Ex-Pompey striker: This is no Mickey Mouse club

David Connolly, left, celebrates his goal at Crewe with Jed Wallace. Picture: Joe Pepler

Walt Disney’s most famous icon, Mickey Mouse, was based on the success of the little guy against all the odds.

Portsmouth and Mickey Mouse appear to have more in common that you think.

And it is about time this great club had something to chime about.

I joined Portsmouth in 2013 after leaving their south-coast rivals Southampton.

The Saints were flying on their way to the Premier League, while I was on my way to a League One club in free fall.

I was 35, my body had taken a battering, and I had a right knee in a brace after suffering a bad medial ligament injury.

I needed a helping hand as much as Portsmouth did!

Once I arrived, though, I realised I was just one of many waifs and strays aboard this ship, heading into the most troubled waters.

Each and every player there was new, after the entire squad from the 2011-2012 season had left the club following the fall into administration.

Anything and everything was up for sale as the club tried to navigate its way through the most tangled of webs.

I remember leaving the boardroom after renewing my month’s contract and the boardroom chairs were piled up outside the stadium entrance, waiting for someone to collect after being sold.

It was surreal times as this great club, which regularly had crowds higher than most Championship clubs, appeared destined to go out of business.

In the background, the carousel of players joining and leaving on one-month contracts continued until the club exited administration.

At one point there were more than 50 players used in a matter of months and wins were hard to find.

I scored against Crewe in a 2-1 success to give Portsmouth a first win in 24 matches and the relief was enormous.

Shortly afterwards, with the Pompey Supporters’ Trust now firmly part of the club’s ownership structure, the club exited administration.

Nonetheless, League Two beckoned, although that didn’t deter the fans and I’ll never forget the season-ticket queues snaking round Frogmore Road.

The club are currently in the third automatic spot.

This nightmare tale may just have a happy ending and, let me tell you, Portsmouth is no Mickey Mouse club.