They were the Eastleigh-based based long-running and hugely successful works football club known as the Cablemen.

After being founded in 1916, Pirelli General FC joined the Winchester and District League in 1923, eventually moving on to the Eastleigh League and then the Southampton League.

They consisted of six sides by the 1933-34 season when the entered the Hampshire League, where they finished runners-up before winning the title the following year, propelling themselves into Division 1.

Daily Echo: Pirelli U13 team - back row l-r - Phil Lane, Jonty Warner, Ian Perrett, James Swan, Daniel Harfield, Chris Harvey and Steve Smith - front row l-r - Gareth Price, Danny Mead, Lee Vickery, Sean Swift, Darryl Broomfield, Jonathon Yates and Mark Gale..

Once World War II was over and football had resumed, Pirelli’s were placed in Division 2 of the county league and were regular FA Cup entrants at the time.

It wasn’t until 1962-63 that Pirelli returned to top-flight after winning the Division 2 title.

The team moved to their home ground in Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh in 1965.

Daily Echo: PIRELLI GENERAL FC. Back row (left to right): Albie Wyeth (manager), Clem Jacoboski, Alan Sturgess, Pete Broom, Gary Chant, Steve Simes, Mark Brockway, Barry Glasspool (assistant manager). Front: Colin Chapman, Neil Faulkner, McCann, Wayne Pigford, Steve

After that point, the team were title contenders numerous times, becoming Division 1 Champions in the 1971-72 season as well as in 1991-92.

Pirelli’s remained in the Hampshire League, regardless of the parent company moving out of Eastleigh, but when the team lost their ground in 2003, the club reluctantly withdrew from the league and folded.