Ex-Spurs and Millwall man Teddy Sheringham: Exciting, adventurous and unpredictable Portsmouth saved my Premier League career

The Blues were the only top-flight team to approach the 37-year-old in the summer of 2003 following a disappointing release from Spurs.

Newly-promoted to the Premier League under Harry Redknapp, Pompey pulled off a coup by tempting the three-time Manchester United title-winner and England striker to Fratton Park in June 2003 on a 12-month deal.

According to Sheringham in new book Played Up Pompey Four, he had absolutely no qualms about swapping the top of the Premier League for a potential relegation scrap.

And with 10 goals in 38 games in his sole Blues campaign, plus league safety assured, it’s a period he relished.

‘I totalled seven seasons at White Hart Lane, consisting of two spells, and, while I understood their reasoning, I was definitely disappointed. Regardless, I remained keen to continue my career and had been speaking to teams in Qatar,’ Sheringham told Played Up Pompey Four.

‘There was also interest from Portugal, yet I never really felt my game suited the continent. I liked the Premier League, where there was more hustle and bustle, with a bit of flair on top.

‘Pompey had just won promotion as Division One champions - and were the only top-flight club to contact me. I knew it would be a good club to play for with great support, so, in June 2003, I joined on a 12-month deal.

‘This was never about trying to show Spurs I was still capable of playing in the Premier League, because I wasn't in a world where I was attempting to prove people wrong, and the move definitely wasn’t motivated by finances, even though it was good money. It was simply about continuing my Premier League career.

‘Swapping Spurs for a newly-promoted Premier League club didn’t bother me. My career started at the bottom to get to the top, then came back down the other side - and I enjoyed that route.

‘I was never a Paul Gascoigne or Ronaldo, destined to play at the top your entire career - I went from nothing to reach there. I came through the ranks at Millwall, had loan spells at Aldershot and Swedish club Djurgardens IF, before ending my career at Colchester United.

‘A lot of players cannot handle coming down. One minute you’re playing in the Premier League for a top team, then you’re in the Championship representing a not-so-glamorous club and moaning about the changing rooms, the training ground and the kit.

‘I came up the hard way at Millwall. As an apprentice, my responsibility was hanging up the muddy kit in the hole, ready to be worn the next day. They were only washed at weekends - any kit I had throughout my career was better than Millwall’s between the age of 16-19!

‘It’s an ego thing. Some players are used to having all the glamorous stuff, getting looked after, owning a lovely house - but that’s not what football’s about.

‘I arrived at Fratton Park after winning the Premier League three times with Manchester United and living an England career consisting of 51 appearances and 11 goals, but it didn’t bother me whatsoever. I quite liked Pompey’s training ground in Eastleigh to be fair. There was nothing wrong with it.’

Despite spending just one season at Fratton Park, Sheringham was still playing in the Premier League at the age of 40 after moving to West Ham.

As it turned out, he scored the final Premier League goal of his career on Boxing Day 2006 - against Pompey in a 2-1 Hammers defeat.

He added: ‘Pompey handed me the chance to stay in the Premier League at a club which wanted to go places - and it was fantastic playing in front of those very, very vocal supporters.

‘When you’re at bigger clubs, there’s an expectation to beat teams, yet with a newly-promoted club you’re fighting for everything. It’s exciting, it’s adventurous, it’s unpredictable.

‘That’s how it was at Pompey in that one season and I really enjoyed it. Playing football for a living in the Premier League? Wow.’

Played Up Pompey Four is priced £18.99 and available from the Pompey Store and Waterstone’s in Portsmouth, Fareham, Chichester, Petersfield and Whiteley.

It can also be ordered online from Amazon. For player-autographed copies, email [email protected]

Meanwhile, tickets of the Played Up Pompey 4 launch evening at Fratton Park are on sale, with Harry Redknapp, Mark Chamberlain, Gareth Evans, Kit Symons, Richie Reynolds, Tommy Youlden and Danny Rose among those confirming their attendance.

Taking place on Friday, September 27, all ticket proceeds are to be donated to Pompey In The Community and the Pompey History Society.