After a hectic first few days of groundhopping which saw us go to 3 matches in 4 days together, this weekend we went our separate ways. Whilst Luke was travelling down to watch his beloved Tottenham, I was taking in a League One fixture between Portsmouth and Tranmere.
With my new job as an Opta Analyst, I would usually spend my time watching the Southampton youth teams but every now and then they need cover for a match. When they called me up to do the gig I immediately said yes as I had been to Fratton Park and was very impressed with what they had to offer.
My memories of the ground continued as a loud Fratton Park helped Kenny Jackett’s side run out 2-0 winners. A quite stupendous goal from Ben Close and a less emphatic finish from Tom Naylor sealed the win as Pompey recover from their opening day defeat to Shrewsbury.
Atmosphere:
Despite the supposed noise cancelling headphones I was wearing, I still managed to here the synonymous Play up Pompey chant ring around the stadium. They were singing throughout and ultimately helped their team get over the line and give that extra 10%.
The Tranmere fans less so. The fans were noisy at times throughout the games but not anything to write home about. They were literally silenced by the above mentioned delightful finish from Close which you have to catch on EFL on Quest at some point.
I am going to rate the atmosphere 3.5/5
Cost:
As I was working at the game I didn’t have to part way with any many, but for anyone else who’d want to visit the ground for a match the price for an adult ticket is £24. With that plus the train tickets, the price of the day out to the South Coast would be a tad under £50.
This is before thinking about getting a programme or some food, so £50 just to get into the stadium is a steep price to pay for League One football.
So for cost, I am going to rate Portsmouth 1.5/5
Entertainment:
Portsmouth are a team who I always see in and around the play offs recently, so I was expecting some goals on their part. Tranmere on the other hand, I wasn’t expecting much from. The newly promoted side did give it a go, as did their fans but they brought little entertainment to the match.
Portsmouth were quite the opposite. The style of football was clear. Get it to the dangerous full backs who’ll put in sumptuous crosses to the strikers. It didn’t quite materialise like that for much of the match so Close decided to unleash his strike which one Sky Sports Goal of the Day.
Hollywood actor Will Ferrell was also in attendance, and although I didn’t meet him to talk to, I thought I’d add it in anyway.
For entertainment I wil rate it a 3/5
Facilities:
The ground is a lovely old-fashioned stadium which was built all the way back in 1899. Obviously over the years they have replenished the seats/facilities but the sentiment of the old stadium lives on. The ground was sold out for this encounter and the place was literally bouncing at one point.
I was situated at the back of the main stand, which meant I had a slightly restricted view of the other stands surrounding me, and parts of the pitch which were blocked by poles holding up the stand. The ground from the outside is quite unique and if you want something different and some high-quality football then Fratton Park is your place to go.
The facilities I will rate 3/5
Food:
On the way from the train station to the ground I must have seen half a dozen burger or pie vans which all looked and smelled nice but as I was rushing for the train on the way back I had to politely decline, however I am sure if I went again I would try some of that food.
I did have some food during the day at the football. Once I entered the media centre I was given a programme and offered a sausage roll and/or a slice of cake. I took them up on their off for the sausage roll and I’m glad I did. There was also tea and coffee available but as I don’t drink either I didn’t take advantage of it.
For food I am going to rate Portsmouth a 4/5
Man of the Match:
You would think Ben Close has the Man of the Match award wrapped up for me, but no, there was another player that caught my eye. Lee Brown. The former Bristol Rovers full back was marauding down the left hand side and almost had a goal for himself, if the linesman didn’t flag him offside.
He put in cross after cross, many of which reaching their man. A criticism of any otherwise fantastic performance would be that he did overcook a fair few of this deliveries into the box, but with both Pitman and Marquis on, he seemed a lot more comfortable picking somebody out.
So what does this mean?
Well after adding the ratings together, Portsmouth score 15 which actually puts them bottom of the leaderboard. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and didn’t have any real complaints but the rating for the cost really let them down.
It does rank the joint highest for the food which is a positive and I do think if people go there, they will enjoy themselves but it does come in just below Bath and Yeovil.
Next up will be Luke’s review of the Spurs’ match against Aston Villa before I spend next weekend watching Premier League football myself with another trip to the South Coast at Portsmouth’s neighbours Southampton, as they take on European Champions, Liverpool.
For the love of the game 