12 March 2008
VIDEO: The FA Roadshow Q&A at Portsmouth

See footage from Fratton Park as a four man panel face the fans in a question and answer session about all things football.


12 March 2008
VIDEO: The FA Roadshow Q&A at Portsmouth Part Two

The second part of our video special from Fratton Park.


12 March 2008
VIDEO: The FA Roadshow Skills Coaching

Stuart Pearce and Sir Trevor Brooking get involved with local youngsters at The FA Roadshow in Portsmouth.

When The FA organised its Roadshow trip to Portsmouth earlier in the year, the thought of the host club being the only remaining Premiership team and odds-on favourite in The FA Cup wasn’t even taken into consideration.

So when The FA’s Director Of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking and the England Under-21 Head Coach Stuart Pearce arrived at the Priory Sports College to oversee 60 local youngsters receiving specialist coaching as part of The FA Tesco Skills Programme, there was an added atmosphere about the place.

Following Saturday’s Sixth Round win for Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth at Old Trafford, there was a noticeable buzz amongst both the youngsters at the coaching session and the 200 local fans at the question and answer evening at Fratton Park.

“The kick-on that the main club in any given town is doing particularly well filters straight down,” admitted Pearce.

“Here, every kid has got a Pompey shirt on, when usually you see the children wearing Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal kits and it’s fantastic to see.

“I worked with Harry Redknapp for a couple of years and he really deserves all the plaudits.

“He’s done a great job, stayed loyal to the club and they’re permanently in the top half of the Premier League now, so all credit to him and to the club.”

Sir Trevor was also equally delighted to be in Hampshire for the event, which saw FA Chairman Lord Triesman and England and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James join up with them to form a panel facing the fans’ questions.

“I think when we selected it a few weeks ago, we didn’t think Portsmouth would be odds-on favourites and the last Premiership team to be in the Semi-Final, but as a result of that there is a lot of extra enthusiasm around the place,” said Brooking.

“They’ve got a very passionate fanbase and you know that when you play against them it’s never an easy place to come and get a result with the fans behind them.

“I was walking in the centre before and having a coffee and a few fans came up to me and were talking about Pompey and The FA Cup generally.

“It’s amazing how something like a cup run can enthuse communities and not just the fans themselves.

“A few ladies came up to me who had recognised me from the draw and they were all pleased to see the team doing so well.

"So it does involve the whole community and one or two of the older generation have been reminiscing about the last time the club got there, so the timing of the Roadshow is perfect.”

FA Roadshow Links
  • The right choice!
    THE FA ROADSHOW: Given Portsmouth's current FA Cup status, all parties were delighted to be in town.
  • Chairman speaks out
    THE FA ROADSHOW: Chairman Lord Triesman made clear The FA's view on a '39th game' in the Premiership.
  • Home James!
    THE FA ROADSHOW: David James proved good value on Tuesday as he joined The FA panel for a Q&A session.
  • Panel face Pompey!
    THE FA ROADSHOW: A panel of Stuart Pearce, Sir Trevor Brooking, Lord Triesman and David James faced the fans.
  • Roadshow hits Pompey
    FA SKILLS: Stuart Pearce was present at The FA Roadshow in Portsmouth to offer his expertise to local youngsters.