Pompey fans' groups have their say on Fratton Park booing

A trio of Pompey fans' groups talk openly to about the boos at Fratton Park on Saturday
Pompey fans have questioned Paul Cook's tactics Picture: Joe PeplerPompey fans have questioned Paul Cook's tactics Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey fans have questioned Paul Cook's tactics Picture: Joe Pepler

Del Pulley – Chairman of Chichester Pompey Supporters’ Club

The booing was a little over the top and I was surprised at the amount which could be heard around Fratton Park.

I can see why supporters had become frustrated. It does get frustrating at times watching Pompey, we all know that.

Yet booing doesn’t help.

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Against opponents reduced to nine or 10 men, you have to adapt accordingly, which we did to win 4-0.

From my seat in the South Stand, the booing seemed really loud. I know there are people in D section who can get carried away, but it seemed to come from everywhere.

There was a man sat next to me who I don’t know from Adam and he was booing – so I gave him a look!

So many modern-day football fans demand instant success, but it is not that simple and they have got to get real.

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In the 1984-85 season, Malcolm Waldron was on loan down here and sent in a cracking header from 20 yards out into the Milton End net against Huddersfield.

Unfortunately, it was against his own keeper and the North terrace started booing, while he gave them the fingers in response.

We turned it around to win 3-2, with Noel Blake getting the winner.

Saturday, against Mansfield, trumped that. There was the situation of being 1-0 up and being booed – I have never heard booing when we’re winning.

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Let’s not forget, the Stags are not a bad side and we weren’t in total control.

It seems there are fans who have had enough of Paul Cook’s tactics and bored of this possession football, even though I don’t think we’ve had anywhere near as much possession as last season.

With Conor Chaplin up front, do people want us to lump it up to him rather than spending time on the ball?

I love watching Pompey play possession football and, while we don’t pass with the speed of Barcelona, I am a football purist and believe it is the way to go.

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For me, the booing took the gloss off an important 4-0 win, without a doubt.

And it was great to see the players shove it back down the booers’ throats with those late goals.

Barry Dewing – Spokesman for Pompey Independent Supporters’ Association

Personally, I thought the booing was disgraceful.

Never before have I known Pompey fans display such a reaction to their team when winning 1-0.

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We are famous for our support getting louder having fallen behind in a match – now we boo when we’re ahead at home.

From where I sat in the North Stand lower, there was booing and it just seems to be a different mentality among football fans these days.

This is not typical of what Pompey fans used to be like and it’s hard to put your finger on the reasons why.

Some of it is down to the Premier League-type fans who demand entertainment and winning is not enough.

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There is a modern trait to boo and it’s a worrying trend which needs to stop because it is not helping the players.

Of course there have been adverse reactions to Pompey players before, it is nothing new.

I recall at home to Crystal Palace in May 2001, when we needed victory in the battle against relegation from Division One.

We ended up losing 4-2 and people were not happy with the effort put in, there was a lot of anger at Fratton Park that night.

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We then beat Barnsley 3-0 in the final game of the season we stay up.

Overall, however, we do not boo often compared to fans at other football clubs, it is not in our nature.

We are all different in our views on football. I like the team to keep possession to tire out the opposition.

I can understand the frustration among others who wanted to get the ball forward quicker and try to hurt Mansfield, we are all entitled to an opinion.

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However, to boo your team is not helpful and it is an approach I cannot understand.

On Saturday, the proof was in the pudding with the nine men tiring and Pompey exploiting that to score three late goals.

Yet, for me, the boos took the shine off that 4-0 win when we all should have been smiling that evening.

In the 2012-13 season, we went on a club record run of 23 matches without a win during relegation from League One.

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Where were those booing fans during that period, because there was none back then. Instead, the supporters got right behind the team at home and away.

It used to take a hell of a lot for Pompey fans to moan and groan – not any more.

Roy Gregory – Chairman of Portsmouth Supporters’ Club, Central Branch

I don’t agree with booing the team, but can understand the frustration sometimes.

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Certainly, I believe Saturday’s booing was directed at the tactics rather than the individuals on the football pitch.

It was triggered by not breaking down nine men and seeing the ball passed backwards. People were frustrated.

From my seat in the North Stand lower, the booing was spasmodic, but also there were many people who didn’t like hearing it, sparking unrest.

It was not appreciated around us – and I was one of those who didn’t like to hear it.

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We were 1-0 up against nine men and, at a time when it was expected we would attack the game, there was a feeling of “crikey, we could surrender a goal”.

There was total frustration, it didn’t appear we were going for it – which obviously we did in the end with a 4-0 victory.

To be fair, the second goal scored by Noel Hunt arrived pretty soon after the booing had started.

There have been occasions over the years when I’ve heard booing at Fratton Park – generally, when we are down the bottom.

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I certainly don’t recollect supporters booing a winning team before.

Yet on Saturday, frustration was triggered by not getting the ball forward quickly enough, more of a tactic from the manager rather than individuals on the park.

It was looking a bit negative, seemingly as if the team didn’t want to attack Mansfield.

Those three goals in six minutes completed a 4-0 win, so we got our victory over Adam Murray’s side. But I still didn’t like to hear boos.