Toast is back after a summer holiday and ready to start season number seven of our regular Sunday morning blog. No subject is ruled out when the column is written so let me have your ideas.
The new season will have started this time next week and all the waiting will be over. We of course have a whole new crop of players to get to know too and Toast will help you get to know them over the coming weeks. We introduced pen pics last season and will probably do the same this.
Bending the budget
So amidst great criticism the new Pompey board have decided to increase the playing staff budget to allow Guy to sign an additional three players he claims he needs to compete in League Two.
Of course the club nearly folded on a number of occasions due to the simple reason that they spent too much on players wages. Fans had in the past demanded top dollar paid to the type of player they wanted to see but now the language has changed dramatically. The average fan is using terms like ‘playing budget` and ‘business plan` and there is a great debate going on around the city as to whether or not the board should have agreed to Guy`s request
Things have changed however and I believe the club made the right decision as things have changed and eventually the board agreed. It is the change that is the crucial factor and as Chief Executive Mark Catlin told the News ‘It has been three months now since the community took over the club and in all businesses budgets move.`
‘Thankfully for us, crowds, sponsorship and commercial revenue have far exceeded what were worst-case scenario budgets. In terms of sponsorship, we are back up to Championship levels, which is incredible for a League Two club. We are also pretty much sold out flat in two of our lounges for the season, while season tickets are more than 10,200.
In addition, we have had several commercial sponsors stipulating they wanted to help the club on the pitch in terms of the playing budget. I will not name them but that is not something we are going to turn away.`
So the club are spending money in the bank NOT money that might arrive hopefully. As any accountant will tell a business plan is out of date as soon as the ink is dry. It is an ever evolving document and needs to be treated as such. The Pompey board are simply reacting to those changes and I am certain will never return to those bad old days.
That news was boosted yesterday by the appointment of Tony Brown as Finance Director. Brown has worked in a similar capacity at Everton, Cardiff (at the time of the 2008 Cup Final) and Blackburn.
Northampton or Wembley?
About a year ago I was asked the question whether it was better to have been at Wembley in May 2008 or at the County Ground, Northampton in 1980 when Pompey played their last game in Division Four? You make your own mind up but let’s flash back to the end of season 1979/80 when we last graced the lowest of the football leagues.
That season had started well and hopes were high only to be hit by a very poor away record over the winter months – at the end of March defeat at Lincoln meant twelve away games without a win – Pompey were out of the top four.
There were just seven games left and only a miracle could see the Blues promoted. Next game was an April Fool’s day trip to Port Vale and Pompey were twice behind in the first half but the joke was on Vale as Joe Laidlaw and a late own goal stole the points. An away win!! Now to beat Hereford at home and 15,000 plus turned up only to see the Bulls defend stoutly and escape with a goalless draw.
The next Monday was Easter bank holiday and a trip to Aldershot for some reason attracted around 10,000 to make the trip to North Hampshire – possibly just to see Colin Garwood who had (for some reason) been sold to the Shots a few weeks previously. Reg Perrin and Laidlaw sealed a 2-1 win in the April sunshine.
Crewe at home the next Saturday and if my memory serves me right a certain Bruce Grobelaar was their keeper and played a blinder. Pompey had to settle for a point again, Alan Rogers grabbing a second half equaliser. Pompey had blown their chance now surely?
Halifax at the Shay was next and the meagre crowd of fewer than 3,000 saw Jeff Hemmerman and Dave Gregory net in a 2-1 win. Two games left and it was six points and pray for a miracle.
The Posh were Pompey`s last Fratton opponents that season and they were taken apart 4-0 with two Peterborough players putting into their own net. That meant Pompey still had a mathematical chance going into their final game at Northampton who themselves had a very decent home record.
Pompey had to win and hoped either Bradford lost at Peterborough or the result in the Walsall v Newport game went their way. It was a strange week leading up to the game as the Local papers were on strike and being ten years before the Internet was invented there was no other way of getting any information about the game etc. the much lamented Radio Victory though did its best to keep fans informed.
We all felt going to the game that our best bet was for already promoted Walsall to beat Newport and then a draw would do – only two points for win in those days remember! The County Ground was shared with the County Cricket Club and therefore had only three sides – Northamptonshire now call the ground Wantage Road – a covered terrace for the home fans, the main stand, a large open terrace and a piece of string.
Normal Cobblers` gates that season were around 2,000 but that was swelled a bit to 10,774 by kick off with ticker-tape covering the pitch and blowing in the breeze. It was of course a noisy place but a nervy please too. We needed information from other games and for that we had to rely on transistor radios and Radio 2 sport. They of course gave little attention to the Fourth Division and because of that rumours spread like wildfire. You could see groups of fans particularly on the large open terrace celebrating wildly and others asking ‘what`s going on?`
The game seemed to take an eternity but there was some relief when Steve Davey headed Pompey in front just before half time. The second half dragged on to until with fifteen minutes left, Ian Purdie broke away and scored the second (his only Pompey goal!). Pompey were safe and the fans, still not really knowing what was going on elsewhere, decided to sing their team home.
The full-time whistle blew and the players ran for the sanctuary of the changing rooms as thousands and thousands engulfed the pitch. Are we up? Everyone was asking as the celebrating went on around us. We tried to get a response from the Radio Victory commentary team who were in the stand behind us but they too seemed unsure. All you could get on the radio were the First Division results and we were not interested in them!!
Then suddenly Jim Ware punched the air and that was the signal we needed to commence a party that would last most of the night. The team came out into the small Directors box and were mobbed by fans climbing all over the old rickety stand. Absolute pandemonium!! Still didn`t know the other score though but we were up!! As we left the ground car horns were blaring and champagne was being passed to anyone in blue and white.
It was not for hours that we learned how Bradford laid siege to the Peterborough goal and did everything but score eventually losing 1-0 – had they scored no promotion party. For the records Newport won 4-2 at Walsall meaning Pompey were promoted on goal difference.
Well done Tom and team
Those who attended Fan`s day last week before the Charlton friendly commented on what a success the day was and how the families in particular enjoyed the event.
The news now is that the event to date has raised £11,000 for charity and there is more to still to come. The idea and the congratulations must go firstly to Tom Dearie who worked tirelessly organising the event. He would never take no for an answer as he sought sponsorship, prizes etc. other members of the fans conference have helped.
Tom, many congratulations and thanks from all Pompey fans!!
On the subject of the fan`s conference Vital Pompey is entitled to two representatives at the meetings. They are held at 11a.m. at the Study Centre in Rodney Road before home games. Representatives can get involved in various working groups if they have a specific interest or skill.
If you are interested get in touch. I can attend some gatherings but it is nice to share the workload and give you the fan an insight into what happens behind the scenes.
PUP
Share this article
