 | |||
| Full name | Pirelli General Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Cablemen | ||
| Founded | 1916 | ||
| Dissolved | 2003 | ||
| Ground | Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh | ||
Pirelli General were a long-running and highly successful works football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. For a spell they were the top club in the town and played in the Hampshire League for many years until their unfortunate demise in 2003.
Pirelli General FC were 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.
By 1933 the club were playing at Dew Lane (a lovely venue, fondly locally known as 'Eastleigh Wembley') and were fielding six sides, with the 1st Team 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.
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. However, despite winning the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1955–56, it was not until 1962–63 that Pirelli's returned to 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 with some good facilities 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.
In 1986 the Wessex League was formed (mostly by the Hampshire League's top clubs) but Pirelli's remained with the county league and were again champions in 1992–93.
Despite the parent company moving out of Eastleigh, Pirelli's remained a prominent force in the Hampshire League until the controversial loss of their ground in 2003 saw the club reluctantly withdraw from the competition and fold.
The saddest aspect about the club's demise, was that their much loved home ground at Chestnut Avenue sat unused until 2010 when local Hampshire League side AFC Stoneham took up residence. In 2020 the venue was sold for housing.
| Season | Division | Position | Significant events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933/34 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 2/12 | Runners-up, not promoted |
| 1934/35 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 1/16 | Champions, promoted |
| 1935/36 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 6/16 | |
| 1936/37 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 4/16 | |
| 1937/38 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 15/16 | |
| 1938/39 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 16/16 | Relegated |
| 1939-46 | |||
| 1946/47 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 2/12 | Runners-up, not promoted |
| 1947/48 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/12 | |
| 1948/49 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 9/14 | |
| 1949/50 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 8/14 | |
| 1950/51 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/14 | |
| 1951/52 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/14 | |
| 1952/53 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 12/14 | |
| 1953/54 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 12/14 | |
| 1954/55 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 7/14 | |
| 1955/56 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 6/16 | |
| 1956/57 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 4/16 | |
| 1957/58 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 9/16 | |
| 1958/59 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 5/16 | |
| 1959/60 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 9/16 | |
| 1960/61 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 10/16 | |
| 1961/62 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 11/16 | |
| 1962/63 | Hampshire League Division 2 | 1/16 | Champions, promoted |
| 1963/64 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 11/16 | |
| 1964/65 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 8/16 | |
| 1965/66 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 9/16 | |
| 1966/67 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1967/68 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/16 | |
| 1968/69 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/16 | |
| 1969/70 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 10/16 | |
| 1970/71 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 4/16 | |
| 1971/72 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 1/16 | Champions |
| 1972/73 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 5/16 | |
| 1973/74 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1974/75 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/16 | |
| 1975/76 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1976/77 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1977/78 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/16 | |
| 1978/79 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 6/16 | |
| 1979/80 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 5/16 | |
| 1980/81 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 14/20 | |
| 1981/82 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 19/20 | Not relegated |
| 1982/83 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 5/20 | |
| 1983/84 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/20 | |
| 1984/85 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 5/20 | |
| 1985/86 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 9/20 | Re-organisation due to formation of Wessex League in 1986 |
| 1986/87 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 14/18 | |
| 1987/88 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 16/18 | |
| 1988/89 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 3/17 | |
| 1989/90 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/18 | |
| 1990/91 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/18 | |
| 1991/92 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 4/18 | |
| 1992/93 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 1/17 | Champions, not promoted |
| 1993/94 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 4/20 | |
| 1994/95 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 7/20 | |
| 1995/96 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 9/20 | |
| 1996/97 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 16/21 | |
| 1997/98 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 8/20 | |
| 1998/99 | Hampshire League Division 1 | 14/19 | |
| 1999/00 | Hampshire League Premier Division | 8/22 | Re-organisation |
| 2000/01 | Hampshire League Premier Division | 5/21 | |
| 2001/02 | Hampshire League Premier Division | 12/21 | |
| 2002/03 | Hampshire League Premier Division | 16/20 | Left competition |
| Season | Round | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947/48 | Extra-Preliminary Round | A v Andover | L 0–7 |
| 1948/49 | Extra-Preliminary Round | H v Romsey Town | L 2–5 |
| 1949/50 | Preliminary Round | H v Cowes | L 3–4 |
| 1950/51 | Extra-Preliminary Round | A v Thornycroft Athletic | D 5-5 |
| Replay | H v Thornycroft Athletic | W 3–2 | |
| Preliminary Round | H v Hamworthy United | L 1–2 |
| Season | Round | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977/78 | Preliminary Round | H v Chichester City | W 2–0 |
| Round 1 | H v Farnham Town | W 6–1 | |
| Round 2 | A v Gosport Borough | L 1–3 | |
| 1981/82 | Preliminary Round | H v Sholing Sports | L 1–2 |
| 1982/83 | Preliminary Round | H v Romsey Town | L 0–1 |
| 1983/84 | Preliminary Round | H v Farnham Town | L 0–1 |
| 1984/85 | Preliminary Round | H v Thatcham Town | W 2–0 |
| Round 1 | H v Wilton Rovers | W 3–0 | |
| Round 2 | A v Sharpness | L 1–2 | |
| 1985/86 | Preliminary Round | H v Lancing | W 4–1 |
| Round 1 | H v Malden Vale | W 3–2 | |
| Round 2 | H v AFC Totton | L 0–2 |
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