Pompey Cherries Eleven

Ryan Allsop

The Cherries reserve keeper was thrown in at the deep end when asked to solve Pompey’s goalkeeping crisis (we didn’t have one) on the eve of the 2015/16 play-off games against Plymouth. Through no real fault of his own Allsop looked a bit rabbit-headlighty throughout both games – he's obviously not used to playing in front of big crowds.

Rees Thomas

After signing from Bournemouth in 1958 the Abedare-born Thomas went on to make 30 appearances at full-back for the Blues. He left Pompey for Aldershot and became a first-team fixture at the Rec. After hanging up his boots he became a postie back in his native Wales.

Jason Pearce

London-born Pearce served his apprenticeship at Pompey but a lack of first-team opportunities saw him move along the coast to Dean Court in 2007. However, the passionate prodigal returned three years later and put in a number of dominant performances in a struggling Pompey side. Currently turning out for Charlton.

Jimmy White

Wonderkid White made his debut for Bournemouth at the age of 15, and that was enough for the Fratton Park management to quickly snap him up. He even contrived to score on his Pompey debut – past the legendary Gil Merrick, no less - in a 1-1 against Birmingham in 1958. 34 appearances later and he was shipped out to Gillingham, before finally finding his way back to Bournemouth.

Eddie Howe

Harry Redknapp made Eddie Howe his first signing in 2002, but injury was to limit his time in a Blue shirt to just two appearances – both of which he limped off with a dodgy knee. A return to the Cherries extended his playing career, but it has been Howe’s time spent as a gaffer that has been most impressive. 

Wes Fogden

Fogden’s all-action, one-man gegenpressing style endeared him to the Fratton faithful, who can't resist a player who runs himself into the ground. Problem with Wes was he was often so knackered winning the ball he didn’t quite have the legs left to deliver anything with it. He moved onto Yeovil before returning to his spiritual home at the Hawks.

Richard Hughes

Defensive midfielder Hughes joined Bournemouth from Arsenal, where he had spent five years as a youth player. He was signed by Portsmouth for just £50,000 in summer 2002, and became an ultra- valuable squad player throughout the Premiership years. 12 months after retiring from the game Hughes was persuaded to retrieve his dusty boots from the attic and rejoin the Cherries.

Reg Cutler

The tricky winger was signed from Bournemouth in 1959 and went on to make 107 appearances for the Blues, scoring 14 goals. His most famous moment in a footie shirt came in the FA Cup for the Cherries in 1956, when not only did he score the shock winner against the then-mighty Wolves, but he also managed to collide so heavily with a goalpost that the impact brought the whole goal-frame down.

Steve Lovell

Pompey signed striker Lovell from Bournemouth in 1999 for a surprisingly hefty £250,000. The gamble on his potential didn’t work out and Lovell eventually left for Dundee and the Scottish Premier League. Spells at Aberdeen, Falkirk and Partick Thistle followed before a brief swansong at Dean Court. A couple of Steve Lovell amazing facts: he is Eddie Howe’s half-brother and was engaged to Scottish singer-songwriter, Amy McDonald.

Derek Showers

Showers signed for Pompey from the Cherries in 1979 for the princely sum of £13,000. A slow start meant he caught the ire of the Fratton Park boo boys, but his promising partnership with Colin Garwood soon won them round. A serious knee injury curtailed his career with the Blues and he was sold to Hereford. A passing resemblance to light entertainer Roger DeCourcey meant Showers was to suffer the nickname Nookie Bear throughout his career.

Matt Tubbs

Salisbury-born Tubbs was at Bournemouth’s books as a schoolboy, but needed to carve out a goalscoring career in non-league at Salisbury and Crawley before he could earn a pro-contract with the club. The move didn’t entirely work out and he joined Pompey after several loan spells. His fox-in-the-box instincts saw him notch an away day hat-trick at Cambridge United.