A sad day for Pompey

Today is a sad day for Pompey as Linvoy Primus has confirmed his retirement from the game on The Pompey Site...

Linvoy, who I think we CAN call a legend - in a day and age when this is used to freely - has been forced to retire following advice from his surgeons that if he tried to play on he WOULD have seen permanent damage to his knee.

Speaking to pfcTV he said: 'I had a knee operation a couple of months ago and it was made clear to me that if I did try to continue I would do long-term damage.

'I would rather have a good knee for the rest of my life than to try to play on and make the knee worse. I've got to think of the long-term rather than the short-term.

'To finish my career in the Premier League is a great thing. I've been part of some amazing games and seasons and been on the same pitch as international players and not felt out of place.'

Linvoy WILL remain with the club though in his ambassadorial role.

Peter Storrie also paid tribute to the great man: 'Linvoy is Mr Portsmouth and we're sad that he will not be donning a blue shirt again. He has been a great servant to the club and is loved by everyone here and in the city.

'But Linvoy still has so much to give to the club so we're delighted that he is going to be staying with us beyond this season in an ambassadorial role.'

When I first saw Linvoy play, and I saw this debut in a pre-season game almost 10-years ago, had anyone told me that he would go onto make 19 appearances for Pompey, let alone 219 as he did, I would have laughed at them.

My, how he proved me, and many, many others wrong time and time again, including Harry Redknapp - with Linvoy being the ONLY player, and I would go as far as saying EVER, to change Redknapp's mind. Usually once this is made up there is no going back!

It is a sad day, but not a surprising day really is it?

I am just delighted that I did get to see him play again, and for a while I was not sure that Paul Hart would bring him on in that game against Sunderland last season, but thankfully he did and WHAT a fantastic reception he got - it really was magical, and also very emotional...

As has been said countless times before the guy IS a true working class hero, someone that is, and always has been, completely in touch with the everyday fan like you or I - if there were more Linvoy's in the world it would be a much better place. Hopefully though with him on board at Pompey he can help more come through with similar values.

The one regret that I have is that he was not able to get onto the pitch as a player in any of our Wembley appearances back along - had it been in the FA cup final it would have been fantastic. Although he DID get the best reception of anyone when he held aloft the FA cup that day, and that cannot be taken away from him.

Let's make sure the club treat him with the respect that he deserves and has more than earned!

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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