Respect for Moyes
You have to respect the Everton manager David Moyes for his attitude to the game. After last week`s defeat at Fratton many bosses would have bemoaned the decision to give Pompey a corner which led to the first goal. Not Moyes though he simply replied ‘These things happen we just have to get on and defend the corner better`.
A great attitude to have and a breath of fresh air when compared to the hackneyed response of other managers. Respect to Moyesie.
England Stripe hype
Well what about the hype over England`s new strip? Was it worth it we ask? Well the Toast resident fashion expert describes it as a plain white polo shirt with an England badge sewn on the front. Great to see three Pompey players wearing though at the same time (yes we know Jamo was wearing a green keeper`s jumper).
Roudolphe Douala
Just in case you missed it former loanee and Cameroon international Roudolphe Douala has joined Plymouth Argyle until the end of the season. Douala who played 10 games for Pompey in 2006/07 while on laon from Sporting Lisbon cancelled his contract with Greek side Asteras Tripolis in search for first-team football.
Roudolphe who is 30 takes his second name from his place of birth, Douala in Cameroon.
Birthdays
As a new facility provided by our sister site pompeyrama.com just click the players name and you will get full statistics of the players Pompey career. This feature will work for all post war players.
28th March Steve Middleton was 56 Pompey born goalkeeper who had the misfortune to play for the lot down the road. Steve tended to have two types of game – brilliant or disastrous. This can be shown by a record of nine clean sheets in twenty six games. Only played one season 1977/78 and we ended up in Division Four.
Andy Thomson 35 – Andy was a reliable central defender who played a hundred games in the late nineties.
29th March Dan Cunliffe was born in 1875 – weird this last week we told you about Matt ‘Ginger’ Reilly who shared the honour of being Pompey`s first ever international with Daniel Cunliffe and this week it is Cunliffe`s birthday. They both played in the Ireland v England game played in Dublin on St Patrick`s Day 1900 which England won 2-0. It was Dan`s only England cap and theFA.com tells us ‘Dan was a stocky inside-right whose persistence brought him many goals. He was at Liverpool in his early 20s and then had two spells each at New Brighton Tower and Portsmouth. He won the Southern League with Pompey in 1902.
There is some doubt about Dan`s date of birth. Chix has 29th March, Wikipedia 11th June and the FA don`t know. I have supported Chix on this one.
30th March Eoin Hand 63 Chris Price 49; Gary Stevens 47
31st March Jim Storrie 69 – Jim Storrie began his career with Airdrieonians as a youngster signing from local club Kilsyth Rangers in 1957. He had a successful spell with Scottish club scoring 66 goals in 118 games before being spotted by Leeds United.
Leeds boss Don Revie had just succeeded in signing John Charles on his return from Italy and was keen to find a foil for the big man and push for promotion from the Second Division. He saw Jim as the man and paid Airdrie £15,650 for his services on 19 June 1962. It was to prove a wise investment as Jim bought a lot more than pure goal scoring to Elland Road.
Jim was a great clubman, a real character in the dressing room, a practical joker at training and a real hustle and bustle type of player. He was not tall for a centre forward – only 1.73m or 5 ft 8 ins – but was deceptively good in the air. At Leeds he became a real star playing 156 games and netting 67 goals. He helped Leeds gain that much sought after place in Division One and helped build the platform for what was to become one of the great clubs in Europe.
He was however injured in the 1965 Cup Final with Liverpool and was the never the same player again. He eventually returned to Scotland to join Aberdeen for £13,500 in February 1967 but by the end of the year was back playing in Yorkshire with Tommy Docherty at Rotherham United.
Jim joined Pompey from the Millers in December 1969 and spent three years on the south coast. He was popular for the effort he showed particularly in his partnerships with Ray Hiron and Ray Pointer. He scored goals too but injury again limited his appearances.
The highlight of Jim`s Pompey career was curious to say the least. It happened at Filbert Street, Leicester in January 1970. A cross was met by Jim`s now balding head and it flashed into the top corner hit the stanchion and bounced back into play. The referee waived play on despite Leicester keeper Peter Shilton telling him it had crossed the line. The Sunday papers were full of the story including photographs clearly showing the ball over the line.
The strange thing is Leicester had just redesigned their goals following an incident the previous season when Pat McMahon of Aston Villa had also had a goal not given in identical circumstances. Villa fans still claim that incident led to relegation.
The next season Storrie lost his place to Mike Trebilcock and in March 1972 joined Aldershot on loan. The next season he returned to his native Scotland and joined St Mirren as player coach for a short spell. He was soon back in Hampshire though as player manager at Waterlooville.
Towards the end of the 1975/76 season Scottish Premier League outfit St Johnstone appointed Storrie as their manager. They were doomed to relegation but Jim was in the job for eighteen months before resigning following a 0-0 draw with Berwick Rangers. Jim took a coaching role at Airdrie for a short period before retiring.
The next fourteen year were spent at a sports centre in Cumbernauld and then at Stirling University.
Throughout his career at Leeds he was known as “Diamond” Jim Storrie – not because of his tough nature but Diamonds was the nickname of Airdrie because of the large red diamond on their white shirts.
1st April Ian Baird 45 – Ian is our April fool and few would disagree that his Pompey career was a joke!! However he was a success elsewhere and is currently making a good fist managing Eastleigh in the Conference South.
2nd April Eyal Berkovic 37; Thomas Thogersen 41; Teddy Sheringham 43.
Teaser
Which club have spent four seasons in the Premier League and been relegated at the end of each?
Quiet – never
The site has been a little quiet of late as fans build their strength for the weeks ahead when ‘we` the fans have to put on the number twelve shirt and roar OUR team to safety. It is our role in life remember!
However long-time member and regular Toast reader pentonpompey started a thread on the forum asking ‘why is it so quiet?` Well it got quite a reception and stirred up some deep thought. Worth a visit for some of the jokes too but being more serious the Landlord Rug posted the following message which I think needs airing here,
`All views are always welcomed and appreciated, we have been trying hard to make this clear to people in the hope they will offer up more – which to be fair is the case but we want more. This is OUR site, not ‘my site’ or the other site journalists or ‘senior members’.
New and old are always welcome if you have something to say, say it, do not be one of the many ‘guests’ that this site always has and hopefully always will have, be one of the ‘active members’ sharing you thoughts.`
Well there you are. This is YOUR site and this column or blog wants to cover the topics you want. If you are reading this as a guest and like or disagree with something then register below and get involved. Life is too short to just let things pass you by.
Get well soon Fred
Occasional Toast contact and general great Pompey fan Fred has been seriously ill after having a massive stroke while on holiday in the Maldives. After receiving the best attention the native hospitals could provide Fred was flown to Singapore for an operation to remove a blood clot.
The operation was successful and Fred has been sitting up reading and his spirits were raised when he received a text message that Pompey had beaten Everton. Fred, who hopes to be returning home soon will be remembered by Toast regulars for picking up the story of the New York coverage of the Cup Final. Get well soon Fred from all at Vital Pompey and all fans in general.
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