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!
17. Alan Biley
The charismatic Alan Biley was idolised by the Fratton faithful - a goalscoring hero with a flamboyant nature. Yet the circumstances behind his departure still hurt – many years later. It was manager Alan Ball who oversaw Biley’s controversial departure for Brighton in March 1985, a decision many supporters struggled to comprehend. | National World
18. Dejan Stefanovic
The popular central defender made 125 appearances and scored three goals during four memorable years on the south coast. He was sold to Fulham in 2007 for just £1m. @pompeytess confessed: 'Dejan Stefanovic to Fulham was the first one to make me cry.' | Getty Images
19. Darren Anderton
Signed as an apprentice, Anderton went on to play 77 games for Pompey before Spurs signed him for £1.75m in 1992. @pompeyshaun1986 wrote: 'Shaggy to spurs or Whitts to Villa' after @Pompey_Goals asked Pompey fans to name the first player Pompey sold that really hurt them? | Getty Images