Matt Gray Appointed as Eastleigh FC First Team Manager

Eastleigh FC have appointed Matt Gray as First Team Manager, the club confirmed in May 2026.

Gray is not a new face at the Silverlake Stadium. He served as assistant manager at the club between 2007 and 2011, and returns now as the man in charge — bringing with him both a detailed knowledge of the club and a managerial record that speaks for itself.

"I am absolutely delighted to be here," Gray said on his appointment. "Going around the ground today and seeing the changes that have been made and the development to the facilities is truly phenomenal."

A record of promotion

The headline achievement of Gray's managerial career is the promotion he delivered at Sutton United. He took the club to the English Football League for the first time in their history, finishing the National League season four points clear at the top with the best attacking record in the division. In their debut EFL season, Sutton scored 69 goals and finished just a single point outside the play-off places.

That track record is precisely the kind of experience Eastleigh's board were looking for as the club looks to build on its National League standing.

A trusted partnership

Gray arrives at the Silverlake alongside his assistant Jason Goodliffe — a working partnership built across more than 200 games. Goodliffe brings nearly 500 games of coaching experience in total, and the pair have worked together at the highest levels of non-league football.

"This is a proper football club," Gray said, "and it is one with excellent off-the-pitch facilities. Hopefully we will be able to match that with performances on the pitch."

For supporters, this appointment carries genuine emotional weight. Gray knows the Silverlake Stadium, knows the town, and knows what the Spitfires mean to the people of Eastleigh. He is coming home — and the ambition is clear.