I'm sure that most, if not all of us look out for the results of other teams once we've chewed the fat over Pompey's fortunes. Here's a thread for us to share which teams' fortunes we follow and for what (if any) reason. There are a number of sides I look out for when scanning the results Havant & Waterlooville: Apart from their close links to Pompey, I lived in Cowplain until the age of 13 and was regularly taken to see Waterlooville play when they were at Jubilee Park. Workington Town and Southport: When, at a very young age, I started collecting Football Cards, the albums had the final League Tables for the previous seasons. The first two albums were for the seasons following the demotion of these two sides, who were the last two sides to fail in their bid for re-election. Plymouth Argyle: When we moved from Cowplain it was to Plymouth (dad worked in the dockyard and got a transfer to Devonport). I lived in Plymouth for 25 years (twice as long as Cowplain), making me an honorary Janner, but they were unable to remove the blue blood from my veins! Aldershot Town, Chester FC, FC Halifax Town, Scarborough Athletic: All for the same reason. Its always sad to see a club go to the wall and I have always liked to keep an eye - albeit a small one - on the progress of Phoenix clubs. The original Scarborough FC were of course the first club to gain automatic promotion to the football league in 1987. Athletic are currently in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, one below National League North.
Interesting idea for a thread dev Tottenham Hotspur: My dad was a Londoner, and Spurs were his team, so understandably I became a Spurs fan until his job brought us down to Cosham, just outside Portsmouth, when I was 11. A neighbour took me to Fratton Park to see Pompey v Chelsea, and although Chelsea won the match, I instantly became a Pompey fan thanks to the incredible atmosphere. Obtained my first season ticket when I started work at 17. Havant & Waterlooville: Like you, I also followed the Hawks when they were playing at Jubilee Park. I used to watch them when Pompey were playing away from home. They often had one or two former Pompey players in their side, which made it more interesting. Torquay United: Just because they have a lovely little ground, and we used to spend holidays as a kid in south Devon. When Harry Redknapp was Pompey's manager the first time round, every year they would have a pre-season trip to Devon based at Nigel Mansell's hotel complex. They would then normally arrange a friendly at Plainmoor. My younger daughter was fast becoming an avid Pompey fan at that stage, and as we were staying locally, I would take her to the games which were always entertaining. Bournemouth: Nice club who play good football, especially since Eddie Howe became manager. Most successful football team on the south coast at the moment. Salisbury City, because Steve Claridge was their manager. Bognor Regis, again because of their Pompey connections.
Southampton: They are from the Solent región and I always like teams from the área to do well Bournemouth: As above. Preston: One of the smaller Championship clubs in terms of support. Would love this club to get promotion. Bristol City: An underachieving club given the size of possible support in the área. Athletic Bilbao: A unique team in that they only harness talent born or educated in the Basque Country. Tottenham: I have developed a soft spot for this club given the disdain given to them by Southampton fans.
First why I support Pompey. I was born (1946) and bred in Worthing. My parents were living in Portsmouth at the start of the war but moved to Worthing since it was being bombed less ( and the flat they were in in Portsmouth was bombed a fortnight after they moved out! - good decision Dad - that's why I am here!). So I was situated between Portsmouth and Brighton and at the time of my youth they generally had home fixtures on alternative weekends so I watched both. However, my Father's greater affections were with Portsmouth so I aligned myself with them. I still watch Brighton's results since I retain a school friend who is a supporter. They now have an Australian goal keeper and will soon have an ex Pompey central defender who I wish well and hope he gets opportunities at that level. I also admire any smaller club that can endure in the premier league. I also watch the results of Man United. When I was of an impressionable age they endured the Munich disaster which got an enduring sympathy vote from me. I know they are now an obscene 'money' club but - as I say - they won me at an impressionable age. I also watch the results and television coverage of Sydney F.C. in Australia. I migrated here in 1973. The country of your birth and early youth gets your sentimental loyalty for life so when it is Australia vs England ( particularly in cricket) I am still an England supporter despite having lived the greater part of my life in Australia and having an Australian wife and children. However immigrants do take on more local loyalties and, having lived in Sydney most of my life, Sydney F.C. is a natural loyalty. I also find them easier to support since there is television coverage of their games here where as, whilst the Premier league get good (pay) T.V. coverage here there is little coverage of the English lower leagues. I also watch the Sussex cricket results.
I watch out for Portsmouth as I was born there. Aberdeen for whatever reason they are always thereabouts. Bristol Rovers as I lived and worked in Bristol back in the 70's and Eastville was a shocker to watch football at but it had character and noise. Crystal Palace as its my sisters team. That just about covers it.
