How far we've come - looking back to 2008/9

[taylov]

Have been clearing the garage in recent weeks and came across a box file of programmes from 2008/2009, the first season Jill and I became regular fans. I had been coming to games on and off from 1999, but never bothered to keep the earlier programmes.

That was the first season we got to the Conference South play-offs and the pain of losing over the 2-leg final to Hayes and Yeading.   What I noticed was the league attendances from a peak of 2283 for the visit of AFC Wimbledon in March - the infamous "Hand of Tom" ## game and 1,015 for New Year's Day at home to Basingstoke to as few as 494 on a summer Saturday for visit of Fisher Athletic and just 392 for Dorchester on a Tuesday night.  500-600 seems to be the normal gate for a League game on a Saturday

The cup games (not covered on a season ticket) attracted some very poor gates. The less said about the "Setanta Shield" (the Conference League Cup) the better,  just 173 paid to watch Eastleigh beat Weston SM.  Our FA cup "run" ended early at Burgess Hill Town where we lost 1-2.

The line-up for EFC for the final day of the season was - James Matthews in goal; Steve Clark, Luke Byles, Anthony Riviere, Tom Jordan, Aaron Martin, Peter Adeniyi, Ashley Carew, Jamie Brown, Brett Williams and Tony Taggart.  Subs - Sharp, Howells (GK) Challis, Heeroo, Groves.

## still the funniest moment I've seen in nearly 60 years of watching football.

[efctommygreen]

The less said about the Burgess Hill game the better. Only positive was a new ground with Eastleigh chalked off.

[bigeastleighfan]

What a team that was! subs bench looks Ropey though.

[taylov]

Aug 18, 2016 11:57:14 GMT bigeastleighfan said:

What a team that was! subs bench looks Ropey though.

The only name missing by the end of the season was Andy Forbes who had played thro' the autumn months.

[nobadspitfire]

Not wishing to be pedantic(much), Tony, but I think you'll find the keeper was Jason Matthews, last known whereabouts as Manager of Weymouth FC. And TJ's goal was known as "The Hand of Jord". The only people who didn't see it was put in by his fist/hand were the Ref & 2 assistants. Just a little controversy at the time.

Some good players in that team, some of whom are still playing. 

[tenacres]

I suppose to play devils advocate we were 3rd that season and made the playoffs, 8 years later we are 1 league above and are 16th!

Could the team that came 3rd that season have come 16th in the conference?! Possibly!

Obviously we have progressed massively in that time, especially off the pitch.

[Deleted]

This was my favourite ever season by far, I once (sadly) wrote down a diary/memory thing about, so many great things were happening back then.

That W-s-M sticks in my mind as one of the best at Ten Acres, think it was Taz Roberts who came on and got a hat trick, one hell of a game. Most of that paltry crowd were under the airport end cover and going ballistic.

Lovely season, great memories.

[tenacres]

4-4 v WSM after extra wasn't it? I think we won on penalties!

Great season but horrible end to it.

[Deleted]

I was wondering about the Goalkeeper. I remember 2 Matthews to have played in goal for us - Colin & Jason, but never heard of James??