The day when 51,385 fans crowded into Fratton Park
Front page of The Evening News from February 26, 1949
No matter how many fans pack Fratton Park tomorrow one thing’s certain, the gate will not come anywhere near the number who squeezed into the Blues’ home nearly 63 years ago.
Supporters have been urged to fill the ground for the Championship match against Hull City as the beleaguered club stumbles through their latest financial crisis.
But even if the 20,700 capacity is hit, it will still be more than 30,000 short of the record attendance on Saturday, February 26, 1949.
With football enjoying a post-war resurgence in popularity and Pompey bidding for their first championship title, 51,385 somehow crammed the terraces to see the club beat Derby County 2-1 in the sixth round of the FA Cup.
As the final edition of The Evening News that afternoon reported, the turnstiles had to be closed 80 minutes before kick-off when the 50,000 mark was passed for the first time in the club’s history.
A crowd figure of 50,700 was released to the press, but this was revised after the weekend to reveal the even larger attendance.
Disappointed fans who could not get in were treated to a running commentary by police sergeant Brian Morrissey.
It was the second time in a fortnight that Pompey’s attendance record had been smashed. Earlier that month 48,518 had packed the park trumping the previous record of 47,614 set in 1939.
The Evening News reporter wrote: ‘The atmosphere in the ground before the start was almost as ‘electric’ as a Wembley cup final.
‘The 5,000 Derby County supporters and the many thousands of Pompey fans, cheered, shouted and catcalled in support of their side, and everybody had the impression that it was going to be a close game between two sides who were going all out for the League championship and the FA Cup double.
‘Led by Portsmouth Fire Brigade band, the crowd sang the Pompey Chimes almost loud enough to set the stands and terraces rocking.’
But the cup run ended a month later when the Blues went down 3-1 to Leicester in the semi-final played at Highbury.
The gate that day – 62,000.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
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thommo-senior kiti cyprus
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11:22 AMOh, just looked at small photo, I am probably one of the little dots seen in the gap at the top.
thommo-senior kiti cyprus
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:28 AMI was there, standing on 2 inches of angle iron at top and back of the northstand, oh! happy days.
pompeyfanfor60years
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:25 AMI was there age seven, also got passed over the heads to the front. Happy Days with no crooks on the horizon.
Benneyworth
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:42 AMI was there with a school pal - I was 10 years old - as was the fashion we were lifted over the heads of the crowd down to the front but got stuck behind a couple of tall chaps so saw most of the game in snatches.With the score at 1-1 and about 20 minites to go we decided to leave as it was impossible to properly watch the game - when we got out of the ground an enormous roar went up - Ike Clarke had scored the winner. What a day to remember PUP
cornishpastit
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 09:29 PMMy uncle took me to that match and I was 11-yrs-old ! And not far to walk from Newcome Road - been a Pompey fan ever since.
Exbootneck
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:28 PMI was a 10 year old at Fratton Park that day, right down the front to the left of the goal at the Milton end - oh happy days!!!
blue bob
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 06:42 PMTake note Saints, you just can't compete & you never will equal that attendance, even if you let them all in for free.
mensi
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:07 PMAt the start of one game they had 30,000 but with 15mins left there was only 841 all of whom were Booooing !!
chrism32
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:00 PMAnyone know what Southampton's record attendance is?
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