Portsmouth FC chaplain to attend vital play-off match - as cardboard cut-out
THE chaplain to Portsmouth FC is ready to support the team for their vital play-off match - but only as a cardboard cut-out.
The Rev Jonathan Jeffery, who is also vicar of Leigh Park and Warren Park, is determined to show his support for the Blues when they face Oxford in the League One play-off semi-final but, with the game being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak, he will be joining the crowd of Pompey fans who will be represented by cardboard cut-outs inside Fratton Park.
The scheme, supported by the football club, enables fans to pay to have their photos turned into a waterproof, recyclable cut-out, with the hope of filling the ground and showing the team the strength of their support with a chance for fans to claim their cut-out to keep at the end of the scheme.
Profits will help young players in Portsmouth Academy.
Rev Jonathan said: ‘If the season had played out, I was hopeful of following Pompey all the way to promotion. An automatic place is not now possible but the play-offs are an exciting alternative. It is a great scheme to show support for the team and the benefit the youngsters of the academy too.
I hope that the sight of so many fans will encourage Pompey against Oxford, and no doubt with all those cardboard cut outs, one of the sides will be using a flat back four! Play up Pompey!’
When it was agreed that the football season could re-start, the League One clubs, including Pompey, voted to end their season, but with a formula to determine those clubs promoted, and those into the play offs.
On that basis Portsmouth finished in fourth place and so play off against Oxford United.
The first leg at Fratton Park is on Friday July 3, with the return fixture on July 6. If Pompey are successful, they'll progress to the play-off final on July 13 at Wembley.