Gladys worked for one of Pompey's all-time greats

Gladys Hopping worked for Froggatt when he ran the Manor House pub in Court Lane, Cosham.

Ron, from Bedhampton, says he remembers his mother telling Froggatt that her Fratton Park connections went back to when she was a child.

He says: ‘When she was six she lost her mum and dad and went to live with her Aunt Mary in Frogmore Road immediately outside the entrance to Fratton Park. It was the house which became Pompey’s club house.

‘She used to say that as a teenager she would jump over the garden wall and join in kickabouts on the pitch during training sessions.’

Froggatt, who signed for Pompey in 1945 as a centre-half, but managed to persuade manager Jack Tinn to play him on the left wing, made 279 appearances for the club, scoring 65 times.

Between 1949 and 1953 he won the unusual distinction of playing for England in three different positions, scoring twice in 13 full caps.

Meanwhile, Age UK Portsmouth would like readers’ help in identifying the proud man with the beard in uniform in the photograph below.

Dianne Sherlock, the organisation’s chief executive, says: ‘We were sorting through some paperwork a while ago and came across the photograph.

‘We didn’t want to throw it away so have kept hold of it and it would be lovely if we could find out who he is and be able to return the photograph to his family.’

‘The photograph is dated 1889 and was taken by J Long & Son Photographers, of 51 Kingston Road, Portsmouth, so we are assuming there is a local connection to Portsmouth’.

If anyone recognises him or has any information that would enable Age UK Portsmouth to find his family please let me know as well as contacting the organisation via e-mail [email protected], or on its facebook page facebook.com/ageuk.portsmouth.