Back to August 1948

August 9-15: Two trial matches prepare Pompey But Rationing Means No Dressing Room Revamp

Tuesday 10: The Portsmouth players, who returned to Fratton Park last week for pre-season training, are shaping up well and are expressing a healthy keenness to get on with the job, according to trainers Mr J Stewart and Mr J Easson.

Centre-forward Albert Juliussen, left, about whom there has been some speculation, has recovered from his summer illness and is playing his full part in pre-season training.

The only absentee from training is Bennett, the recently signed outside-left from Wolverhampton. He is serving with the forces in Germany and will not be available until next month.

Wednesday 11: Portsmouth manager Mr R Jackson is expected to have a full complement of players available to him for the first of the public practice matches – Blues v Reds – at Fratton Park tonight (kick-off 6.30pm). 

There was a crowd of 6,400 at Fratton Park this evening to see The Blues beat The Reds 3-2 in the first of the pre-season trial matches. There was no ‘soft pedal’ football and the signs are that we could be in for an entertaining season.

Peter Harris (2) and Juliussen scored for the Blues, the normal league side, while Clarke and Barlow score for the Reds (mainly reserves). The second pre-season trial match takes place on Saturday (3pm).  Match Summary: Blues 3-2 Reds

There has been no transfer market activity from Portsmouth this summer but manager Mr R Jackson is confident the team can do at least as well as last season’s eighth place finish. “We have no stars but we are a team” he said.

Friday 13: Pompey’s application to the Ministry of Works for permission to re-decorate the Fratton Park dressing rooms has been refused due to the ongoing rationing of construction materials, introduced during the war.

Portsmouth's head trainer Mr J Stewart says there are no injuries that will affect the ability to field two strong sides in tomorrow's second Blues v Reds public practice match at Fratton Park (kick off 3pm). 

Saturday 14: Today’s Blues v Reds public practice match at Fratton Park kicks off in less than half an hour. The match programme is available (1d) in the streets around the ground.

Two goals from Ike Clarke and another from Peter Harris gave the Blues a 3-0 victory over the Reds in this afternoon's pre-season trial match at Fratton Park. A crowd of 7,134 was present. Match Summary: Blues 3-0 Reds

Sunday 15: This week's two pre-season trial matches attracted a total of 13,534 spectators to Fratton Park, and the receipts of £751 are to be donated to local charities.

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