Heaven's Light by Official Pompey

THE OFFICIAL DIGITAL MAGAZINE OF PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

HEAVEN’SLIGHT EDSAPCE / WHAT POMPEY MEANS TO ME / OUT OF THE SHADOWS STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEW / JOHNNY MOORE / TOM WHITE / AWAY DAYS

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CONTENTS 05 Edspace 07 What Pompey Means To Me 09 Out Of The Shadows 11 Stakeholder Interview

14 Johnny Moore 17 Bygone Blues 18

Tom White

21 Josh Sweetman 25 Away Days DESIGN The Graphic Design House, www.tgdh.co.uk Designers Leigh Griffiths, leigh@tgdh.co.uk Andrew Sanders, andy@tgdh.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Colin Farmery, Tom White, Simon Hill, Matt Pantling, Pompey Press

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MY COLUMN LOOKS BACK AT SOME DRAMATIC LAST HOME GAMES OF THE SEASON FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

} Welcome to the April edition of Heaven’s Light. Pompey

have just a handful of games left this season as the 2014-15 campaign comes to a close. As usual this edition of Heaven’s Light is packed full of news about life off the pitch at Fratton Park. My column looks back at some dramatic last home games of the season from previous years, while Josh Sweetman admits he was hoping for a trip to Wembley at the end of the season. This issue also contains an out of the shadows feature with Adam Lea from Pompey in the Community, a stakeholder interview with PlayFootball Portsmouth’s general manager Wayne Holden, another one of Johnny Moore’s favourite years and the latest information on the Blues’ upcoming away games. We will also be speaking to another fan to find out what Pompey means to them. If you would like to be in a future edition of Heaven’s Light saying what Pompey means to you then please feel free to contact me. You can email me on tomwhite@pompeyfc.co.uk and you can also send any comments, ideas or suggestions for our publication to that email address. Yours in Pompey, Tom White Heaven’s Light Editor

THIS ISSUE ALSO CONTAINS AN OUT OF THE SHADOWS FEATURE WITH ADAM LEA FROM POMPEY IN THE COMMUNITY

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W H AT D O E S

POMPEY MEAN TO ME?

OLLY BIRCH, 24, FROM BRIGHTON TELLS

TOM WHITE WHAT POMPEY MEANS TO HIM } Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I’m 24 years old and I live in Brighton. I’m a massive Pompey fan and have been going home and away all my life thanks to my dad. I love my job; I’m a senior support worker working with adults with learning disabilities. I’m also the chairman of the Pompey Supporters’ Trust Youth Committee. When I’m not working or at football I’m usual watching bands or going to music festivals.

} What does Pompey mean to you? Pompey means everything to me; I liken Pompey to a loyal girlfriend. They’ll make you happy and sad but they’ll never leave you. When we nearly lost the club it was the most daunting thing but now the club is in good hands and we’ve got an exciting journey ahead.

} Can you remember when you started supporting Pompey? I started watching Pompey as soon as my mum would let my dad take me. The earliest match I remember was Crystal Palace away in the 1990s when Alan Ball was the manager. The fans stayed for an hour after the match chanting his name and he had to come out and tell us to go home. It has always stuck with me and is what Pompey is all about.

} Do you have any highlights from your time supporting Pompey?

Apart from the Crystal Palace match, following Pompey away in Europe was special and something I don’t expect we’ll see again, at least for a while.

} Do you have any favourite players?

Linvoy Primus was always my hero and he was not only a special player but a special man.

} Do you have any favourite goals?

Any goals against Southampton are always ones that stick in the memory, no one celebrates goals like Pompey fans do.

} How did you feel when the Trust bought the club? I was over the moon. A lot of people worked very hard for months to get everything in place and at times it felt like it would never happen. It’s a great achievement and we need to continue the good work.

} What are your hopes for the future for Pompey? I’d like the performances on the pitch to start matching the performance off the pitch. We’ve had a massive rebuilding job and it was never going to be easy but I don’t think we’re far off now.

