'Been getting booed for 10 years' - Portsmouth defender on overcoming fan flak he's faced

Lee Brown is well aware he has his detractors among the Fratton faithful.
Lee Brown. Picture: Joe PeplerLee Brown. Picture: Joe Pepler
Lee Brown. Picture: Joe Pepler

But the vice-captain has learnt to brush aside any criticism as he seeks League One promotion with Pompey.

Brown’s received more flak from than the majority of his team-mates since the start of last season – particularly on social media.

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Sections of fans criticised his performance levels, despite it emerging he was playing with an Achilles injury.

And when he put pen to paper on a new two-year deal in the summer – having been one of Pompey’s best players in the play-offs – some supporters opening admitted they’d rather have seen him depart.

But Brown’s been one of Pompey’s most consistent performers this season.

He’s again established himself as first-choice left-back and the experience he’s brought to the defence has been crucial.

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And Brown will continue to believe in his ability in a bid to prove any remaining doubters wrong.

He said: ‘Look, it's all there to see! I've been getting booed for 10 years so it's nothing new to me.

‘You always have your critics as footballers. It's about plodding away, carrying on doing what you do, believe in what you do and believe in what you bring to the party.

‘I know what I bring and I know what I don't bring – I'm comfortable with that. It's about proving that.

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‘Last season, I did have an Achilles injury, it was well documented and I'm over that now so hopefully I can kick on.

‘I knew I wasn't right last season and that's why it came to a head and I had an operation.

‘As players, you know when you're not quite right, letting the team down and the manager down. I'm over that now.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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