On this day in history…7th October

A look back at this day in history, and what was happening with Pompey courtesy of our sister site PompeyRama.

Sun 7 Oct 2007
PL Fulham A 2-0
Mwaruwari, Hreidarsson
Att:20,774
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Sat 7 Oct 1995
Div 1 Oldham Athletic A 1-1
Simpson
Att:5,937
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Sat 7 Oct 1989
Div 2 Oxford Utd A 1-2
Whittingham
Att:5,193
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Wed 7 Oct 1987
FLC2:2 Swindon Town H 1-3
Perry
Att: 8,727
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Tue 7 Oct 1986
FLC2:2 Wrexham H 2-0
Quinn 2
Att: 8,264
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Tue 7 Oct 1980
Div 3 Colchester Utd A 0-1
Att:2,702
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Sat 7 Oct 1978
Div 4 Hereford Utd H 1-0
Denyer
Att:11,949
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Sat 7 Oct 1972
Div 2 Bristol City H 0-3
Att:9,375
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Wed 7 Oct 1970
FLC3 Manchester Utd A 0-1
Att: 32,080
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Tue 7 Oct 1969
Div 2 Sheffield Utd A 0-5
Att:16,136
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Sat 7 Oct 1967
Div 2 Carlisle Utd H 2-1
McClelland, Hiron
Att:21,864
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Wed 7 Oct 1964
Div 2 Northampton Town H 3-3
Barton 2, McCann
Att:12,262
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Sat 7 Oct 1961
Div 3 Notts County A 1-2
Gordon
Att:9,889
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Sat 7 Oct 1950
Div 1 Bolton A 0-4
Att:34,055
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Oh dear another bad day in Pompey history – not many good ones of late. Only three league wins and I was at two of them – watched the third on TV!

Memories are of my first trip to Old Trafford back in 1970 – oh how the stadium has changed since then. The ground consisted of the Stretford End, the main stand and one opposite and an open terrace behind the other goal. It was on that terrace that the Pompey fans were gathered that night in a small knot right behind the goal.

The United side was like reading names from a history book for a younger fan – George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, Brain Kidd, Ian Ure etc. However on the night Pompey were not overawed and some of the team performed very well indeed. I can remember Ray Hiron giving Ure and experienced Scottish International the run around for ninety minutes and little Fred Smith did a very tight marking job on the mercurial Best.

United won it though with a Bobby Charlton special passed John Milkins from about thirty yards. It was a special place to be on a special night and one I will always remember especially the trip home and then straight off to work the next morning – no motorways then remember.

Another feature, again courtesy of our sister site PompeyRama, sees us look at those Pompey personalities – past or present – who have a birthday on this day…and they are three different characters too.

The first most fans would rather forget and the method of his departure – missing the penalty against West Ham and showing that he did not care!! Colin Blant was a larger than life Lancastrian hewn out of solid rock in Rawtenstall. He signed from Burnley with Fred Smith (mentioned above) and played for two seasons before moving back home to Rochdale. Always gave his very best but lacked any real finesse.

George Smith was a rarity in football as he has signed by a manger with the same name!! He came from Barrow for £20,000 in 1967 and he told the story to the local Barrow Times and Star “I was told by Mr McEvoy (Barrow manager) that when we played at Lincoln City, the match was attended by the manager of Portsmouth, my namesake George Smith. Mr McEvoy said they met in the car park after the game. Mr McEvoy asked Mr Smith how much he was prepared to pay. Mr Smith said £20,000 – Mr McEvoy pulled out a piece of paper from his top pocket and handed it to Mr Smith – £20,000 was written on the paper. The deal was done in the car park but I was completely oblivious to the agreement until the day I signed for Portsmouth.

“Mr McEvoy seemed to have great belief in my ability at the time, constantly telling me I was very capable of playing for England.”

George formed a very good midfield partnership with Bobby Kellard and they took Pompey to the brink of promotion in their first season. He later moved on to Middlesbrough.

7/10/1982: Jermain Defoe
7/10/1946: Colin Blant
7/10/1945: George Smith

PLAY UP POMPEY!