Linvoy Primus

After friendly matches with Dorchester Town and Exeter City, Primus signed a contract with Portsmouth although he was disappointed with the low wages in comparison to other players. He did not get his Portsmouth career off to a good start, scoring an own goal on his debut away at Sheffield United. Pulis was sacked early on in the 2000–01 season after a poor start and was replaced by fans' favourite Steve Claridge. Portsmouth were still near the relegation zone after a poor run of form that also saw Primus being sent off for the first time in his career for a foul on Fulham's Louis Saha. Gilmore's groin ruled him out of action for five months from November of that season, during which Claridge was replaced by Graham Rix, this was after Primus formed a partnership with Jamaican international Darren Moore. After a defeat to Crystal Palace (which Primus described as the "lowest point of [his] career"), Portsmouth needed a victory over Barnsley to stay in Division One and they duly won 3–0 with Huddersfield being relegated after their final day defeat. After the conclusion of the season, Primus fell out with Rix as he was unsure about whether Rix thought he had a future at the club.

The next season started with the death of goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan and the departure of Primus' close friend Moore to West Bromwich Albion. Primus struggled to get a game under Rix but the appointment of Harry Redknapp in March 2002 gave him a new lease of life and he ended that season with two league goals in games against Bradford City and Barnsley.

Despite originally being told by Redknapp he was not of Division One standard, let alone suitable for the Premier League, Primus proved his manager wrong by seizing his chance when other players missed out through injury and suspension. By the end of the 2002–03 season he had become a vital member of the side that won the Division One title, winning the Portsmouth fans' player of the season as well as the PFA accolade for Division One. He scored once that season for Portsmouth in the League Cup against Peterborough United. Primus credits his renaissance to his conversion to Christianity after a friend of his wife's invited him to church.


Sol Campbell was Primus' partner in defence for the majority of the 2006–07 season.Despite the previous season's heroics, Primus was not used regularly in the early part of Portsmouth's first Premier League season. Harry Redknapp had ditched his 3–5–2 formation in favour of the more conventional 4–4–2 and partnered new record signing Dejan Stefanović with Arjan de Zeeuw. During December, Portsmouth were in a terrible run of form and Redknapp decided to bring one of his most reliable players back into his plans for the derby match with Southampton. In spite of a 3–0 loss, Primus retained his starting place for the remainder of the season.

The following season saw Primus remain a regular member of the Portsmouth team under first Redknapp and then both his successors, Velimir Zajec and Alain Perrin. He scored his first Premier League goal at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day 2004. He scored again on Boxing Day in 2006, when grabbing two headed goals against West Ham United.

Although Primus was a regular member of Perrin's team at the end of the 2004–05 season and captained the side on occasions during pre-season, he rarely featured until Perrin's sacking in November. The return of Harry Redknapp, who had been won over by his performances and was now one of his biggest admirers, to Portsmouth lead to Primus' immediate return to the side, and he was ever present in the side that achieved Premiership survival in the last 10 games of the season. Primus remained a regular in the Portsmouth defence for the 2006–07 season, partnering England international Sol Campbell in the centre of defence, and Redknapp hailed him as the unofficial Player of the Season; the official winner of the award was David James. He failed to make an appearance in 2007–08 due to a career threatening knee injury. He was treated with surgery performed by Dr. Richard Steadman who is known to have saved the careers of many Premiership footballers, including Alan Shearer and Ronaldo. After the operation, Primus commented "The difference between success and failure is what you do afterwards in your rehabilitation, not necessarily the actual operation." Despite his injury, he still managed to earn a new one-year deal at Portsmouth in May 2008.

