Chamberlain returns to Pompey!

Former Pompey winger Mark Chamberlain has returned to Fratton, having been with the lot down the road in various coaching roles for the past 8-years.

After almost 200 appearances and 22 goals between 1988 and 1994 he returns to coach the under 16 side, with Paul Hardyman becoming academy coach Ian Woan's assistant.

This is what Chamberlain told the Pompey Site upon his return: 'it's certainly a different club from the one I left in 1994.

'I've specifically come here to coach the under-16 side after working at Southampton.

'It's genuinely nice to come back and I'm looking forward to working in a youth set up that is definitely on the up.

'It will also help me with my development as a coach, which can only be good.

'Paul Hart has come in and really changed things here and the club can now challenge Southampton, who for so long used to be the only place on the south coast for youth development.

'Funnily enough Jim Smith offered me a job coaching the youth team when I left Pompey, but I didn't really fancy it at the time.

'Maybe I thought my chance to come back had gone, but it's nice to return and get involved in football here again.'

To be honest I did not see a great deal of him during his playing days at Fratton, but the thing that sticks most in my mind is the way he was taken out in the 92 FA cup semi final by Ronnie Whelan early on, as they eliminated a real danger man early on...

Think what you want about the lot down the road, but they have produced some top talent through their academy side over the years and Chamberlain has been a part of this, so with his help things should be even more promising than they are looking like being anyway!

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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