David Norris makes Adam Webster admission after time at Portsmouth
Portsmouth icon David Norris has revealed what he saw in Joel Ward and Adam Webster as young players at Fratton Park before their illustrious Premier League careers began.
While Norris only spent a sole season with Pompey due to the financial turmoil enveloping the club in the early 2010s, the midfielder had a host of talented teammates on the South Coast including Ward and Webster, who have gone on to enjoy ongoing spells in the top flight.
Ward, 34, made his first three Premier League outings in Blue during the 2009-10 season but has since played 328 times in the top tier for Crystal Palace, who he captains; Webster has played 124 matches in the Premier League for Brighton since 2019, despite still being just 29 years of age.
“With Webster, his attitude was amazing, he stepped straight up when the club needed him, and we thought he had a chance,” Norris exclusively told Pompey News.
“I could see him playing in the league, but the standard he has got to is incredible. We caught up when I was last down in Portsmouth, and I told him ‘fair play to you, lad.’
“As for Joel Ward, he was older than Adam, and he was a proper good lad – I liked to make sure I was right in the gym and Wardy was the same, excellent attitude.
“He was a little less of a surprise, I think, but the longevity he has shown has been really good, to have played so many Premier League games and to captain his side.”
Portsmouth youngsters go on to enjoy Premier League careers
Ward – like Norris – scored a memorable equaliser against Southampton during the turbulent Championship campaign of 2011-12, and any Portsmouth fan will tell you that tends to be enough to etch your name into club folklore.
He and Webster – who put it all in as a teenager when the club were on the brink in the lower leagues – are fondly remembered and fully backed by the Fratton faithful in their excellent careers ever since.
There have been several Pompey alumni to have gone on to reach the heights of the Premier League in recent years, with Matt Ritchie spending eight years with Newcastle United before his release this summer – and it’s needless to say the Gosport local has been linked with pulling on the blue shirt once again.
Jamal Lowe – though not a youth product – went on to represent Bournemouth in the big time, whilst Ipswich Town bring with them a trio of former Pompey players as they enjoy their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Pompey fans will be sincerely hoping academy graduate Conor Chaplin will be given a crack in the team by Kieran McKenna next season, whilst Marcus Harness and George Hirst could join him.
In other Portsmouth news, the club have once again lauded Kusini Yengi after his latest international feat with Australia.
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