July 1-10: The Fixtures Are Out For The Title Defence But Cricket Is Still In Full Swing
Wednesday 6: Pompey will begin their defence of the league title with an away game at Newcastle United on Saturday 20th August. The Blues won 5-0 at St James' Park in the corresponding fixture last season.
After the trip to Newcastle, Pompey's first home match of the season will be on Wednesday 24th August against Manchester City. The following Saturday (27th) Blackpool will visit Fratton Park.
The fixture list compilers have handed Pompey a sequence of three away matches in six days. They go to Manchester City on Wednesday 31st August, Midlesbrough on Saturday 3rd September, and Aston Villa the following Monday.
Pompey's Christmas programme will be typically hectic. They visit Blackpool on Christmas Eve and go to Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day. The return meeting with Charlton will be at Fratton Park just 24 hours later.
Pompey's Easter schedule for the coming season will see them play three times in four days. First Division new-boys Fulham visit Fratton Park on Good Friday, West Bromwich Albion arrive the following day, and on Easter Monday Pompey go to Fulham.
Pompey's final away match of the season will be at Arsenal on Wednesday 3rd May. Their season will conclude with a home match against Aston Villa on Saturday 6th May.
Sunday 10: The Lord Mayor (Alderman John Privett), who is a Pompey director, has been at the Hampshire v Gloucestershire match at the Portsmouth Cricket Festival. He is pictured (centre) talking to the captains, Allen (Gloucs, left) and Eagar (Hants).
Bert Barlow was the only player to have picked up an FA Cup winners medal AND a League Championship medal with Pompey. Bert was at inside-left when the Blues beat Wolves 4-1 at Wembley in 1939, and he made 29 league appearances (8 goals) for the champs in 1948/49.
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