It might be an alien concept for certain Pompey fans now, but back in the day it was common practice for supporters to head to Fratton Park in order to get their match-day tickets.
With no internet to book seats from home, no high-tech phones to download your match tickets, or no simple clicks of a button to transfer your payment to either the club or a mate, at times the only way to guarantee your place at the game was by joining a physical queue and putting up with the weather!
Some, of course, were longer than others - depending on the game in question. Yet they still required perhaps an early alarm call, a detour on your way to or home from work, or a mate or family member good enough to get in line on your behalf if work or college got in the way of the sales window opening.
A tent, sleeping back, a picnic hamper and a good-old newspaper might have been required on other occasions. And there were plenty of Blues fans prepared to do it when the need arised as they looked to be part of the Fratton faithful for these memorable games.
To salute these efforts, we've been looking through our picture archive to capture these moments. Here's 26 of our favourite snaps as Blues fans from yesteryear look to snap up Pompey tickets.

5. Pompey fans queue for tickets
The scene at Fratton Park on April 1, 2008 ahead of Pompey's FA Cup semi-final against West Brom | National World Photo: Steve Reid

6. Pompey fans queue for tickets
In 2003, Pompey fan of 48 years, John Withers, from Gosport, waits with other fans in the ticket queue at Fratton Park hoping to obtain tickets for the end of the season Bradford game. This picture was taken at 12.50pm and Mr withers had been in the queue since 5.30am. | National World Photo: PICTURE: MATT SCOTT-JOYNT (031766-8)

7. Pompey fans queue for tickets
John Crawford, from Baffins, and Scott Shaw, from Portsmouth, queue for FA tickets at Fratton Park in April 2008. | National World Photo: Alan Hutchings

8. Pompey fans queue for tickets
Pompey fans queue for FA Cup tickets for the Blues' replay against Liverpool in February 2004. | National World Photo: Steve Reid

