Promotion-winning forward passes away
Pompey are mourning the death of Keith Blackburn at the age of 73.
The Manchester-born inside-forward was at Fratton Park between 1960 and 1964, scoring eight goals in 37 appearances.
He made his debut in a 3-2 home victory over Luton in August 1960 after joining the Blues from Bolton the previous summer.
Pompey had been relegated to the second division for the first time in their history and in Blackburn’s first season they plummeted into the third tier.
But he played 20 games in the 1961/62 campaign as the Blues won the title and promotion at the first time of asking.
He unfortunately missed out on the promotion clincher against Watford on Easter Monday, but ended the season with five goals and a championship medal.
After leaving Pompey in 1965, Blackburn tried his luck out in South Africa with Durban, but a knee injury brought his career to an end.
He eventually settled back in the Portsmouth area and, until recently, was regularly seen at home games, while also serving on the ex-professionals committee.
Portsmouth Football Club would like to express their sincere condolences to Keith’s widow and all his family.