Blast from the Pompey past

There I was on Friday evening minding my own business when none other than Martin 'Buster' Phillips strolled past me, in of all places Tesco - although is this such a surprise really, as this seems to be a meeting place with all manor of friends and family past and present for many of us all these days does it not, after all they are turning the screw on their global domination!

I always liked Buster and for some reason he was a hero of mine - in the nicest of possible ways I can still not quite understand why? I am not sure who he is playing for these days - last I heard it was Torquay though.

Phillips had very early promise didn't he but like so many was unable to build on this, as he got older. The late great Alan Ball famously once said that 'Phillips would become the countries first £10million player,' he never quite achieved this did he - his transfer fees didn't even break the £1million mark in the end.

Bally loved the fella, he took him from Exeter to City for around half a million but he did not get much of a look-in. He then signed him from City for Pompey in 1998 for £100,000 - then strangely again rarely played him really.

He showed some moments of genius and I was lucky enough to see him score his one and only Pompey goal - I think it may have even been his debut? This came as a substitute, with him only being on the field for about 10 minutes prior, in late August 1998 in a 3-0 victory over QPR at Fratton. This was the same game in which John Aloisi scored a spectacular lob I believe, well maybe not spectacular!

This isn't the first time I have seen him out and about, but every time I do I say nothing when I probably have plenty I would like to say to him. On Friday he was with his 'trophy' wife or girlfriend who I think, although I only saw her briefly, may be expecting? But she certainly wasn't fat fat! If so congratulations to Buster and partner.

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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