"Thanks Milan"

6 O`clock= "Thanks Milan"

Milan Mandaric.

Too much of my life has entwined with my love of Pompey. No matter what I`ve done or where I was in work or home life or on holidays around the world, Pompey was always with me & I date my life`s events with those of Pompey`s.

From watching for the first time as a young boy of 8 in the early 1970s, spent the next 10 years wondering why as we rattled backwards through the divisions, then some hope as we clawed our way back. Those great single days during the mid 80s to early 90s that brought more hope, some glory & some pain. Coincidently getting married & starting a family brought the dark years of the mid to late 90s not that I can blame that on the wife.

Then the man himself arrived full of promise. Yes we had heard it before & cynically went with it & thankfully in time the pieces finally fell into place. As I have life changing moments in my life, there are those life-changing moments in my other life, that being my Pompey life.

The better of these moments are down to Milan. To be where we are now and where we may go are just awesome. No words can fully express the thanks we owe this man. I`m a few weeks away from reaching 40 & have given a huge chunk of my life following the fortunes of this club.

Though there have been great times in the last 30 years, none compare to the last 4 and a bit. Though managers & players should take their credit, without Milan we would have nothing. Pride has been restored to Portsmouth Football Club and all who follow. That pride is down to Milan Mandaric and we should all be eternally grateful.

By Matt Stone (storagematt)

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