Peter Crouch and Guy Whittingham - the rarity of players shining on Pompey second comings

The Pompey History Society (who are very much worth following on Twitter if you’re not already doing so) reminded us that it was exactly 25 years since a 2-2 draw with Derby County which marked the much-heralded return to Fratton Park of Mr Paul Walsh.

Then my old News colleague Richard Hargreaves (a Bury fan who I once took to a Pompey-Bury game only for him to celebrate the Shakers’ opener and get an ‘interesting’ reception from those around us on the north lower) highlighted Gareth

Bale’s return to Spurs and said: ‘Can’t think of too many players re-signed whose second coming was as good as their first.’

He’s right, I think, and it certainly is the case for many Pompey’s returning crowd favourites.

Walsh was not the same player second time and the spell was ended by a nasty knee injury six months in.

But are there exception? A couple have been suggested.

Oliver Harry pointed out: ‘Crouch was pretty decent when he returned,’ That’s true, and he’s one of the few to shine in two separate Fratton spells.

And Neil Nutbeam raises the case of Corporal Punishment.

When Guy Whittingham came back initially on loan, didn’t he score a hat-trick on his first game back? But I suppose it was always going to be hard to better his 48 goals in a season!’ says Neil.

A quick check of the records on the Pompeyrama website (another great one to look up if you’ve not before) reveals that although the hat-trick was actually a few games in (v Port Vale) Whittingham scored seven goals in nine appearances.

Who else was right to come back? And who shouldn’t have? Suggestions to @stevebone1 or stevebonepfc @googlemail.com please.