Roy Race Joins Pompey! Picture From 1979 Roy Of The Rovers Annual

This picture is in the 1979 Roy Of The Rovers annual.

The caption reads: Portsmouth's poor form last season could have done with a boost from Roy Race, despite the goalscoring exploits of David Kemp (second right, front row). Roy joined Dave for this exclusive picture, with some of Pompey's Youth team.

Obviously that's Alan Knight on the back row but who are the others? Can you name them? Let me know by sending me a tweet to @PompeyChicken at Twitter.com

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Football In The City Exhibition At Portsmouth Museum

I visited this exhibition for the second time on July 23rd, well worth going to see of you're a Pompey fan or someone interested in football.

It's had one or two changes since I last visited and now includes memorabilia from the 2008 FA Cup.

Highlights for me included: The Loving Cup, one of Alan Ball's flat caps, fans' memorabilia, match commentaries playing and a TV showing Movietone pictures of old Pompey games in B&W. Terrific!

If you haven't visited yet get yourself along to Museum Road, it's a great way of spending a little bit of time reminiscing and absorbing yourself in football history.
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Pompey's Birthplace

This is on a house in Old Portsmouth, just along the road from Portsmouth Grammar School, it marks the birthplace of Portsmouth Football Club. I took this picture on a walk around Southsea on July 23rd.

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Pompey Ices

I spotted this ice cream van July 23rd parked up by Southsea Castle.

22/07/2011 - Late Night Pompey Watching

Watching the progress of Pompey's behind doors friendly against a Charleston Battery XI on Twitter - with updates from @OfficialPompey and @Pn_Steve_Wilson of The News
@PompeyChicken at Twitter.com

Pompey fan expresses the mood of the crowd perfectly

After John Terry's terrible tackle against Luke Varney in the friendly match between Pompey and Chelsea, one Pompey fan expresses the mood of the home crowd.

The rest, as they say, is history and more than just a moment in time, it lasted for more than ten minutes until the final whistle...!

All together now: "Terry is a..."
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16/07/2011 Portsmouth 0-1 Chelsea Friendly A Few Pictures

Images Of Pompey Fans

Proudly flying the flag.

Mini-Westwood?

Drums and bugles were as loud as normal.

Match Action

A full Fratton Park.

First half action - picture one.

First half action - picture two.

Second-half action at the Milton End.

Hermann Hreidarsson's free-kick was comfortabaly saved by Hirallio in the Chelsea goal. The Chelsea 'keeper also saved a penalty from the lively Luke Varney having brought down the striker to concede it in the first place. Being a friendly there was no booking and no sending-off. In a competitive match the outcome may have been different. Personally, I think Varney was moving away from goal when he was fouled. A booking would have sufficed, if it had been 'for real'. Despite the penalty save there were enough errors and defensive mis-haps to suggest that Peter Cech has little to worry about in terms of competition.

Dave Kitson's free-kick just went over the cross-bar.

Luke Varney in a heap after John Terry studded him in the head. The England captain offers some sympathy. One Pompey fan lets his feelings be known and 15,000 plus fans did the same for the next ten minutes of the match.

"Sorry Mate." - picture number one.

"Sorry Mate." - picture number two.

Final Comments
The match was the second good workout for Pompey in a week. Although the result was disappointing - and the own-goal by Tal Ben Haim, in the seventh minute, farcical - this didn't feel like a defeat.

Chelsea fielded two teams, one in each half, a luxury Pompey could not afford. But there were plenty of positive signs - the hard work of Luke Varney in particular which eventually earned him the official sponsors' MOTM award.

Skipper David Norris again worked hard in the midfield - one moment in the second half typifying his performance: losing the ball, he tracked back and saw the ball away from a Chelsea player and danger. Not everyone in a friendly match would have shown this level of commitment. It bodes well for when the action starts for real.

There were second half appearances from Ryan Williams, Sam Magri and Jason Pearce and all showed glimpses of skill that promise a bright future.

With the squally conditions disappearing during play and bright sunshine eventually bathing Fratton Park, albeit accompanied by a stiff breeze, most of the Pompey fans will have gone home reasonably happy, satisfied that their team competed well and caused their Premier League opposition plenty of problems.

As often happens in friendly matches, the game became scrappy and fragmented towards the end and it's not one that will live long in the memory for its onfield play.

John Terry will have been pleased to leave the field of play at full-time following the constant barracking he received for the last ten minutes after his 'horror tackle' on Luke Varney. The challenge was poor and went unpunished - almost certainly because the referee's whistle had already gone for a foul by Varney on the 'keeper. Varney's 'reward' was a set of studs to the head. Terry was very apologetic immediately afterwards and again after the game.

