Honour after Honour…

Portsmouth’s FA Cup-winning squad and boss Harry Redknapp are set to be honoured by their home town.

After beating Championship side Cardiff in the final, two months ago, the team look certain to recieve the Freedom of the City from Portsmouth City Council.

The idea was suggested at a full council meeting on Tuesday. Reports suggest the move will be confirmed when the councillors meet up again for a special meeting, on the 31st July.

There have been many suggestions on what the council could do to honour the team’s achievement and it now looks as though the council are about to take some action on some of those ideas.

One popular idea was to have the message ‘Home of Pompey, FA Cup Winners 2008’ on the signs that are visible when entering and leaving the city.

However the idea that has gathered the most support is the scheme to refurbish the bells at Portsmouth Guildhall so they are able to play the club’s anthem, ‘The Pompey Chimes’.

The Chief Executive of Portsmouth City Council, David Williams, said ”It was very much Portsmouth Football Club’s day at Tuesday’s meeting at Portsmouth City Council.”

”The councillors – still overjoyed at the club’s FA Cup success – and in the presence of the cup itself, started the formal process towards granting Freedom of the City for the squad and Harry Redknapp.”

”A special council meeting to decide on this will be held at the Guildhall on Thursday of next week.”

As well as getting Freedom of the City, manager Harry Redknapp could possibly be facing a knighthood as well. Local newspaper, ‘The News’ had started a petition to make Harry a ‘Sir’ for his services to football. The newspaper reportedly managed to get 2000 + signatures. The petition was hand delivered to Downing Street last week.