The pcmcia controller is ok, I never experienced problems in linux with the i82365 PCMCIA Controller.

Is your card found?
run ifconfig as root if in the output there is no eth0, your card has probably not been configured. (and when you boot with the card in a slot, you probably heard two low toned beeps when pcmcia started)
Probably this only means you have to enter its description in the correct configuration file.

First find out what driver you lan card is supposed to have:
Search on the net for people using your type of card and linux.

As root run
cardctl ident 0 (first slot, or 1 second slot)
The output is like
product info: "Cnet", ".....", "...."
manfid : XXXXX, YYYYY
function: 6 (network)

Don't be surprised when something like
card "Bromax" or whatever turns up on your screen, the outside and inside of pcmcia cards are often different.

Use the output to create an appropriate entry in /etc/pcmcia/config

card "Cnet"
manfid XXXXX, XXXXX
bind "yourdrivername"

either restart pcmcia or the easy way is a reboot
When pcmcia is started you should hear two high pitched beeps if everything is ok and you card has been recognised.

ifconfig should now output info about the network card

if needed (you hear two high pitched beeps but no eth0 shows up after ifconfig)
You can change your networking parameters in /etc/networking/interfaces
(man interfaces for the format)
Next run as root /etc/init.d/networking restart