Paul Walsh

Walsh had played 158 times for Spurs, scoring 21 goals, before he moved to the South Coast in a deal worth around £400,000 on the 3 June 1992. Walsh was the makeweight in a "plus cash" player exchange for Darren Anderton. Walsh made his Pompey debut on 15 August 1992 in the 3–3 league draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Walsh became a cult hero at Portsmouth. In the 1992–93 season, Portsmouth placed third in the First Division, missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League on goal difference to West Ham United, and Guy Whittingham broke goalscoring records for Portsmouth, who were the strongest side in the division in the second half of the season following a lukewarm start. Despite Whittingham's goalscoring exploits, the Pompey fans voted Walsh their player of the year, recognising that it was his guile and craft that made the Portsmouth attack so effective. Whittingham was sold to Aston Villa in the summer of 1993, and Walsh subsequently formed a solid partnership with another former Liverpool player, John Durnin, but the potency of the Portsmouth side had faded. However, it was in the post-Whittingham era that Walsh had what was arguably his best game in the blue of Portsmouth, on 12 January 1994 in a Coca-Cola Cup fifth round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Going into the game as huge underdogs, Portsmouth shocked the Premier League champions by earning a replay at Fratton Park with a 2–2 draw. Walsh had a fantastic game and scored both goals, and United were lucky to survive a late penalty appeal. Unfortunately for Portsmouth fans, United won the replay at Fratton Park by a goal to nil.

After 73 league appearances for Portsmouth, Walsh was on the move once more, much to the distress of the Portsmouth fans.

Walsh managed 21 more league appearances before suffering a cruciate ligament injury to the knee in 1996 which brought his career to an end.

Alan McLoughlin

Alan Mcloughlin joined SOuthampton from Swindon and he was loaned first to Aston Villa and then to Portsmouth. The latter were impressed enough by McLoughlin to make a bid for him, and so in February 1992 he moved to Fratton Park for £400,000 after making only 29 appearances for the Saints. He helped Portsmouth to the 1992 FA Cup semi final, but they lost on a penalty shootout to Liverpool. He helped them to the brink of the FA Premier League in 1992–93, but they were pipped to automatic promotion by West Ham United and lost to Leicester City in the playoffs.

It was at Portsmouth that he eventually became club captain. While at the club, McLoughlin represented the Republic of Ireland at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. McLoughlin scored a goal against the Northern Ireland national football team at Windsor Park in a 1993 World Cup qualifer. This happened when Ireland was down 1–0 due to a goal scored by Jimmy Quinn of Northern Ireland. McLouglin's goal qualified the Republic of Ireland team for the upcoming World Cup in the United States. He was the first Portsmouth player to be included in any World Cup squad since the 1958 tournament – nine years before McLoughlin himself was born.

In December 1999 he was sold to Wigan Athletic for £260,000. However injuries prevented him from making a major impact and he moved on a free transfer to Rochdale F.C. in December 2001, having made only 12 starts (plus 10 as a sub) for Wigan, scoring three goals. He scored once in the league against Gillingham[1] and also scored a brace in an LDV Vans Trophy tie with Oldham Athletic.[2] McLoughlin played his part in Rochdale reaching the play-offs in 2001–02 and scored a twice-taken penalty for them on his last League appearance against Bristol Rovers.

With his career winding down McLoughlin joined Forest Green as a player-coach for the 2002–03 season. At the end of the season McLoughlin retired from playing to concentrate on coaching with the club. He was capped 42 times for the Republic of Ireland.

He was also a co-commentator on defunct Portsmouth-based radio station The Quay.

In February 2011, he joined BBC Radio Solent as matchday co-commentator for Portsmouth F.C. matches.

Albert McCann

His competitive instinct, hardness and characteristic touches of artistry earned him a special place in the hearts of Pompey fans and he was awarded a well-deserved testimonial against West Ham United at Fratton Park in May 1973 before playing his last and 331st game for Pompey at Notts Forest in March the following season. After playing professionally in South Africa at the age of 34, Albie returned to England and ran a newsagents in Winter Road, Southsea before becoming the proprietor of an Emsworth rest home.

Johnny Gordon

John Duncan Sinclair "Johnny" Gordon (born 11 September 1931 in Portsmouth) played for Portsmouth and Birmingham City in the First Division as an inside-forward.

He made a total of 489 appearances for home-town club Portsmouth, placing him fourth in their all-time appearances list. During his three seasons at Birmingham City he was the club's top scorer in 1959–60, became their all-time top goalscorer in European competition, and played in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1958-60 final against FC Barcelona. On his return to Portsmouth he helped them to the Third Division championship in 1961–62.

Jack Froggatt

JACK Froggatt was one of the finest players ever to have worn the royal blue colours of Pompey. 'Jolly Jack', as he became known, was a stocky, rumbustious player whose strong running and accurate shooting attracted England's attention late in 1949 and he scored on his debut for his country, playing outside-left in a 9-2 thrashing of Northern ireland at Maine Road.


