Portsmouth Music Scene


The Portsmouth Music Scene

Singing Footballers


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Cliff Portwood

Born Salford, Manchester, 17th October 1937. Goalscoring forward that fired 32 goals in 61 matches for Port Vale, 35 goals in 92 games for Grimsby and came to Fratton in May 1964. Quite the jovial character of the mid-sixties Pompey team who decided to go into showbusiness after leaving Pompey at the age of 31. He had a recording career and became well known as a cabaret performer in Australia and Occasionally returned to G.B. He passed away at Basingstoke General Hospital on Tuesday morning 10th January 2012 , aged 74.
POMPEY CAREER: 99 league appearances and 28 league goals, 4 FA Cup games and 1 FA Cup goal, 4 FL Cup games and 2 FL Cup goals.


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Johnny Gordon

AS THE fourth longest-serving player in Pompey's history, Johnny Gordon will be remembered first and foremost as a person with Portsmouth at his heart. Coming from the city itself Gordon knew better than anyone just what it meant to wear the famous Pompey colours. John played for both Pompey and Birmingham, Portsmouth born in 1931, Johnny signed as an apprentice at Fratton Park from local Hillside Youth Club in l947. aged 16, and made his Professional debut at borne to Blackpool in August l957 wearing the number 8 shirt which was to become almost his own in future years. He became a regular ' inside forward' in Pompey's line-up throughout the mid-fifties, appearing in 250 matches and netting 85 goals in League and Cup games. Often the Scorer of two goals in one match, Johnny scored just the one hat-trick for Pompey, away at Hillsborough in October 1953, when at 0-2 at halftime Johnny and the team fought back to a 4-4 draw. Other significant 'pairs' of goals amongst many were two versus Burnley at Fratton in February 1954, when Pompey werc 0-2 down at half-time and won 3-2; two against Sheffield United at Fratton in a 6-2 win in October 1954, a brace against Aston Villa at Fratton in a 5-1 victory in October 1956; and another two again at home, this time to Arsenal in an exciting 5-4 win.
Keen to acquire the services of a proven goal scorer, Birmingham City signed Johnny in September 1958 and at St. Andrews, he continued to net on a regular basis. popping in 40 in 115 first team games before he returned to Fratton Park for a second spell in March 196l. Up until his retirement in l968, Johnny played another 234 League matches for Pompey scoring 36 goals including helping Pompey to win the Third Division Championship in l962, which turned out to be his only major soccer honour.

But as well as sharing the goal scoring field with such other Pompey greats as Peter Harris, Jackie Henderson, Ron Saunders and Ray Hiron, he ended a long and happy career aged 37. scoring 138 goals in 541 league matches for Pompey and City at an average of a goal every 4 games. After his career Gordon opened the Jokers Club in Southsea giving himself ample opportunity to display his good singing voice which won him a place on a local TV talent show. Following the running of The Jokers Club in Southsea, licensee of The Milton Arms, the Stag's Head at Westbourne, and then Johnny became Manager of the Sports Inn Place in Osborne Road.
Club historian Richard Owen notes what it meant for Gordon to play for Pompey in the club's heyday and how his loyalty to the club will not be forgotten. Owen said: 'The inside-right wore the famous royal blue shirt of Pompey with great pride during his 489 appearance for the club, and being a local lad knew what it meant to wear the club colours. 'I was shocked to hear of Johnny's death having spoken to him recently after the last home game. He will be greatly missed by many local people in Southsea and by many of his friends at Fratton Park on a matchday. 'His loyalty and devotion to Pompey will never be forgotten to those who saw him play, he will be remembered as a great terrier-like player, who never gave up and who scored many crucial goals for us during a long career when the game was at its best.

' Gordon's style of play proved the perfect compliment to the wing trickery of Peter Harris during his time at Pompey, and if he was not supplying incisive balls for Harris he was often scoring himself. He scored his first hat-trick for the club in October 1953 in a game in which Pompey fought back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 4-4 against Sheffield Wednesday ˜ perfectly illustrating Gordon's fighting qualities. He delivered 120 goals for Pompey, finishing as the club's top marksman in the 1956-57 season with 13 goals, but to the outrage of Pompey supporters was sold to Birmingham City for £15,000 in September 1958. Gordon returned to the club in March 1961, when caretaker manager Bill Thompson shelled out £9,000 for his skills and experienced, which rubbed off on youngsters such as Ray Hiron and Albie McCann before retiring 1967. After his career Gordon opened the Jokers Club in Southsea giving himself ample opportunity to display his good singing voice which won him a place on a local TV talent show. Owen said: 'John was a very modest man, a hard grafter and a great talker on the game. He earned very little playing but loved every minute of his career. 'His only regret was not pursuing a singing career but I leaves many memories of happy times at Fratton Park. 'The City of Portsmouth has lost a charismatic character whose sense of humour and ready smile will be sadly missed. On 25/5/2001 Johnny Duncan Sinclair Gordon, former Pompey player, died of viral pneumonia at QA Hospital age 69.
POMPEY CAREER: 443 League Appearances and 106 league goals, 29 FA Cup and 7 FA Cup goals, 12 FL Cup games and 4 FL Cup goals, 5 other games and 3 other goals. (Two periods)

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Johnny Gordon the footballer with John Gordon bass player and owner of DMF Studios at Denmead


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