WHILE manager Richard Hill has launched the hunt for new Eastleigh players, club secretary Ray Murphy is still trying to track down some old ones.

Coinciding with the release of ‘The Story So Far’, a book tracing the history of Eastleigh Football Club, the Spitfires have organised a players’ reunion at the Silverlake Stadium next Sunday (May 28, 3pm).

Several players from Swaythling, Swaythling Athletic and Eastleigh Football Club have been found in various corners of the world, but there are still more to be unearthed.

With 1990s midfielder Robbie Abbott now living in Thailand and 1960s goalkeeper Gordon Moody based in South Africa, the net has been thrown far and wide to locate as many ex-players as possible.

The Spitfires are still trying to search out wing-half Keith Cooper, the club’s second all-time appearance maker, who made just shy of 600 appearances between 1968 and 1986.

Also on the missing list is Tony Mucci, a striker from the late 1980s, former manager Tony Noble, and John Clarkson, who played left-back from 1956 through to 1970 with 300 club appearances under his belt.

Murphy is also keen to trace Richard ‘Dickie’ Morgan, another who made 300 club appearances, going back to the early-50s, and 1960s left-back Ricky Ironside.

From more recent times Eastleigh are still searching for, among others, goalkeeper Colin Matthews, striker Ricky Fernandez, Jason Scannell and Simon De’Ath.

If you can help, please contact organiser Ray Murphy on 07508 431451 or at rmurphy@eastleighfc.com.

The new book was finally sent to print this week and will be first seen at the reunion, which will run from 3pm to midnight.

President and club founder Derik Brooks will be there for part of the day and others attending include former manager Trevor Parker who is flying back from Portugal.

Ex-striker John Robson, former skipper Mel Davolls, striker Jack Midson, record club appearance maker Ian Knight, Bill Ragan, Terry Rawlins, Dave Bundy, Dean Byrne and defenders Chris Collins and Robbie Marshall are a few more names to whet the appetite.

The book ‘The Story So Far’ is still available to pre-order at £15 per copy plus postage. It will be on general sale from Tuesday, May 30.