2011/12 was not one of the easiest season's for a Pompey fan. Yet for me it will be one filled with great memories on the pitch and in the stands. It was a season that started of positively as we had new owners who seemed to have a bit of cash behind them which bought in quality talent such as; David Norris, Greg Halford (on a permanent deal), Stephen Henderson and Erik Huseklepp. With these new signings along with our current squad I thought it would be a successful season for Pompey. However we had a pony manager who would be more suited to stoke, mr hoofball Cotterill was not getting the results fans expected and always had a shit excuse. For example after loosing to cardiff he said in interview 'I overtrained the players' So it was goodbye Cotterill and hello 3 points, skies were still blue over pompey at this time. Then the predictable came the 'fit and proper' owners were not fit and proper and were arrested for fraud. So we were back in adminstration and left furious at the FA for allowing such people into our club, on the brightside they did get us Norris! However during this shocking period Pompey signed a genuinely brilliant guy as a manager Michael Appleton, who made that group of players into a football team instead of a bunch of arrogant money grabbing w*nkers which many footballers are today. You had a team that was written of when administration came, that rallied together and created hope!
The day the season really kickstarted and got good for me would have to be Sunday 18th December 2011. Derby day against Southampton or as I prefer Scum. Scum were top Pompey were flurting with relagation. Beat the scum your a Pompey hero. Score against the scum and you go down in Pompey folk law as a legend. Was a typical sloppy unexciting derby then scum struck with fatty in the 63rd to go 1-0 up I thought that was it, we were awful but cometh the hour cometh the man Joel Ward wrote his name in Pompey history as a legend when he headed home in the 83rd to lift the roof off the shed of dreams. 7 years and counting, you'll never beat us again! That was the start of what made me love football instead of winning. Pompey were not just rallying together on the pitch we were to off it. Each game got louder and each away following got bigger. Appleton also made each emergency loan better! The likes of chris maguire and scott allan defined passion in the shirt! Just seeing them work there tits off each week was enough to send me home smiling. Then came the rumors of liquidation and these rumors showed what the club was really made of, luckily this didn't and we were to stay in admin but what happened after this defined a club playing for passion instead of money. Players were refusing to sign contracts to move away from Fratton Park and even took pay cuts to keep the club they now love in business! Now that is pride in the shirt and those lads done us proud for the rest of the season and created hope of survival. If you visited Fratton park in the final third of season you would have heard the now famous 'we will never die' and '-10 who gives a fuck were super Pompey and were staying up' ring round the shed of dreams. Scum away was about to happen and Pompey were written of big time, but we don't loose a derby. I traveled in the bubble just hoping not to get smashed. But 2 legends were discovered that day, one going by the name of Chris Maguire who scored a worldie near post rocket to shock st marys however what was to follow will go down as one of my favorite moments. 89 minutes Sharp sent st marys into ecstasy as 'eieieio' rang out after his supposed winner. Then Norris happened! 94 minutes and he scores a unbelievable goal to send me flying 4 rows infront hugging everyone I can in the process. The celebrations summed up the passion as the bench was cleared and going nutty! After that happened I believed we were gonna survive the championship with no money. But this sadly wasnt to be due to the -10. Yet the ever strong blue army travelled with 3000+ to forest away to create one of the best away atmospheres they have witnessed at the city ground. Beachballs were in the 100's and the beers were being necked! 'Were all going on a league 1 tour' Sadly the on-field performance was shocking compared to what was happening off it. But the home fans appreciated and respected Appleton's men's efforts to survive and gave those lads a standing ovation as they left the field. That again shows love for football. Appletons men later reappeared to hang a flag on the goal which showed there love for this football club, these players didnt want to leave but were forced to over the summer! I will forever miss seeing Pearce's gazelle pre match at fratton, halfords long throw and David Norris being well David Norris. I felt sad to see this season end but also felt a huge amount of pride for supporting 11 men week in week out who knew what football meant to us in the crowd. Pompey and proud, for life not for glory. I finally know what football is really about.
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| Norris 94th minute equaliser |
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| Players after forest away last day. |
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