John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood

John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood (born 1963) is one of the most recognisable football fans in England. [ [http://www.thenews.co.uk/ViewArticle.aspx?SectionID=456&ArticleID=660561 Milan backs Westwood against away bans] Portsmouth Today, 18 September 2003]

Westwood has supported Portsmouth since childhood. When he left school he went to work at his father's second-hand bookshop and began to attend ever-increasing numbers of "Pompey" matches. As his commitment grew, so too did his range of Portsmouth F.C themed accessories. In 1994 he changed his name, by deed poll, from J.A. Westwood to J.P.F.C. Westwood. Despite his large size and deafening exhortations, [ [http://www.nqsouthern.com/digitalpublication/digitalpublications/index.cfm?dpid=86&section_id=521&article_id=1408 The Fans - Fans agree to disagree] thisisthesaints.co.uk] Westwood is regarded by most fansWho|date=July 2008 as a symbol of passionate but non-violent commitment to his chosen team. He was even chosen to be one of the featured people in the BBC's "One Nation" Series.Fact|date=July 2008 Since his father's death he has taken over the family business. [ [http://www.inprint.co.uk/thebookguide/shops/frank_westwood.shtml Frank Westwood Owner of the Petersfield Bookshop] The Book Guide] [ [http://www.ilab.org/db/searchbooksellers.php?membernr=874 The Petersfield Bookshop] ILAB] In 2007 Westwood wrote a book called "The true Pompey Fan's Miscellany [ Hove, Pennant ISBN 9780955039485] . He also features on the cover of Chuck Culpepper's "Up Pompey", an American's take on the fans of the English Premier League [London, Weidenfield and Nicolson,2007 ISBN 0753824124]

Westwood can be clearly heard ringing a bell, to represent the "Pompey Chimes", almost continuously throughout Portsmouth matches - even on television coverage. Westwood was not permitted to bring any instruments to the FA Cup final in 2008, but witnessed Portsmouth win the FA Cup for the first time in 69 years.

Amongst a section of fans John has become known as 'Nobby Portsmouth', a name that was coined in a Middlesbrough fanzine for the Middlesbrough-Portsmouth game in October 2005. Fact|date=July 2008 He has also appeared on Sky's Premier League Allstars, playing for Portsmouth.

Quotes

It's a bit Jekyll and Hyde. When I go to a local book fair, I cover up my tattoos and put on a suit. But more often than not, I end up talking to the book dealers about Pompey and it turns out they've got more tattoos than I have. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1009777,00.html Up Pompey] The Observer, 3 August 2003]

Criticism/TCWTB

Amongst other sections of fans John has become known as 'That Cunt with the Bell' [ [http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2008/05/19/who-exactly-is-that-strange-portsmouth-maniac Ten things you didn’t know about that strange Portsmouth maniac] ] and is considered by some to be an embarrassment to his club, due to his drunken behaviour at matches and multiple evictions from opposing team stadiums. [ [http://www.portsmouth-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=61628 WE DON'T NEED FANS LIKE WESTWOOD - Portsmouth FC - Fratton Faithful ] ] . His continual bell ringing has been known to cause annoyance to people within earshot.

References