Pompey are mourning the death of Ray Hiron, who has passed away at the age of 76.
The Gosport-born centre-forward struck 117 goals in 364 appearances during his 11 years on the south coast.
A Hall of Fame inductee, he was spotted playing for Fareham Town and also worked in the city’s dockyard
He hitched a lift on a friend’s motorbike in 1964 to pen professional terms at Fratton Park during his lunch break.
With just two reserve outings behind him, Hiron was handed his senior debut in a 1-1 Division Two draw at Bury.
The towering target-man was a constant nuisance to opposition defences and once hit four goals in a 5-2 victory over Norwich at Fratton Park.
He brought up a century of league goals for the Blues by diving full length to head home Ken Foggo’s cross against Nottingham Forest.
Hiron was awarded a testimonial against Southampton in 1975, fittingly scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Pompey’s south coast rivals.
He left to sign for Reading in the summer of 1975, spending three years with the Royals and later working at the Mountbatten Centre.
The thoughts of everyone at Portsmouth Football Club are with Ray’s family and friends at this sad time.
A hero for an entire generation of #Pompey fans.
— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) April 6, 2020
RIP Ray Hiron 💙 pic.twitter.com/93ABuZlfoQ