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Manchester United and Portsmouth Legends open the season in some style at AFC Portchester
The 2024-25 season opened in spectacular style at The OnSite Group Stadium with a capacity crowd packed into the ground.
And the entertainment on offer was oozing with style as the Manchester United Legends and Pompey Charity Squad battled it out in the Sophie’s Legacy Charity Match.
Those in attendance were treated to 14 goals - and there were some quality strikes to enjoy among those - with the United Legends running out 9-5 winners.
Both sides were packed with players Pompey and United fans remember fondly from the squads at Fratton Park and Old Trafford during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s - and there were a couple of guest appearances too.
Manchester United’s line-up boasted Wes Brown - who had won 13 major honours during his time with the club, including five Premier League and two Champions League winners medals; Russell Beardsmore - who made over 50 appearances for the Red Devils; and Lee Martin - an FA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners Cup winner with United.
The United side also included some guest players. Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers Colin Hendry, who was also capped over 50 times for Scotland; and former Leeds United and Sheffield United defender Matt Kilgallon.
Ex-Swansea City and Bristol City striker Lee Trundle proved to be the star of the show, with a number of stunning strikes earning him the man-of-the-match award.
Pompey’s line-up included former AFC Portchester striker and the last Portsmouth captain to lift silverware at Wembley in Brett Pitman. Inevitably the prolific goalscorer got his name on the goal scorer’s list during Saturday’s game.
There were plenty of familiar faces in the Royal Blue shirts, including Guy Butters, Shaun Gale, Chris Burns and Paul Robinson.
And there were some famous faces too, with ex-SAS trooper and author Big Phil Campion also in the Portsmouth squad on the day.
The event was run in aid of the Sophie’s Legacy charity and it is hoped a large amount of money has been raised for this good cause.
The charity has made significant progress with their aims and objectives over the last 12 months. Writing in the matchday programme, the charity’s founder and chief executive officer Charlotte Fairall highlighted the establishment of a children and young people’s cancer taskforce which has brought together professionals working in the field of children’s cancer.
Significant progress has also been made with the feeding parents in hospitals initiative, with over 60,000 families already supported across 11 hospitals - including Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Southampton General Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.