October 2026 Newsletter

October Newsletter

Our AGM took place on Thursday evening and Mick Comben gave a summary of the Society activities over the last 12 months (and even finished right on time!). That was followed by a talk from Society member and architect Michael Saunders and then Dan Mellor the Head Groundsperson. Between them they covered the history of Fratton Park, the history of football pitches and our ground staff over the years as well as covering how the new pitch has been laid and is being maintained. Michael showed the photos and diagrams of how the ground has changed over the years and explained why the various stands were built the way that they were as well as answering questions about possible options for the future. He even showed how our pitch has not always been a perfect rectangle! Dan then reassured us all that it definitely is now and showed how the pitch has changed over the years. As committee member Paul Boynton said to Dan afterwards, “I will never look at my lawn the same way again”! Dan referred to some of his predecessors and committee member Graham Dubber mentioned that the first ever groundsperson was Jack Trice. Trice is covered briefly in the book referred to at the end of this newsletter, The Making Of A Modern Pompey, published by the Society, and an article about him, including the photos that we have of him, will be in a future magazine. He is an interesting character, looking after our pitch for 40 years and being wounded whilst serving during the First World War in the Footballers Battalion. Many thanks to all who attended and to Michael and Dan. And of course Colin Farmery who led the Q and A. We will arrange to get a set of slides from the speakers up on our website soon. It was a great night, as usual, and we were proud to display all our recent purchases such as the Barry Harris sailor suit with the money for that kindly donated by Barry, who is now on our committee, to Rowans Hospice and the Prostate Charity. More details of all purchases will be in our next magazine but a photo of one, the Kanu shirt from the 2010 FA Cup Semi-Final (thanks to Jake Payne and Mick Hall for helping to get that one recently for us), is at the end of this email.

We must also mention our recent, excellent, tour of the Mary Rose. Great thanks to our committee member Greg Hills who led the tour, taking us backstage and showing us artefacts not on display to the general public. A photo of our gang outside the Mary Rose is below and we’ll probably repeat this at some stage so don't miss the next opportunity as it’s really worth doing.

Our final event for 2026 is on Friday November 20th in the Victory Lounge; a Memory Evening with Ray Crawford and guests. The link for ticket sales will follow.

Then we are already arranging a couple of events for 2027. There will be a visit to the World War One Remembrance Centre in Hilsea - this is a fantastic museum to visit and Charlie Haskell who runs it with his team is a real expert on the War. Charlie will not only show us around and lay on tea and coffee but will give a talk on various interesting stories that he has picked up on many years of taking guests around the battlefield sites. One of our committee will help him talk about Pompey football 1914-1918 and what some of our players did during that period. The link to get your ticket will follow.

We have also arranged a date for the Hall of Fame dinner, to be held on Friday 26th February at Fratton Park, the same weekend as the Southampton home game. More details will follow including how members can get their tickets before they go on general sale.

Other things to mention are:-

Pompey100 - City Museum Display Of PFC Memorabilia

As you know we are part of the Pompey100 project and the City Museum is being completely renovated with new displays. We’ve been working hard on ours. As Mick told members at the AGM, there is a special preview day for invited guests on October 22nd from 10 until 4 with tea and cake provided, and before the opening to the general public on the 26th. The Museum has agreed to allow all PHS members to attend if they wish to, and the invite is below:-

If you want to attend, although its a “drop in anytime” day, please just email the address on the invitation as they ask - mvs@portsmouthcc.gov.uk - mention you are a member of the history society and tell them you’re coming or they may not let you in and it would be a shame to miss that cake! We will of course include pictures of our section of the new museum in our next magazine.

Our book - The Making Of A Modern Pompey

The book covers the foundation of the club and who the founders really were. We have a few copies left so with the festive season coming up a copy would make a fantastic Xmas present for a Pompey fan or anyone who wants to know more about football in the last years of the 1800’s. It is on sale for £15 to the public in the club shop but members can buy a copy for £12 directly through us so let us know by email - chair@pompeyhistorysociety.org - if you want a copy and we can arrange for you to pick it up at the Ray Crawford event or we will get it to you some other way.

That's all for now. 

Play Up Pompey!

Pompey History Society