21/04/2012 Portsmouth 1-2 Derby County: Pre-Match Pictures

Here are some pictures I took before the last Pompey game of the 2011-12 Championship season at Fratton Park to capture the mood of the day. Let's hope it's not the last time I get the opportunity to do this.

Pompey fans arriving at the Frogmore Road entrance to Fratton Park: a place to gather, a place to meet up with your friends, a place familiar to generations of Pompey fans.

The view from Fratton Park back down Frogmore Road: the matchday programme seller takes the prime spot. The acoustics around the entrance do just enough to create a pre-match buzz.

Entrance to the South Stand turnstiles: how many fans have walked across this cobbled entrance down the years? In the background is a pure piece of history - one of the old signs, showing pre-decimlisation ticket prices.

View down the concourse of the South Stand. Fans gather to chat, drink and eat, probably in the same place they've always done. The steps to the South Stand Upper and Press Box can be seen in the background on the left hand side. Some fans gather around the TV screen, installed this season, to watch the 'excitement' of Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea in the Premier League before the real entertainment begins.

A gentleman of the South Stand - a Pompey fan nonetheless - climbs the stairs to the South Stand Upper: at the bottom the top of the North Stand opposite is visible, with its various flags billowing in the breeze. After a few steps the pitch comes in to view, it's a beautiful sight most defintely at its best for an evening match.

The 'Pompey Elvis Fan Club' gathers on the Fratton End: they spent a stag weekend at Blackpool earlier in the season, this was the reunion.

Plenty of Derby County fans were in fancy dress for their final away match of the season: this has become a 'ritual' during recent times for the more extrovert and exuberant fans.

A table adorned with various Player Of The Month/Season awards gleam in the April sunshine prior to being handed out.

Pompey skipper and central defender Jason Pearce, the recipient of seven of the nine awards on offer, with the representatives from various Pompey supporter clubs.

Jason Pearce, wearing his Blue Day t-shirt, poses for the camera holding the News / Sports Mail Player Of The Season trophy. Last season the award went to midfielder Hayden Mullins currently out on loan to newly promoted Reading FC.

David Norris receiving one of the nine awards (the ninth was given to Ricardo Rocha).
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