Pompey took centre stage as virus struck
POMPEY were at the heart of football’s coronavirus crisis in March, registering more positive cases than any club in England.
The likelihood is some teams were not as willing to publicly divulge their own results.
Nonetheless, the Blues reported seven cases – with one involving the same player twice.
Andy Cannon, James Bolton, Haji Mnoga, Sean Raggett and Ross McCrorie were the initial five to have contracted coronavirus.
Barely seven weeks later and Harry Kavanagh and Bolton, once again, tested positive.
The case of Bolton was particularly perplexing, with the defender opting for a second opinion by visiting a drive-through NHS centre in Guildford – to actually be found negative.
Still, there are suspicions that the first batch of Fratton Park cases can be traced back to the visit of Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Unbeknown to both sides at the time, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta had coronavirus.
The Premier League and Football League were suspended 11 days later, after he tested positive.
There would subsequently be no resumption of the 2019-20 campaign for League One and League Two, with their season curtailed and jumping straight to the playoffs.
Unfortunately, Kenny Jackett’s men would lose on penalties to Oxford United in their semi-final, and Wycombe Wanderers won promotion in the Wembley final.
The 2020-21 season began behind closed doors, having massive financial repercussions on clubs outside the Premier League, who are so reliant on gate receipts and matchday corporate earnings.
However, a proportion of fans were allowed back into Fratton Park against Peterborough United on December 5, with 2,000 home followers in attendance.
How football has needed fans – although just two days after another 2,000 fans saw the Fratton Park draw with Fleetwood Town, new tier 3 restrictions means supporters will be locked out once more.
It’s having a devastating effect where we are losing in the region of £700,000 per month in lost revenue. That’s just because of the losses in matchday revenue.
Pompey chief executive Mark Catlin
I had the University of Portsmouth trying to come and do tests. I felt like I was going to be a lab rat!
Blues defender James Bolton, who test positive for Covid
It simply appears that football outside the Premier League has been chosen by the government as the business that can be sacrificed in the crisis.
The Portsmouth Supporters’ Trust
Having fans there gives you an extra 10-15 per cent because at the end of the game, when you are running low on energy, you hear people shouting ‘Come on’. It makes you want to give more.
Pompey winger Ryan Williams