Peter Harris - Pompey success wanes

After the success of 1948 to 1950 the inevitable was that Pompey would find it difficult to remain at the top. Some players were now in their 30s and the players coming through from the reserves had dried up.  The process however was slow and would take a decade to take full effect ending in the inevitable relegation.

Pompey did however finish fourth in 1952 and third in 1955 just four points behind Chelsea the Champions

Peter’s goals however would keep coming and after two lean seasons he would net at least twenty goals between 1952 and 1956.  During the period too he missed just 24 games over 11 seasons.  He was still seen as a star and this was proven by his appearances on the cover of magazines and interviews in the national press.

The Pompey team though that won the Championship in back to back seasons inevitably began to break up and the club did not have the resources to replace the men who had brought them their success.  A number of players were ageing others opted to move on and the replacements coming through the reserves and the odd signing could not be melded into a winning formula.

Ernie Butler retired in 1952, Reg Flewin in 1954 having not played for three years, Duggie Reid in 1956 and Ike Clarke in 1952.  Jimmy Scoular joined Newcastle in 1953 and Jack Froggatt Leicester in 1954. 

Peter's goalscoring feats though continued and in October 1954 he managed to net four against Sheffield United at Fratton Park  This Plum cartoon sums up the occasion.  

He would go one better than that when in September 1958 he netted al five goals in a win over Aston Villa.

Plum again produced a cartoon but it is unlikely he would look back on his 'Carry on Mr Cox' comment later in the season.

The replacements throughout the decade included Jackie Mansell, Norman Uprichard, Johnny Gordon, Jackie Henderson, Gordon Dale, Reg Pickett and Tommy McGhee were good quality players but not in the class of their predecessors and by 1958 the cash strapped club made a panic decision and appointed Freddie Cox as manager from Third Division Bournemouth.  He believed he could turn Third Division players into a First Division team.  All he did was turn a First Division team into a Third Division club.

The most controversial decision was to drop Harris to the reserves and the fans revolted at Reserve games as Cox became a target of abuse, proving to be a poor appointment. Peter even looked for another club for a while as the fans revolt continued  but fate was about to deal Peter a cruel hand.  It was discovered he had Tuberculosis following a routine x-ray for which at the time there was no cure except for total rest and fresh air in a sanitorium.

Peter retired immediately,