The touching story of why Papa Bouba Diop gave away his Portsmouth 2008 FA Cup final shirt

He spun around inside the tunnel area to see Papa Bouba Diop, with an arm outstretched.

Handing him his match-worn 2008 FA Cup final shirt, the Senegal international midfielder uttered ‘Thank you’, before heading off to the party.

Pompey fan Clement spent 10 years at Fratton Park as sports masseur. That moment is forever treasured.

And he has joined former Blues boss Harry Redknapp in paying tribute to Diop, who passed away on Sunday aged 42.

‘I had a tear in my eye last night when I heard about Papa’s death. Honestly, he was such a pleasure to work with,’ said Clement.

‘He was genuine, very, very quiet, but so polite. He would come in and say “A full massage, please” and afterwards say “Thank you”. Little things like that you remember.

‘He would get his hamstrings done, it was always his hamstrings, and it was like he appreciated what you were doing for him.

‘I called Papa “Bad Boy” and he would say it back to me. It was a name I gave him because he was actually so nice, he had this happy face, always wearing a smile.

‘After the 2008 FA Cup final, I was walking down the tunnel and there was a tap on my shoulder.

‘I looked around and there was a big imposing figure, who handed me his shirt and said “Thank you”. That’s all he said.

‘I used to massage Papa all the time, but I wasn’t expecting that, especially an FA Cup final winners’ shirt. I was never one for asking for things and getting them signed.

‘That’s the kind of guy he was, he appreciated everything you did for him. That’s priceless – he knew I was a Pompey fan.

‘We spent a lot of time with the players, you build a relationship with them and that was amazing. A little gesture like that.

‘I look back now I think what a moment that was.

‘I am devastated, absolutely devastated. He never complained about anything – and there was always that smile.’

Diop later signed the shirt, although Clement, who lives in Clanfield, has since passed the shirt onto his son, Ryan.

The masseur would leave Pompey in 2014 following a decade of fine service at the club he loves.

He added: ‘Sol Campbell presented me with a shirt he wore at Old Trafford for my 40th Birthday in January 2007.

‘Niko Kranjcar later gave me his international shirt. There were some great lads around at that time, some were a bit funny, but the majority were okay.

‘Papa was one of the best, though. I massaged him 2-3 times a week, he wasn’t like Sol and in there all the time, though!

‘I can’t believe he’s gone, it’s so, so sad.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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