We've come to the end of a summer-long series in which we've recalled Pompey's most recent seasons in the second tier of English football.

In my programme column, View From The North Stand, throughout last season I celebrated our Championship return by recalling each of the seasons we've spent in 'division two' since 1983, using my own memories and highlights and yours too.

Not everyone buys the programme (though I'm working on making it compulsory) so I re-ran the whole lot on this website over the summer, three seasons at a time. Highs and lows were plenty - ranging from relegation and administration to Merson, FA Cup semi-finals and Corporal Guy's goals.

In the final programme of the season, for the last-day draw with Hull City, I rounded off the series by asking for your highlights of the season just ending - of which thete were many.

So here below, as we get ready to see what Pompey are capable of in 25-26, are your memorable moments of 24-25, the Blues' first Championship season since 2011-12.

Thanks for following the series and contributing, if you did. Meanwhile View From The North Stand will be back for 25-26 and will of course be after your input on a range of topics. Watch this space!

Pompey's 2024-25 and its highlights

Having spent the whole season in this column remembering Pompey's 21 most recent 'second division seasons' it seems only right to finish by reflecting on this one, our successful 2024-25 campaign to stay in tier two.

I asked for followers' outstanding moment of this season – and I'm pleased to say the 'winning' champagne moment was the one I'd have voted for myself.

For me, and others, the magic moment didn't happen during a game, though it did occur when many of us were on our way to one.

At 2pm on Saturday, November 9, my friend John Richards and I were walking along Clarkes Road, en route from our parking spot, and something made me check the team news on the Pompey app. It said Colby Bishop was on the bench – which made no sense. I literally stopped in my tracks.

For all we knew, he was not even in the registered squad, not likely to be seen til 2025 had begun. But in the squad he was – and fit to play he was. And less than three hours later, he'd even scored.

It was fairytale stuff, jaw-dropping. And I firmly believe it gave the whole club such an expected lift it changed the course of our season.

Many named this as their moment of the season – Brad Edgerton, Brendan O'Keefe, Ian (@nisbeckian), Tom Clark, Ian Piper and Mike Davies among them.

Others – liked Brad Sked, Puesarfoot and Chris Ebbens - said Colby's penalty that day was the 24-25 high point.

Andrew Dobbs went further on the spot kick: "It was not only the moment of the season but one of the great moments in Pompey’s entire history."

Pompeysince69 said: "Pure Pompey! A great moment when Callum Lang gave Colby the ball. Pompey folklore born... loved it all."

Big Al said of the pen: "Proper welled up, I did. The stuff of dreams."

There were other magic moments picked out. Here they are in chronological order: Joe Wood: The opening day at Leeds - Lang's first goal being such a screamer just made you feel like we belonged and these were the moments we'd longed for.

Will Chitty‬:‪The drubbing at Stoke, or more precisely the reaction to it.

Will464775: The win at QPR.

Steve Morgan: Nico Schmid's one-on-one save from Norman Bassette after going 1-0 down v Coventry early on at FP was pretty important.

John Tucker: Schmid's save v Coventry when they were 1-0 up and Bishop's goal v Leeds.

Simon Kidd: Seeing Lang net four goals against Coventry.

Dean Johns: Lang's four-midable performance against Coventry at Fratton.

Greg Adam: Coming from a goal down at home to Middlesbrough and seeing one of our own Matt Ritchie win the game for us.

Sam Urry: Terry Devlin's challenge against Stoke.

Jake Smith: Andre Dozzell’s brilliant save off the line to help Pompey to a decent point and clean sheet against Burnley at Fratton.

PompeyHobgoblin: Mark O'Mahony making it 2-0 at Oxford, the time I believed survival was more than just hope.

Peadubya66‬: Colby's finish past Illan Meslier in front of the Fratton End v Leeds. A fantastic atmosphere and a victory that said to the football world: Pompey are back.

Darren Troughton: Bishop's goal v Leeds... and that Schmid save v Watford.

And the last word goes to Chris Reed: “Sat on a balcony in Lanzarote after we'd lost to Cardiff and Sheff Wed, telling my eldest it’s what supporting Pompey mainly is. Her optimism that we would sort it out sounded nice but what would a 10-year-old know...?!”

Photo: Action Images

Noah289 added 16:19 - Oct 29 Exciting post! Pompey’s 2024–25 Championship campaign was truly memorable — full of passion, resilience, and unforgettable moments. It’ll be thrilling to see how they build on that momentum in their next push for glory! https://bitcoinhypercoin.com/
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