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OUT OF TH E

SHADOWS

POMPEY IN THE COMMUNITY’S COMMERCIAL AND MARKETING MANAGER ADAM LEA CHATS TO TOM WHITE } Pompey fan Adam Lea started working at Pompey in the Community (PitC) six years ago, and although the club has seen many changes throughout that time PitC remains just as important today, if not more so. “I graduated from university doing a sports management degree and then decided to come back to my local team and try and get some experience in the sports industry,” said Adam. “I started as a football coach and worked my way up through PitC to become commercial and marketing manager. I’ve been at the organisation for six years, so we’ve had quite a transformation through that period of time and seen an awful lot of changes within the organisation and the club.” Adam is keen to stress that PitC is open to everyone in the local area, not just football fans. He said: “We try and engage with people that don’t have an affiliation with football as people have a right to be educated and participate in sport. When the club was taken over by the fans it was seen as a community club, which helps us because people do identify that we are trying to do as much as possible in the community and give back to the community.” The team at PitC are always trying to deliver as many projects as they can, and are always on the lookout for new ideas. “We try and implement as many different things as we can,” said Adam. “The new initiatives and ideas that come about can be a thought on your way home from work, or it could be that a conversation sparks an idea in your head, or it can come from external people who have an interest in the football club and their local community. We try to utilise the power of football and Portsmouth Football Club to educate and inform people of all ages.”

The club provide plenty of support to PitC, with first-team players regularly getting involved with PitC projects. Adam said: “The players have so much influence in what we do. The players are the draw, and especially working with children they always have their favourite player. We try and integrate as many of the players into our community projects as possible.” There have been many different community projects during Adam’s time with PitC, but one particular project does stand out for him. “The PUP is a children’s matchday magazine which has been nationally recognised by the Football League and a lot of Premier League clubs,” said Adam. “It is a relatively simple idea that anybody could have thought of it but the fact that it’s come from us is something that I take huge pride in.”

WE TRY TO UTILISE THE POWER OF FOOTBALL AND PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB TO EDUCATE AND INFORM PEOPLE OF ALL AGES

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STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEW P L AY F O OT BA L L TOM WHITE INTERVIEWS PLAYFOOTBALL PORTSMOUTH’S GENERAL MANAGER WAYNE HOLDEN } How did the partnership between PlayFootball and Pompey come about? Pompey’s first team came here in November, but the academy have used us on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Pompey in the Community have been running their coaching courses here for quite a few years. Since the first team moved here, we basically share the same area with them.

} How has the partnership with the club been going? It’s all going really well. I think Portsmouth pride themselves on being a community club so the fact that they’re here and this is a community facility, it’s probably brought the team and the players and the fans a lot closer together. So the partnership has been going really well.

} Have you noticed and particular benefits from being associated with Pompey?

I think we benefit because the majority of people that play football here are aware of what Portsmouth Football Club have been through. A large majority of them are Pompey fans so for them to be in and around the same area as the club and be out playing football when they can see Pompey training next to them I think has benefitted us. I think the major benefit for us is that people who play here and are members get to see the players and play alongside them. Another benefit is that we now get added little extras like we can take some of our members to Fratton Park. We took a group to the Luton game and got to sit in the chairman’s lounge, and the people that we took loved that.

} How are things going at PlayFootball? Really well. In terms of our business we’re improving every month and going from strength to strength. The FA want to boost the numbers for five-a-side football in this country, and we’ve done a lot with them to get that going. We held the FA People’s Cup here, which was for non-professionals, and that went

a-side football and we’re one of the market leaders in providing it, so we’re quite hopeful that we’re going to have a really good year.

I THINK THE MAJOR BENEFIT FOR US IS THAT PEOPLE WHO PLAY HERE AND ARE MEMBERS GET TO SEE THE PLAYERS AND PLAY ALONGSIDE THEM

really well. We’re quite happy with where we’re going. We have adult leagues from Sundays to Thursdays, we run children’s parties, Pompey in the Community run their coaching here, and we have functions and casual bookings, so we’re looking to increase on all of those things.

