EASTLEIGH fans got a first taste of their new stand on an emotional day at the Silverlake Stadium.

The extension to Eastleigh FC's West Stand filled-up as fans took their seats in time to pay tribute to founder Derik Brooks, who passed away on Monday, at the age of 94.

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Players and fans held a minute's silence before kick-off for Mr Brooks, known as "Mr Eastleigh", with visiting team Hartlepool United also paying tribute.

Known as ‘Mr Eastleigh’, Derik founded the club as Swaythling Athletic in 1946 and stayed involved for an incredible 72 years.

During that time the club went from playing on Southampton Common to their current position, gracing the top flight of non-League football in the Vanarama National League.

Much loved by everyone at the club, Derik was made a Citizen of Honour by the Borough of Eastleigh in 2009.

The new stand is a £750,000 extension which incorporates a large gymnasium and treatment room for the players as well as an office for team boss Andy Hessenthaler and his staff

It also houses a directors' room, a room for the stewards/safety officers, plus toilet facilities for the disabled.

Seat-wise, it adds another 550 to the 350 in the existing main blue stand and the whole structure will now be known as the Drive Personnel Stand, thanks to sponsorship from the Eastleigh-based company which specialises in HGV driving jobs across Hampshire.

At the match the Spitfires saw off Hartlepool United 4-3, making it four league wins on the bounce and eight games unbeaten for the boys in blue.