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
The club was founded in 1916 as the works side of the Pirelli General cable making company. They initially played in the Winchester & District and Eastleigh Leagues before transferring to the larger Southampton League.A Century of Southampton Local Soccer 1908-2008 by John Moody
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 the 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.A History of the Hampshire League 1896-1996 by Norman Gannaway
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.The FA Cup Club by Club Record Since 1945 by Tony Williams However, despite winning the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1955–56, it was not until 1962–63 that Pirelli's returned to the 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. 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.Hampshire Football Association Centenary History 1887-1987 by Norman Gannaway
In 1986 the Wessex Leaguehttps://www.wessexleague.co.uk/history was formed (mostly by the Hampshire League's top clubs) but Pirelli's remained loyal and were again champions in 1992–93.A Tabulated History of the Hampshire League by Stephen Farmery
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.
Honours
1st Team Hampshire League Division 1 Champions 1971/72 and 1992/93 Division 2 Champions 1934/35, 1962/63, Runners-up 1933/34 and 1946/47 Hampshire Football Association Hampshire Football Association Yearbook 2005/06 Senior Cup Winners 1976/77, Finalists 1968/69 and 1977/78 Intermediate Cup Winners 1955/56 Southampton Football Association Southampton Divisional Football Association Handbook 2017/18 Senior Cup Winners 1932/33, 1935/36 and 1989/90, Finalists 1933/34 Southampton Senior Cup – The Finals 1909-2022 by Gary Day Southampton League Southampton Football League Handbook & Directory 2018/19 Senior Division 1 Champions 1932/33 All England Cable Makers Cup Winners 1951/52, 1974/75 and 1978/79
2nd Team Southampton Football Association Senior Cup Winners 1965/66, Finalists 1974/75 Southampton League Senior Division 1 Champions 1935/36 and 1991/92
3rd Team 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
Hampshire League SeasonDivisionPositionSignificant events1933/34Division 22/12Runners-up, not promoted1934/35Division 21/16Champions, promoted1935/36Division 16/161936/37Division 14/161937/38Division 115/16 1938/39Division 116/16Relegated1939-46 1946/47Division 22/12Runners-up, not promoted1947/48Division 25/121948/49Division 29/141949/50Division 28/141950/51Division 25/14 1951/52Division 25/14 1952/53Division 212/141953/54Division 212/141954/55Division 27/141955/56Division 26/161956/57Division 24/161957/58Division 29/161958/59Division 25/161959/60Division 29/161960/61Division 210/161961/62Division 211/161962/63Division 21/16Champions, promoted1963/64Division 111/161964/65Division 18/161965/66Division 19/161966/67Division 17/161967/68Division 13/161968/69Division 13/161969/70Division 110/161970/71Division 14/161971/72Division 11/16Champions1972/73Division 15/161973/74Division 17/161974/75Division 13/161975/76Division 17/161976/77Division 17/161977/78Division 17/16 1978/79Division 16/161979/80Division 15/161980/81Division 114/201981/82Division 119/20Not relegated1982/83Division 15/201983/84Division 13/20 1984/85Division 15/201985/86Division 19/20Re-organisation due to formation of Wessex League in 19861986/87Division 114/181987/88Division 116/181988/89Division 13/171989/90Division 17/181990/91Division 17/181991/92Division 14/18 1992/93Division 11/17Champions, not promoted1993/94Division 14/201994/95Division 17/20 1995/96Division 19/201996/97Division 116/211997/98Division 18/201998/99Division 114/191999/00Premier Division8/22Re-organisation 2000/01Premier Division5/21 2001/02Premier Division12/212002/03Premier Division16/20Left competition
