What does Pompey mean to a Lithuanian Anonymous? Find out more to the answer of PompeyFrippy’s question – read on for more.
About a month ago I asked what it meant to you to be a Pompey Fan. Many thanks to those who took part in replying and apologies that it took so long for me to put this article together, but here it is.
Portsmouth, like most clubs, pride themselves on having a loyal, passionate fanbase the truly encapsulates what it means to share this fanatical obsession with hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Of those who took part in this study, responses came from New Zealand, Lithuania, West Africa and even Devon, as well as few from Pompey.
The stories of how they first came about supporting the club vary accordingly, from the common “taken to a game when I was only knee high”, to “falling out of love with football (before visiting Fratton Park and becoming ‘hooked’)”. One of the most interesting stories is about a fan who stumbled across Portsmouth on a computer game, and subsequently watching a Portsmouth game on TV (v Spurs) in doing so finding a new passion which has stuck with him.
With such a widespread set of fans, it would be easy to lose sight or stop caring, especially given the courage it has taken to keep following the club over the last few years. But not with our fans, who all state the need find a way of listening to the match every Saturday, regardless of where they are in the world, and what the time is locally. Fratton Park often sees crowds in excess of 16,000, but that can be multiplied to account for those who are listening at home and are there ‘in spirit’.
Even those who can get to the matches on a regular basis have to pull out all the stops to make it, with some spending most their time and money travelling to the match just to spend 2 hours watching a game of football, which often ends up in disappointment. But ask any one of them, and I’m relatively certain they wouldn’t want it any other way.
As for the future, there is a clearly an overwhelming urge to pass on this legacy, many have memories of being taken to Fratton Park with their Dads, and to re-live that from the opposite perspective will be equally, if not more rewarding for the Fathers (& Mothers) in question. In one sense, going to the football is a family event, extended by those who consider the fans to be one big (very noisy) family.
So sit back and enjoy the accounts of those who contributed over the next few days (they will be added one at a time), and thank you very much for sharing your stories/memories/emotions…
Written by PompeyFrippy.
I am Pompey fan from Lithuania. Following Vital for about two years I am not active member, only a reader. Your thoughts are very interesting to read guys, thank you.
How I started to follow Pompey? It is funny story. When I was very young I played FIFA 2005 and decided to try myself in the Premier League. I don’t know why I chosen Pompey that day. Maybe it was destiny 🙂 After sometime I noticed that Pompey game is on TV. It was that draw match against Spurs in White Hart Lane (2009/2010). Since then I tried to follow the club and I fell in love with it. It was a tough time to join the Pompey for a new guy. Next season was very bumpy as you know. So it was sad to hear all bad new, but enjoyment after the match against Southampton and all the trip to the final of the F.A. cup… It was interesting season.
Now, as all fans I am glad that the club manages to stand up and fight again with the new energy.
For me Pompey became a part of myself. I am really glad after the victories, really sad after defeats, screaming on Mokoena in one moment and sometimes being grateful for him 🙂
Maybe it is strange, but I can’t imagine my life without Portsmouth F.C. anymore.
Play up Pompey!
Written by Anonymous from Lithuania.
The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.
