First the answer to last weeks competition and PFCGino wins the super prize for naming Noe Pamarot as the only current player to have appeared during the 1990’s. He made three appearances two as sub in 1999 when on loan from Nice. Noe made the news this week when he made a surprise return to the team in Portugal. Of course we knew that which naturally prompted the question.
Birthdays
5th October Dave Thomas is 58. Dave an England International winger who for some reason could never find his sock ties signed for Pompey in the summer of 1982. The stayed for three seasons but was a peripheral character flitting in and out of games. He had undoubted skill but fans did not like the lack of commitment. Dave of course also had fan’s favourite Alan Rogers to unseat from the team. Dave we believe now teaches in the Sussex area. 30 games no goals.
Brian Horne 41. Brian was signed at Christmas 1992 as back up keeper to the Legend. Played only 4 times the following season.
Shaun Cooper 25. Shaun played seven times in 2002 before eventually moving on to Bournemouth.
6th October David Gregory 57. Dave signed from Bury in 1979. Popular blond striker managed 18 goals in 74 games.
7th October George Smith 63. George Smith the player was signed by George Smith the manager from Barrow in 1967 for £20,000. Formed a formidable partnership with Bobby Kellard in the Pompey midfield and the clubs fortunes appeared to be moving forward. Pompey were top of the table for long spells that season but tailed off to finish fifth. Played 64 games and managed just three goals – George had a liking for Derby`s Baseball Ground as he netted for the Blues on both visits there.
Colin Blant 62. Big Centre half came south from Burnley with Fred Smith in 1970. Solid rather than spectacular defender stayed two seasons playing 64 games and scoring only once against QPR at home. Moved back north to join Rochdale.
8th October Jeff Hodgkins 66. Jeff played just three games in 1961 as a replacement for the injured Ron Saunders.
Shaun Gale 39. Former apprentice Shaun played just three games for Pompey before moving on to Barnet and Exeter. Shaun now manages Havant and Waterlooville and led them on that famous trip to Anfield last season.
9th October Mike Panopoulos 32. Mike is now back in his native Australia after spells in Greece, England and Scotland. Midfield man played 54 times for Pompey with seven goals.
10th October The late Gordon Neave would have been 84. Gordon was Pompey`s long serving trainer/physio and served the club for what seemed an eternity. He received well deserved testimonial in 1998/99 when West Ham visited Fratton. Gordon was on Pompey’s books without ever appearing in the first team. He moved to Bournemouth and then Aldershot. On retirement Gordon could often be seen walking his dog in the Baffin’s Pond area.
Raymond Pointer 72. Another England international who came to Pompey late in his career but this time with far more impact. Ray who will be remembered for his head down style of running as well as his blond hair played on well into his thirty seventh year. We mentioned the 1967/68 season under George Smith and how Pompey tailed off, well some would say that was due to an injury picked up by the old war horse. Early March had arrived and Pompey were unbeaten at home when Birmingham City came to town. 28,000 filled the Park expecting another win and a further step to promotion but on a bright afternoon Brum won 2-1 and Pointer was carried off late on with a serious ankle injury.
Ray missed the rest of the season and with Mike Trebilcock misfiring in front of goal the scoring dried up and Pompey won only three of the last eleven games. In truth it was really the poor away record that was the major reason for not returning to the top flight.
Vince Hilaire 49. Cockney winger Hilaire played for four seasons in the mid eighties. Vince, who can still be seen around Fratton Park on matchdays, scored 25 times in 146 games and was often criticised for being able to beat a player with ease but lacking quality with the cross.
Dean Kiely 38. Dean is still playing in the Premier League at West Brom, although has lost his place to big signing Scott Carson. Will be remembered for his pivotal role in the ‘Great Escape’ when Harry signed him to add experience to the defence.
11th October Jeff Peron 43. Popular French winger played 48 games with only one goal the equaliser at Swindon in a dramatic 3-3 draw back in 1999. Stillthewhizz,a regular contributor, had Jeff in his best XI back in January; this so impressed pompey4me that he asked – who? Shame on you Simon!
Teaser
How did Linvoy Primus mark his Pompey debut?
UEFA Cup update
Following their progress to the group stage William Hill have installed Pompey as 20-1, seventh favourites, to win the cup. However if you fancy a flutter 33-1 is widely available.
Turkish Referee, Selcuk Dereli, impressed with a good standard of decision making on Thursday night and he always insisted free kicks and throws being taken from the right position. Obviously the similarity between the Turkish flag and the Pompey badge was to his liking.
The current joint leading top scorer in this season’s competition plays for Galatasaray and his name ..Milan Baros!!
Just for your diary the five dates allocated for the group games are –
23rd October
6th November
27th November
3rd or 4th December
17th or 18th December
The reason for two dates on some fixtures is that they do not clash with Champions League weeks so clubs can fix the games on either a Wednesday or Thursday. Pompey will play at home on two of those dates, away on two and have a bye on the other. All will be revealed Tuesday at 11.00 BST.
On 2nd October 1979 eastneydave was in Bournemouth celebrating. What you ask? Well his son had been born the previous day and he was wetting the babies head. Why Bournemouth? Well Pompey were playing a local derby that night which they won 1-0 with a Terry Brisley goal just before half time. It sent them to the top of the Fourth Division. Dave was one of 10,000 Pompey fans at the game and after the game there was a double celebration.
On 2nd October 2008 as we all know Pompey made progress in the UEFA cup in dramatic circumstances. What a difference 29 years make eh! But Dave certainly enjoys the 2nd October.
Never a goal – revisited
Last week talked at length about the ‘goal’ that was awarded at Watford by Stuart Attwell and his assistant. Well we were interested this week by comments made by former referee and Oasis member, Dermot Gallagher. He suggested on Sky Sports News that linesman Nigel Bannister should receive counselling rather than any form of punishment.
Down boy
Stoke City star Liam Lawrence looks likely to miss today’s game after tripping over his pet dog. This got the Toast team thinking of other such unfortunate injuries involving Pompey players and staff.
There was David James once pulled a muscle in his back when reaching for the television remote control and while fishing managed to injure his shoulder trying to land a monster carp. Fellow goalkeeper Dave Beasant managed to rule himself out for eight weeks in 1993 when he dropped a bottle of salad cream on his foot. Finally Tony Adams dropped fellow defender Steve Morrow breaking his collarbone while celebrating the 1993 League Cup final win against Sheffield Wednesday.
The worst such incident involved Brentford keeper, Chic Brodie, who suffered a career ending injury at Griffin Park in 1970 when a stray sheepdog shattered his knee cap attempted to field a back pass against Colchester. Video evidence later cleared the dog of an FA charge.
Finally
Today Stoke City make their twenty ninth visit to Fratton and they do not have a good record having won on only four occasions. This is Pompey’s best record at home against any of the current Premier League sides.
Remember the game kicks off at 3pm.
Next week with the international break on Toast will continue the ‘my first match’ series and this time we go back to Christmas 1947 and the start of something very special. Meanwhile get those photos posted in the albums so we can all share your Portuguese experiences. Til next week..
PUP
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