We're going to ask Downing Street to recommend Harry for a knighthood to recognise his outstanding contribution to football.

We believe Harry deserves the honour not just for his FA Cup triumph but also for his charity work and for his devotion to Pompey's fans.

And to help make our case we're asking our army of readers to back our Arise Sir Harry campaign.

We're launching a huge petition in The News and here on our website to ask readers to add their names to the calls for Harry to be honoured.

>>> Click here to sign the petition.

It comes after an overwhelming majority of readers in yesterday's poll on the website called for Harry to be knighted.

Leader of Portsmouth City Council, and Pompey fan, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, is backing our campaign.

'Harry is so deserving of an honour, not only for his contribution to Pompey but his services to football,' said Cllr Vernon-Jackson.

'One of the great things about him is the way in which he takes players who have been written off by other football clubs and who have lost their confidence, and he builds them back up again. People like Kanu. He was written off, now look at him.

'That kind of thing is an outstanding contribution to football.

'I would ask anyone from Portsmouth and the surrounding area to support the nomination.'

Barry Dewing, of the Pompey Independent Supporters Association (PISA), said: 'Harry is a football legend. Anything that recognises his achievements and work is a fantastic thing. I'll certainly be pledging my support.'

News reader Gemma Tait, 25, of Shelford Road, Portsmouth, said: 'Harry's as deserving of an honour as Alex Ferguson was.

'He's a manager who inspires both players and supporters, and is so well liked nationally, not just in Portsmouth. I can't think of anyone more deserving.'

Lifelong supporter and Portsmouth Councillor Steve Wemyss said: 'If it was up to me, I'd give him a knighthood tomorrow.'

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie said: 'Obviously I'd support Harry getting an honour.

'There's a lot of people who have done a lot for football and Harry's one of them. He's a servant to football.

'But the other things he does should be taken into account too like the charity work and time he gives up to talk at schools for example. He's always got time for people.'

A knighthood is one of the highest honours an individual in the United Kingdom can achieve. It recognises exceptional achievement or service to national life.

A nomination form has to be sent directly, or indirectly via Buckingham Palace or 10 Downing Street, to the nominations team of the Ceremonial Secretariat.

It then goes to an honours team and on to a sub-committees senior civil servants and experts before going to the the Cabinet Secretary who, in turn, submits the list to the prime minister for submission to the Queen.