Kevin Harper: I was booed before games but I turned it around at Portsmouth - and my love for the club is still strong

In fact, the flak was flying in the face at Kevin Harper before he’d kicked a ball in games.

But the Scottish winger stood firm in the face of hate to turn around the opinions of Fratton boo boys and become a central figure in one of the finest seasons in the club’s history.

And he did so with two holes in his groin the whole time.

Today, the Pompey love is still strong for a man who made 128 appearances and scored nine goals across five years at Fratton Park.

Harper helped keep the Blues in the second tier on the final day of the 2000-2001 season against Barnsley - then later made 40 appearances to help Harry Redknapp’s men reach the Premier League two years later.

And what that means to the 44-year-old is underlined with the achievement etched on him in ink.

To change the opinions of the knockers is still a source of immense pride to Harper.

Speaking on the latest Pompey Talk podcast which can listen to HERE, he said: ‘Alan Knight said in his book I’m the only player he’s ever seen change the fans’ opinion as a player. That’s huge.

‘There’s a lot of love from Portsmouth fans on social media these days. It’s great to see that, it really is.

‘I loved my time at Portsmouth, even through the bad times.

‘At one stage, my name was getting called out at the start of games and the fans were booing.

‘But I never, ever disliked the fans or the club for that. That was their opinion.

‘In the first half of the (title) season I was getting so much abuse.

‘But I stuck to what I was doing and the players and the manager could see what I was doing.

‘I was out of the squad at the start but knuckled down and didn’t spit the dummy out.

‘Then when I went to the left after Matty Taylor’s injury. I played pretty much every game and I did that with a double hernia, which I had for the whole season.

‘So to go on that journey from staying up on the last game of the season to winning the title I’m proud about because it’s a huge achievement.

‘I’ve got a tattoo of my medal on me, so that shows just what it means to me.’

Harper today retains an affinity which has remained strong across the 15 years since he left Fratton Park.

Pompey is the club the man signed from Derby County for £300,000 made the most appearances for at senior level.

And it’s a period he knows he can reflect on fondly as he looks back on his football journey.

Harper added: ‘I think everyone knows what I feel about the club.

‘Moving to the area I didn’t know anything about it, but from the first minute I was here to the second I left I enjoyed every minute of it.

‘There were hard times and tough times and the fans were on my back at times, but I’ve nothing but absolute praise for the fans, the club and the city.

‘The will to play for the club, understand what the fans wanted and what it meant to them was there from me.

‘I think that’s the biggest thing for me when you’re based at Portsmouth.

‘They want the best for the club and the players. Yes, they will get on your back if you’re not doing it right - but that’s part and parcel of it.

‘For the amount of fans that are there it’s one of the noisiest if not the noisiest place there is.

‘It’s 18,000 fans but the noise made from 18,000 is like a Parkhead or an Ibrox.

‘Those 18,000 make more noise than 50,000 or 60,000 and the passion genuinely drives you on.’

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.