New Pompey Hall of Fame inductee

Alby Mccann

Albert Mccann

Reproduced with the kind permission of Neil Allen 'The News' Portsmouth
Published on Fri Jan 28 2011

Albert McCann has been inducted into the Portsmouth Football Club Hall of Fame.

The former Fratton Park favourite has become a late entry to be honoured at the 2011 event on Saturday, March 26.

Jack Froggatt, Johnny Gordon, Alan McLoughlin, Paul Walsh and Linvoy Primus have already been chosen.

Now those greats will be accompanied by McCann, who made 372 appearances and scored 98 goals during 12 years at Pompey.

And the midfielder will be present at the Hall of Fame dinner in the Victory Lounge at Fratton Park in March to receive his award.

Hall of Fame chairman Jake Payne said: ‘The names of Alan McLoughlin and Paul Walsh were put forward for induction but both had represented Pompey in the 1990s.

‘We could not choose between them so it was decided that both players should be inducted this year.

‘We had already chosen Johnny Gordon, who played in the ’50s and ’60s, but neglected a player representing the ’70s.

‘This meant a whole era of the club’s history had been missed and we now realise that we made a mistake doing this.

‘After consultation, Alby McCann was the player we decided should fill the gap.

‘I think everyone will agree he is a very worthy inductee. It was a unanimous decision.

‘It also goes to show what a tough job the committee have when choosing the players to be inducted.’

McCann joined Pompey from Coventry City in 1962 for a fee of £8,000.

An attacking midfielder, he was a crowd favourite and recognised throughout football for his infamous bow legs.

It was a mark of respect Pompey fans had for McCann when a crowd of 23,000 turned out for his testimonial match against West Ham in 1973.

The Hall of Fame night will also see an honorary induction for Jack Tinn, Pompey’s longest serving manager and the man who led the club to FA Cup glory in 1939.

Extract from the Pompey Program

Blues News reproduced from the matchday program issue 15 with the kind permission of Portsmouth FC

Fratton favourites take their place among the greats

the Induction (McCann 3rd Right)

Left to right: Linvoy Primus, Paul Walsh, Win Froggatt, Rebecca Burke, Albert McCann with his daughter Belinda McCann, and Alan McLoughlin. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

Andy Awford’s voice crackled with emotion as he paid homage to his pal Alan McLoughlin.

Then Alan Knight delivered the mightiest of tributes to Paul Walsh, as he honoured him as the finest player he’d worked with.

And not a single person failed to be touched by emotion, as the late Jack Froggatt’s wife Win described the night as one of the greatest of her life as her husband was inducted.

These are the events which make the Pompey Hall of Fame ceremony the special night that it is.

There were no shortage of moments to rouse the soul, bring a tear to the eye or smile to the face on Saturday evening at Fratton Park.

A packed Victory Lounge saw the six latest Blues greats join the pantheon of legends at the third staging of the event.

Johnny Gordon’s daughter Rebecca Burke gave a moving speech as she accepted her father’s award, Albert McCann made his way to the stage to accept his from former team-mate John Milkins and then the room erupted as Linvoy Primus took to the stage.

His close friend Darren Moore was on hand to make his presentation ahead of turning out for Burton Albion against Oxford yesterday.

Froggatt, Gordon, McCann, McLoughlin, Walsh and Primus were the latest names to be inducted at another hugely-successful night.

And there was an honorary award for 1939 FA Cup-winning manager Jack Tinn to round off the ceremony.

Event organiser Jake Payne was delighted to see the night pass off successfully once again, with the Hall of Fame now firmly established on the Pompey calendar.

Payne said: ‘It’s a great thing to do and it’s important to celebrate the history of the club.

‘Everyone’s here for it and we’re really pleased with not only the turnout but who turned out.

‘Everyone who was inducted were either here or there were family and friends here for the occasion.

‘They are among the first 16 people inducted into the Hall of Fame and that, we hope, will be enough to put a smile on their faces.

‘Awfs’ speech to Macca and Alan Knight’s to Walshie were great moments.

‘I know how much it means to the players.

‘To know how much it means to them means, to me, it’s worth doing.

‘We are not picking players who just arrived and spent a year here.

‘These are men who have become part of the fibre of the club and were here through thick and thin.

‘They have made big connections with the club and the city – and that’s why they are honoured.’

Footage old and new was used throughout the evening as the different players were inducted.

As ever, Pathe film helped deliver a wonderful throwback to Pompey’s glorious past.

Tinn’s honorary award included a brilliant piece of footage with the manager vowing to deliver success ahead of the 1939 win over Wolves.

There were plenty of laughs, too, with previous inductee Ray Hiron the target of banter in reference to the epic speech he gave when honoured two years ago.

Pompey chief executive David Lampitt also became the first board member from the club to attend a Hall of Fame evening.

He presented Jack Froggatt’s award to his wife Win.

Lampitt made it clear he feels recognising the club’s rich history at such nights is key.

And Payne feels that bodes well for the future of the event.

He said: ‘David Lampitt was here and presented an award.

‘He believes this is something the club should do.

‘He’s the first board member to come to the Hall of Fame.

‘That’s appreciated and hopefully we can continue to have that support.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Jordan Cross 'The News' Portsmouth
Published on Monday 28th March