Pompey 1960s Eleven

John Milkins

Pompey has a proud legacy of long-serving goalkeepers (Knight, Uprichard, Butler) and up there with the best of them is John Milkins. The dapper custodian was a first team regular in the 60s and pulled on the Pompey goalkeeping jersey 389 times. An agile shot-stopper, he once saved three penalties in one game at Fratton Park against Notts County. In 1971 he was awarded a testimonial against that lot down the road, we forget the result.

George Ley

Pompey Hall of famer Ley was signed from Exeter for £8,000 in 1967 and stayed on for six seasons at Fratton Park nailing down the left-back slot as his own. He played 184 times in the league scoring 10 goals, including a memorable 25-yard screamer against Arsenal at Highbury in the famed 1970-71 FA Cup replay. Like many professionals of his era Ley ended his career in the States playing for the Oklahoma City Slickers.

Ron Tindall

The former Chelsea man was signed as a striker in 1964 but after failing to score in his first 15 games was reassigned to the other end of the pitch. In defence he was versatile enough to play anywhere across the back line. He was offered a coaching role at the club when he hung up his boots for good, and succeeded George Smith as Pompey manager in 1970. He also played first class cricket for Surrey (but we won't hold that against him).

Alex Wilson

Scot Wilson joined Pompey as a 15-year-old schoolboy in 1949 and left 18 years later. In that time the dedicated servant racked up 382 appearances, five goals, a couple of relegations and a Div 3 winners medal (1961/62). His desert island football moment came when scored in the closing minutes at Northampton on the last day of the 1964-65 season to earn Pompey a 1-1 draw that saved the club from relegation.

Harry Harris

The craggy-faced Welshman was signed from Newport County in 1958 for a bargain £8,000, he left the club in 1971 some 401 league games later; face even craggier. His tough tackling, robust style of play made him a firm crowd favourite and he captained the side from 1965 to 1967. He was christened Derek; the change was understandable.

Bobby Kellard

Journeyman Kellard’s playing career began in the 50s when he made his debut for Southend as a teenager and it ended at Grays Athletic in the late 70s. His time at Pompey covered two spells (1966-68 and 1972-75) and his busy, uncompromising play in the centre of midfield made him a firm favourite with the Fratton Park crowd. A pocket sized battleship of a player he stood a mere 5 foot 5 without his boots on. 

Brian Lewis 

There are two views on utility players. One, as player they’re not good enough to hold down a specialist role so have to become a jack of all positions. Two, they are intelligent, versatile and team-minded enough to perform well all over the pitch. With the indefatigable Brian Lewis it was undoubtedly the latter, as he racked up 210 appearances for the Blues over a couple of different spells.

Albie McCann

The fair-haired McCann was known for his deadly eye for a goal, his fast-working footballing brain and, most of all, his incredibly bandy legs. Another player comfortable in playing in a number of positions across the park, he found the back of the net 96 times in a 380 game career for the Blues. He is also Pompey Elevens Payer of the 60s.

Ray Pointer 

Signed from Coventry City in 1966 in a deal that saw Brian Lewis go the other way, Pointer was not only past his deadly prime when he joined Pompey, but also held together with strapping. Yet week in, week out the former England international was still the best player on the pitch in a blue shirt. With his shock of blond hair, he remained a class act. Pompey Player of the Year in 1968, he played 152 for Pompey scoring 31 times.

Ray Hiron

The Gosport-born striker shared a nickname with another 60s icon, but the Fratton Park ‘Twiggy’ was more concerned with sticking the ball in the back of the net than he was modelling for Mary Quant. A loyal servant and local legend, Ray’s one in three goal ratio (110 in 323) was a great testament to his appetite for the game and commitment to Portsmouth Football Club.

Ron Saunders 

The prolific Saunders was as good a goalscorer as the Fratton Park crowd has ever seen, and he was the Blues leading marksman for six consecutive seasons until he was controversially sold to Watford in 1964. 162 goals in 259 appearances is some return for a striker in a winning team, but Saunders achieved his tally in a struggling side that suffered a couple of relegations. Ron had a cameo role in the Birmingham-set ATV soap opera Crossroads in 1981.