The pair cut the ribbon outside South Parade Pier to officially start the fundraising walk around Portsea Island.
Walk The Island was an event founded in 2022 to raise money for charitable causes in the city.
This year, 100 walkers – split into two groups, one walking clockwise around the island and the other anti-clockwise – were raising funds to improve the facilities at The John Jenkins Stadium in Copnor.
It was a very timely choice, given the D-Day 80 commemorations that had taken place on Southsea Common just a few days earlier.
John Jenkins MBE was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest military award, for his role in the D-Day landings in 1944.
A lifelong supporter of his home city’s football club, he was still volunteering as a boardroom steward at Fratton Park when he was 97.
Aged 99, he shared a stage with the late Queen Elizabeth 2nd and many heads of states at the D-Day 75 anniversary event on Southsea Common in June 2019.
John died in December that year, a month after his 100th birthday.
In addition to two full-size 3G pitches, there will be facilities for the wider non-footballing community to use.
Originally scheduled to be finished in October 2022, rising costs have led to huge delays in completing the Pompey In The Community owned project.
While the pitches are now being used, the building is far from complete - and monies raised by the Walk The Island event will go towards making it a fully operational hub for all kinds of community use.
Moneyfields FC will play men’s and women’s home games at the stadium, and the club’s chairman Pete Seiden and men’s boss Glenn Turnbull were among the walkers.
A JustGiving page has been set up, with this year’s Walk The Island target £25,000. The total is currently just past the £8,000 mark.
The page is being kept open until June 23. To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/walktheisland
In addition, an online auction raised just over £800, including £200 for a signed Ricardo Rocha shirt and £177 for a signed Pompey shirt.
1. From left - Guy Butters, Pompey mascot Nelson, Clare Martin (CEO of Pompey in the Community, who will oversee the running of the John Jenkins Stadium) and Alan Biley at the Walk The Island event.
From left - Guy Butters, Pompey mascot Nelson, Clare Martin (CEO of Pompey in the Community, who will oversee the running of the John Jenkins Stadium) and Alan Biley at the Walk The Island event. Picture: Chris MoorhousePhoto: Chris Moorhouse
2. Some of the walkers in the Walk The Island event in aid of the John Jenkins Stadium
Some of the walkers in the Walk The Island event in aid of the John Jenkins Stadium. Picture: Chris MoorhousePhoto: Chris Moorhouse
3. Some of those taking part in the Walk The Island event held collection buckets
Some of those taking part in the Walk The Island event held collection buckets. Picture: Chris MoorhousePhoto: Chris Moorhouse
4. A group of Walk The Island walkers.
A group of Walk The Island walkers. Picture: Chris MoorhousePhoto: Chris Moorhouse