Froggatt later formed part of the formidable trio of Scoular, Froggatt and Dickinson; the most powerful half-back line in immediate post-war football as Pompey won consecutive first division titles. His football career started at Fratton Park in 1945 while he was still in the RAF. The Sheffield-born winger had worked in his father's butchers shop and signed for Pompey as a centre-half but managed to persuade manager Jack Tinn to play him as an outside-left. His family had strong football connections. His father had played for Sheffield Wednesday before the war and his second cousin, Redfern Froggatt, went on to play 434 games for Wednesday too. Jack crowned his Pompey debut in 1945 with a second-half goal at The Dell in a War League South match with Southampton and went on to become a regular goalscorer. He had alarming speed, excellent ball control and was very strong in the air, making him one of the most versatile players Pompey have ever had.

One of his most memorable games was in the run up to the league championship in April 1949 when he scored a hat-trick of headers in a 5-0 away win at St James' Park in front of 60,000 Newcastle fans. Froggatt's scoring and talented agility won him deserved England recognition and between 1949 and 1953 he won the unusual distinction of playing for his country in three different positions, scoring twice in 13 full caps. His dashing wing play changed to solid centre-half dominance and very few opposing players got passed big Jack.

In his last season for Pompey he switched back to the wing again as Dougie Reid inherited the number five jersey. Against his wishes he left Pompey for Leicester City in March 1954 and played 143 matches for them, scoring 18 goals, but returned to Portsmouth to start a career in the licensed trade which lasted 22 years. He kept the Manor House in Cosham, The Milton Arms near Fratton Park and a hotel in Partridge Green, West Sussex. Jack suddenly passed away, aged 71, in February 1993 but his name, synonymous with class and football, will never be forgotten by those who saw the great man play. 

Andy Awford

Andy Awford, not as some might believe a local lad, but blue & white through and through nonetheless, moved to Pompey from Worcester F.C. where, when he came on as substitute in a tie at Boreham Wood, became the youngest player ever to appear in the F.A. Cup, aged just 15 years 88 days.

Awford's first Pompey appearance, an away fixture at Crystal Palace in April '89, saw him set another record. Due to injuries to Gavin Maguire and Graeme Hogg, Pompey manager John Gregory believed Awford had shown enough of what it takes and at the age of 16 granted him the honour of becoming the youngest ever player to play for Pompey's starting eleven.

The quick and intelligent left sided player made three further appearances that season but it wasn't until 91/92 that new manager Jim Smith gave Awford, together with a number of other young players (Darren Anderton, Darryl Powell, Chris Burns to name a few) their big break. Awford played all but one game that season which included lining up against the likes of Ian Rush & John Barnes in the now infamous F.A .Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

The following season saw Andy start to play alongside another youngster; Kit Symons, at the heart of Pompey's defence. Their partnership conceded only nine goals at home that season but again the campaign was to end in heartbreak as Pompey missed out on promotion by a single goal scored.

Despite making over 400 appearances for Pompey some would argue that his career was a classic case of what might have been. Having missed out on the FA Cup Final and promotion in successive seasons, any hope of glory or indeed a big money move were dashed when in 1994 he suffered a number of injuries (the worse a broken leg) which kept him out of the game for over 14 months.

In some respects Awford never quite recovered from his injury setbacks, but nobody could ever question his passion or commitment whenever he pulled on the famous blue shirt.
Following his retirement in November 2001 at the age of just 28, Awford took up the post of Chief Scout and later Reserve Team Coach at Fratton Park a position he held until he joined his former Pompey boss and Harry Redknapp sidekick Jim Smith as first team coach at Oxford United in April 2006.

John Milkins

The following year he was awarded a testimonial against local rivals Saints which resulted in an ignominious 0-7 defeat. In the 1974 close season he was sold to Oxford United for whom he played sporadically to his last league appearance in May 1979. After a brief spell as player-manager of now defunct Southern League side Waterlooville[8] he retired to run a sports shop/ snooker hall consortium.

Len Phillips

Phillips was a ball-playing schemer who possessed terrific control and was capable of destroying a defence with a single pass. He formed a terrific goalscoring partnership with winger Peter Harris and was rated among the best inside-forwards in the country.

