Ex-Portsmouth, Brighton and Southampton keeper returns to Fratton Park in coaching role

Michael Poke has returned to Pompey in a coaching capacity.
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The former goalkeeper is back at the Blues as the club's new academy goalkeeping coach.

Poke takes over from Fratton Park legend Alan Knight, who had been helping out in the role earlier this season.

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The 34-year-old has hung up his gloves, having not had a club since leaving National League outfit Woking in 2017 upon the expiry of his contract.

Poke moved to Pompey from Torquay United on a free transfer in June 2014 following their relegation from League Two, penning a two-year deal.

However, the former Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton and Bristol Rovers stopper didn't make a single Blues appearance.

He played a support-act role to Paul Jones during 2014-15 as Andy Awford’s side finished 16th in the fourth tier.

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Despite featuring in friendlies against the Hawks, Gosport Borough and Coventry City after Paul Cook took over in the PO4 hot seat, Poke was loaned out to Eastleigh for the first half of the 2015-16 season.

Michael Poke. Picture: Joe PeplerMichael Poke. Picture: Joe Pepler
Michael Poke. Picture: Joe Pepler

He returned ahead of schedule after suffering an injury but subsequently rejoined the Spitfires on a permanent basis when the January transfer window opened.

Following his Silverlake Stadium departure, Poke ended his career the following year at Woking.

He now joins Mark Kelly's academy staff – which also contains the likes of Liam Daish, Sean O'Driscoll and Shaun North – where he'll be in charge of their goalkeeping department at age-group level.

As part of his role, Poke will also work closely with Pompey's first-team goalkeeping coach John Keeley.

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