Pirelli General F.C. were a long-running amateur football club based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. For a time they were the top club in the town and played in the Hampshire League until they ceased to exist in 2003.
The club was founded in 1916 as the works side of the Pirelli General cable making company. They initially played in the Winchester & District and Eastleigh Leagues before transferring to the larger Southampton League.
By 1933 Pirelli's were playing at Dew Lane (fondly known locally as 'Eastleigh Wembley') and were fielding six sides. The 1st Team enjoyed an excellent season, winning the Senior Division 1 title and the Southampton Senior Cup for first time. This saw them elected to the Hampshire League Division 2 where they finished runners-up in their debut season before winning the title the following year and establishing themselves in Division 1.
Once normal football had resumed after World War II, Pirelli's returned to the county league where they were placed in Division 2 and 'The Cablemen' were regular FA Cup entrants at this time, although never progressing beyond the preliminary rounds. However, despite winning the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in 1955âÂÂ56, it was not until 1962âÂÂ63 that Pirelli's returned to top flight when they won the Division 2 title.
In 1965 Pirelli's moved to their best known home ground at Chestnut Avenue in Eastleigh, and the club remained a steady Division 1 outfit, twice finishing 3rd in the late sixties.
The seventies was the golden age for Pirelli's, especially the 1971âÂÂ72 season when they were Division 1 Champions. The next fourteen years saw the club remain regular title contenders and in 1976âÂÂ77 they caused a big upset when they defeated favourites Farnborough Town 1âÂÂ0 to win the Hampshire Senior Cup.
In 1986 the Wessex League was formed (mostly by the Hampshire League's top clubs) but Pirelli's remained with the county league and were again champions in 1992âÂÂ93.
Despite the parent company moving out of Eastleigh, Pirelli's continued to play in the top-flight of the Hampshire League until the loss of their ground in 2003 saw the club withdraw from the competition and fold.
Pirelli General played at the Jubilee Sports Ground at Chestnut Avenue in Eastleigh.
The 20 acre site had three adult pitches, with the main one enclosed with floodlights and a wooden stand. This, along with its easy access and large car park made the ground a popular choice for hosting local cup finals until it was redeveloped in 1993 with the addition of a golf range.
After the club's demise, the ground sat unused until 2010 when AFC Stoneham took up residence. In 2020 the venue was sold for housing.
Scottish striker Craig McAllister began his career with Pirelli before joining neighbours Eastleigh in 2001 then going on to play professionally for a number of clubs.
With there being so many teams in the area, Pirelli General had many local rivals. These mostly included Eastleigh, AC Delco, Eastleigh Athletic and BTC Southampton.