} Have you noticed any changes at Pompey since the fans bought the club? There always was an existing relationship there with the fans. One of the major benefits for Portsmouth Football Club was how close they were with the fans and the fanbase, but I think the fan takeover has extended that and build on it. They’re very transparent about how they run their business. I think it’s brought the whole club and the fans closer together, and the new training ground builds on that because people can come down and see what is happening.

} Do you think the community club model could work for other clubs? There’s no reason why it wouldn’t work again. It’s probably worked so well here because of the fanbase. If one club has got it right then others can get it right as well.

} Have you got any plans for the future? Growing our league numbers from Sunday through to Thursday is the main thing for us. Increasing the league numbers, getting more people and encouraging everyone to join in with five-a-side football. Now the 11-a-side season is coming to an end it’s quite a good time for us to drastically increase our numbers. We’re also trying to push corporate tournaments for big companies who want to give back to their employees. It’s a well-being thing for the companies as they give them a day off and it’s all team building. The whole company will come down and run a tournament and they’ll bring their families and children along so it’s a big thing for us. With the summer coming up there are quite a lot of those happening.

} Are you optimistic looking forward?

WH 12

Absolutely. The FA have put a lot of work into building the numbers of participation in five-

NOW THE 11-A-SIDE SEASON IS COMING TO AN END IT’S QUITE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE OUR NUMBERS

1994-95 S

} As a small kid I had mimicked the commentators of the day in my front room. If the top window was open I swear passers-by thought murder was about to be committed when I rehearsed Barry Davies at the height of excitement. It wasn’t particularly difficult seeing my voice had yet to break.

So many years later when in 1994-95 on the back of my Sports Mail column I was asked to do match updates for the now defunct Radio Victory I was chuffed to bits. Suddenly I saw the beginning of a new adventure from columnist to commentator which just about fulfilled every dream I had harboured as a schoolboy. Anyone who listened to the extremely Luddite first football updates that Radio Solent used to do of games in the mid-1970s will be acquainted with the format back then. Along with Southampton and Bournemouth the station would go to wherever Pompey were playing to get a 15-minute update of proceedings or a goal flash. At the time it was innovative however and a great leap in mankind from waiting for Pompey’s final score to come through on the Grandstand teleprinter. It was a time when Pompey seemed to be playing away predominantly up north and in those days things were Luddite compared to today where local radio stations dispatch their own commentators to grounds. They instead used to nick the local guy up there who was predictably northern and who would always sound though he was speaking through a glass. Much of the time they were.

Given this was a time when Pompey were truly awful and diving quicker than Tom Daley off a springboard it was always the next depressing thing to actually being there. “And there’s been a goal at Saltergate lets go over to our man at Chesterfield Tommy Craven,” chimed out the presenter. Now even in these days if you doubted which team had scored you would be enlightened before the likes of Tommy Craven by the roar of the crowd. There also seemed to be a stock opening sentence at this time. “Bad news for Pompey fans,” chimed out Tommy Craven as he went on to reveal the inevitable news that Pompey had gone behind after 17 minutes of intense pressure on their goal. The regular updates and goal flashes would proceed in this way as did Pompey’s defeats from any ratio from one to four goals as the norm. If it was an evening game then the updates and goal flashes would interrupt a Tuesday night music show. So the melodious tones of Leo Sayer singing ‘When I Need You’ would be interrupted by the presenter proclaiming a goal from Vale Park. Cue Harry Thomas talking through a glass revealing bad news for Pompey fans who were a goal behind after 20 minutes of intense pressure on their goal. I would mimic this all to the letter playing music on the stereo at the end of our front room, taking the needle off halfway through revealing there had been a goal

but more like 25 minutes which coincided on air with the Hignett goal.

