It is hard to know if this FA Cup tie was a throwback to a bygone age or a premonition of the future.
The muddy turf, commonplace decades ago, and certainly familiar to the hardened Eastleigh players - not to mention the raucous atmosphere, with a memorable giantkilling just minutes away - all lent this third-round match a nostalgic feel.
But Eastleigh, the last non-league team left in the competition, are a side on the up after this 1-1 draw while Bolton, bottom of the Championship, mired in £180 million of debt, are not just on the way down, but fighting for their very existence. Five years ago this April, Premier League Bolton were preparing for an FA Cup semi-final in front of 75,000 fans at Wembley, hoping to add to their tally of four Cup triumphs. On the south coast Eastleigh lost 3-0 at home to Ebbsfleet in the Conference South. Just 583 watched that humbling. More than 5,000 crammed into the Silverlake Stadium on Saturday to watch their side, managed by 34-year-old Chris Todd, scale new heights.
This match got underway only after three pitch inspections but Eastleigh were thrilled with the result, even if they had victory snatched away by Darren Pratley’s late equaliser after Bolton defender Dorian Dervite had turned a cross into his own net.
Jai Reason of Eastleigh celebrates during his side's surprise draw with Bolton in the Cup
If anything the quagmire added to the spectacle, and the absurdity of the BBC’s decision not to show this match live. Surely, they cannot ignore the replay for a place in the fourth round at Bolton’s Macron Stadium.
Stewart Donald, the Eastleigh chairman and insurance tycoon, has invested £3 million in the club and is reaping the rewards, confident of the dream carrying on.
“I am incredibly proud of the team, both for the way they played against Bolton and throughout this FA Cup run and the season,” Donald said.
“The boys did really well for us and we almost did it – but we are still in there fighting and it keeps it going for us all a bit longer. The tie is not over or dead, the lads will all think they still have a chance. Of course it will be tough, but we are strong away from home and have a good record.
“It is a big marker for us what has happened given what we want to do here. We got the game on, just, which required an enormous amount of work.
Never imagined when I played for @eastleighfc that there'd be a day when they stayed in the fa cup longer than @SouthamptonFC #funnyoldgame
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) January 9, 2016
“The crowds are going up generally and here we had a record attendance of over 5,000, and the team has not let us down against a Championship side.”
That replay, if televised, could be worth more than £100,000 to both clubs. As Pratley said after scoring the equaliser, Bolton need that money just as much as Eastleigh, with two of their best players – striker Zak Clough and midfielder Mark Davies – heading for the exit to raise much-needed funds.
There have been sleepless nights, days spent worrying whether the next salary payment will arrive, and difficult confrontations with locals wondering what an earth is going on at this proud club.
We salute the @eastleighfc ground staff as the Spitfires celebrate being in the 4th round draw for the first time! http://pic.twitter.com/1C6BxefepA
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 9, 2016
“I take it personally whether I’m captain or not, because the only why I’m in Bolton is to play football, I’m not there for a holiday,” the 30-year-old said. “They [fans] talk about results, and knowing what’s going on. I had a letter last week from a fan saying as long as we fight for the shirt, that’s all she asks for.
“We need the money as much as Eastleigh. I said to one of their players when we were coming off that a draw will probably get both clubs some money, maybe a televised game, and it can keep us afloat for a bit and we need that.”
Three divisions apart but these two clubs are in the same boat. Another five years of this and they could be playing in the same division. But first to a replay which Eastleigh have every chance of winning.
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