What a day, what an afternoon and HOW GOOD does it feel to be a Pompey fan today? Admittedly it’s (almost always) good anytime but with promotion secured in Nottingham, at Notts County, on Sunday it was definitely job done.
Gareth ‘penalty king’ Evans put Pompey ahead from the penalty spot but it looked like it could be a frustrating day when Notts County drew level through Jorge Grant. But the Blues WEREN’T being denied with Jamal Lowe coming off the bench to score two goals – how well did he take these finishes?
Then came the party… well, I say then came the party but I’d been partying with Rob, Betsy and Ed (some of the Devon Blues) all day long taking in a stop off at Derby, on the way too Meadow Lane and back – that literally couldn’t have been any better as it was directly across from the station in a road that had all you would want, pub, chippie and off license. I’d think Avram Grant would be pleased too, a massage parlour as well. No, I didn’t take it in.
Commenting after the game Paul Cook told the News:
‘This feels great, it feels surreal. It happened so quick and all I was thinking to myself there was that by the end of the season it will probably look as if we went up easily. But it’s never been like that.’
Yes, promotion has been secured with three games to play with a ‘decent’ gap now but Cookie’s right it hasn’t been easy at all.
On the game he added: ‘Today, was tough. The game got put up to us very well by Notts County. The fans sing we’re going to find a way, and we certainly had to find a way today. I thought when we were breaking second half we had a lot of chances to score. I don’t think Notts County had many chances to score in the second half.’
What an atmosphere, I’m sure it came across as such on the radio and the like but I couldn’t get enough of it – Cookie’s right it was (and still is) a ‘great day to be a Pompey fan’ even if I almost gave myself a hernia trying to get over the barrier onto the pitch, I’m not as agile as I once was…
He finished: ‘It’s just such a great day to be a Pompey fan. We’re a fan-owned club, the city of Portsmouth is extremely proud of it. Today we had a travelling army and we’ll all go home very happy. We’re all delighted.’
Let’s lap this up, enjoy the moment and look forward to the future, whatever it might bring? We also have to say a BIG thank you to Iain McInnes who confirmed it was the right time to step down as chairman.
PLAY UP POMPEY
Follow @VitalPortsmouth.
2016-17 Prediction League – April
Cambridge (h) – Saturday 22nd April – click here.
Mansfield (a) – Saturday 29th April – click here.
