Ball returns after 60 years

A Ball Returns Home From Canada After Nearly 60 Years

The Sheffield Wednesday game saw a fan from Canada, Alex Fullick, travel to the UK to watch the match and present the History Society with a ball from 1965, signed by the manager of the time, George Smith, trainer Gordon Neave and the entire squad including John Milkins; a fantastic addition to the Society’s collection and an item that will soon go on display.

The journey back to the UK started when Alex Fullick contacted the society as follows - Good day, This may seem like an odd message, but I’d like to donate a signed football back to the club. It was a gift to my mum back in 1965 and is signed by the PFC team; such people as Harry Harris, John Armstrong, Bobby Campbell, Alex Wilson, Ron Tindall, Tony Barton and others. I know I could put it on an auction site, but that would demean the value of my dad’s devotion and this special gift to mum – I also DO NOT want it sold at auction or given to someone for their ‘personal memorabilia collection’. Is it possible to talk to someone about returning this football to PFC at some point? 

The story behind the football was then written for us by Alex - This football came into being from love, and a one-off comment.  A young Gail E. Wilson was dating F. Alfred Fullick back in 1965. Alfred, being a strong Portsmouth FC supporter, took Gail to a few games in the fall of 1965. It was during one of these games Gail make the comment that ‘…it would be nice to have a ball signed by the team.’   Alfred didn’t forget that comment, and on Gail’s next birthday (late November ’65) he presented her with the gift of a signed Portsmouth FC football.  It had the signatures of the entire team and coaching staff, including Harry Harris (Captain) and George Smith (Manager). To add another special aspect, the ball was used by the team during a practice game, which was an ask of Alfred. So it wasn't just a signed ball, it’s a signed ball used by the team. Gail was thrilled. For the last 20 years or so the ball has been under the protection of their oldest son, Alex who had questions about how the ball came to be.  Unfortunately, Gail couldn’t answer many of the questions, such as how Alfred persuaded the team and coaching staff to sign it. Sadly, those answers are lost to time, as Alfred passed away in February of 2017.  After the tragic loss, Gail and Alex got talking about what to do with the ball. Since it was a gift of love, selling it to someone for a quick buck or giving it to someone for their personal memorabilia collection - that no one would see - was simply not an option. What was a great option though – and one that would honour Alfred’s memory – was to return the ball to its original home; Portsmouth FC. This way all Portsmouth supports could share in the dedication and love for which it was created.

Alex sent us a photo of the family with the ball (from left to right): Alex Fullick, Gail Cam (Fullick), Kieron Fullick, Diane Fullick, (Not pictured) Wayne Fullick; and also a photo of Gail and Alfred on their wedding day. And when visiting Fratton Park, after we had given Alex a tour of the city and the ground, he presented the ball to Mick Comben, with photos taken by Colin  Farmery.

The ball was first used at the Society’s "Morning With Milkins", where John told the audience, amongst other things, what it was like playing back in the day. John was reunited with the ball that he had signed, as the club goalkeeper, back in 1965 and it will now form the centre-piece of an exhibition about the manager, George Smith, that we intend to create at the City of Portsmouth Museum in early 2025. Massive thanks to Alex and Gail.