EASTLEIGH are expecting their first 5,000-plus crowd for the visit of Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round.

Founder members of the Football League with more seasons in the top flight than any club currently outside the Premier League, four-time FA Cup winners Bolton’s visit is certainly one for the romantics.

No doubt it will also attract live television cameras, who will see the 1923, 1926, 1929 and 1958 FA Cup winners as ripe for the taking given their struggles this season.

Eastleigh secretary Ray Murphy was with several fans packed into the clubhouse on Stoneham Lane at 7pm last night.

They were joined by players including James Constable, Michael Green, Jai Reason, Yemi Odubade, Jack Midson and Joe Partington.

He said: “It took a couple of seconds for it to sink in but a Championship team at home is a good draw overall.

“Everyone’s been talking about wanting Man United, Arsenal or Tottenham but there are only half a dozen of them and there are 64 clubs in the draw.

 

 

“It would have been a dream come true to get Arsenal but this tie will generate a lot of interest.

“Our current record crowd is the 4,000-odd we had against Macclesfield last year but I would expect a capacity 5,100 for this.

“Within five minutes of the draw I had a phone call from someone wanting to buy a ticket and five minutes later a photographer rang asking for press accreditation!”

 

 

Eastleigh officials will be meeting at the Silverlake Stadium tomorrow to start preparing the logistics of hosting the biggest game in the club’s history.

“I’m sure it will be all-ticket and would estimate that tickets will be on sale by the time we play Kidderminster on December 19th at the very latest," added Murphy.

Murphy is a vastly experienced non-league secretary but admits he has not experienced a match of this magnitude at any of his previous clubs.

He added: "I’ve been lucky to win the FA Trophy with Dagenham and the FA Vase with Winchester City but the third round of the FA Cup is another level.”