Keeper excited by Pompey move
He has achieved plenty during his long professional career.
But David Forde is still full of excitement about the latest stop on his footballing journey.
The 36-year-old has arrived on a season-long loan from Millwall and could make his first appearance in Saturday’s friendly at Bristol City.
And he is looking forward to experiencing a packed Fratton Park for the League Two opener against Carlisle on August 6.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Forde. “The drive down was pretty special because I was excited about starting a new chapter in my career.
“This is a club that wants to return to the higher echelons of English football and I want to be part of that journey.
“To hear about 12,000 season tickets sold and a full house expected for the Carlisle game is amazing.
“Once I got that phone call from the manager I knew I wanted to come here. The club’s got everything – the ground, the training facilities, the fans.
“I know a few of the lads before – there are a few Irish guys here – and there are some top players at Pompey.”
Forde hopes that he can help Pompey recover from last season’s disappointment and help them begin the climb back up the leagues.
He said: “I watched the play-off games and I’ve been in that situation before – it’s not a nice place to be.
“But hopefully I can be part of a successful campaign and we can secure promotion this time around.”