FA Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1947/48Extra-Preliminary RoundA v AndoverL 0–71948/49Extra-Preliminary RoundH v Romsey TownL 2–51949/50Preliminary RoundH v CowesL 3–41950/51Extra-Preliminary RoundA v Thornycroft AthleticD 5-5 ReplayH v Thornycroft AthleticW 3–2 Preliminary RoundH v Hamworthy UnitedL 1–2
FA Amateur Cup SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1950/51Preliminary RoundA v Portland UnitedW 5–2 1st Qualifying RoundA v ShaftesburyW 4–1 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Winchester CityL 0–11951/52Preliminary RoundA v Alton TownL 2-51952/53Preliminary RoundH v RAMC AldershotL 0–11953/54Extra-Preliminary RoundH v East Cowes VictoriaL 1-41956/57Preliminary RoundA v Ryde SportsW 3–1 1st Qualifying RoundH v Winchester CityL 2-31957/581st Qualifying RoundA v Ryde SportsD 1–1 ReplayH v Ryde SportsW 3-2 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Bournemouth GasworksD 3–3 ReplayH v Bournemouth GasworksW 6–3 3rd Qualifying RoundA v HamworthyW 3–1 4th Qualifying RoundA v Devizes TownL 2-31958/59Preliminary RoundA v TottonL 1-41959/60Preliminary RoundA v TottonD 0-0 ReplayH v TottonW 1-0 1st Qualifying RoundA v Fareham TownL 2-51960/61Preliminary RoundH v TottonW 4-3 1st Qualifying RoundA v Fareham TownL 2-51961/62Preliminary RoundH v TottonW 4-1 1st Qualifying RoundH v Swaythling AthleticW 3-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Winchester CityW 5-1 3rd Qualifying RoundA v Gosport BoroughL 1-41962/63Preliminary RoundH v TottonL 1-41963/64Preliminary RoundA v BournemouthL 2-31964/651st Qualifying RoundH v Swaythling AthleticW 3-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Winchester CityW 6-2 3rd Qualifying RoundA v WaterloovilleD 0-0 ReplayH v WaterloovilleL 0-21965/66Preliminary RoundA v Longfleet St MarysW 8-2 1st Qualifying RoundH v WaterloovilleL 0-21967/681st Qualifying RoundH v Portsmouth RNW 1-0 2nd Qualifying RoundA v Hawker-SiddeleyW 4-2 3rd Qualifying RoundH v WaterloovilleL 1-31968/69Preliminary RoundA v WaterloovilleL 1-31969/701st Qualifying RoundH v Moneyfield SportsW 4-2 2nd Qualifying RoundH v Portsmouth RND 1-1 ReplayA v Portsmouth RNW 7-0 3rd Qualifying RoundH v BrockenhurstL 0-1
FA Vase SeasonRoundOpponentsResult1977/78Preliminary RoundH v Chichester CityW 2–0 Round 1H v Farnham TownW 6–1 Round 2A v Gosport BoroughL 1–31981/82Preliminary RoundH v Sholing SportsL 1–21982/83Preliminary RoundH v Romsey TownL 0–11983/84Preliminary RoundH v Farnham TownL 0–11984/85Preliminary RoundH v Thatcham TownW 2–0 Round 1H v Wilton RoversW 3–0 Round 2A v SharpnessL 1–21985/86Preliminary RoundH v LancingW 4–1 Round 1H v Malden ValeW 3–2 Round 2H v AFC TottonL 0–2
Ground 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. In 2020 the venue was sold for housing.
Notable players
Scottish striker Craig McAllister began his career with Pirelli before joining neighbours Eastleigh in 2001 then going on to play professionally for a number of clubs.
See Pirelli General players for full list.
Local rivalries With there being so many teams in the area, Pirelli General had many local rivals. These mostly included Eastleigh, AC Delco, Eastleigh Athletic, Ford Sports and BTC Southampton.
References
External links Club History Pirelli General at the Football Club History Database 1 Pirelli General at the Football Club History Database 2 Pirelli General Reserves at the Football Club History Database Hampshire League Final Tables Hampshire Soccer Archive