PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

American Dave Easley is a proud Pompey fan and shareholder from South Carolina.

But despite falling in love with the club almost 10 years ago, he had never clapped eyes on Fratton Park in the flesh.

Therefore it was no surprise Dave was visibly moved as, flanked by club officials Colin Farmery and Johnny Moore, he was given an extensive behind-the-scenes tour of the famous old ground.

Also present was Blues fan and creator of the ‘Pompey Pals’ remembrance wall at the ground Bob Beech, who struck up a friendship with the American and arranged for him to be shown around.

The tour included a view of the inner sanctums such as the boardroom and dressing room areas rounded off by walking down the tunnel, up the steps and out onto the pitch.

There was also a visit to the various hospitality lounges where he learnt more about the club’s illustrious past and legends such as Jimmy Dickinson.

Dave discovered the club via the BBC World service back in their Premier League days.

Originally, the fluent speaker of German had sought Bundesliga football, but this interest developed into English football and, ultimately, Pompey.

Very quickly through listening to games, Dave discovered a football club he could relate to and a love affair began.

“It’s a common notion that people pick their football club, but in my case my football club most definitely picked me and I fell in love with them,” he said.

“It’s hard to hear a passion, but at Pompey I heard it across the radio airwaves, felt it and straight away I sensed it was a blue collar town that I could identify with.

“Then later I found Quay Radio (now Express FM) and it was a no-brainer as they say, as I began listening to more and more games.

“People back home ask me why I’m a Pompey fan and it’s pretty hard to explain other than it was the blue collar club I fell in love with, a bug I was bitten by and consequently something I wanted to be part of it.

“I am proud to be a shareholder and for me, since I can’t come to games ,it was my way of giving some small thing back to Pompey.

“I’m rarely, as my friends would tell you, lost for words like today, but I’m just so proud to be a small part of this club.

“Every part of Fratton Park is almost how I always imagined it to be when listening over the airwaves.”

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