If one thing is certain in football, it’s that your favourite player will at some stage get transferred to another club!
It generally happens at the point at which you think your team can no longer perform without them or you have just shelled out some hard earned dosh to have ‘Todorov’ or ‘Berger’ or ‘Marinello’ printed on the back of the clubs latest fashion accessory known ‘in the trade’ as a ‘Jersey’ of course.
It’s also a fact that whenever an ‘established’ player leaves your club, you sense that their best days are now behind them and they will never quite be the same again or achieve what they could have, had they continued to play in your clubs colours.
‘Established’ players are one thing but ‘true idols’ gain yet greater status. Even when your team are playing against their new club you somehow feel responsible for them and still, even though they have changed allegiances secretly want them to do well – If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard “I ‘ope he gets an ‘at trick, but we win 4-3” I’d have retired with my blonde 20Something mistress to Sunny Southsea long before now…
Odder still is the fact that a player never really leaves a club or the hearts of it’s supporters.
They may no longer ply their trade on your home pitch, they may have moved ‘up norff’ to play for Carlisle or Sunderland or some other Scottish team but long after they have gone you, like thousand of other football fans up and down the land will one day find yourself watching Wrexham entertain Newport at the Racecourse Ground, and willing the Dragons on to win, just because their right-back played in Pompey’s Reserves for three seasons.
Supporter loyalty towards footballers runs deep, too deep at times, unhealthily deep at others but in what I hope will be a series of regular features aligned to Pompey’s forthcoming opponents I offer the words “He Played For Them Too You Know!”
Just prior to each Pompey game I will look at our opponents and pick just one player from the past who transferred between the two clubs. Players who for whatever reason, deserted us for them or saw the light and headed south to the hallowed turf of PO4 I won’t always focus on the most ‘popular’ player to have graced both teams, I might for example focus on a player who made his name, or lost their reputation in the move.. I’ll just select one and try to bring them back into our hearts. If I spark a few memories in the process as well I’ll be more than chuffed.
So, where do we start?
Manchester City on Sunday … then Birmingham at home on 24th November followed by Everton Villa and Tottenham.
The article about the player chosen for the Man City game is due to be published before the weekend. I’ve already drafted the selection for Birmingham and I’m knee deep in research for the Pompey/Everton hero.. After that the floor is open to your suggestions.
Who do you know that transferred between Villa Park and Pompey or vice versa? Maybe there’s a player you can think of that moved to or from Spurs Liverpool or Arsenal … Let me have your thoughts below and I’ll see what I can come up with – No promises mind, there are some players who ‘Challenge Dave’ has already written about and others I have earmarked for the ‘A to Z’ but submit your thoughts below .. all will be considered…
Written by Chix.
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