 After several near misses they were champions in 1938–39 only to have their progress halted by the outbreak of World War II.In 1947 Eastleigh again returned to the county League when they were placed in Division 3 East.Until this point they had been the town's senior club, but the post war era saw the emergence of local rivals Pirelli General, Eastleigh Spartans and Swaythling Athletic in the Hampshire League and this saw increased competition for the area's best players.