Pompey Hall of Fame: England’s No.1 - and a Blues great

Now, David James is to be honoured for his role in the most successful period of recent times at Fratton Park.

James will be recognised at this Friday’s induction evening for the key role he played in four years at the club.

The keeper will be there to accept his award – which is set to be presented by his former Pompey goalkeeping coach, David Coles.

Coles will be present after winning the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy with Bristol City last weekend along with former Blues manager Steve Cotterill.

Pompey hall of fame committee chairman Jake Payne believes James is a worthy inductee.

Payne explained he is one of the few players from his era who made the number of appearances for the club which puts him into consideration.

He said: ‘Jamo is one of the greatest goalkeepers this club has ever had.

‘It’s good to induct someone from the 2000s because the only other ones, really, were Arjan De Zeeuw and Linvoy Primus who have both been inducted.

‘It’s nice to get him in this year.

‘I’ve spoken to him twice recently and he will be there for the induction evening.

‘He’s played at the highest level, so for him to say he’s honoured to be inducted is great.’

James went on to make 158 appearances for Pompey after arriving at the club from Manchester City in 2006 on a two-year deal as a free agent.

In that time he picked up an FA Cup winner’s medal in 2008 against Cardiff, as well as finishing as a runner-up in the team beaten by Chelsea two years later.

That match saw James become the oldest player to appear in an FA Cup final at the age of 39.

After arriving at Pompey, he helped his club to finish ninth in the Premier League in his first season.

That campaign saw him named The News/Sports Mail Pompey player of the season.

James made a total of 41 appearances in his first season and followed it up with another 42 outings the next campaign, which proved one of the most memorable in the club’s history.

James became one of the few players to pick up back-to-back player-of-the-season titles as Pompey won the Cup and finished eighth.

The keeper went on to play for England at the World Cup in South Africa after his final season at Fratton Park, where he made four appearances. – JORDAN CROSS