Portsmouth News

Gaffer for a day

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Gaffer for a Day, Mark Harvey, aged 59 from Gosport, will be among 2,000 returning to Fratton Park for Saturday’s visit of Peterborou­gh...

So,

looking forward to this?

I want that smell of the deep heat from the players – how I’ve missed that.

And I’m looking forward to hearing that film on the big screen just before kick off. I love that. My last match was against Arsenal on March 2. It will be fantastic to be back at Fratton Park.

I am absolutely positive that the club will do a top job of looking after us, I have no concerns about that. I’m more worried about a few idiots. I’ve seen people moaning about tea bars possibly not being open, get a life mate, football’s back.

How did you get your ticket?

I’ve been a season ticket holder in the North Stand Lower for 18 years, even driving over from near Truro for home matches at one point.

I go on my own and meet up with people who I’ve known for years, so when it came to choosing groups, I just needed a single ticket.

I chose the M group – for Mark – and it came out first.

Of course, it means I now cannot go to the next six home matches after Peterborou­gh, as it needs to be rotated, but that’s fine.

How have you followed games during fan absence?

I tried iFollow at the start of the season, but it was a bit too painful. I don’t want to sit there on a phone or tablet watching a match.

Having said that, I took up the free game pass for season ticket holders when we played Crewe and the coverage was excellent.

I’m of a certain age that sees radio as how you should listen to football. Radio Solent is fantastic.

And the actual game?

Peterborou­gh have been a bit of a bogey side for us over the last few years, especially when Ivan Toney has played.

Oh how different things could have been had Brett Pitman not passed to Viv Solomon-Otabor!

They seem to have a bit of an edge over us, but on

Saturday I’m looking forward to what I think will be a good open game.

We’re currently playing far more attacking football and making chances. Forget the rubbish performanc­e at Blackpool, we are not going to play brilliantl­y every week – we’re a League One club.

MY STARTING XI

(4-4-2): MacGillivr­ay, Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown, Harness, Close, Naylor, Curtis, Harrison, Marquis.

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