But because of Wilf Mannion, Len Shackleton and Eddie Baily, Pompey's superb technician was only called on three occasions to play for England. Born in Shoreditch in the heart of London's East End, Phillips excited large Fratton crowds who craved creative build-ups. In the 1948-49 season, every time Len scored, Pompey won. But then Pompey only lost nine games all season!

The occasionally rebellious Londoner had a tremendous football brain and, as well as leading Pompey's match-winning attack, Len scored his fair share of goals too, finishing second-leading scorer with 11 and 13 in 1950-51 and 1951-52 respectively. Unfortunately, while training with the England team, he suffered a knee injury which ended his international career prematurely.

But after Jimmy Scoular's departure to Newcastle, Phillip's creative genius slotted into midfield where he could keep possession until a chance opened up for Harris to run on to and score. Harris thrived on the precision service he received from Len - one of the reasons why Pompey were such a force in the early 50s. After tearing a muscle ligament in an FA Cup tie against Grimsby in January 1956, Len left league football and played for Poole Town, Chelmsford and Bath City. After scouting for Leeds United, he saw out his working career as a lathe operator at De Havilland's in Portsmouth. 

Duggie Reid

Reid's son David also played for England at amateur level.

Mick Tait

Mick Tait is avidly remembered by Pompey fans as 'Yosser', a nickname given to the friendly Scouser from the BBC TV series 'Boys from the Blackstuff'. Although one of soccer's wandering players, Mick spent seven seasons with Pompey - the longest spell out of his seven clubs - and never gave anything less than 100 per cent in all of the 240 league games he played. 
He was popular from the day he arrived from Hull City for £100,000 in June 1980 until fans mourned his surprise departure in August 1987 when he was released to third division Reading by Alan Ball. Tait was well known to Pompey before he signed. He had scored against them often enough!

As a 19-year-old in November 1975, he stole the show single-handedly at Fratton Park with two goals for an Oxford away win and then repeated the dose the following season at The Manor. One year later he netted another goal against Pompey, this time in a Carlisle shirt at Brunton Park. His first Pompey goal came against Burnley at Fratton Park in a 4-2 win during October 1980.

Four months later Tait scored an astonishing hat-trick in just five minutes to help Pompey demolish Exeter 5-0 at Fratton. He was an inspiration to the team. He served Pompey dependably at third and second division level as a forward, midfielder, defender and even winger, such was his ability and willingness to play anywhere under Frank Burrows, Bobby Campbell and Alan Ball. Players and supporters alike respected his unfailing commitment to the cause.

Tait had no particular flair. He just got on with the job he was asked to do in whatever shirt he wore - and during his Pompey career he played in every one of them except Alan Knight's goalkeeping jersey. The tag of 'Mr Dependable' followed Tait to Reading and Darlington, his next two clubs. Wherever he went he brought the team luck in winning silverware and avoided injury to clock up more than 650 appearances. 

The man from Wallsend had moved back to his birthplace with his family - and went on to spend a spell as manager of Hartlepool United - but he still regards Pompey as a special club and has happy memories of the famous League Cup match at Anfield and the third division championship triumph. 

Jimmy Dickinson

Dickinson's image can be seen in the seating in the Fratton End stand in Fratton Park.

Ray Hiron

Ray Hiron was a Portsmouth fan at childhood and was from the City and in the late 1960’s he made a real impression for his new local club. He was a prolific forward who partnered Mike Trebilcock for most of the late 60’s up front. He was in prolific form during the 1968-69 season for Portsmouth as he finished the season off as their top goal scorer, netting in 17 league goals.

Alan Knight

Knight's autobiography entitled 'Legend' was published in September 2003 by Legendary Publishing. On October 8, 2007, Knight was appointed Goalkeeping Coach at Havant & Waterlooville F.C. by new manager Shaun Gale.

Guy Whittingham

Guy later went on to become player-manager of Newport Isle of Wight. He left them in May 2005 when the club ran into financial difficulties. Guy returned to management at AFC Newbury but when that club suffered financial difficulties and the loss of their ground, Whittingham left in June 2006. In August 2006 he took up a coaching role at Eastleigh. In January 2009, he joined the Portsmouth first-team coaching staff as development coach.

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