Midfielder savours promotion triumph
It was Monday when the champagne corks popped and the party got started.
A 3-1 victory at Notts County ensured that nobody can take Pompey’s position inside the top three.
But Gary Roberts knows it was the hard work applied throughout the season that ensured they got over the line.
The Blues took 43 matches to secure League Two promotion, so it was always going to be a marathon rather than a sprint.
And seeing the emotion on the faces of fans meant all the blood, sweat and tears was definitely worth it for Roberts.
He said: “It wasn’t a great game at Notts County, but I just had a feeling that we were going to get over the line.
“It’s a real grind in this league. You’re playing on bumpy pitches and against opponents who want to make it difficult for you.
“But we’ve got plenty of great lads in the dressing room and they’ve been able to drag us to this point.
“We put in the hard work over the season and it’s nice to have secured promotion for our fantastic fans, who have been with us through it all.
“You’ve got to treasure these moments because they’re so special and to see so many grown men crying makes you appreciate how much it means to these people.
“It’s still a whirlwind and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet – I think it will probably take some time before it does.
“There are people who work for and follow this club and have experienced so much pain in the past few years, so this is all for them really.”