IT WAS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE THAT MORE THAN 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE MY RADIO VICTORY DEBUT CAME AT MIDDLESBROUGH WHERE POMPEY LOST 4-0 AND WERE UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE FOR MOST OF THE GAME

from Feethams, making the appropriate crowd noise and then revealing through a glass that it was bad news for Pompey fans after 30 minutes of intense pressure on their goal. It was entirely appropriate that more than 20 years down the line my Radio Victory debut came at Middlesbrough where Pompey lost 4-0 and were under intense pressure for most of the game. It allowed me all the stock phrases such as ‘Bad news for Pompey fans’ as the roar from the Boro fans could be heard and the fact it was done behind perpex even made the talking through glass authentic. Two goals by Paul Wilkinson and another brace by Craig Hignett spaced out between the 27th and 75th minute gave me plenty of leeway for the bad news intro. It was hard to believe that having taken numerous auditions of this in my front room I was now doing it for real at Ayresome Park where 17,185 were gathered. Now at this point I have to be honest and say I’m not sure just how many were listening given that it was the first of a month stint where Victory had been awarded a temporary licence. And to be fair given its temporary reprieve it wasn’t at this time the most professional or polished production. Probably my five pre-match pints would have been frowned on also. I was given a mobile phone, long before I had heard of them, to send reports through when presenter the late and great Jim Ware phoned me up. Which didn’t actually happen on the 15-minute period agreed

With my powers fully concentrated on relaying the first 20 minutes in 20 seconds I didn’t have a clue who had actually scored it even less how it had come about. This had never happened in my front room. While in mid-flow I learnt from my press colleagues of the scorer but from there completely blagged the goal in how it came about. Luckily the other three goals came about at slightly more convenient times and I ended with what I thought to be a very clever line when proclaiming: “It’s 300 miles from Portsmouth to Middlesbrough but today it might just as well have been on the moon so far apart were the two teams.” Anxious to catch the train my post-match analysis after the classified football results was conducted walking down Middlesbrough High Street where anyone listening would have been greeted with the odd sound of a car horn honking and people chatting. I’m not sure too many match round-ups if any would have happened in this way. My one and only Fratton Park debut came a week later in a 1-1 draw against Reading where the battery completely died on me after 75 minutes. And the following week I did a Friday night preview from Nottingham from a public phone box after the mobile had died yet again. Post-match reports in high streets and match previews from phone boxes was not quite how I had envisaged my fledgling commentary career and certainly the glamour I once associated the vocation with was a world away from reality. I did make a temporary comeback towards the end of the season at Swindon when Victory were granted another short-term licence but checking in an hour before the game I found I could hear Jim Ware but he couldn’t hear me. So you know what I switched the thing off and enjoyed Pompey’s 2-0 victory from the press box and decided that it was far more fun doing it in the front room though a glass where the same amount of people would have tuned in – namely none. 94-95 saw Pompey limp in in 18th place in a season where their proposed new ground in Farlington, which for so long had looked reality, got consigned to the scrapheap. Along with my commentary career.

BYGONE BLUES Johnny Moore looks at Nicky Jennings’ contribution to Pompey

HIS DIMINUTIVE FRAME AND NERVOUS DISPOSITION DIDN’T REALLY MARK NICKY JENNINGS OUT AS A TOP FOOTBALLER.

Although back in contention, he sat out two historic FA Cup meetings with topflight Fulham – with the Fratton Park replay attracting 44,050 through the turnstiles.

But as his trademark of ‘tricky Nicky’ bore testament to, the left winger was capable of looking after himself. He was a speedy and courageous player, who used to torment opposition right-backs.

Jennings was back for the fifth round home tie against West Brom, though, which drew another 40,000-plus gate as the hosts lost 2-1 to the eventual winners.

And that was not all. A tally of 50 goals during his time at Fratton Park demonstrated that he also possessed a keen eye for finding the back of the net.

Indeed, luck was not something that he was blessed with. Further down the line in 1971, injury prevented him from taking up his usual position on the left when Arsenal were in town for another FA Cup clash.

