Captured: Fratton Park fever pitch - well before match-day hustle and bustle at Portsmouth

We all miss match-day at Fratton Park – the buzz around the ground, the anticipation of how the game will unfold, the feel-good factor of three well-earned points, the pride in watching blood, sweat and sometimes tears shed on the field for the star & crescent.

It’s unclear when we will next experience such emotional highs again given the current suspension to fixtures. Until then, though, we thought we remind you of what it’s like down the park with kick-off approaching. In a twist, however, the rarely-seen pictures provided by our picture partners Getty Images are taken well before the masses descend on Fratton Park. Indeed, they capture the mood of those early birds keen to get there well in advance of the crowds. Those who love a read of the match programme before the hustle and bustle gathers pace; those who want soak up the atmosphere as it grows, those who simply can’t wait to be back at their spiritual home.