The huge influence on the great Portsmouth players of yesteryear you never knew about

But you can bet if you played for Pompey in the 1970s, 80s and beyond you knew exactly who he was.

Ask hall of famer Eoin Hand of the significance of the man from Waterlooville, speak to long-serving midfielder Norman Piper about his importance or bring his name up to the ultimate utility man Mick Tait, who was close to the car specialist.

Give him a mention to of any of Alan Ball’s Gremlins and you’re greeted with an immediate smile, followed by a string of anecdotes usually centred around the legendary Cowplain Social Club - base camp, of course, for the shenanigans of one of the great Blues sides.

The esteem he was held in by the likes of Alan Knight, Mick Quinn, Vince Hilaire and Mick Kennedy, who Rees tried to help through his alcohol problems in later life, would be immediately apparent simply at the mention of his name.

Those revered and respected tones afforded the man who always in the background are usually saved for respected playing peers.

Pompey last week sadly lost the 79-year-old lifelong fan following a battle with lung cancer. And the outpouring which followed the news from those he encountered told of that significance.

From Stateside-based Piper in California to Hand in County Kerry, Ireland and back to Pompey, Rees’ loss resonated profoundly.

Hand admitted the news had rocked him with the former Republic of Ireland boss having much to thank his friend and confidant for.

‘My first recollection of Dave was when I moved to Cowplain in 1969,’ said the man who made 307 Pompey appearances in two spells between 1968 and 1979.

‘As soon as I moved there with Nicky Jennings around the same time, I went to a pub and that’s where I recall meeting him.

‘He was always so helpful with cars, whether that was fixing them or buying them as an in-between man.

‘Dave was one of the lads and over the years I always stayed in touch with him. He was my contact for Portsmouth.

‘When I came for a second stint and I had a testimonial in 1979 against Ireland he was very helpful. In fact, Dave was the reason I came back.

‘I came over to buy a car from him and went down to say hello to Jimmy Dickinson - and it was then he asked me to come back, and I returned as a player-coach. I bought that car from Dave because I trusted him so much.

'In recent years when I came over I’d always make sure Dave was around. He came to the (hall of fame) dinners, always supported and enjoyed it.

‘He was the go-to man, but he was more than that. He was a fun to be around and full of good humour. I thought he’d be around forever.'

Rees’ influence continued to be felt into the 80s when a legendary side moulded firmly in the image of the people they represented emerged.

At the heart of a group who were to go down in history wasn’t a team-mate but outgoing character, who would go on to remain closely tied to a number of Bally’s heroes until his death.

‘He was a massive part of our group,’ said Blues legend Alan Knight.

‘I knew Dave on the periphery when I first came to the club because we used to go up to (HMS) Mercury and he had the garage in Lovedean.

‘A few of the lads used to frequent the Green Dragon and Dave used to go in there.

‘He used to be around but I really got to know him when all the Gremlins used to live up that way.

‘That’s when I got to know him properly - and I mean properly because with that group we used to always be in the Bird in the Hand and the legendary Cowplain Social Club.

‘Dave was a big supporter of the former players and always there to help out in whatever way he could. He was a genuinely lovely bloke and it’s such a shame he’s gone.

‘Dave lived life to the full and was a genuinely nice geezer. You hear that said about many people but it was never more relevant than with Dave.

‘He was close with Pompey players over the decades really. That’s not an easy thing to do because football has changed over the years.

‘Dave had a great affinity with us and would help anyone, so his passing is sad, sad news.’

With his name in the phone books of so many Pompey players spanning the decades, it was no surprise Rees strongly backed the events which recognised the great and the good from 122 years of Fratton history through the Pompey Former Players’ Association.

In fact, he was a fixture at the Pompey hall of fame and popular ‘boys of’ dinners, recognising the finest players to wear the star and crescent on their chests.

‘I called him “Mr Fixer”,’ said association committee member and hall of fame organiser Jaky Payne.

‘Dave knew so many players it was unbelievable. He was friends with everyone.

‘When we had the Boys of ‘87 Mick Kennedy was struggling at the time and Dave paid for his flights and hotel, but he never made it over.

‘In the 70s he was mates with the majority of the players. Dave was heavily around the Cowplain Social days and knew everyone from that time, too.

‘He loved his football and he loved Pompey. He was a fun bloke, a bit of a character to say the least and good to be around.

‘He never missed a hall of fame or the ‘boys of’ dinners. He’d always have a table.

‘He knew a lot of people, was very highly regarded and respected - and will be missed.’

Rarely has a man who never kicked a ball or influenced on-pitch proceedings for Pompey, come to have such an influence over those who were revered from the terraces as Rees.

The support he offered was reciprocated through the trust and appreciation sent his way to a great friend of his football club and those who served it. That will now be missed after his passing, but the gratitude will live on.

‘I must say Pompey without Dave being around has taken something away from it,’ Hand said in a heartfelt tribute to his friend. ‘He really was a great supporter of Pompey - but also the players of yesteryear.’