Curtis Main on brutal Southsea Common snub amid Portsmouth League Two title celebrations

Curtis Main has revealed how he was snubbed at Pompey’s Southsea Common celebrations.
Curtis Main scored six goals in 22 appearances for Pompey after signed by Paul Cook in the summer of 2016. Picture: Joe PeplerCurtis Main scored six goals in 22 appearances for Pompey after signed by Paul Cook in the summer of 2016. Picture: Joe Pepler
Curtis Main scored six goals in 22 appearances for Pompey after signed by Paul Cook in the summer of 2016. Picture: Joe Pepler

The ex-Middlesbrough man didn’t receive an invitation on stage to join team-mates during the presention of League Two title medals in May 2017.

Despite scoring five goals in 12 appearances in a season devastated by injury, Main was not introduced to supporters at the occasion to mark promotion.

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Instead he watched backstage as Blues colleagues celebrated with thousands of fans packed onto Southsea Common.

But the Shrewsbury striker, who will face his former club on Saturday, was left out of promotion festivities by manager Paul Cook.

Main told The News: ‘When we were down on Southsea Common for the presentation, I wasn’t given a medal.

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‘So many medals were given out that day and I was chosen not to have one. Not by accident, let’s put it that way.

Curtis Main was not invited on the Southsea Common stage to join his Pompey team-mates at League Two title celebrations in May 2017. Picture: Joe PeplerCurtis Main was not invited on the Southsea Common stage to join his Pompey team-mates at League Two title celebrations in May 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler
Curtis Main was not invited on the Southsea Common stage to join his Pompey team-mates at League Two title celebrations in May 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler

‘Everyone was backstage for the presentation, waiting to be called up on stage. I don’t know who was in charge, I’m assuming the man with the microphone had been handed a list to read from – and my name was left off it.

‘I was backstage and never called to come out.

‘I don’t know if I was the only one, there may have been one or two who had played once or twice, or young players. I really can’t remember.

‘It was poor treatment, but, to be fair, I wasn’t surprised after the way things had been handled throughout the whole season.

Pompey fans celebrating League Two title success on Southsea Common in May 2017. Picture: Joe PeplerPompey fans celebrating League Two title success on Southsea Common in May 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey fans celebrating League Two title success on Southsea Common in May 2017. Picture: Joe Pepler
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‘It didn’t surprise me one bit considering my injury and the management’s response and handling of it. They wanted a fit player.

‘There was a lot of pressure and they were very impatient in terms of what they would accept.

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‘Let’s just say it was poor treatment (the medal), it was shocking to be fair, but I’m not going to cry over spilt milk.

‘I’m not moaning and whinging about things which have gone on in the past because it’s irrelevant now and not going to change anything.

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‘I’m someone who looks forward and not backwards. It was very poor and very unprofessional, but that’s just the way it is.’

Main eventually received a medal after being contacted by somebody at Pompey who organised for him to receive one.

It remains the only silverware of his career, although the 28-year-old did reach the 2018 Scottish Cup Final with Motherwell.

He added: ‘A good few weeks later, I received a medal in the post. I wouldn’t know if it’s the same medal as everyone else as I never saw the original.

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‘I honestly don’t know where it is at the moment. It will be in a box, in football you move around a lot, I think I’ve been in 3-4 houses since then, you pick up a lot of stuff.

‘It’s somewhere, I’m sure I will come across it in a few years.’

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