Sports Mail donations boost Pompey Academy

News sports writer Steve Wilson, right, presents a cheque for £13,681.30 to Pompey director Mark Trapani Picture: Joe Pepler

And responsible for raising it was the glorious Fratton faithful.

For the second successive season, the Sports Mail pledged to donate 10p from every sale to the Blues.

Thanks to our readers’ involvement, the cash collected has now been delivered to the club.

The final figure was an improvement on last season’s sum of £12,901.40, reflecting a rise in sales across the campaign. Considering it has been Pompey’s lowest finish in their Football League history, it is remarkable loyalty from our readers to keep snapping up one of the few remaining Saturday sports papers across the country.

That is now a total of £26,582.70 the Sports Mail has presented to Pompey to enable the funding of its successful Academy set-up.

In addition, the summer Sports Mail donated £2,239 towards the Tifosy scheme to fund Academy pitches.

And chief executive Mark Catlin has been delighted with the generosity displayed by our readers.

He said: ‘I’d like to thank Sports Mail readers for continuing to support both the club and our local Saturday sports paper.

‘We really appreciate this gesture from all concerned, the money will be used to help fund our Academy system which continues to produce promising young players for our first team.

‘We’ve seen the likes of Conor Chaplin, Ben Close and Adam Webster finish in the side at the end of the season, alongside Dan Butler and Jed Wallace.

‘And let’s not forget Jack Whatmough, who unfortunately picked up an injury in March but was doing very well up to that point.

‘This donation will continue funding the development of our young players who are the future of this football club.

‘Once again, thank you to all involved, your ongoing help and support is really appreciated and we look forward to more exciting young talent coming into the first team in future years.’

The 18-man squad for Pompey’s final match of the campaign against York consisted of no fewer than seven members who have emerged from the Academy system.

Chaplin, Wallace, Close, Butler and Webster were all named in the starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Adam May and Bradley Tarbuck were among the substitutes.

Pompey drew 1-1, with Matt Tubbs netting.