Whatmough enjoys ‘perfect day’ after first Fratton strike
JACK WHATMOUGH hailed the ‘perfect day’ after his five-monthold daughter witnessed his maiden Fratton Park goal.
On the occasion of the suppor ters’ return after almost nine months away, Pompey registered an impressive 2- 0 triumph over promotion rivals Peterborough United on Saturday.
It was Whatmough, the sole local lad in the Blues’ star ting XI, who netted the opener and first Fratton Park goal with fans present since March 10.
For the 24-year-old, it also marked his first goal on home soil in 115 games.
And it was all witnessed by daughter Esme, making her Pompey debut as a spectator.
Whatmough told The News:
‘It didn’t feel like 2,000 in attendance, it felt like 14-15,000 at times.
‘And the whole day was topped off with it being my daughter’s first game.
‘Me scoring my first Fratton
Park goal, the fans being back, three points and a clean sheet – it was a perfect day all rolled into one.
‘My daughter was in the directors’ box with my fiance Demi. I tried looking for her straight after the goal but couldn’t really see her, it was dark. So I saw them after the game.
‘You always want to bring your kids to the game and Esme’s at that age now where she wants to sleep or sit still.
‘Bringing her to Fratton Park is something we’ve wanted to do the minute it was said fans were allowed back.
‘I guess I will show her a video when she’s older!’
Whatmough marked his scoring feat with a knee slide in the corner between the Fratton End and South Stand.
Thankfully it was executed far better than the previous time he attempted it – against Carlisle United in Februar y 2017.
He added: ‘It wasn’t a great knee slide, but it worked better than Carlisle, so I’m happy with that!
‘My one for Nayls’ goal (the spectacular strike by Tom Naylor 14 minutes later which made it 2- 0) was better.
‘When he scored, I knee slid for that as well.
‘It was a great ball from Brownie (Pompey left-back Lee Brown). I don’t want to tell him that, but it was.
‘As a young lad, you are always taught to head back across goal. I’ve done that and it looped in.’
– NEIL ALLEN