The Saddlers make the 3 hour trip to the Silverlake Stadium on the outskirts of Southampton to play Eastleigh in the 1st round of the FA Cup.
Due to being chosen for TV coverage this game is on a Sunday and kicks off at 2:15pm
The Opposition
The Spitfires had a mediocre last season finishing in 13th place in the National League. So far this season it’s looking like it will be similar as they currently sit in 12th place. Eastleigh’s colours are blue and white. They play in predominantly blue shirts with a white trim. They have white shorts and blue socks.
The club were without an official nickname until 2005 when a competition was run amongst the fans and “Spitfires” was chosen by supporter Mike Wimbridge. The Spitfire aeroplane was built in Southampton and first flown from Eastleigh Aerodrome, now Southampton Airport.
The Proposition
An odd Sunday 2:15pm kick off due to the match being selected by the BBC in its FA Cup coverage.
The Saddlers come into this game with no wins in the last 5 games in normal time. The only exception being a penalty win against Chelsea U21’s last time out which followed a rather uninspiring 90 mins as Walsall toiled to no avail against the young opposition.
Eastleigh will be looking to take advantage of the Saddlers indifferent recent performances to pull off a cup shock. They come into this game with 2 wins, 2 draws and a loss in their last 5 games.
Last Saturday they beat Morecambe 2-1 , although Morecambe sit 23rd in the league, with just 1 win in their last 10.
The First, Worst and Last Time
I can’t find any record of us ever playing the Spitfires previously… unless anyone else knows any different?
Played for both
Fitzroy Simpson played as a midfielder and left back from 1988 to 2008.
Simpson played in the Premier League for Manchester City, in the Scottish Premier League for Heart of Midlothian, in the Football League for Swindon Town, Bristol City, Portsmouth and Walsall, in the Irish Premier League for Linfield, and ended his career in non-league football with Telford United, Havant & Waterlooville and Eastleigh. Born in England, he represented Jamaica internationally.
Walsall
After an unhappy move to Hearts he was offered the chance to reignite his career with a 10 game loan to Walsall under Ray Graydon. Simpson helped to revive the club’s season, helping them to reach the Football League Second Division play-off final, which they went on to win. However, Simpson missed this game after picking up an injury during the semi-final. He left Walsall in the summer of 2003 with 53 appearances and 3 goals.
Eastleigh
In 2005 he announced his intention to retire from football, moving to the Costa del Sol, taking a directorship in a property firm, but in the 2005–06 season he resumed his football career with Havant & Waterlooville. He arrived at Eastleigh in October 2007 from Havant. He left the club at the end of the season, after 9 appearances and retired from football.
International career
Simpson won 43 caps for Jamaica from 1997 to 2003 and scored 3 goals. He represented the ‘Reggae Boyz’ in all three group stage matches at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Simpson captained his final international match.
Also:
Joe Low, Wes McDonald, Dani Rodrigues, Tyrese Shade, Robbie Wilmott, Vincent Harper and Ex-Walsall manager Brian Dutton played for Eastleigh.
Comment if you know any more!!!
Lump On
After recent performances, I wouldn’t be confident in lumping anything on!
Lump Off
With no wins (in 90 mins) in the last 5 games and a scarcity of goals, with some defensive mistakes thrown in, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re in for a boring 90 mins and a possible exit.
Goal Tally (sponsored by Owly McOwlface)
Aaron Pressley - 4
Daniel Kanu - 4
Connor Barrett - 3
Evan Weir - 3
Albert Adomah - 3
Harrison Burke - 1
Charlie Lakin - 1
Ryan Finnigan - 1
Jid Okeke - 1
Aden Flint - 1
UTS Match Poll
- Walsall Win
- Draw
- Eastleigh Win
. Round 3 and the Stadium of Light will do me.
