Vital Pompey Members Corner

Basra Update No3

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Sorry haven’t been in touch for ages!! There has been a major internet problem out here and has just been repaired!!

So if I remember rightly the last time I spoke to you was just after the Semi Final!! Well there has been a lot happening!!

Well since the last update, all that time ago, a lot has happened!! There was obviously the final itself which for me was a 48hr round trip from Basra to Portsmouth and back again!! Tiring but worth it!! Unfortunately I didn’t manage to get to Wembley once in the 3 times we’ve been, but looking at the squad, I don’t see why we couldn’t get there again!!

In Basra itself, whilst I wasn’t here for the final, the camp bar that we have here was kitted out in Pompey and Cardiff stuff (mainly Pompey!!) and the lads made a real good day of it all, even though they were only able to have 2 cans of beer out here which is the limit! Upon my return there was smiling PFC fans and it was still sinking in 2 weeks later that we had won the cup. PFC fans were still talking about it, and at the same time taking digs at Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelski fans by asking ‘What did you win this season’. All taken in good heart but was good to get the banter going!!

Unfortunately a couple of weeks later there was a Brigade changeover, which meant that the PFC Fans that I knew left to return home and wasn’t sure who supported what team coming out!! One of the first people that I met from the New Brigade (The Red Rats), happened to be a Scumhampton supporter so got the full barrage from me and also I was asking how life in the Fizzy Pop League was etc… He’s just left but everyday I saw him it was always the good old banter. Someone’s gotta support them I suppose!!!

On another note, I’m not sure if this has already been said, but thanks to PFC themselves, I have managed to raise over £600 for charity. There were the hands and cups to start with and then they kindly donated 2 VIP tickets to auction off which raised £500. So many thanks to them.

I have now also got Iraqis in Pompey Shirts. I brought 2 of my old away shirts over and gave them to 2 of the locals who come in everyday to clean the main HQ Building. They love their football shirts out here and I believe that PFC are sending out some more old strips to give to them so that we can turn Basra Pompey Blue!!!

There wasn’t as much hype about the Charity Shield as there was about the FA Cup, but it was still watched by many!! But the hype is starting about the new season and there is plenty of banter going on!! There’s even a Stoke supporter out here who believes that they will beat us a FP this season!! He got shot back down (excuse the pun) and now doesn’t think that!!

A lot of people out here think that we have a top 5 team what with the addition of Crouch, Kaboul, etc.. some that are saying that are even Spurs supporters!! I think that other teams supporters are now looking at Pompey as a serious force and not the Mickey Mouse club that we were when we came up!! Just shows what a good job Redknapp, Storrie, Sasha, and yes we have to say it….Mandaric have done for us since that day we were second to bottom of the Nationwide!! And everybody seems to love the new shirt, because of who it’s made by!! Another good choice!!

Well guys I’m leaving Basra soon to head to Kuwait for the Final Part of my tour. I am back for good at the end of September, so hopefully I will then be able to meet most of you at a match for a drink. After that I start work in London so will have easy access to all the PFC London away days and hopefully Wembley!!!

PLAY UP POMPEY!!


Written by PompeyMilhouse28.

The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.

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