue in Eastleigh, and the club remained a steady Division 1 outfit, twice finishing 3rd in the late sixties.

The seventies was the golden age for Pirelli's, especially the 1971–72 season when they were Division 1 Champions.[5] The next fourteen years saw the club remain regular title contenders and in 1976–77 they caused a big upset when they defeated favourites Farnborough Town 1–0 to win the Hampshire Senior Cup.[6]

In 1986 the Wessex League[7] was formed (mostly by the Hampshire League's top clubs) but Pirelli's remained with the county league and were again champions in 1992–93.[8]

Despite the parent company moving out of Eastleigh, Pirelli's continued to play in the top-flight of the Hampshire League until the loss of their ground in 2003 saw the club withdraw from the competition and fold.[9]

Honours

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1st Team

[edit]

2nd Team

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  • Southampton Football Association
  • Southampton League
    • Senior Division 1 Champions 1935/36 and 1991/92

3rd Team

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  • Southampton Football Association
    • Junior 'B' Cup Winners 1971/72
  • Southampton League
    • Junior Division 4 Champions 1957/58
    • Junior Division 5 Champions 1990/91

Playing records

[edit]

Hampshire League

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FA Cup

[edit]

FA Vase

[edit]

Ground

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Pirelli General played at the Jubilee Sports Ground at Chestnut Avenue in Eastleigh.

The 20 acre site had three adult pitches, with the main one enclosed with floodlights and a wooden stand. This, along with its easy access and large car park made the ground a popular choice for hosting local cup finals until it was redeveloped in 1993 with the addition of a golf range.

After the club's demise, the ground sat unused until 2010 when AFC Stoneham took up residence.[14] In 2020 the venue was sold for housing.

Notable players

[edit]

Scottish striker Craig McAllister[15] began his career with Pirelli before joining neighbours Eastleigh in 2001 then going on to play professionally for a number of clubs.[16]

Local rivalries

[edit]

With there being so many teams in the area, Pirelli General had many local rivals. These mostly included Eastleigh, AC Delco, Eastleigh Athletic and BTC Southampton.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Pictures showing Pirelli FC teams in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s". Daily Echo. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  2. ↑ A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
  3. ↑ A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
  4. ↑ The FA Cup Club by Club Record Since 1945 by Tony Williams
  5. ↑ "Football Club History Database - Hampshire League History". fchd.info. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
  7. ↑ https://www.wessexleague.co.uk/history
  8. ↑ A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
  9. ↑ "PHOTOS: Pirelli General FC - Halcyon days of the Cablemen". Daily Echo. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  10. ↑ Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2005/06
  11. ↑ Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18
  12. ↑ Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day
  13. ↑ Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2018/19
  14. ↑ Slominski, Stephen (11 September 2010). "AFC Stoneham move to Pirelli ground". Eastleigh News. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  15. ↑ James, Kieran (27 June 2012). "Craig McAllister makes it signing number 7 for Spitfires". Eastleigh News. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "Gosport Borough swoop for Eastleigh frontman Craig McAllister". Daily Echo. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
[edit]
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