SOCCER SOS

Earlier this month the Daily Echo revealed that the cablemaking giant Pirelli General, which is axing its manufacturing operations at Eastleigh, is showing the red card to its football team.

The company is selling off its giant Chestnut Avenue ground where the Hampshire League Pirelli side has played since the mid-sixties.

But the club, which was founded in 1916, is launching a Save Our Soccer campaign in an all out bid to keep soccer at Chestnut Avenue.

Club chairman Len Lacey said: "We will be definitely starting the season at Chestnut Avenue and we are determined to remain here."

Tomorrow night the SOS campaign is to be boosted in a council chamber move.

Former Eastleigh mayor Godfrey Olson has tabled a motion calling on the council to take all necessary steps to ensure the retention of the leisure and recreation facilities currently administered by Pirelli General at its site off Chestnut Avenue and Passfield Avenue.

In a similar council chamber move Councillor Glynn Davies-Dear will call for the borough council to make every urgent effort to ensure that the Pirelli General sports field, pavilion and facilities are kept for community use for sport and recreation.

Pirelli soccer club officials have already had talks with council chiefs and Mr Lacey said it was planned to have meetings on a monthly basis.

Mr Lacy said the sell-off of the Chestnut Avenue ground had a far wider implication than just the one team.

He said: "We also have a reserve team that play in the Hampshire Combination Division One League and a Sunday morning team that play in the Southampton Junior One League.

"We also have a thriving Tyro League set up, second to none with teams ranging in age from six years to 17 years."

A total of about 200 players participate in football during the season, added to this are the number of spectators who should not be forgotten when the number of users are considered."

Mr Lacey said that this made it a very popular venue serving the community of Eastleigh.