Peter Harris Centenary - Getting started

Harris made his first team debut at Watford – the News in their preview of the game reported ‘The Outside Right may be a youngster named Harris who is working locally and said to be something of a flier on the wing.’  Pompey fielded a patched up team that day which was commonplace during the war with other more ‘pressing’ engagements and lost the League South game by 3-0 but one of the ‘promising features came with the display on the right wing of Harris a lad of 18 who has been playing in local football. He was a bit uncertain at first but when he got warmed up he was more confident and showed every promise of having the making of a fast little winger.  He has all the football craft one would expect in one so young and so little experience and it only needs to be brought out.’   The News reporter could not have got it more correctly!

Prior to making his Football League debut Peter’s career stats were as follows:-

Season 1944/45

22 League South appearances 12 goals

6 League South Cup appearances 3 goals

Total 28 app 15 goals

Season 1945/46

33 League South appearances 10 goals

1 FA Cup appearance

Total 34 appearances 10 goals.

After the enforced break of the war The Football League eventually returned on 30 August 1946 with the visit of Blackburn Rovers to Fratton Park.  With the absence of Cliff Parker, Robert Nutley switched to the left wing allowing Peter to slot into his favoured position of right winger.

Fans did not have to wait long for Pompey to score their first post war goal.  Harris was fouled on the edge of the box and from Rookes’ free kick a scramble followed ending with Duggie Reid slamming the ball home.  The 31,000 crowd were ecstatic and despite some late Rovers’ pressure Pompey romped home 3-1.

Peter would play just four times that season but on November 2 in the final minute of a 4-1 victory over Leeds he scored his first goal when set up by Reid.  However back in the stiffs (Reserves) the club would win the Football Combination Section B – so called to facilitate the large number of clubs seeking competition after the war.

At the start of the next season (1947/48) Pompey started with a home defeat to Burnley and manager Bob Jackson decided to take urgent action and completely reshuffled his forward line bringing in Peter on the right wing.  The next game saw Harris score but Pompey lost again this time at Stoke City 2-1.  Jackson stuck with his plan and was rewarded the Blues won six of their next seven games with Peter scoring another three goals.  21 year old Peter had cemented his place and would miss only one further game that season with 40 appearances and 13 goals with Pompey finishing in eighth place in Division One.