Sadly, the incident left a bit of a sour taste from what was overall another afternoon spent watching the Pompey re-build under Steve Cotterill continue in a positive manner.

Next-up: the US Tour and a couple of friendly matches against teams from US soccer club Charlston Battery.

FT: Portsmouth 0-1 Chelsea (HT: 0-1).

Attendance: 19,345

Portsmouth team: Scott Henderson (replaced by Jamie Ashdown at the start of the 2H), Tal Ben Haim, Greg Halford (replaced by Jason Pearce in the 2H), Ricardo Rocha (replaced by Ryan Williams in the second half), Hermann Hreidarsson (replaced by Sam Magri in the second half), Aaron Mokoena, hayden Mullins, Joel Ward, David Norris, Luke Varney and Dave Kitson (replaced by Lewis Stockford in the second half).

Source for team and attendance: www.portsmouthfc.co.uk

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11/07/2011 Havant & Waterlooville 0-4 Pompey Friendly A Few Pictures

Pompey started their pre-season friendly matches with a 4-0 win at West Leigh Park against Havant & Waterlooville.

There was a good turnout of fans, with the kick-off being delayed until 7:55PM to ensure that everyone could get in to the ground safely.

The match saw the first appearances of new signings: Jason Pearce (from AFC Bournemouth), David Norris (on a free from Ipswich Town), Luke Varney (from Derby County) and Scott Henderson (on a free from Bristol City). Greg Halford (signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers) - whose signature was officially confirmed during the day - also played as did Hermann Hreidarsson who has just penned a new one year deal.

A number of younger Pompey players were given a runout, including in the second half Sam Magri, more recently in action during the Summer for England in the U17 World Cup Finals in Mexico.

Although there was no Kanu or Liam Lawrence on display - both given extended breaks due to international duties - Tal Ben Haim played in the second half his contract differences with the Club seemingly resolved, something confirmed by Steve Cotterill after the match.

The Pompey goals all came in the second half, from Joel Ward, Hayden Mullins, Dave Kitson and Luke Varney.

Portsmouth versus Havant & Waterlooville: Jamie Ashdown (Scott Henderson 46), Aaron Mokoena (Tal Ben Haim 57), Greg Halford, Ricardo Rocha (Hermann Hreidarsson 46 later replaced by Stockford re-appearing!), Jason Pearce, Hayden Mullins, Lewis Stockford (Williams 46 (himself substituted by Tallack 72)), Joel Ward, David Norris (Sam Magri 79), Luke Varney, Dave Kitson. Pompey goals and times: Ward 60, Mullins 67, Kitson 81, Varney 89.
Source for team line-up: www.portsmouthfc.co.uk

Some pictures from the evening follow.

Pre-Match Warm-Up

The sprinkler system in operation at West Leigh Park - the pitch was in a good nick, think how this system compares to the manual, labour intensive approach used at Fratton Park of which we had a number of viewings last season.

All together now! And Streeeeetch! Pompey players start their warm-up before this friendly game at West Leigh Park against Havant & Waterlooville.

He's behind you! New goalkeeper Scott Henderson looks on at Jamie Ashdown, ever present in the 2010-11 season.

New coach Stuart Gray (right) looks on at the Pompey players warming up, Guy Whittingham is also in the picture (second right).

The Pompey players continued their warm-up with some sharp passing practice - it got quite competitive!

West Leigh Park Under The Floodlights

West Leigh Park always looks good under the Summer skies, with the sun setting and the floodlights just starting to make a difference in the second half of this friendly match - picture one.

West Leigh Park - picture two.

West Leigh Park - picture three.

Match Action Pictures

OK, where's the ball?! Pompey fans at West Leigh Park lean to get a view of the action.

Hayden Mullins looks to collect the ball, Luke Varney (7) looks on.

Aaron Mokoena, who played at right back, challenges for a header. Joel Ward looks on.

The Pompey dugout look on as Lewis Stockford makes progress down the left hand side.

Hayden Mullins with the ball, David Norris looks on.

Havant & Waterlooville 'keeper Ashmore punches the ball - out of shot - clear.

Match action in the middle of the pitch.

Greg Halford challenges for a header whilst Aaron Mokoena, Lewis Stockford (number 11) and David Norris (number 9) look on.

Greg Halford (or is that Hot Shot Hamish?!) fires in his first half free-kick that rattled the cross-bar

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