Picture: Ian Christie
By Jonathan Waldheim
Eastleigh manager Richard Hill dedicated his side’s title victory to the club’s fans after Friday’s victory against Basingstoke at the Silverlake Stadium.
The Spitfires will be plying their trade in the Conference Premier next season after sealing the championship with a 2-1 win.
And Hill believes the support of the home faithful has been crucial to their title winning form.
Hill said: “This year has been tough at times, but the players have showed fantastic character. The supporters have been amazing and it’s something they will have dreamed of.
“Winning the league is for them, not me.”
Hill, who took over at Eastleigh in 2012, led the side to the play-offs last season before going one better this year. He is now eyeing a strong start in the Conference next season and wants the Hampshire side to be “competitive” in their first season in the Skrill Premier.
He said: “It’s an incredible achievement for everyone, but we won’t be there just for the sake of it – we want to be competitive in that league.
“We’re going up to the elite level of Non-League football and it’s important we continue to raise our level.”
After winning the title on Friday, Eastleigh suffered a 1-0 away defeat at local rivals Havant & Waterlooville on Easter Monday, but with the championship in the bag the Spitfires will now be looking ahead to their first ever season in Non-League’s top flight next year.
Southampton legend Matt le Tissier even congratulated Hill’s side, tweeting a message to the club after the victory on Friday.
He said: “Huge congrats to @eastleighfc on promotion to the Conference come a long way since Jewson Wessex League when I turned out a couple of times.”
