They were the Eastleigh based long-running and hugely successful works football club known as the Cablemen.

After being founded in 1916, Pirelli General FC joined the Winchester and District League in 1923, eventually moving on to the Eastleigh League and then the Southampton League.

They consisted of six sides by the 1933-34 season when the entered the Hampshire League, where they finished runners-up before winning the title the following year, propelling themselves into Division 1.

Once World War II was over and football had resumed, Pirelli’s were placed in Division 2 of the county league and were regular FA Cup entrants at the time.

It wasn’t until 1962-63 that Pirelli returned to top-flight after winning the Division 2 title.

The team moved to their home ground in Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh in 1965.

After that point, the team were title contenders numerous times, becoming Division 1 Champions in the 1971-72 season as well as in 1991-92.

Pirelli’s remained in the Hampshire League, regardless of the parent company moving out of Eastleigh, but when the team lost their ground in 2003, the club reluctantly withdrew from the league and folded.