None appreciate such special qualities more than those players who have turned out for the Blues over the years, serving with great distinction.
So here, in the words of 12 former Pompey players, are why the Fratton faithful are among the finest supporters in the country...
![‘I used to love that drive on match days more than anywhere else, that was incredible, it was the best thing ever.
‘I’d get up early, put the suit on with the blue shirt, then drive to the Garage Lounge in Southsea and have my porridge, toast and eggs, with a coffee. Mind you, parking was in the tightest street ever.
‘Then I’d drive to the stadium, everyone would be getting off the train and walking in front of your car, you could see the fans right in front of you, banging on your bonnet, wishing you luck.
‘What a build-up that was, it was amazing, so special.
‘It’s even better when you know you’re starting at Fratton Park, that was the best. Before the game they’d play that tune (Mike Oldfield), the fans clapping along. How I would love to go back and do all that again.'
(Kal Naismith, July 2023)
Picture: Joe Pepler](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM5ZDA4MTYwLTQyNzAtNGM2OC1hNDAzLTg2MWVlYzBkNDlkYjoyMzc2YzE5Ny00MzQ1LTRmYTgtYWVkMy0wM2I1YTVhNjdhOWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Kal Naismith
‘I used to love that drive on match days more than anywhere else, that was incredible, it was the best thing ever. ‘I’d get up early, put the suit on with the blue shirt, then drive to the Garage Lounge in Southsea and have my porridge, toast and eggs, with a coffee. Mind you, parking was in the tightest street ever. ‘Then I’d drive to the stadium, everyone would be getting off the train and walking in front of your car, you could see the fans right in front of you, banging on your bonnet, wishing you luck. ‘What a build-up that was, it was amazing, so special. ‘It’s even better when you know you’re starting at Fratton Park, that was the best. Before the game they’d play that tune (Mike Oldfield), the fans clapping along. How I would love to go back and do all that again.' (Kal Naismith, July 2023) Picture: Joe PeplerPhoto: Joe Pepler
![‘My Pompey debut was against Nottingham Forest at Fratton Park with a crowd of 18,910 - and I have never played in front of anything like that in my life.
‘I’ve turned out in a stadium with a crowd of 100,000, appeared in front of 40-50,000 week in, week out, but had never performed to anything like that before.’
(Paul Merson, Played Up Pompey, 2015)
Picture: Phil Cole/Getty Images](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY1YjE0ZWJhLThiMmYtNDBkMi04YWI3LTQ3MzM0ZGQxNzVjYjpjOTVjNDAyNi1jZDJkLTQyYTYtOGU3OS0yYzYwZjFlYmRlZGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Paul Merson
‘My Pompey debut was against Nottingham Forest at Fratton Park with a crowd of 18,910 - and I have never played in front of anything like that in my life. ‘I’ve turned out in a stadium with a crowd of 100,000, appeared in front of 40-50,000 week in, week out, but had never performed to anything like that before.’ (Paul Merson, Played Up Pompey, 2015) Picture: Phil Cole/Getty ImagesPhoto: Phil Cole
![Even though I took loads of stick at Southampton, it’s not an intimidating place to play, but when Pompey get going it’s worth a goal.
Part of being a professional is handling performing in front of crowds and how you deal with it. Lots of top players who trained out of this world couldn’t translate it to the pressure of playing in big games.
Elland Road could be hostile, they made it difficult. Fratton Park was the same, they were able to batter the opposition - and I loved witnessing that.
(Darren Anderton, Played Up Pompey Three, 2020)
Picture: Shaun Botterill/Allsport](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQyMjlhNjgxLWI3ZDEtNDBkNi04OTExLWNkNmIwODM1NjhmNjozZTZiNGZkNC05ZWU2LTQ2NDMtOTc5Ny0wMzk4MGFiZGM1MDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Darren Anderton
Even though I took loads of stick at Southampton, it’s not an intimidating place to play, but when Pompey get going it’s worth a goal. Part of being a professional is handling performing in front of crowds and how you deal with it. Lots of top players who trained out of this world couldn’t translate it to the pressure of playing in big games. Elland Road could be hostile, they made it difficult. Fratton Park was the same, they were able to batter the opposition - and I loved witnessing that. (Darren Anderton, Played Up Pompey Three, 2020) Picture: Shaun Botterill/AllsportPhoto: Shaun Botterill
!['The atmosphere was always amazing at Fratton Park, but the fact we were playing a club like AC Milan sent the fans crazy, with the Milan fans also very good. The whole place was really friendly and really enjoyable.
'I can recall it wasn’t possible to hear anything between the players when speaking on the pitch, Fratton Park is a small stadium and the supporters are so close so when they are loud, it really is loud.'
(Sylvain Distin, Played Up Pompey, 2015)
Picture: Daniel Hambury/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE2OWJkZTFhLWZjMTAtNDY0NS05OGJlLTQ2ZWFkMWZkNjNkMDo3ZTBlMjA1NS0xNjE5LTQwOTgtODE3Zi01ZTM1NGMxMmM4YWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. Sylvain Distin
'The atmosphere was always amazing at Fratton Park, but the fact we were playing a club like AC Milan sent the fans crazy, with the Milan fans also very good. The whole place was really friendly and really enjoyable. 'I can recall it wasn’t possible to hear anything between the players when speaking on the pitch, Fratton Park is a small stadium and the supporters are so close so when they are loud, it really is loud.' (Sylvain Distin, Played Up Pompey, 2015) Picture: Daniel Hambury/EMPICS Sport/PA PhotosPhoto: Daniel Hambury