Portsmouth unveil permanent Fratton Park tribute to John Jenkins

Jenkins presided over the Fratton Park boardroom for decades, both as its steward and then ambassador.

Today it was officially opened as the John Jenkins MBE Boardroom, ahead of the 2-0 League One win over Sunderland.

The D-Day veteran passed away at the age of 100 in December, leaving a city in mourning.

In a club statement, Pompey chairman Michael Eisner said: ‘My family and I enjoyed talking with John whenever we were at Fratton Park.

‘We were always struck by how much love he had for this football club and Eric, in particular, developed a great friendship with him.

‘He spent much of his time at the club in the boardroom and so it is a fitting tribute that it has now been named in his honour.

‘John will be missed by so many people from the city and further afield, so it’s wonderful that his name lives on in the John Jenkins MBE Boardroom.’

Chief executive Mark Catlin added: ‘It is fitting that one of the ways we are paying tribute to John is by renaming the boardroom as the John Jenkins MBE Boardroom. This was an area that he managed with pride for so much of his time at the club.

‘Our chairman Michael Eisner and his family developed a warm relationship with John and it’s great that they were over to unveil this commemoration to him.’