TODAY'S POMPEY VIDEO
This short video shows what 51,385 people looks like in Fratton Park!
Just stop and think for a moment: that's 51,385 people rammed in to a space that is pretty much the same size today as it was then. Unbelievable really.
The last 'big' crowd I was a part of at Fratton Park was the 28,000+ attendance back in 1987 for the final game of the season against Sheffield United. That was a bit 'hairy' at times, the top half of the old Fratton End was closed off for safety reasons, but it was absolutely nothing like this crowd!
In his book 'Portsmouth: Champions Of England 1948-49 & 1949-50', Colin Farmery writes: "...queues for the turnstiles began forming soon after breakfast time. At 2PM the gates were shut...".
There are also some great quotes from someone who attended the match, Mr Lucas from Gosport: "...buses came and went like trains and it appeared just like a conveyor belt moving people to the game...Frogmore Road was absolutely full. We were standing shoulder to shoulder..."
Enjoy this piece of Pompey history!
Date: 26/02/1949
Competition: 1948-49 FA Cup, Quarter Final
Portsmouth team versus Derby County: Ernie Butler, Jasper Yeuell, Harry Ferrier, Jimmy Scouler, Reg Flewin, Jimmy Dickinson, Peter Harris, Bert Barlow, Ike Clarke, Len Phillips and Jack Froggatt. Pompey were unchanged from the previous round.
Attendance: 51,385 a record for Fratton Park that will never be surpassed
FT: Portsmouth 2-1 Derby County
Pompey goalscorers: Ike Clarke (2)
Video originally posted on: British Pathe News
Video duration: 57 seconds
LAST YEAR'S HAT
Click on the following link to see last year's hat ==> 7th December 2010
WHAT IS THE BIG KNIT?
PompeyChicken's hats have come from bottles of Innocent Smoothies as part of The Big Knit, it's all in aid of the charity Age UK.
To find out more you can click on the following link ==> The Big Knit
ALTERNATIVE VIDEO LINK
Click on the link here if you're having problems viewing today's video (you may need to click twice) ==> Portsmouth 2-1 Derby County 1949
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