Nicky spent eight seasons at Pompey between 1967 and 1974, during which time he amassed 227 appearances – a record that would, years later, see him inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.

On the up side, a 1-1 draw that day ensured a replay at Highbury which Jennings was fit for, as the boys in blue bowed bravely out to a side who not only lifted the trophy at Wembley, but also claimed the league title.

After arriving from Plymouth, he made an immediate impact on his first appearance, scoring the Blues’ second in a 3-2 home victory over Rotherham Jennings would later be joined at Fratton by a host of players with a Devon connections, such as Norman Piper, Richie Reynolds and Mike Trebilcock. That debut goal would be Jennings’ only strike in his first five months with Pompey, although his tricky wing play and wicked delivery helped the side finish comfortably in midtable in Division Two. He came into his own the following campaign, finding the target on 11 occasions as the Blues challenged in the top half before eventually coming up short, with a late-season slump seeing them end up in fifth position. Nicky gave notice of his intentions early on by bagging a hat-trick against Norwich in a 3-1 triumph at Carrow Road. However, his momentum was disrupted by a broken ankle that would keep him sidelined for seven weeks.

HIS TRICKY WING PLAY AND WICKED DELIVERY HELPED THE SIDE FINISH COMFORTABLY IN MID-TABLE NICKY JENNINGS DOB: 18/01/46 POSITION: WINGER POMPEY CAREER: 19671974 POMPEY APPS: 227 POMPEY GOALS: 50

Nicky’s slight frame meant that he always carried the risk of injury and he was forced to sit out the first 12 games of the 1971/72 season after breaking his collarbone. But he returned for Pompey’s biggest home victory for 12 years when netting twice in a 6-3 defeat of Fulham. When a number of big money signings – including Peter Marinello and Ron Davies – rocked up at Fratton Park in 1973, it was the begging of the end for a loyal servant. Jennings was restricted to just four more first team appearances, spending most of the campaign playing for the reserves in the Midweek League. He returned to Devon in the summer of 1974 to sign for Exeter on a free transfer, making 124 appearances and netting 14 goals. And three years after his departure, Nicky got a final chance to come up against a Pompey side that was vastly different from the one he had left behind. Despite the winger’s best efforts, the Blues – now bereft of money and sinking fast in Division Three – ground out a 1-0 win.

TOM WHITE’S

VIEW FROM THE

FRATTON END

} And so the end of the 2014-15 season is nearly upon us. And if the last few years are anything to go by then the Blues’ last home league game of the season against York City on Saturday, May 2, could be a dramatic one.

was a rather more sombre affair, as the Blues’ 2-1 defeat at home to Derby County sealed Pompey’s relegation from the Championship and consigned Michael Appleton’s side to League One football in 2012-13.

Last season Pompey finished their campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle.

Jake Buxton gave the visitors the lead in the first half, although Luke Varney’s second-half equaliser briefly raised the hopes of the Fratton faithful.

Andy Awford’s side went into the game on the back of five wins and a draw, an impressive run of results which had secured the Blues’ League Two safety.

However, Steve Davies’ penalty earned the Rams the three points and sealed Pompey’s fate.

Pompey took the lead three times in the match, as midfielder Danny Hollands helped himself to a hattrick, but the Blues were pegged back each time as Reuben Reid’s goal and Connor Hourihane’s brace earned the Pilgrims a share of the spoils.

The Blues were safely in mid-table in the Championship in 2010-11, but Pompey’s last home game of that season was a significant one for visitors Norwich City.

