9 minute read
HISTORY
MOORE’S MEMORIES
HAD HATELEY ENDURED A TEMPORARY SPELL ELSEWHERE IN ORDER TO PROVE HIMSELF, WHO KNOWS QUITE HOW MUCH HISTORY WOULD HAVE BEEN REWRITTEN
Iwas one of the fortunate few inside Paul Cook’s inner sanctum on the night the manager was musing over his central defensive options. Coincidentally, I had already written that first sentence before he had even been appointed the new manager of today’s opponents.
Among a host of topics discussed over post-match bottles of beer, one conversation centred on the qualities of Matt Clarke and Adam Webster, and who was the better prospect.
At the end of that campaign, the latter – still on his way to becoming a formidable player – was sold to Ipswich, while the former moved the other way on a permanent deal.
Webster has since become a rock at the heart of Brighton’s defence in the Premier League, while Clarke, having signed for the same club, is out on loan at a struggling Derby side in the Championship.
It is just shy of two years since Clarke moved from one part of the south coast to the other, setting up the intriguing prospect of two former Pompey men becoming defensive partners in English football’s elite division.
But he has yet to make a competitive appearance for the Sussex outfit, having immediately been sent out on loan to Derby, where he has been lodging ever since. Webster, meanwhile, is established with the Seagulls and looks comfortable in his elevated surroundings. The craziness of such transactions is highlighted by several possible scenarios at present. Brighton could perhaps get relegated, manager Graham Potter leaves and the incoming boss has to cut costs and preside over a cull of players.
Then Clarke, who would have officially become a Premier League player in 2019 and dreamt of appearing at the highest level, never gets to do so – unless, of course, he moves elsewhere.
Consider this, if you will. Mark Hateley signed for Pompey for a club record fee in the summer of 1983. Imagine if he had then been loaned out to prove himself – not likely, I know, seeing as he had already dropped down a division to join the Blues.
But had such a transition occurred, it is likely the striker would not have appeared on England’s radar for a trip to South America and scored a headed goal against Brazil that catapulted him to worldwide fame.
That came at the end of his first – and only – season at Fratton Park, earning a £1 million move to AC Milan. As well as missing out on that, he might never have experienced the joys of hitting back-to-back hat-tricks against Cambridge and Grimsby or formed a swashbuckling partnership with Alan Biley.
Okay, we might not have seen the subsequent signing of Scott McGarvey either, but that is a subject for another day.
Had Hateley endured a temporary spell elsewhere in order to prove himself, who knows quite how much history would have been rewritten.
Fortunately, such absurd rules of business had yet to be engineered and when a club bought a player, it was a proven asset, not a future possibility.
In less than the time Clarke has spent as a ‘Premier League player’, Hateley became an international performer, starring for Italian giants and with a million-pound price tag on his head.
Now that is certainly an interesting chat for the inner sanctum.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
THE POMPEY HISTORY SOCIETY TAKE A DELVE INTO THE CLUB’S ARCHIVE, PULL OUT A DOCUMENT OR ARTEFACT AND TELL THE STORY BEHIND IT. IN THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE DUG OUT A FLYER FROM 1973 WHICH SUGGESTED THE FANS NEEDED ANOTHER SONG. AS IF THE POMPEY CHIMES WERE SOMEHOW NOT ENOUGH…
1973? Wasn’t that the year John Deacon became chairman?
You know your stuff! Yes, it was. He had acquired a stake in the financially and sportingly struggling club the previous December, providing funds to sign a couple of players – Norwich’s Ken Foggo and a return for the popular Bobby Kellard – to keep the team in Division Two. At the end of the season he completed his takeover of the club, promising to revolutionise it and get the side out of the second tier.
Peee-ter Mari-nellooo…
You’re older than you look. Yes, the George Best look-a-like Arsenal winger arrived for £100,000 in May 1973, while the Southampton striker Ron Davies cost another £40,000 and Bristol Rovers’ defender Phil Roberts £55,000. Exciting times...
So what’s a song got to do with anything?
With the introduction of new money to the club, there came a price. Traditional blue shirts? Nah! In came a snazzy white top with blue trim and two vertical blue stripes down the left (modelled in the photo by Roberts). Younger fans might remember the nod to that kit with our second strip in 2009/10. And the Pompey Chimes were under threat by a ‘Song for Pompey’ competition for fans organised by The News in association with the club.
That was a great time for music. Something inspired by the Beatles, Stones or Bowie even?
Errr. No. The winning entry, penned by a Mr M Benfield of Paulsgrove, was inspired by the traditional ditty the Camptown Races. Here goes: Who’s the team who play the best? Pompey. Pompey. Who’s the team to beat the rest? Pompey all the way...
Enough! I get the drift. Did it catch on?
No is the short answer. This flyer was given out in the first programme of the 1973/74 season against Middlesbrough. Pompey lost 1-0. Deacon was true to his word as well. By 1976 those white-shirted Blues were out of the second division. Alas, that was by relegation to the third… Thanks to Chris Gibbs for his help with the compilation of this article.
