There was a time when the only overseas tournament Pompey were invited into was the Anglo-Italian Cup. How times have changed - and how Pompey have changed. Now it's Hong Kong, hundreds of screaming locals greeting them and a couple of 40,000 sell-out games to look forward to.Pompey have safely touched down in Hong Kong after a 12-hour flight from Heathrow, ready for their pre-season preparations to step up a gear or two.
They take on Fulham on Tuesday in front of 40,000 - ironically more than the total who will watch both Premier League games between the sides this season.
Pompey have taken 23 players to Hong Kong, and it's a strong-looking 23.
And as the Blues ready themselves for what should be an intriguing test against Lawrie Sanchez's outfit, who like themselves have been busy in the transfer market this summer, Pompey fans can be forgiven for reflecting just how they've come in the past few years.
In the 1990s the only tournament away from UK shores Pompey were invited to was the Anglo-Italian Cup - and they didn't do very well in that.
Apart from that, Blues followers hoping to combine watching the team with taking their annual holiday had to content themselves with the odd pre-season tour to Norway, Ireland or Scotland - or a League Cup tie at Blackpool.
Pompey were given the sort of welcome at Hong Kong International Airport that the likes of Manchester United or Arsenal wouldn't have been ashamed of in the past.
Players were screamed at, photographed and would have been mobbed but for security barriers keeping back the hordes. They made their way by coach to their base for some rest and some light training ahead of Tuesday's game, which kicks off mid-morning UK time.
The game's likely to mark John Utaka's debut alongside David Nugent up front for Pompey - unless Harry Redknapp springs a surprise and plays him as a wide man.
As he mulls over the strikeforce who will bid to land some silverware in the Far East, Redknapp is also still working on deals to bring other players to Fratton.
The Kanu saga drags on ever longer, with no sign of the successful conclusion to talks over his new one-year-plus deal which, it was suggested on Saturday, was in sight.
With hopes of luring Jermain Defoe south now apparently dead in the water, Redknapp has reportedly turned his attentions to a £4m bid for Hamburg's Peruvian striker Jose Paulo Guerrero.
A couple of Sunday papers have Pompey players down as heading for the exits. One story, saying Lomana Lualua is on his way to West Ham, may not worry Pompey fans too much - especially if another striker is incoming.
But the other, claiming Matt Taylor could be a target for Everton, is more worrying, although it would be a surprise if the Toffees were willing to pay the £8m Pompey reportedly want for Taylor.
(pompeyfans.com)
