Sad news - I remember seeing him play many years ago. Quite a character in his time. RIP Albie Pompey are mourning Albert McCann following his death at the age of 72. The midfielder â who was equally at home leading the line â was of the Bluesâ more colourful characters. Despite his stocky build and trademark bow legs, he was one of the more skilful members of the squad during his 12 years at the club. McCann â who has been inducted into the clubâs Hall of Fame â scored 98 goals in 372 games after signing from Coventry for a fee of £8,000 in 1962. Pompey remained in the second tier of English football throughout his stay, but he lit up an underachieving side" Pompey are mourning Albert McCann following his death at the age of 72. The midfielder â who was equally at home leading the line â was of the Bluesâ more colourful characters. Despite his stocky build and trademark bow legs, he was one of the more skilful members of the squad during his 12 years at the club. McCann â who has been inducted into the clubâs Hall of Fame â scored 98 goals in 372 games after signing from Coventry for a fee of £8,000 in 1962. Pompey remained in the second tier of English football throughout his stay, but he lit up an underachieving side. When they finished fifth in the 1967/68 campaign, McCann was top scorer with 16 goals â an accolade he would earn in three successive seasons He also played a key role in that seasonâs FA Cup fourth round replay victory over top-flight Fulham in a tie that saw 44,050 fans flock to Fratton Park. McCannâs place in the hearts of Pompey fans was clear when his 1973 testimonial against West Ham attracted a crowd of 22,000. They saw a Blues side boosted by new arrivals Peter Marinello, Phil Roberts and Ron Davies run out 4-2 winners, with Albie scoring in an engaging encounter. It had his stamp all over it for McCann, first and foremost, was an entertainer, loved by young and old fans alike. Portsmouth Football Club would like to express their sincere condolences to McCannâs family and friends.
An absolute legend, Before my time sadly as I was born a few years before he finished his carrer and moved abroad, but my Dad had the pleasure of playing with him and often still talks fondly of Albie........ some where there are pics in our albums of him with my Dad and Grandfather........I know its him because of his bowed legs lol! R.I.P Albert, BP & family
I watched Albert McCann play for some years. I can recall his first game which was a night time friendly to celebrate the up-grading of the existing floodlights. His stock in trade was a step over of the ball that, combined with a turn, would completely change the direction of play. It would have been frustrating to be a winger playing outside Albie because he used to dribble forwards towards the wing rather than towards goal thus cramping the winger. This enabled him to make his reversal of direction trick effective so he could turn back and bring the other winger, or players within the penalty, area suddenly into play. He was a good dribbler who could beat lunging defenders but had difficulty with defenders that stood off him. He was more of a mid fielder with a good eye for goal than a striker. I believe when he first came when Ron Saunders was still playing as striker(actually centre forward then!). His main problem was probably a lack of pace. He utilised his short statue (and extremely bowed legs) by being small and having a low centre of gravity so he was hard to shift off the ball. However, he did not have the robustness to be an out and out striker. I can never recall thinking he gave less than 100% effort. At that time I was and teenager usually attended in the company of my Father. I recall a rare occasion when my mother also came to a game. Upon seeing the rather short McCann challenge for a ball in the air she remarked " he's got the wrong shaped legs to head the ball!" It was a remark it took her some years to live down. I hope the intervening years have treated Albert well. 72 is too young. RIP Albert
He was a real "old fashioned" footballer with proper values. To have seen both Albie McCann and Harry Harris in the same team really stuck in my mind, as I was only a kid when I watched them play.
Hi Woopert Since I have not lived in England for 40 years I can only contribute comment on the golden oldies of yesteryear. Harry Harris was one of my favourites and a stark contrast to Albert McCann. Harry was a very physical player and very good in the air. I think he was a Wales under 23 international and joined Pompey from Newport when they were still in the first division. My first memories of him were in the 2nd division after relegation. He was a great threat at corners and when these were won at the Fratton end a roar of anticipation would go up. At that time he was 'inside forward' I think in the season before relegation to the 3nd division Pompey bought in two inside forwards - Johnny Gordon returning from Birmingham and Allen Brown, a Scottish international in his thirties who had played in the famous Stanley Matthews cup final for Blackpool. This meant that Harry did not get much football in the season we were in, and won, the 3nd division. Allen Brown moved back to partner Jimmy Dickenson as half backs (in the couple of seasons prior to relegation Jimmy had been playing left back). Johnny Gordon and Keith Blackburn were the first choice inside forwards in the 3nd division season. I think Brown played the following season in the 2nd division but then retired or moved on. At this time Harry switched to wing half and began his most consistent spell in Pompey colours. An attacking mid fielder he had a good shot and his surges forward were inspirational to the crowd. He was so well established in the side at the time of Dickenson's retirement that he took over as Captain. I also have a personal memory of playing cricket against Harry when I was a teenager. He was playing for Hayling Island and was a good batsmen and off-spin bowler. it is interesting that I can virtually recall the Pompey line up for their promotion season in the 3nd division. At that time there was a reserve team so there was no rotation of players. You were only dropped if you lost form or were injured. it was also prior to the era of substitutes. Nowadays the top premier league sides play too may fixtures to keep a fixed line-up so have to rotate players. In the lower leagues it appears teams either do not have reserve teams or, if they do there, are a few players that are 1st team substitutes that are not getting 1st or 2nd team football. To keep everyone match fit there has to be a level of rotation. While there appears to be much expertise in the use of substitutes and the current pace of the game is such that it is unrealistic keep the same players on the pitch for 90 minutes, I think it is impossible to build team understanding as well under a rotation of players system as it is keeping the same eleven (injuries permitting). I mention this because I think, as the end of the season approaches, it may be a good short term solution to decide on the 'best (starting) 11' and stick to it. This has become critical - with so many players on the books it becomes more difficult for a team to gel with so many permeations available and being tried. Some marginalised players may become disgruntled but so be it.
Good Evening/Good Morning pompeydownunder, Harry Harris was a "swashbuckling" player, and as you say not adverse to a good old fashioned hard challenge on an opposition player. I never saw Keith Blackburn play for Pompey, but I have met him a couple of times, and had a good chat with him. Nice bloke. I did see Gentleman Jim play a few times, right at the end of his career. Again, a class player. You are right about us getting a settled team, and as long as we can keep them fit, I think Richie Barker has almost decided on his regular first team side. The remainder of the season is going to be mighty interesting, that is for sure.
