David Norris makes ‘loyalty’ admission after circumstances of Fratton Park exit
David Norris has revealed he ranks Portsmouth in the top three of his former clubs from across his 25-year playing career.
The midfielder only spent one season at Fratton Park due to the financial turmoil at the club in 2012 forcing every senior professional’s contract to be terminated.
Scoring eight goals in 42 club appearances, Norris did however etch himself into the hearts of Pompey fans – and most notably so with his unforgettable injury-time equaliser at Southampton.
Reinforcing his love for the club, the recently retired 43-year-old exclusively told Pompey News: “Players and clubs do use each other sometimes, but I don’t think there is no loyalty.
“The three clubs I have an affinity for are Ipswich, Plymouth and Portsmouth, all for very different reasons.
“I seem to have a real, closer connection with those three clubs from my playing career. I tried to help Pompey out as best I could when the club were close to going under, and I did a few things for Plymouth when they were suffering in the same way a year later.”
David Norris displays love for Portsmouth
Regardless of the tumultuous times enveloping Portsmouth at the time bringing everyone close together, the connection built between the supporters and the majority of the squad the last time the club competed in the Championship was admirable.
It’s testament to the fans and community feel of the club, and also to players such as Norris who built such a long-lasting rapport in such a short space of time on the South Coast.
The midfielder spent six years at Argyle and three with Ipswich, hitting treble figures in league appearances for both, so to hold Pompey in as high regard as those clubs shows how much Pompey meant to him.
Norris represented 16 clubs in a 25-year career, which only ended last season with a hat-trick in his farewell appearance for Lancaster City. And the ever-lasting, fond memories in Portsmouth are mutual.
In other Portsmouth news, the club could risk a mistake in letting Joe Morrell depart this summer.
For more Portsmouth news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.