Rewind another 12 months and Pompey’s last home league game of the 2012-13 season was the unforgettable 3-0 victory against Sheffield United. The Blues may have already been relegated to League Two, but the match was Pompey’s first home game since the Pompey Supporters’ Trust had completed their takeover of the club. The sunshine reflected the party atmosphere, as Guy Whittingham’s side waltzed into a 3-0 lead before the break through goals from Shaun Cooper, David Connolly and Jed Wallace. Pompey’s last home game of the 2011-12 season

THE SUNSHINE REFLECTED THE PARTY ATMOSPHERE, AS GUY WHITTINGHAM’S SIDE WALTZED INTO A 3-0 LEAD BEFORE THE BREAK THROUGH GOALS FROM SHAUN COOPER, DAVID CONNOLLY AND JED WALLACE

Simeon Jackson’s second-half winner earned the Canaries the three points which sealed their promotion to the Premier League. Pompey had already been relegated from the Premier League before their last home game of the 2009-10 season, although the Blues signed off from Fratton Park in style with a 3-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Aruna Dindane, John Utaka and Michael Brown scored Pompey’s goals, although the game is probably best remembered for Avram Grant’s emotional and inspiring speech on the pitch after the match.

when Pompey beat Rotherham United 3-2 at Fratton Park to seal the Division One title. Pompey also stepped up to the mark in their last home game of the 2000-01 season, as the Blues beat Barnsley 3-0 to secure their Division One status and condemn Huddersfield Town to Division Two football. With so many dramatic last home games of the season in recent years, the question is whether this year’s match against York City can match those previous encounters.

Pompey’s last home game of the 2008-09 season was a 3-1 win against Sunderland, although that match is probably best remembered for the hero’s welcome that second-half substitute Linvoy Primus received from the Fratton faithful. The Blues had nothing to play for in their last home game of the 2007-08 season, as they prepared for the FA Cup final, but visitors Fulham were scrapping for their lives and Danny Murphy’s second-half header gave the Cottagers the three points which secured their Premier League survival. Pompey’s Premier League adventure had started in the 2003-04 season, and Harry Redknapp’s side finished that season in style with a 5-1 demolition of Middlesbrough at Fratton Park. No look back at last home games of the season would be complete without the 2002-03 season,

JOSH SWEETMAN’S

POMPEY C H A T } Wembley, maybe it was just a pipe dream. The level-headed football fans among the Fratton faithful would have shot me down whenever I spoke to them at the start of last month. Up until the 1-0 defeat at the hands of AFC Wimbledon, just one defeat in 11 games had me extremely excited. Not only had Andy Awford turned the mind set of those that perhaps thought our earlier form warranted a change in management, but our performances on the pitch were taking us up the table at a rate of knots. When we clinched that famous victory over Tranmere from the death, I couldn’t help but continue to calculate what we needed to reach the play-offs at the end of the season. I for one knew it was nothing more than a pipe dream, a hope that I could hold onto as the games came and went. I miss the glory days, rubbing shoulders with the Premier League elite, holding our own in one of the best leagues in the world. Even when we beat Luton 2-0, I still thought we had a chance. But football has many cliches, and football is a game of opinions is truly one of them. I continued to brag to friends that we would make the play-offs come May, that we could still make it out of the division. They were quick to shoot me down, and rightly so, but thinking about it on Easter Sunday with the club winless in four games, I realised that it was a trip to the capital, to the national stadium that I really wanted.

that had me hoping we would be there come May fighting it out for the last promotion spot in League Two. A man slightly intoxicated before the Spurs game trying to offer a police horse some of his beer and a man dancing down Wembley way when we had negotiated a tricky West Brom side in 2008. There were many great moments, and if I’m honest I have to be slightly disappointed that I will have to wait a little longer for some new ones. Still, everything must be looked at in a positive light. There could have been no club to produce memories; we could have been flocking to a little ground to watch an AFC Portsmouth. We may not be making Wembley and the play-offs this season, but the rollercoaster season is what defines Portsmouth as a club. What we have suffered at the hands of some individuals is heartbreaking, but I have no doubt that sooner or later we will be back where we belong, be it through automatic promotion or a cheeky trip to Wembley. The latter, may not leave the nerves in good stead though.

