Former Pompey midfielder Simon Ferry has lauded the Fratton faithful.
The diminutive Scot spent the 2013/14 campaign on the south coast, making 22 appearances during an injury-hit spell.
These days he combines playing part-time north of the border for Peterhead with hosting the award-winning ‘Open Goal’ podcast, which has seen him interview a host of football stars.
And although his time with the Blues was fleeting, Ferry looks back fondly on the rapport he built up with supporters.
He said: “I remember some of the boys having an absolute shocker, but the fans never really got on anyone’s back.
“I couldn’t really believe it because they would actually come up and thank you for playing for Pompey.
"I thought some boys couldn’t handle the pressure of such big crowds, but it was never an issue for me."
“You would go to supporter events and they would come up and shake your hand – I would actually feel embarrassed.
“A lot of them had seen top Premier League players just a few years before and, frankly, it was unbelievable.
“I loved playing there. I thought some boys couldn’t handle the pressure of such big crowds, but it was never an issue for me.
“How could I forget that first game against Oxford? We came on the pitch and the fans were holding up thousands of cards saying ‘Ours’. It gave me goosebumps.
“Ricky Holmes, Jed Wallace, Joe Devera and I would go to The Shepherds Crook on a Sunday and would be treated like kings.
“Fans were buying us drinks all day and we would be sitting there and having a right good laugh with them.
“You would never get that anywhere else when, in all honesty, we were not very good.
"It just sums up the type of people they are down there and I got to know quite a few on a personal level.”