Play up Pompey (Portsmouth)

[Stephen Goranson]

I failed again to find the origin of Portsmouth's nickname Pompey. They do share three significant letters. The football team is the first referred to as Pompey in 1899 in OED, and I have no antedating. But that same year records some possible clues to the origin. None of the dozen or so published proposals persuades me today.
Maybe the chant "Play up Pompey" predated the use of Pompey for the city. The wording of the rest of the chant changed over time; the official club site dates it to 1900, but I may be able to antedate that to 1899 (unverified).
The team mascot is a sailor (when established I do not know). The team mascot is not a dog, which I mention since Pompey was a popular dog name (cf. "paws off Pompey'; one "paws up Pompey" in 1896; possibly cf. "dodging Pompey")
Portsmouth Evening News Thu 19 Oct 1899, Hampshire, England SHRIMPS V. SAINTS<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991019/007/0002>

s the Portsmouth Town ! Baud, playing what, learned, was the 44 Pompey March —mainly a plagiarism of the Town Hall clock chimes—were ... ?

ROUND THE POLICE COURTS . (Burney newspapers)
Hampshire Telegraph and Naval Chronicle (Portsmouth, England), Saturday, December 9, 1899; Issue 6168.

Category: News Pompey Chimes...Hallo Hallo [drunks singing to the judge]

So the Pompey March and the Pompey Chimes are attested in 1899.

Strand Magazine 1902: "....curiously known by the collective nickname of Pompey....
His war cry is the Portsmouth chimes...." (Also noted: that it sounds good with cornet.)


"Play up" was a collocation used both in sports and in bell-ringing. Pompey, perhaps sounded more like a bell tone than Portsmouth. Cf. maybe, Brum, nickname for Birmingham

Fri 14 Aug Hampshire. The Pompey Season. The Pompey season. PRACTICE GAMES ARRANGED. Tie dates for the practice games in come* tion with the Portsmouth Football Club bare ... ?

Sat 28 Oct 1899
Hampshire, England
FOOTBALL<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991028/031/0003>
1200 Words
“ he '* Pompey did very well in the eariier stages of tilt? competition, and Portsmouthians jrill not readily forget the run-away victory over Hyde, and the closely ...

?

  <http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991104/022/0003>
Page 3 Article
Portsmouth Evening News<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991104/022/0003>
Sat 04 Nov 1899
Hampshire, England
FRIENDLY MATCHES<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991104/022/0003>
478 Words
“ f the Pompey Reserves continued to have the best the exenauges, and iiealv was given coustant employment in checking the attacks. Occasionally the visitors made a ... ?
<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991209/037/0003>
Page 3 Article
Portsmouth Evening News<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991209/037/0003>
Sat 09 Dec 1899
Hampshire, England
FOOTBALL<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991209/037/0003>
1298 Words
“ efore Pompey returned to the attack, Marshall and Brown being simply irresistible. Bristol, however, took every advantage possible, and the circumst*nce6 played an ... ?


The following (unverified) advertisements--seen only in local Portsmouth newspapers--appear to use "Play up Pompey" in reference to the already-existing chant and march by that name, for the Portsmouth F.C.


Wed 13 Dec 1899
Hampshire, England
i = Dainty Perfumes, the first Quality, in exquisitely got Cases, make very acceptable 'XMAS GIFTS. A Large Selection from<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991213/071/0001>
342 Words
“ AY UP POMPEY CIGARETTES. British made British labour of the very highest class Virginia Tobacco, and, like the Boys, are hard to beat. Manufactured by the ST. ... ?

Portsmouth Evening News<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991218/048/0001>
Mon 18 Dec 1899
Hampshire, England
JACOBS & CO., COMPLETE HOUSE FURNISHERS.. SPECIAL VALUE Bedsteads, Bedding:, Blankets, Down Quilts, Carpets, Linoleums, Fenders, Winter Curtains, Glass, China,<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991218/048/0001>
1642 Words “ C.M I PLAY UP POMPEY : sale PRY BROS. _ _______ cut Si M Maaogany and Haiact Uuohosse .. A ami tn.w«Jinit Mahogany and Walnot Marble-top Wash- AT PEICE

Portsmouth Evening News<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991220/049/0001>
Wed 20 Dec 1899
Hampshire, England
JOHN BABNES' SPECIAL 'XMAS SHOW OF NOVELTIES. In SATIN APRONS, LADIES' CAPS, LACE & CHIFFON FICHUS, LACE BOWS, SCARVES WITH<http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/18991220/049/0001>
286 Words “ r 3d. PLAY UP POMPEY CIGARETTES.




Stephen Goranson
www.duke.edu/~goranson

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