Why Portsmouth's dreaded Player of the Season curse refuses to ease up

Christian Burgess finds himself in exalted company, his name etched alongside many Pompey greats.
Jed Wallace receives The News/Sports Mail's Player of the Season trophy in 2014-15. Like many, he subsequently left that summer. Picture: Joe PeplerJed Wallace receives The News/Sports Mail's Player of the Season trophy in 2014-15. Like many, he subsequently left that summer. Picture: Joe Pepler
Jed Wallace receives The News/Sports Mail's Player of the Season trophy in 2014-15. Like many, he subsequently left that summer. Picture: Joe Pepler

He is also emulating predecessors in another aspect – by departing Fratton Park within a year.

Burgess is The News/Sports Mail’s 2019-20 Pompey Player of the Season, an accolade chosen by supporters. In this case, the outcome was emphatic.

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Incidentally, of the last 11 different recipients of the long-standing trophy, 10 have left the Blues within a year.

In fact, seven of them departed that very summer – with Burgess among that number.

The 28-year-old has joined Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, keen to broaden his footballing education in the Belgian second tier.

It was a devastating finale following play-off defeat, nonetheless he can exit with head high following five campaigns and 210 appearances for Pompey.

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In recent times, those honoured with the Player of the Season award have demonstrated a tendency to swiftly move on from Fratton Park, mainly in the interests of career progression.

Since 2009, only Johnny Ertl has remained beyond a year afterwards, although he endured a miserable personal campaign which followed his 2012-13 coronation.

Granted, Matt Clarke did stay after claiming it in 2017-18 – although left the following summer for Brighton after retaining his title.

Still, focusing on the last 12 seasons, the pattern is obvious among winners of the 41-year-old trophy.

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Right-back Glen Johnson (2008-09) left for Liverpool in June 2009, representing natural progression having established himself as one of the finest right-backs in the country at Fratton Park.

The following season, loanee Jamie O’Hara scooped almost every supporter honour following an outstanding Premier League campaign, yet had to return to parent club Spurs at the end of it.

Next was Hayden Mullins (2010-11) during Steve Cotterill’s maiden season as manager.

He remained with the Blues beyond the summer, although played his final match in March 2012.

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Pompey’s grave financial issues meant the midfielder had to be loaned out to Reading for a fee. He left permanently in July 2012 for Birmingham for an undisclosed fee.

Former Blues apprentice Jason Pearce had returned to the club in 2011-12 for what would prove to be just one year.

He scooped The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season before then sold to Leeds with Pompey desperate to remove their playing assets in the summer of 2012.

In 2012-13, Ertl was named as the recipient, yet the following year was restricted to just 20 league starts as he fell out of favour.

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He eventually had his Pompey contract cancelled by mutual consent in July 2015 under Paul Cook’s regime – two years after being named player of the season.

Life at Fratton Park also swiftly disintegrated for the 2013-14 winner, Ricky Holmes.

Following a fall out with Andy Awford, he made just nine more league starts and was loaned to Chris Wilder’s Northampton, with the move made permanent in January 2015.

Next was Jed Wallace (2014-15), who sought career progression by that summer leaving League Two Pompey for Championship Wolves, then managed by Kenny Jackett.

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Curiously, the five recipients since were all recruited by Paul Cook in the summer of 2015.

Skipper Michael Doyle (2015-16) was narrowly chosen ahead of Ben Davies – yet within a year had moved to Coventry on a free transfer.

He was succeeded by Enda Stevens (2016-17), whose final appearance was in the League Two title victory over Cheltenham before joining Sheffield United.

Then began Clarke’s two-year domination, a feat also previously achieved by Alan Knight, Noel Blake and David James.

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His contract now at an end, Burgess today set off to link-up with his new team-mates at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

And Pompey have swiftly lost another recipient of The News/Sports Mail’s Player of the Season.

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