Play Up Pompey...
Having focused on one of the youngest head groundsmen in the previous issue, Bournemouth’s James Lathwell, we turn our attention to one of the older statesmen of the industry, Phil Frost, the former man in charge at Somerset CCC and now holding the reigns at Portsmouth Football Club
P 82
ortsmouth Football Club, or Pompey as they and the city are often referred to, have been a popular and well supported club since their
foundation in 1898, when John Brickwood, owner of the local Brickwoods Brewery, became chairman, and Frank Brettell their first manager. The nickname Pompey is thought to have derived from shipping entering Portsmouth harbour making an entry in their logs as Pom. P. in reference to Portsmouth Point. Navigational charts also use this abbreviation. Portsmouth’s home gate tends to swell when the fleet is in!
The club joined the Southern League in 1899 and their first league match was played at Chatham Town on 2nd September 1899 (a 1–0 victory), followed three days later by the first match at Fratton Park, a friendly against local
rivals Southampton, which they won 2–0. The club soon rose to prominence and, by the middle of the twentieth century, particularly during the late 30s, the 40s and 50s, became one of the major teams of the period, reaching the FA Cup Final three times, winning it in 1939. They were also Division One champions in consecutive seasons - 48/49 and 49/50 - which was won with the help of their most famous player, Jimmy Dickinson - known affectionately as Gentleman Jim because he was never once booked or sent off.
The main stand was designed by
renowned football architect, Archibald Leitch, whose company also built an ornate pavilion (similar to Fulham’s Craven Cottage) complete with clock tower. However, these were largely removed when the ground was expanded. Fratton Park hosted a first-round
football match in the 1948 Summer Olympics (one of only two grounds outside London to do so, the other being Brighton’s old Goldstone Ground). It also hosted the first game to be played under floodlights in February 1956 and regularly entertained England Under 21 internationals.
Another of its famous sons was prolific goal scorer, Duggie Reid. Duggie retired as a player in 1956 and, after a couple of years in football management, returned to Fratton Park in 1958 as groundsman, a job he held until his retirement in 1978. Duggie was reckoned to be the best penalty taker of his time and, whilst carrying out his groundsman’s duties, often managed to beat the club’s goalie during training sessions - wearing wellies!
Since his retirement, the club has only had five other groundsmen. Brian Regan, Dougie’s assistant, took over for a
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148