A few recollections of past South Coast Derbies

After Saints promotion to the top flight in 1966, it would be eight years before they would meet again in the league, however they did meet in testimonials, the first of these to be played in the 1970's came in April 1970 when Pompey visited the Dell for John Sydenham's testimonial, the visitors triumphing 4-2.

A couple of years later in May 1972 Saints visited Fratton for another testimonial, this time for Pompey keeper John Milkins, how much money he made from the 8,793 gate is not recorded, but he certainly had a bad back as he picked the ball out of his net seven times as Saints romped home with no reply from the home side, although in 1974 Pompey celebrated Saints relegation with a 0-0 draw in a benefit game for Gordon Neave at Fratton.

Back to league action for the two sides, Pompey arrived at the Dell on 14th September 1974, several hundred Pompey fans were arrested en masse for causing damage to a train and were held in the Civic Centre police station car park and sent back during the game, however a large group of Pompey fans still gathered in the Milton Road West Stand corner, protected by a no mans land, it wasnt a happy time for them though as Saints won 2-1 courtesy of two Peter Osgood goals, ironically the Pompey reply a penalty from ex Saints legend Ron Davies, 19,631 being the attendance.

Boxing Day 1974 saw the return at Fratton and a slightly smaller crowd of 19,543 saw the score repeated, Osgood & Peach putting Saints two up inside 20 mins with Norman Piper getting an 87th minute consolation. the Ray Hiron testimonial in May 75 saw Pompey gain revenge 2-1 but only 5,374 saw it.

The following season 75/76 was a good one for Saints and an awful one if you were a Pompey fan, September saw a home win at the Dell 4-0, the bulk of 17,310 cheering a Mick Channon hat trick and a David Peach goal, in truth it was a rout as Pompey slumped towards relegation, the end of the game saw Pompey fans kept on the Archers Road terracing by Police dogs with sporadic fighting breaking out.

The return at Fratton was a bad week for the Blues, three days earlier Saints had won the FA Cup semi final against Palace and this along with the fact that defeat would send Pompey down meant that 24,115 were in the ground, with the Fratton End abusing Saints number 9 Peter Osgood, only thing was, Osgood wasnt playing as he along with several other members of the Saints team had been dropped by Lawrie McMenemy for over celebrating Saturday's win so it was Pat Earles who was told "he was good, now he's no good" to the tune of the Pompey chimes, an 89th minute goal from Mick Channon sent Pompey down and emptied the Fratton end, who mostly reapeared behind the Milton End to attack any Saints fan they could lay their hands on, man, woman or child a tradition they maintain to this day.

So back to Testimonials for the two bitter rivals, May 1980 saw Saints visit for Duggie Thunderboots Reid's game, Reid now the Pompey groundsman had a good turnout, 11,233, especially of skinheads in the away end looking for Saints fans to bully, on the pitch it was 4-2 to Saints with the Fratton End a little miffed about the arrival of Kevin Keegan for the following season at the Dell.

In December 81 Saints travelled to Fratton Park for A Hampshire Senior Cup tie at a time when the Hants FA insisted that the countie's pro clubs enter this competition, strangely the excellent book In That Number doesnt record this game nor other ties around this time against Aldershot, however it did happen and my recollection is a 2-1 defeat for Saints along with half of the Fratton end charging across the pitch at the end of the game, held back by half a dozen policemen.

The 70's had been a desolate time for Saints V Pompey Games however it would get more exciting in the 80's              

Photo: Action Images

Middlesbrough Polls