Eastleigh head to Forest Green tonight before a long trip to Barrow on Saturday

Wednesday 28 October 2026 · By Graham Petherick

Eastleigh travel to Forest Green Rovers tonight (7.45pm GMT) in the first of two long away trips in four days, with Barrow to follow on Saturday.

Matt Gray’s side did not play on Tuesday. They are 15th in the Enterprise National League on 18 points from 14 games, with five wins, three draws and six defeats. They have scored 18 goals and conceded 22, for a goal difference of −4.

The table leaves them in a crowded part of the division. Eastleigh are level on 18 points with Aldershot Town, Woking and Sutton United, and they are three points clear of the relegation zone, which begins at 21st, where Boston United have 15 points. Only the clubs from 21st to 24th are relegated, while the clubs from second to seventh go into the play-offs and only the champions are promoted automatically.

Eastleigh’s last match was a 4–2 home win over Boston on 24 October, in which Blair scored a hat-trick, according to the club’s report. They will be hoping to build on that result.

The opposition are in an unusual position. Forest Green are 18th on 15 points, but they have played only 12 games, fewer than any other club. They have no permanent head coach, with Jonathan Gould, Yan Klukowski and Josh Bowen in charge of the coaching, following Savage’s departure for Peterborough on 2 October, according to the BBC’s manager tracker.

Forest Green also announced the signing of Will Grigg, 35, on a free transfer from Chesterfield on 23 October. His contract runs to June 2028. They have injury problems of their own, with Ricardo Rees (knee) and Jose Marquez ruled out, according to the Non-League Paper.

Eastleigh have also made a squad change. The club said Underhill has joined Havant & Waterlooville on loan.

The Barrow game on Saturday 31 October (3pm GMT) will be a significant test. Barrow came from two goals down to win 3–2 at FC Halifax Town on Tuesday and are eighth on 24 points, two behind the play-off places. Eastleigh therefore face a side in good heart in the north west.

After that, the FA Cup returns. Eastleigh host Shrewsbury in the first round on Saturday 7 November, with kick-off at 3pm GMT.

A win at Forest Green would take Eastleigh to 21 points and level them with Halifax, Kidderminster Harriers and Hornchurch, who are all in the top 11. A draw would keep them in touch with their immediate neighbours.

It is a game that offers something to both sides. Forest Green have games in hand, but they are level on points with three clubs below them.

This is a preview, written before kick-off. The result was not known at the time of writing.

Ten Acres

Ten Acres, sponsored as the Silverlake Stadium, is the home of Eastleigh Football Club on Stoneham Lane, tucked between Southampton Airport, the M27 and Lakeside Country Park. The Spitfires have played here since 1957. Capacity is about 5,200, with more than 3,000 seats after the Mackoy Community Stand opened in 2014 and the Main Stand was later extended. For visiting supporters it is a compact National League ground: easy to read once you are inside, a little awkward to reach by car, and generally welcoming if you buy tickets in advance.

Away fans are usually placed in the east side of the Mackoy Community Stand at the south end, with an allocation of around 500 seats for a typical fixture and more when demand is high. That stand is tall and covered, so the view of the grass is good, though a couple of supporting pillars sit near the front. For many games the club also opens the southern part of the covered East Terrace, which came from Exeter Chiefs’ old Sandy Park stand. That gives you a choice between sitting behind the goal and standing along the touchline. Confirm the exact blocks and turnstiles on your ticket; away entry is often through turnstiles 1–4 or 10–11 depending on the crowd.

The rest of the bowl is straightforward. The West Stand is the Main Stand: covered seating, press box and dugouts along the touchline. Opposite it the East Terrace is only a few steps high but fully covered, with a television gantry on the roof. At the north end the Shed is a shorter covered terrace behind the clubhouse goal and is the home singing area. On quieter days home supporters can move around for food and toilets; terrace ticket holders should stay out of seated blocks. When a crowd over 3,000 is expected the club may impose a non-migration rule and will say so before kick-off.

Tickets are sold online and from the ticket office, not at the turnstiles. Buy in advance if you can. Turnstiles typically open 90 minutes before kick-off. There is an away kiosk and bar on segregated matchdays, with pies (including vegetarian and vegan options), hot food and both alcoholic and soft drinks. Cash and card are widely accepted. Facilities are basic but close to the away section, which matters if you are standing on the East Terrace in wet weather.

Getting there needs a little planning. Southampton Airport Parkway is the nearest station, about 20–25 minutes on foot through Lakeside Country Park. By road the ground sits off Stoneham Lane from M27 junction 5 or M3 junction 13. The main stadium car park is reserved for seasonal pass holders and Blue Badge holders who have contacted the club in advance. Matchday parking is in the Lower Hardmoor field behind the south stand, reached via the road by the motorway bridge on Stoneham Lane, usually £10 cash or card, first come first served. After full time the car parks close for about 10–15 minutes so pedestrians can leave; when they reopen, turn left. Street parking nearby is limited and restricted. Coaches and minibuses should email the club first.

The ground is flat and relatively easy for supporters with limited mobility, though the away seated stand is steep and the terrace has steps. Blue Badge spaces in the main car park must be booked. Stewards are used to National League away followings and the atmosphere is competitive rather than hostile. Check eastleighfc.com before you travel for the latest ticket map, turnstile numbers and whether the East Terrace is open to visitors. Arrive early if you want a particular seat or a space at Lower Hardmoor, and give yourself time for the walk from the station if you come by train.