Moore picks up London branch honour

For the past 15 years Moore has been Pompey’s supporter liaison officer, serving as a link between the club and the Fratton faithful.

And his efforts were recognised on Saturday at the Pompey Football Supporters’ Club London in Covent Garden.

It was a full house at the annual event, with first-team players Jed Wallace and John Sullivan also attending to answer the fans’ questions.

They were joined by club chairman Iain McInnes, chief executive Mark Catlin, engagement manager Mike Hall and Pompey Supporters’ Trust chairman Ashley Brown at the Freemasons Arms.

Moore, from Havant, was surprised by being presented with an inscribed silver tankard – handed over by close friend and former Pompey secretary Paul Weld.

And London branch chairman Dan Taylor believes the award is fully deserved.

He said: ‘Johnny has always done his best to try to provide a link between the club and fans and at times he has been swimming against the tide.

‘Despite Johnny’s best efforts, in previous years, players and staff would fail to commit to attending meetings and organising events became a real labour of love.

‘This year Johnny and the club came up trumps.

‘Two players, two chairmen (Trust and club), a chief executive and several other senior figures all made the effort to come up to London to meet a merry bunch of exiled fans.

‘It’s a testament to the way things are changing at Portsmouth Football Club and the work Johnny has put in over the years stressing the importance of the fans to the club.

‘Never before have club representatives stayed (voluntarily) until the end of one of our meetings, and I was staggered to receive an e-mail yesterday morning from the chairman, Iain McInnes, thanking us for having him and the others at our meeting.

‘It’s the fans that should be thanking him and the Trust for all that they have achieved so far.

‘Long may their success continue.

‘It looks like Johnny Moore will no longer have to swim against the tide.’