Alternative History - PORTSMOUTH

The origins of Portsmouth are officially that they were founded in an office. It all came about when Alderman Pink joined together with Mr. Black the undertaker, Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum to do it in the solicitor's office with a pen, paper and £4,500 to buy some ground near Goldsmith's Avenue. Everything moved very quickly and they were in the Southern League by September 1899.

Firebrand captain Jimmy Guthrie lead the club to the 1939 FA Cup victory and put off the young Wolves winger McGuire by threatening to dump him in the Queen's lap next time he tried to go past him. Reporting this to the Police after the game, McGuire ensured that Guthrie was questioned with a view to a treason charge, but the Pompey skipper was more interested in the fact that the band members playing at half-time got more than he did, precipitating him to later write "The players would have been better off playing the cornet." Two years after this, his lust for cash brought a face-to-face confrontation with the club directors just before walking out for the War time Southern Cup Final at Wembley. His performance included a missed penalty and an own goal to cast doubt on the propensity for the club to come up with the cash already owed to him.

The arrival of the former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp, firstly as Director of Football and then boss, propelled the club into the Premiership with the help of the financial backing of chairman Milan Mandrich. Redknapp's wheeling and dealing made the arrival and departure of players almost a daily occurrence, but their aim to establish their place in the Premier League has become a reality as successive foreign owners pumped money into the club.

Famous Players : - Jimmy Dickinson; Duggie Reid; Andy Awful; Guy Whittingham; Darren Anderton; Colin Clarke;

Famous fans : - Fred Dineage (TV Presenter - "How ?"); Tommy Boyd (TV/radio presenter - "Magpie"); Ian Darke (Sports commentator); Mick Robertson (TV/radio presenter - "Magpie"); Anthony Minghella (Film director "The English Patient"); Mick Jones (Guitarist - Foreigner)

Formed	1898
Turned Professional	1898
Became a Limited Company	1898
Former names	-
Previous grounds	-
Nickname	"POMPEY"
Club Colours	Home : - Shirts - Royal blue with red and white trim Shorts - White Socks - Blue Away : - Shirts - Dark blue with red and white trim Shorts - Dark blue Socks - Dark blue
Record Premier League Win	6 - 1 v Leeds United 8.11.2003
Record Premier League Defeat	0 - 3 v Manchester United (a), Newcastle United (a) and Southampton (a) (2002-03)
Record Football League Win	9 - 1 v Notts. County 9.4.1927 (Division 2)
Record Football League Defeat	0 - 10 v Leicester City 20.10.1928 (Division 1)
Record Cup Win	7 - 0 v Stockport County 8.1.1949 (FAC R3)
Record Fee Paid	£7,000,000 to Udinese (Italy) for SULLEY MUNTARI (30th May 2007)
Record Fee Received	£5,000,000 to Aston Villa for PETER CROUCH (March 2003)
Record Football League Appearances	764 - Jimmy DICKINSON (1946-1965)
Record Premier League Appearances
Record Premier League goal-scorer
Record goal-scorer in a Premier League season
Record goal-scorer in a season	42 - Guy WHITTINGHAM (Div. 1 1992-1993)
Record all-time goal-scorer	194 - Peter HARRIS (194601960)
Most goals in a match	5 - Alf STRANGE v. Gillingham (Div. 3) 27.1.1923 5 - Peter HARRIS v. Aston Villa (Div. 1) 3.9.1958
Record Attendance (all-time)	51,385 v. Derby County (FAC R6) 26.2.1949
Record Premier League Attendance
Record match receipts	£233,000 v. Chelsea (FAC R6) 9.3.1997
Record total of goals in a Premier League season
Record Premier League points total
Record total of goals in a League season	91 - Div. 4 1979-80
Record League points total	2 points for a win : - 65 (1961-62 - Div. 3) 3 points for a win : - 95 (2002-03 - Div. 1)
Most Capped player while at club	48 - Jimmy DICKINSON (England)

Telephone : 023-9273-1204
(Box Office) : 01705 618777/ 01705 861963
(Credit Card Bookings) : 01705
(News) : Clubcall (premium rate call) 09068 1221182
Fax : 01705 734129