Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Tuesday July 24 2007
Time: 5:50PM
UK time is: 12:39:13
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John Westwood, Pompey legend
Johnny Westwood, with his out of tune trumpeting and bell ringing fuelled by a beer or two, okay, maybe more, is never far away when Pompey are around, even if he is a little late at times.
Scorer of Pompey's winning goal against Fulham today Benjani also looks out for him - as he told the Pompey site - and was all the happier for seeing him out in Hong 'the atmosphere was great - the people here love football.
'When I saw John Westwood with his bell, I was happy. He doesn't miss a Pompey game.
'Every time when I run onto the pitch he's the first person I search for in the crowd'.
Benjani is also said how he is enjoying the competition for places after the new arrivals, which he believes is healthy for everyone and keep people alert, ensuring no one becomes complacent or takes their place for granted.
Watching the game on TV today fans were flocking around Westwood to get a photo taken with him, with people often wanting him to sign their shirts or autograph books. Although he did surprisingly seem a little bashful when he was on the big screen during the game.
He may have arrived late for the recent Yeovil match that I was at, but when he arrived he was mobbed by people of all ages - next thing you know they will be doing a reality TV programme on him.
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Your Comments
Got to admit the man is a legend.I always see him at Old Trafford.
SweetLeftFoot
To be honest Westwood is a pratt. Having said that he is our pratt and every team should have one, without him i don't think our support would be half as passionate. When the chips are down he's the one geeing everybody up stoking up the crowd. He's so infectious you can't help but join in when he's around. Mind you I only ever made the mistake of sitting in front of him once. My ears have never been in tune since, some of you might say my eyes as well.
Steve C
pretty much concur with you SteveC, in the dark days he always reminded me of old down and out pompey and everything that was past and shouldnt be present, but i accpet that he is a tradition and i have known him to change a pompey crowd, who changed a pompey team, who went on from a defecit to win a game and its difficult to argue that. I would like to herar pompey fans sing more pro pompey songs and less scum songs, as we give them an importance that they dont currently merit.
russellm
LoL of course if he motivates Benjani to start scoring goals on a regular basis then i am happy to confirm i have always supported Westy and would never have allowed my ears to have heard a negative thing said about him
russellm
Met him in a pub one boxing day when we couldn't get into the local wetherspoons at Fratton. Ended up sharing a couple of beers with him - the meeting of the Northern Hemisphere's greatest fan meeting the Southern Hemisphere's greatest - well I am assuming.
pompeygray
:) well no one is challenging you on that front mate... westwood can be a donkey quite a lot of the time but from what i know of him his heart is in the right place and he means well... when the chips are down you can always count on him and his followers cant you...
pompeyrug
Yes, he gets the noise levels up from other fans. But I for one would rather he wasn't associated with us. So would most other people if they had to listen to the racist abuse coming from him that I had to endure. And it was directed at our own black players! And I was sitting next to my mixed race girlfriend at the time! Disgusting.
mattso
Racist abuse should not be tolerated in any form, I have never heard him racially abuse anybody, but if i had then i would have a very different view of his association with PFC.
Steve C
Yes. It does grate with me every time he is mentioned as a legend and such things. I just wish everyone could've heard it.
mattso
like steve says that kind of thing - or abuse of any kind - has no place in the world full stop, let alone football, so no matter how well known he is, how popular he is and how much of an icon the fella may be should this ever be heard then he needs to be thrown out of the ground... and again like steve says had i personally ever heard him say such things i too would have a much dimmer view of the fella as i would imagine benjani would too as he says he always looks for him at every match! im sorry that you and your girlfriend at that time had to endure such things mate - it is disgusting...
pompeyrug
no comment...
pompeycarpet
something alot of people dont know is he is good bloke to ask about tkts if you turn up at frattton and its sold out..alot of people contact him if they cant go and he acts as a NON PROFIT making conduit....My cousin got a Rotherham tkt through him that lovelly, lovelly, night a few years back
plymouth graham
if you ever want an antique book while you're in petersfield I can think of no better man than John Westwood.
The Rabbi
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