Pompey Down The Road Eleven

Steve Middleton

Former Brune Park student Steve Middleton picked the ball out of the net five times on his reserve team debut for that lot down the road against Birmingham City. He was picked up by Pompey after being released but amidst a flurry of conceded goals his Fratton Park career stalled after 26 appearances, and he retired from the game soon after.

Matt Robinson

What Matt lacked in hair and, let's face it, natural footballing ability he made up for in brave-hearted effort. Signed by Alan Ball for £50,000, the likeable left-back made 69 appearances before moving onto Reading for three times that amount.

Scott Hiley

Hiley dropped down a division from the Dell and quickly won over any doubters with a number of intelligent displays. He was rewarded with the captaincy and the player of the year award in 2001 – famously nutmegged Ronaldo when playing for Exeter in the Cup.

CB Fry

Charles Burgess Fry to give him his full handle was one of his generation’s finest cricketers scoring 94 first-class centuries. He also played footy and even played in Southampton’s losing FA Cup final appearance in 1901-02. The following season he turned out for the Blues as an amateur.

Jack Warner

Not be confused with the Dixon of Dock Green actor or the dodgy FIFA official, this Jack Warner made 227 appearances at full-back for Pompey up until the suspension of football due to the outbreak of World War I.

Alan McLoughlin

Macca made 309 appearances for Pompey notching 54 goals. His consistently cultured performances in the blue shirt give him full absolution for the two dozen games or so he played for the other side. Lovely man, recently departed, he remains the greatest Pompey Scummer ever.

Martin Cranie

England youth international Cranie’s career kicked off at Southampton youth academy playing alongside Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, but he soon stepped up in class when Harry Redknapp brought him down the M27 in 2007.

Eamonn Collins

Dublin-born midfielder Collins was a prodigy of Alan Ball and followed him around dutifully to a number of clubs including both Southampton and Pompey. Now a successful football agent, Collins played his part in bringing Paul Cook to Fratton Park.

Paul Gilchrist

Gilchrist is the forgotten man in the line-up of Southampton’s fluky, solitary FA Cup win. His patchy performances in the blue shirt of Pompey during the 1977/78 season were also largely forgettable.

Ron Davies

The Welshman was a prolific goalscorer at Southampton and noted for his ability in the air. After a couple of seasons at Fratton Park (18 goals in 59 games) he was surprisingly sold onto Man United.

Bobby Stokes

Forever associated for shinning one in past Alex Stepney in the 1976 Cup Final, Stokes was a Pompey boy and ended back at his hometown club after his unfortunate sabbatical down the road. He ended up flipping burgers on the Hard before a tragically early death.