Spotted in Havant, October 12 2013.
BlueThruAndThru 13/10/2013
Previous Notes
I've added a few new pictures to my 'Lost Footballs' collection.
The balls were flying out of the ground on a regular basis during Pompey's visit to Mansfield on August 24th. This 'lost football' end up on the roof of the stand and rolled behind the gantry on the top of one of the stands. Can you see it?
This squashed red football was spotted in Waterlooville, behind Waitrose.
Spotted basking in the late Summer sunshine, in a field near Salisbury.
I spotted this classic 'lost football' in June 2013. It was on the roof of the bike sheds next to a play area in a Bristol residential area.
BlueThruAndThru 28/09/2013
Previous Pictures
This 'lost football' was taken on the last day of the 2012-13 League One season at Shrewsbury Town.
Also taken at Shrewsbury Town, this has become one of my favourite 'lost football' pictures. I just love the way everyone is looking at the ball. Poor old Johnny Ertl! He just wanted to get on with the game!
On Saturday 31/03/2012 I took the train into Portsmouth for the Pompey versus Burnley match (not enough fuel in the tank you see what with all the 'panic buying' that was going on).
At least I can thank Frances Maude for producing something positive with his 'fill yer tanks and jerry cans' pronouncement that led to this very fruitful adventure between Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea.
I've tweeted on a number of occasions how many 'lost footballs' I'd spotted on previous train trips in to the city and yesterday provided the perfect opportunity to capture them on camera. All in all it was a rich haul although they weren't all on the railway line as you can see below.
Why are there so many 'lost footballs' along the train track? Well, the close proximity of housing, play areas, footpaths and routes to school must all play a part. A few too many over exuberant kicks in the excitement of trying to recreate, relive or replicate a moment of football brilliance seen at Fratton Park or on the TV. I'm sure there is a story behind every single ball, that's what I'd like to think anyway.
The simple fact of the matter is that once a ball goes anywhere near the railway line it truely is 'lost' but at the same time there for everyone to see. Unlike the bottom of of an overgrown garden there really is no chance of a safe retrieval - and I am not advocating one either by the way. Railway lines are dangerous, certainly not places to venture and these footballs sadly come to rest never to be kicked in anger again. They sit there forever open to the elements, soaked by the rain and baked in the sun until they eventually rot away lost to the game forever.
I also spotted these two 'lost footballs' shown below, stuck in the trees outside a local school playground. Never to be played with again but they have a grand view of all the matches that take place below them.
I spotted this football on Sunday 01/04/2012, tucked away in the trees and foliage by the railway bridge by Havant Cemetry. It's only become visible recently. It's a yellow and plastic ball.
Former Pompey 'keeper David James, now of Bristol City, seems to be searching for the 'lost football' during the pre-match warm up on 17/03/2012 (it made me smile anyway ;-D )
On Valentine's Day (14/02/2012) I was walking to Gunwharf Quays and saw this 'lost football' in the Royal Navy ground at Burnaby Road:
This could be one of the best 'lost football' pictures yet (;-D) spotted at Selhurst Park on 01/11/2011 during the Crystal Palace versus Pompey game:
I spotted this one on the 15th October 2011 in the electricity substation area at the back of the North Stand of Fratton Park:
This was spotted in the grounds of the old Railway Tavern next to Havant Railway Station on 11th October 2011:
This was spotted near Tesco Extra in Havant during August
These two balls were spotted at Center Parcs, Elvedon Forest in August 2011
Spotted in Havant 04/07/2011 - only temporarily lost perhaps - it was 'abandoned' on the driveway after a kickabout - but I couldn't resist!
Spotted in Havant 03/07/2011. Is that a football down there by the railway line?
Yes it is! However...I think this may have been spotted before (on 23/12/2010) and this is its latest resting place. So, lost...found...and lost again. A sad way for a crushed football to end its days don't you think?
"'Ere Mister! Can I 'ave my ball back?". Look hard enough and you can see it in this picture...a football kicked over the hedge by the boy next door. Lost for a while but eventually found and retrieved with the aid of my trusty stepladder:
Here are some pictures of 'lost footballs' from the Pompey vs Norwich City game at Fratton Park on 02/05/2011 - part of the Norwich fans' promotion celebrations:
Seen at Glanford Park, Scunthorpe 07/05/2011:
Seen near Salisbury 22/02/2011:
Seen in Havant 27/12/2010:
Seen in Havant 23/12/2010:
Seen in Havant 19/12/2010, it's an ickle tiny Buzz Lightyear football
Seen in Havant 19/12/2010 - and yes I know it's a basketball, but I couldn't resist!
This is one you may have seen before on this blog - it was taken in Salford Quays, Manchester on the way to the FA Cup QF in 2007-08 between Manchester United and Pompey.
A deflated orange football in a field on the way to Emsworth, Hampshire 12/12/2010 - maybe it's of Dutch origin?
This one was trapped in the ice on the Mill Pond at Emsworth taken on 12/12/2010.
