So, Luciano Pavarotti has died. In the early hours of Thursday morning after a five year fight; he eventually lost his battle with cancer.
Italy is mourning the loss of one of her most famous and talented sons.
In the cathedral of his hometown of Modena, northern Italy, thousands of mourners are filing past his coffin in a bid to catch one final glimpse of the maestro; dressed, as always, in his trademark black tux and white scarf, before his funeral on Saturday.
Like it or not, Pavarotti’s music plays a large part in English footballs heritage, as although famous for his open-air concert in Hyde Park in 1991, when he performed in front of more than 100,000 people including The Prince and Princess of Wales, he is probably better known for providing the soundtrack to the video of Gazza receiving his marching orders during the World Cup semi final in Italia ’90
There have been many TV & radio shows documenting his career and discussing Luciano’s legacy in the past couple of days. Some like me, thinking back 1990 and the World Cup; Platt’s last minute goal, Gazza’s tears, missed penalties, That look Lineker gave Bobby Robson, But I think it’s time to bring the nostalgia a little closer to home.
What was happening at PO4 8RA in seasons 89/90 & 90/91? How were Pompey doing, what division were we in? Who were the idols of the Fratton End?
I had a little dig around and can offer a few tit bits…
* 14th in (the old) division two in 89/90, followed by 17th in 90/91 – Great days eh!
*Guy Whittingham scoring 9 goals in 4 games in January 91 – If Nugent is supposed to be the new Whittingham roll-on Christmas!
* Successive Zenith Data Systems cup defeats to Wimbledon & Oxford United – what happened to them? Oxford, Wimbledon or Zenith Data Systems come to that?
* Oldham winning promotion to what is now the Barclays Premiership.
*John Gregory & old Frankie Burrows as Managers.
* Martin Khul, Mark Chamberlain, Colin Clarke, John Beresford – Where are they now?
? Where does time go.
Anyway fellas your challenge, in honour of Luciano, is to provide me with what you can remember ‘of’ or ‘from’? not Italia ’90, but Pompey ’90? but a year either side will do!
Written by Chix.
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