 They ran for over 70 years, many of which as the town's leading club and were one of the early pioneers of football in the area.Eastleigh Athletic FC were formed by workers at the Eastleigh Railway Depot sometime in the early 1890s and were originally known as Eastleigh LSWR (London & South Western Railway).The club owned their own sports ground at Dutton Lane in the town, which over the years was developed with an oval cycling track and grandstand for spectators.