'I've not been able to sleep...ecstatic to have matchday buzz back...this is what you live for' - Portsmouth fans react to return to Fratton Park

And supporters have been having their say on the experience as 2,000 Blues followers make their long-awaited return for the game with Peterborough.

Among the fans present is Neil Penning, who travelled from north Dorset for the game and admitted he’s missed making the Fratton pilgrimage.

He said: 'I live in a village so there is no coronavirus there! We weren't in the initial ballot but managed to get tickets on general sale.

'I've missed it a hell of a lot. The lads have had an indifferent start at home but been amazing away so hopefully, with the fans behind them at Fratton Park, it might encourage them to do a little bit better.

'It's not the same listening on the radio or watching online. It's good to be back. It's what you live for at the weekend.'

His son Matt Penning made the trip from Somerset who’s been excited at the prospect of being at the game since he landed tickets.

He said: 'I went on to get the tickets at 7am on Thursday and couldn't get back to sleep after it! I could not wait.

'The ticketing system was a bit dodgy but we got lucky. We're in the Fratton End, not too far from our season-ticket seat.

'It will be interesting because the players have had nine months and so many games without fans. Will it be positive or will they go out and think "wow, this is a lot of people".

'Hopefully they react positively.'

Elliot Davies, 18, from Milton, told how it actually feels unusual to be at Fratton Park after so long away.

He said: 'It feels really weird being back after nine months but it feels good.

'The last game was Fleetwood and I remember going. It was really odd, no-one knew it was going to happen.

'The first couple of weeks in lockdown, I thought we'd be back in a couple of weeks. Nine months later and we're here.

'I've watched all the games on iFollow. It's really weird, very odd. It's just not the same buzz on a match-day. You usually wake up on a match-day and feel excited.

'I didn't actually get a ticket through the ballot. I managed to get one on general sale and I was ecstatic to get one. I'm sitting in the North End lower, near my season ticket, so that's good.'

Matt Mennell gained national fame when he went to the Oxford play-off game and watched the game on his truck from outside the ground.

He said: ‘I was one of those on the pallet truck outside the ground, which everyone sat on to watch the game. It’s my truck.

‘We’ve really missed going out on a Saturday, I go to home and away games with my nine-year-old son, Jackson. He loves the songs and the atmosphere.

‘At least football’s now coming back for the fans. It would be better if it was a full crowd obviously, but hopefully everyone will be back in April before the end of the season.’

Tom Burton was at the game with his son Lennon.

He said: ‘I’ve missed it, the last game was Fleetwood so I’m really looking forward to it and getting the atmosphere again.

‘I miss the match-day feeling, coming to football, getting together with people you know. It’s match day, it’s the best.

‘We got our tickets yesterday morning, so were absolutely delighted.

‘I just can’t wait for this to all go back to normal and be how it should be.

‘We are Fratton End season-ticket holders and usually sit by John Westwood. Today it will be in the North Stand low, it will be a bit more quiet!’