Pompey Loyal Servants Eleven

Pompey Loyal Servants Eleven

Being a fan of Portsmouth Football Club is a life sentence, and here's a set of stalwarts who also served their time

Formation

Alan Knight (801)

The boy from Balham made his debut as a fresh-faced 16-year-old at Millmoor on April 28, 1978 and despite his callow years managed to shut out the Rotherham attack for a clean sheet. The Legend finally hung up his gloves, not so fresh-faced, at Carrow Road on January 3, 2000 – meaning he had represented the club in four different decades.

Phil Gunter (365)

Pompey boy and former Dockyard apprentice, Gunter made his debut at right back as a 19-year-old at home to Newcastle United. A dependable and versatile defender, he served the club faithfully between 1951 and 1964. Lay preacher Gunter would have racked up many more appearances but for his commitment not to play on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Andy Awford (372)

A series of serious injuries cut short Awford’s time as a player and he retired at 28. However, the premature curtailment of his career didn’t prevent the shrewd defender from racking up 372 League and Cup appearances for the Blues. His debut came in April 1989 against a Crystal Palace side containing the famous Wright-Bright combo upfront – while his curtain call was in a 1-1 draw against QPR, November 2000.

Alex Wilson (382)

Buckie-born full-back Wilson spent his entire playing career at Pompey and sits eighth on the list of longest serving players. He made his debut as a 17-year-old in 1951 against West Brom at The Hawthorns and stayed on until 1967.  His late goal against Northampton on the last day of the 1964/65 season saved the club from the drop.

Peter Harris (518)

The Pompey-born Harris made his debut against Aldershot in the wartime league. He announced his arrival with a couple of goals, and continued to find the net throughout his 14-year career with the club. He remains the club’s all-time top scorer with 211 League and Cup goals. One of Pompey’s finest.

Jimmy Nichol (383)

Bought from Gillingham by legendary Pompey manager Jack Tinn, the energetic right half was a first team regular for 10 seasons and comfortably qualifies as a member of the Pompey 300 club. He appeared at Wembley in a couple of Cup Finals for the Blues, and was also a member of the coaching staff after retirement.

Jimmy Dickinson (834)

The most loyal of them all, Jimmy Dickinson’s association with Pompey began with his wartime debut against Reading in May 1943, he signed pro seven months later. Gentleman Jim went on to represent the club until 1965 with his final match against Northampton, coincidentally, played on his 40th birthday. He remains a Pompey legend.

Harry Harris (428)

The combative Welshman was a firm crowd favourite and played out 12 full seasons of his career at Fratton Park. He made his debut in the 1958/59 relegation season and bowed out in 1970. A versatile performer, he started his career as an inside-forward before settling back into midfield, and eventually the centre of defence. He sits fifth in the all-time appearances list.

Johnny Gordon (489)

Local lad Gordon would have no doubt have burst through the 500 appearances mark for his hometown club had he not been controversially sold to Birmingham in 1958. However, the prodigal inside-forward returned to Fratton Park in 1961 and went on to claim fourth spot on the club’s appearances roll of honour.

Ray Hiron (364)

The twig-limbed Gosport-born striker is the sixth highest goal scorer in Pompey history, and he was regularly banging them in the back of the net since his debut against Bury in 1964. He left on a free 10 seasons later, and is still fondly remembered by those that saw him play.

John Weddle (396)

Sunderland-born Weddle scored 170 league goals for Pompey and sits second on the all-time list behind Peter Harris. Those goals were scored in a Fratton Park career that spanned 10 distinguished seasons from 1927 to 1938. He was signed from Northumberland for a small fee and at the time was working as a miner.

Subs

Milkins (389), McCann (380), McLoughlin (361), Gilfillan (360), Piper (358), Worrall (339), W Smith (335), Reid (328), Froggatt (305)

The numbers in brackets refer to the total number of appearances, both League and Cup