Pompey are mourning the death of Tommy McGhee, who has passed away at the age of 89.
A former Blues right-back, he made a total of 143 appearances for the club during five seasons in the top-flight of English football.
He left the Royal Navy to pen professional terms at Fratton Park in May 1954, despite the interest of other big clubs.
When learning that McGhee was on Portsmouth Harbour train station about to travel to his home in Manchester, boss Eddie Lever jumped in a taxi to offer a contract.
He made his senior debut in a 5-0 home victory over Everton in November of that year and went on to appear in every other fixture, as Pompey finished third in Division One.
McGhee missed only two games the following campaign, although fell out of favour when Freddie Cox took charge in the summer of 1958.
He then spent a season with Reading, later playing 285 times for Poole and also briefly featuring for Fareham.
McGhee – who had been the club’s oldest surviving former player – was a Pompey season ticket holder up until his death and our thoughts are with his family and friends.