The Pompey History Society is a charitable organisation looking to preserve and conserve the club’s archive. It welcomes donations, including of memorabilia. For more information contact history@pompeyfc.co.uk or follow @PompeyHistory on Twitter.
EASTER HOLIDAY COURSES
Pompey in the Community (PitC) are delighted to be offering Easter holiday football courses at PlayFootball (ROKO), Park Community School and in the West Sussex area.
All courses cost £16 per day and you can book individual days or for the whole week. They are open to boys and girls – aged 5-12, unless otherwise stated – of all abilities.
Plus, there is the added bonus of a free slice of pizza – courtesy of Domino’s Fratton – for all those attending sessions at PlayFootball (ROKO). Any child who is registered for free school meals in Portsmouth will be able to attend for free, using the code ‘Play4free’ when booking.
Children must wear shin pads and either trainers or football boots. All courses are outside, so they should be dressed appropriately for the conditions, as well as bringing a packed lunch and plenty to drink.
Courses must be booked in advance, either by contacting the PitC office (Monday-Friday) on (023) 9272 8899 (option one) or by visiting
www.pompeyitc.co.uk
PlayFootball (ROKO)
Tuesday, April 6-Friday, April 9 – 9.30am-3pm Monday, April 12-Friday, April 16 – 9.30am-3pm
Park Community School (Girls Session)
Thursday, April 8 – 9.30am-3pm Friday, April 9 – 9.30am-3pm Thursday, April 15 – 9.30am-3pm
Storrington FC
Thursday, April 8 – 10am-3pm Friday, April 9 – 10am-3pm
Bognor Arena
Monday, April 12-Wednesday, April 14 – 10am-3pm
Chichester College
Thursday, April 15 – 10am-3pm Friday, April 16 – 10am-3pm
We look forward to seeing you all there!
ACADEMY
BLUES SET TO BEGIN MERIT LEAGUE
Pompey begin their Merit League fixtures with a home clash against Youth Alliance League South-West champions Oxford this morning. The divisions have, this term, been organised specifically to reduce travelling, with AFC Wimbledon, Bournemouth, Gillingham, Leyton Orient and Swindon also in the Blues’ group. They travel to the Cherries next Saturday, with the remaining fixtures still to be confirmed. Professional development phase coach Liam Daish said: “We don’t have the biggest of squads and have had a few injuries to deal with, but we’ve been competitive this season and will be looking for that to continue in our Merit League matches. “The challenges raised by Covid-19 have been like nothing I’ve ever experienced – and I know it’s the same for everyone – but we’ve tried to adapt as well as possible. It’s stretched us to the limit and we’ve hung in there as best we can to deliver for the boys. “All the education and life skills work has been done online. It’s not like being in a classroom, interacting with your peers and being able to ask questions. You miss out on that engagement and the ability to see what they’re thinking. We’ve had reports on their progress, though, and despite those difficulties, they’re on track to get their qualifications, which is fantastic news. That work they do is just as important as what happens on the pitch. “We also want to thank all our academy sponsors and the Pompey Lottery members because with the club losing out on so much revenue at the moment, their backing is so vital. It’s massive for us and something we greatly appreciate.” Visit cutt.ly/Academy2021Stats to view the latest Youth Alliance League table and academy team stats.
2020/21 FIXTURES
Sat, Sep 12 Bournemouth (A) Sat, Sep 19 Cheltenham (A) Sat, Sep 26 Bristol Rovers (H) Tue, Oct 13 Yeovil (A) Sat, Oct 17 Exeter (H)
D 0-0 W 4-1 L 0-1 W 7-2 W 2-1 Tue, Oct 20 Plymouth (A) D 4-4 Tue, Oct 27 Oxford (A) (YAC) D 1-1* Sat, Oct 31 Oxford (H) L 2-6 Tue, Nov 3 Didcot (H) (FAYC) W 4-2 Sat, Nov 7 Newport (H) D 1-1 Sat, Nov 21 Bristol Rovers (A) W 5-1 Sat, Nov 28 Cheltenham (H) W 3-0 Tue, Dec 1 Forest Green (H) W 2-1 Sat, Dec 5 Bournemouth (H) L 2-4 Wed, Dec 16 Bromley (H) (FAYC) L 1-2 Sat, Dec 19 Exeter (A) D 2-2 Sat, Jan 16 Swindon (H) W 2-1 Sat, Jan 23 Forest Green (A) W 4-1 Sat, Jan 30 Plymouth (H) L 1-3 Tue, Feb 2 Swindon (A) L 2-5 Sat, Feb 6 Yeovil (H) D 3-3 Sat, Feb 13 Oxford (A) L 0-2 Tue, Feb 16 Newport (A) W 3-1 Sat, Mar 20 Oxford (H) (ML) Sat, Mar 27 Bournemouth (A) (ML)
YAC: Youth Alliance Cup FAYC: FA Youth Cup ML: Merit League
*Lost 1-3 on penalties
PROUD TO POWER
We’re proud to be Official Academy Partner of Portsmouth FC
