Ideal Pompey Christmas present in shops

The ideal Christmas present for your Pompey-supporting loved ones is still on sale.
The front cover of Played Up PompeyThe front cover of Played Up Pompey
The front cover of Played Up Pompey

‘Played Up Pompey’ was Portsmouth Waterstones’ top-selling book of Christmas 2015.

And copies remain available to satisfy Blues followers of all ages.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Played Up Pompey’ contains fresh interviews with 24 players whose outstanding performances for the Blues between 1949 and 2013 have established them as household names and folk heroes among the Fratton faithful.

In their own words, former players lift the lid on their Pompey days, with brutal honesty, refreshing candour and deep affection.

It is the work of The News’ chief sports writer Neil Allen, who spent a year tracking down players spread across the world.

The publication contains Lindy Delapenha, the last surviving member of the Division One title-winning teams of 1948-49 and 1949-50, Ron Saunders, the third-highest scorer in Blues history and the legendary Alan Knight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In addition, there is the architect of the Demolition Derby in Lomana Lualua, the cultured Croat Robert Prosinecki and Division One title winners Matt Taylor, Paul Merson and Arjan De Zeeuw.

Mick Kennedy and Noel Blake were part of Alan Ball’s 1987 promotion winners, while Alan Rogers and Alan Biley served in Bobby Campbell’s Division Three title side.

Mark Hateley and Dave Kemp remain goal-scoring heroes to a generation of supporters, while Ron Newman was the local lad who became a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame in America.

Also included are three of the side which reached the 1992 FA Cup semi-finals against Liverpool in Andy Awford, Alan McLoughlin and Guy Whittingham.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ricardo Rocha appeared in three different divisions for Pompey, while Norman Piper and Billy Wilson occupy a place in the club’s Hall of Fame.

Not forgetting, of course, 2008 FA Cup winners Sylvain Distin and Hermann Hreidarsson.

In total, the book carries interviews with eight different recipients of The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season, nine Pompey Hall of Fame members, two FA Cup winners and a host of other Blues promotion winners at different levels of the Football League.

Books can be ordered from Waterstones in Portsmouth and Fareham or Amazon.

For copies autographed by some of the players contained in the book, contact [email protected]