Our latest Blues in the Community update highlights the involvement of Pompey players and staff in the local area over the past few weeks.
The Central Branch Supporters’ Club welcomed defenders Connor Ogilvie and Josh Dockerill to the second meeting of the season, which was held in the Legends Lounge at Fratton Park.
It followed on from Colby Bishop and Alex Robertson attending the previous get-together in September.
As before, a packed audience kept the duo on their toes with plenty of questions for around 90 minutes, while the players were also happy to draw the raffle and pose for photographs.
During the summer, a request from Martin Cox to have a programme signed for his grandson Oscar – an avid fan already at the age of six – sadly went astray.
The club were alerted to this and put two in the post, with grandad saying: “Oscar was predictably thrilled and put on his kit so that he could pose for the attached picture for you.
“We had a great time deciphering the signatures and he was most thrilled that that he could recognise Colby’s almost straight away.
“Thanks for following up on this this – you made a young fan very happy and his grandad’s a bit of a hero by association!”
As we hurtle headlong into the festive period, Bishop switched on the Christmas lights in Commercial Road.
The striker was joined by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, as well as James Argent, Jack Edwards and Shaun Williamson, who are starring in the ‘Hook’ pantomime at the Kings Theatre.
Blues boss John Mousinho linked up with the University of Portsmouth to answer questions from Year 10 pupils at Miltoncross Academy.
He was joined by the university’s outreach coordinator Kev Sadler and Pompey’s partnerships manager Rohan Shukla to discuss various careers in football.
The club has also made donations of signed shirts and balls to the following worthy causes over the past month:
- The Lloyds Banking Group (Havant branch) Crisis appeal
- Over the Wall children’s charity based in Langstone
- Young Lives vs Cancer for a Christmas charity evening
- The neonatal intensive care units at QA Hospital and Princess Anne Hospital
- The son of a terminally ill Pompey fan to a present to his father
- Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, who are hosting a black-tie gala at the Royal Maritime Hotel