Portsmouth memories of Europe hold some regret

Can you believe it's a full decade since Pompey's European campaign?Â
A football is introduced to the festivities in Praca de Santiago in the centre of Guimaraes hours before kick off. Picture: Steve ReidA football is introduced to the festivities in Praca de Santiago in the centre of Guimaraes hours before kick off. Picture: Steve Reid
A football is introduced to the festivities in Praca de Santiago in the centre of Guimaraes hours before kick off. Picture: Steve Reid

To be precise, it was 10 years ago last Tuesday that we witnessed the Blues beating Vitoria Guimaraes in our UEFA Cup opener at Fratton Park.

What a wonderful occasion that was '“ albeit one played out early evening on a Thursday. Of course it was bettered 10 weeks later when the team we thought were Bournemouth in disguise arrived and were given an almighty scare by Tony Adams' troops.

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In some ways our UEFA Cup season seems like yesterday '“ in others it feels like a generation ago, so many highs and lows having been come along since then.

I don't have many regrets where my Pompey-watching years (now numbering 37) are concerned, but I do have one related to our first (and so far only) European crusade. And that's that I didn't make the effort to go to one of the away games '“ in particular the second leg of the Guimaraes tie.

Some of the tales told of the pre-match Pompey takeover of the town square, followed by the game itself and Peter Crouch's goals sparking a midnight celebration to cherish, put this occasion up there with some of THE great Pompey awaydays of all-time. 

I think I thought at the time '˜No need to go abroad this year '“ we'll be there regularly over the next few seasons.'

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In fact, even before that season's group campaign was over, things had started to fall apart. If memory serves, it was a total of three days after our Euro swansong, a 3-0 home win over Heerenveen, that it emerged that Sacha Gaydamak had announced he was not putting any more money into the club.

I sometimes wonder if we'll see another European adventure. Knowing Pompey, we probably will. And I promise to get my passport ready next time.