WALK THE 9T2: Being on the road helps Scott appreciate home comforts
Being a Pompey Fan doing this charity walk has been quite an experience but being someone who has been to the majority of games home and away for the last 20 years it is very tough not being able to go to games and support the team with the friends I have enjoyed hundreds of games with.
Yet again we face a very difficult season with the situation off-field playing some part in the indifferent start Pompey have made, it hasn't been easy for Michael Appleton to put together a team that can compete but when I heard on the radio that Pompey had secured a last minute win at home against Scunthorpe a few weeks back I was imagining being in the Fratton End celebrating and then feeling the relief everyone must have been been enjoying in the pubs and bars afterwards.
When I was planning the walk, I didn't realise how much of a wrench it would be to not be able to see Pompey play and keeping up with the game via Twitter is a painful way to follow a match. I read a lot of people who are complaining about the quality of the football, the Managers tactics and the merits, or lack of, of certain players at the moment but at least those doing the complaining have the fortune to be there to have something to complain about!
I did, however, get to Yeovil the other night to see Pompey win. A friend who I was staying with in Bristol picked me up off the road and drove me to the game, it was a typical wet Tuesday night on an uncovered terrace and it was absolutely wonderful. The football was quite poor, but Pompey dominated the game and deserved the win, the banter in the crowd was second to none and it was light years away from the few years we spent in the Premiership.
Meeting many football Fans as I am it is really good to know that the majority just cannot understand what has happened to Pompey and sympathise with us Pompey Fans and, crucially for me, want the Fans to own the club in order to rebuild it. We are acclaimed as a group of fans for our great support, both Home and Away, and that is making me proud to represent Pompey as I get round this epic Walk. Sometimes we doubt ourseleves as a Fanbase but without question we have a good reputation and it is thoroughly deserved.
I have now walked over 450 miles and visited 12 clubs of the 92 as I write this, Swansea City being the latest. All of the clubs (except one, can you guess it?) have been very helpful, have hosted me at the club and promoted me through their websites and match programmes to help get donations towards Prostate Cancer UK. It's been a real pleasure to visit other clubs and talk to the people who work there and support them, my particular favourites so far have been Plymouth, Exeter and Swansea, all for the enthusiasm and hope for the future that they have displayed after having financial difficulties themselves, recently in Plymouth's history and some years ago in Exeters and Swanseas case.
As I go round I am keeping what I hope is an interesting Blog which you can see at www.walkthe92.co.uk and I also hope you'll be inspired to donate to Prostate Cancer UK either through www.justgiving.com/walkthe92 or you can text the phrase "wtnt92 £10" to 70070
Walkthe92 is the chosen charity of pompey-fans.com for season 2012-13. Please give generously.
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