On a glorious sunny afternoon, the two teams provided plenty of entertainment for the large crowd with the match receiving full coverage from the Hants & Dorset press.

Eastleigh narrowly lost that day 4-5 and fielded the following team: Collins, Dexter, Brocklehurst, Silverman, Bull, Service, Jeffcote, Bastock, Woodhouse, Knox and Sharp.

Eastleigh Athletic were regular entrants in the national competitions and in 1902–03 enjoyed their best run in the FA Cup when they reached the 4th Qualifying Round, losing 1–3 away to Whiteheads, the Dorset League champions.

The Southampton Football Association was formed for the 1908–09 campaign and Eastleigh became founder members, entering sides in its Senior and Junior Leagues - the club would retain their membership for the remainder of their existence.

Until this point they had been the town's senior club, but the post war era saw the emergence of local rivals Pirelli General, Eastleigh Spartans and Swaythling Athletic in the Hampshire League and this saw increased competition for the area's best players.

Disaster struck soon after when they lost their ground after the Railway Goods Yard was expanded and after this, the club endured a somewhat nomadic life for the remainder of their existence.

These included Tommy Bowman, Samuel Meston, Bert Paddington, Baven Penton and Joe Turner, whilst Richard Brookes began his career here before moving on to greater things.