The nine-year-old who didn’t miss a single game in 2022/23
At the age of nine, Ollie Milne has offered to save up for Pompey’s pre-season trip to Spain this summer.
Having attended 67 Blues matches in 2022/23, the Steep Primary School pupil is desperate not to let his ever-present tag slip.
Ollie’s Pompey love affair began in April 2014, when dad Simon took him to a game at Northampton.
At the time, aged six months and 10 days and in his mother’s sling, they would go on to become an instantly recognisable double act at all Pompey fixtures.
This season alone they have attended 46 League matches, six EFL Trophy fixtures, two Carabao Cup ties, three FA Cup games and three in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
In addition, they were present for seven Pompey friendlies last summer, including the clash with Qatar SC in Spain.
The two matches the pair have been absent for – Bristol City and Leyton Orient – were friendlies played behind closed doors.
Simon, a roof tiler from Steep, told The News: ‘I think we’re the only Pompey supporters to have attended every match this season.
‘At Ipswich for the Papa Johns Trophy in November, there was a car crash which stopped a lot of our fans attending.
‘With John Westwood having a few bans this season, all the names normally associated with going to every game have missed some, although I might be wrong.
‘Ollie is absolutely obsessed with football. He plays it at school, watches it on the TV, goes to Pompey’s games, and plays it on FIFA Soccer. He can’t get enough of it.
‘I used to go on John Westwood’s minibus, but I wouldn’t take Ollie on there! So now we drive to every game together, across the country, I don’t want to think about the money spent on fuel.
‘What I work for is to pay the rent, to put food on the table, and for me and my lad to watch football together. It’s great to spend that time together.
‘He’s picked up plenty of things from the players, including Toby Steward’s gloves, Dane Scarlett’s shirt and Connor Ogilvie’s boots after the last game of the season.
‘Ollie was also the team mascot at Charlton in October. Afterwards I contacted Clark Robertson on Instagram to ask for his armband – and he replied saying he could do better than that.
‘So after the final whistle of the following match, at Forest Green, he came and found my lad to hand over his shirt.
‘Honestly, Ollie’s room is like a Pompey shrine!’
The nine-year-old’s favourite player is Josh Koroma, on account of the former winger wearing the same number 27 shirt that Ollie sports for Petersfield Town under-nines.
Those who have kindly donated their shirts – including Robertson, Scarlett and Ogilvie
– are also popular.
Simon is just delighted one of his three children is following in his footsteps. He added: ‘My eldest son Elliott’s first Pompey home game was getting relegated against Derby in April 2012. He hates football now!
‘My daughter, Annabelle, doesn’t mind it, but doesn’t go to games. At least I’ve one out of the three in Ollie!’