There was also instant success in the FA Cup, a penalty shoot-out defeat to Hayes was all that denied the Hawks an opportunity to visit league side Mansfield Town in the first round proper.

After Billy Gilbert left Havant & Waterlooville, Mick Jenkins and Liam Daish were appointed joint managers in April 2000.

Jenkins and Daish guided the Hawks to notable successes in the FA Cup where they reached the first round, the first of four occasions achieved by the club.

[1] During a 5-year stay in the Southern League Premier Division from 1999–2000 to 2004–05, Havant & Waterlooville's best season came in 2001–02, finishing 3rd after leading the table during September.

However, the club recovered and finished 12th in the Southern League Premier Division and thereby qualified for a place in the re-structured Conference South.

Hawks manager Ian Baird claimed that an injury crisis had forced him to field Taggart in the home game with Weymouth.

[5] In the 2007–08 FA Cup, the Hawks beat Bognor Regis, Fleet Town, Leighton Town, Conference Premier team York City and League Two club Notts County,[6] before causing an even bigger upset by defeating League One side Swansea City 4–2 in a third round replay.

[7] In the fourth round, they played Premier League Liverpool at Anfield and caused a sensation by leading twice before eventually losing 5–2.

[11] The 2011–12 season was a poor one for Havant & Waterlooville, and after dropping to second from bottom in the league following a defeat at Basingstoke Town, Shaun Gale was sacked on 1 April.

[12] Assistant manager Steve Johnson and stadium manager/fitness coach Adrian Aymes were placed in charge on a caretaker basis.

On 8 May 2012, the Hawks appointed Stuart Ritchie as manager and Sean New as his assistant, the combination having been very successful in partnership during eight years at AFC Totton.

The 2013–14 season was an eventful one, with the club reaching the FA Trophy semi-finals, losing 3–1 on aggregate over two-legs against local rivals Gosport Borough.

As a result of the Trophy run as well as weather-related postponements, the Hawks were required to play over half of their league campaign (22 games) within the final 57 days of the season.

During this season, the Hawks also made the first round proper of the FA Cup, losing eventually to League One side Preston North End.

They did, however, win the Hampshire Senior Cup, beating Winchester City 5–3 on penalties[18] at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton.

Placed into the Isthmian League following relegation, the Havant & Waterlooville board kept faith with manager Lee Bradbury, who led the team to the title on the final day of the season.

On 29 April, it was announced that former Sutton United manager Paul Doswell had signed a three-year contract, bringing Ian Baird back to the club as his assistant.