Hardy(T)'s World Soccer Diary

1/10/96, Portsmouth, England.
Division One

 

Portsmouth 2 (Bradbury, Thomson)
Crystal Palace 2 (Veart, Freedman)
Att: 7,212 at Fratton Park, Portsmouth.

 

One really has to question the sanity of someone who makes a seventeen-hour train and hydrofoil journey from Heidelberg in Germany to Portsmouth, changing in Köln, Ostende, Ramsgate and London Victoria, just to watch an English first division match. But I did it! To be fair, I hadn't seen Pompey since the first day of 1996, in fact the last time Palace had visited Fratton and we'd gifted them a 3-0 lead before we even started playing, so I was absolutely gagging to hear those Chimes again.

 

Of course it was worth it. A few beers in the Connaught, the pre-match tension during the short walk to the hallowed stadium, and hearing the Chimes ringing out once more... marvellous! On the field, a gallant Pompey came from behind twice to gain a creditable draw against a side that eventually got promoted to the Premiership.

For a full match report, check out Ben Davis' excellent Pompey Match Report archive. For more Pompey stuff, check out my online Pompey fanzine, The Pompey Chimes.

 

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