March 21-31: Don Revie Scores For Leicester To End Pompey's Dream Of The Double

Monday 21:  Portsmouth have received an additional allocation of 750 tickets for the FA Cup semi-final against Leicester City at Highbury on Saturday. They are 6/- and 2/6 (standing) tickets and will be on sale at Fratton Park at 7pm tomorrow evening. 

The Pompey team and manager Bob Jackson recently visited the children of the Treloar Cripples' Hospital in Alton. On Saturday some of those children were at Fratton Park where they were presented with a match ball by the visiting Derby County side. 

Tuesday 22:  The additional 750 tickets for Pompey's FA Cup semi final tie against Leicester City at Highbury will be sold only to holders of a valid "special excursion" rail ticket. 

Wednesday 23:  Reg Flewin (left) and Harry Ferrier in training for Pompey's FA Cup semi-final tie against Leicester City on Saturday. In the background is Lindy Delapenha. 

Addressing the annual dinner of the National Association of Funeral Directors, the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr F Miles, said "We have in Portsmouth FC one of the finest propaganda and publicity mediums we could possibly hope to possess."  

More news on Pompey's preparations for their cup semi-final on Saturday (from tonight's Evening News).

Going to the semi-final? Order your sandwiches in advance. 

The additional 750 tickets for Pompey's FA Cup semi final tie at Highbury on Saturday were disposed of in less than 30 minutes last night. Several hundred disappointed supporters were turned away after the last ticket was sold.

There will be radio commentary on the closing stages of the Scotland v England International on the Light Programme at 5.45pm this evening. 

Leicester's danger man. 

Thursday 24:  Pompey will delay naming their side to face Leicester in the FA Cup semi-final until Saturday morning. The uncertainty relates to the forward line. Clarke and Barlow are both fit again and may get a recall at the expense of Reid and Parker. 

Friday 25:  If you couldn't get a ticket for the semi-final... 

With the exception of a round of golf at Hayling on Monday, Pompey's training schedule this week has been the one that has stood them in such good stead throughout the season. Leicester City, by contrast, have been training at Skegness. 

The Portsmouth party left Fratton Park for London shortly after lunch today. The First Division leaders are the firm favourites to win their semi-final against Second Division strugglers Leicester City at Highbury tomorrow. 

Pompey will have the vocal support of 25,000 supporters at Highbury tomorrow. They will be conveyed to London on 18 special trains (as well as the regular services), more than 200 coaches, and a cavalcade of private cars.

Although most dockyard staff no longer work on Saturday mornings the City Council's Passenger Transport Department will be running its normal Monday - Friday service of buses across the city to get supporters to their departure points for London. 

A fleet of buses will also be available to meet the special trains returning late tomorrow evening. These will run from the Harbour and the Guildhall to all parts of the city, with a minimum fare of sixpence. 

The final returning special train leaves Waterloo at 11.45pm tomorrow. 

Evening News "Good Luck" edition... Football Mail on sale at Waterloo station, Victoria coach station and Piccadilly Circus... Grand National and Boat Race info... 

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs F Miles, will be at Highbury supporting Pompey tomorrow. The club's President, Field Marshall Montgomery will also be there, as will Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fraser, the First Sea Lord. 

Whilst the main event is taking place in London tomorrow it will be business as usual at Fratton Park, where Pompey Reserves face Southend United Reserves in the Combination Cup. Updates from Highbury will be announced every 15 minutes. 

Pompey "A" meet Alton in a Hampshire League fixture at Bridgemary tomorrow. Pompey "B" travel to Alton to face a local youth side.

Saturday 26:  The exodus of Portsmouth supporters from the city is well under way. A number of special trains have already departed from the harbour and town stations. One of them carried these two gents and their plaque showing Pompey's progress in the cup. 

Pompey's dream of winning that elusive league and cup double came to an abrupt end at Highbury this afternoon when they lost 3-1 to Second Division strugglers Leicester City in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

Don Revie gave Leicester a shock early lead. Peter Harris levelled for Pompey after 25 minutes. Ken Chisolm fired the Filberts back in front two minutes after the break, and worse was to come when Revie headed Leicester's third. 

Nothing went right for Pompey this afternoon. They rarely came close to the level of the performances that have swept them to the top of Division One. Leicester, on the other hand, belied their lowly status and thoroughly deserved their victory. 

The afternoon will have been a bitter disappointment to the 25,000 Pompey fans who had descended on North London with such raucous enthusiasm and high hopes of seeing their side secure another Wembley appearance. 

Some will no doubt point accusing fingers at the Pompey selectors for leaving Duggie Reid out of the side in favour of Bert Barlow. Others may blame Peter Harris for missing a chance to equalise when it was easier to score with Leicester 2-1 ahead. 

Whatever the reasons for this bitter disappointment it now falls on Pompey to pick themselves up and go on to meet the challenge set by chairman Mr Vernon Stokes back in August: winning the Championship in the club's golden jubilee season. 

In the other cup semi-final this afternoon Wolves and Manchester United drew 1-1 after extra time at Hillsborough . The sides will replay a week today at Goodison Park. Match Summary: Portsmouth 1, Leicester 3

A sizeable crowd saw a young Pompey Reserves side lose 1-0 to Southend United Reserves at Fratton Park this afternoon.  Match Summary: Portsmouth Reserves 0, Southend United Reserves 1

Sunday 27  Last night's Football Mail captured the flavour of one of the most disappointing afternoons in Pompey's 50-year history.

Last night a special football edition of the London Evening Standard carried this report of Pompey's FA Cup upset at Highbury.

A quick dip into today's Sunday papers - if you can bear it.

Monday 28:  Peter Harris nips between two Leicester City defenders to equalize for Pompey in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Highbury. It was to no avail - Pompey lost the match 3-1. 

Pompey's league match against Arsenal, originally scheduled to be played at Highbury last Saturday, has been re-arranged for Wednesday May 4th.

Tuesday 29:  The Evening News cartoonist Plum gives us his analysis of Pompey's disappointing FA Cup semi-final defeat against Leicester City last Saturday. 

All of the 18 football special trains to London on Saturday arrived on time or a minute or two early, according to this snippet in tonight's Evening News. 

The Ministry of Food has issued this guidance on obtaining your new Ration Book.

Wednesday 30: Future England manager Alf Ramsey nets as couple of penalties as the reserves go down at The Dell. Match Summary: Southampton Reserves 3, Portsmouth Reserves 1

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