I AM DELIGHTED THAT HE HAS BEEN IN GOALSCORING FORM OF LATE, A FEELING MATCHED BY A NUMBER OF FIRST-TEAM PLAYERS

I hold a number of fond memories from our Wembley dates. Obviously nothing will ever beat the sight of Sol lifting the FA Cup above his head, or Kanu just about managing to hook the ball over the line to secure the win, but there are others. Others

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JOE ATKIN PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ON POMPEY’S UPCOMING AWAY GAMES

AWAY

D AY S Stevenage v Pompey Tuesday April 14, 7.45pm Sky Bet League Two

Mansfield Town v Pompey Saturday April 25, 3pm Sky Bet League Two

What’s the ground like?

Stevenage play their home games at the Lamex Stadium, also known as Broadhall Way, in front of a capacity of 6,772 – with 3,412 being seated. Away fans are located in the South Stand of the ground, which can house 1,400 travelling supporters. It is a relatively new stand, therefore the atmosphere and view of the pitch is very good.

Mansfield Town play their home games at the One Call Stadium, formerly known as Field Mill. The ground has a capacity of 10,000, and is an all-seater stadium. Away fans will sit in the North Stand, which can take about 1,800 travelling supporters. It is a relaxed stadium with a very good atmosphere.

How to get there by car:

The journey from Portsmouth to Broadhall Way should take supporters roughly one hour and 49 minutes, depending on traffic. When driving, take the A3 in Hampshire and then take the M25 in Surrey. Once in Surrey, follow the M25 to North Orbital Road. Take exit 21A when leaving the M25, and then take the A405 in Hertfordshire. When in Hatfield, you should take the A1 and follow it all the way to Broadhall Way. Take exit 7 from the A1 and Broadhall Way will be a four-minute drive. The address for the stadium is: Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG2 8RH. There are no car parks of note, but street parking is available.

The trip to Mansfield is like similar journeys up north for Portsmouth fans. Once past Surrey, you get on the M1 to Nottinghamshire. Leave the M1 at Junction 28, and take the A38 to Mansfield. After passing the King’s Mill Hospital on your left and then the Nell Gwyn pub on your right, turn right at the traffic lights after the pub into Sheepbridge Lane. After passing under a railway bridge, you will reach a set of traffic lights where you turn left into Quarry Lane. You will reach the stadium along on the left. The address for the stadium is: Quarry Lane, Mansfield, NG18 5DA. There are places to park at the ground, costing £5. Away fans can also use the car park at the station, which costs £3 for four hours.

How to get there by train:

Stevenage train station is about a mile from the ground, so a bus or taxi is advised unless it is a lovely day and you want to walk. The bus available is the number 5, Arriva bus, which can be caught from Bay E in the bus station. It is £1.50 for a single, or £2.30 for a return. You should ask the driver to drop you at Monkswood Way, as it is a short walk to the ground. The train journey will take three hours and two minutes, with two changes. These will be at London Waterloo and London King’s Cross. With a railcard it will cost £30.50, but without it will be an extra £16.

You can see the ground from Mansfield train station, and it is a ten-minute walk. The train journey will take five hours and 28 minutes, with three changes. These will be at Winchester, Derby and Nottingham. Without a railcard, an open return will cost £198.60, but with a railcard it will cost £131.10.

Where to drink? There is a large clubhouse bar at the ground, which is located behind the away end. It is popular with home and away fans, but for high-profile games it may only open for home fans. That can cause a problem for travelling supporters, as there are not many pubs around the area. Hotels:

Where to drink? Mansfield’s ground has its own bar, which is called the Sandy Pate, and it is located underneath the Ian Greaves Stand. It is free to enter for all away fans, although it can get very busy. The Midland Hotel, which is near the train station and a ten-minute walk from the ground, is another recommended bar for those who want a pre-match beverage. Hotels: All hotels around the area will be found on www.laterooms.co.uk. Check for availability in advance.

All hotels around the area will be found on www.laterooms.co.uk. Check for availability in advance.

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