None of us have escaped the pain of seeing a firm Fratton favourite leave for pastures new - whether it be through financial issues at the club, a player falling out of favour with the manager, an offer proving too good to be true, or the player himself wanting a new challenge elsewhere.
It’s a painful circumstance to watch as it unfolds and can stir up emotions long after the said player is left.
As a result, it’s probably a subject matter that some don’t want to be reminded off. For others, though, they’ll happily reminisce about players who got away - as @Pompey_Goals found out when he asked Blues supporters on X, formerly Twitter, ‘Which was the first player Pompey sold that really hurt you?’
The response from the Fratton faithful was impressive, with a whole host of names offered up. So much so that we asked @Pompey_Goals to run a story on the names mentioned.
So here’s 18 former Pompey players fans wished had never been sold without evening mentioning Mick Quinn, Benjani, Vince Hilaire, Noel Blake, Steve Claridge, Peter Mellor, Jed Wallace and Matty Taylor!
5. Mark Hateley
The former Coventry striker moved to Pompey in 1983 for an arbitrated £160,000 fee. He scored 25 goals during the 1983-84 season for the Blues, before Italian giants AC Milan lured him to Serie A for £1m after just one season at Fratton Park. Photo: National World
6. Kevin Ball
Released as an apprentice at Coventry, Ball was taken on by the Blues’ youth set-up in 1982. By the time he departed in the summer of 1990, the defender had amassed 129 appearances and scored four times. Sunderland was his destination after a £300,000 bid was accepted by Blues boss Frank Burrows. @w_chitty commented: 'I’d been round his house and interviewed him for a piece in the Portsmouth News. I was devastated when he was sold and he went on to become a legend at Sunderland.' | National World
7. Matt Ritchie
The Pompey Academy product was sold to Swindon by Steve Cotterill in 2011 for £250,000. @OliverHarry wrote on X: 'I remember being furious we let Matt Richie go. Cotterill was absolutely clueless. Also yakubu.' | National World
8. Lee Bradbury
After being picked up from Cowes Sports in 1995, the striker went on to score 17 goals in 62 appearances for the Blues. A £3m offer from Manchester City in 1997 was too good to turn down. But it had consequences. @JoelJenkins06 wrote on X: 'Lee Bradbury to Man City, first Pompey hero!' | None