Portsmouth Fans

(You will need to look at the larger version to see the detail of this mad crowd.)

The last day of the football season for the Championship section in England. (In the old days, this was called Division Two).

My team, Nottingham Forest, were playing Portsmouth, a team who have already been relegated to play in what is now called League One (but used to be called Division Three - get the idea?).

The only reason my team have escaped being relegated after a dreadful season was that Portsmouth are in serious financial difficulties, receivership etc, and had ten points deducted, putting them in the bottom three. We did win the match, but it was not a scintillating display of football.

The opposition fans had come to have a fun day out. They applauded our goals even more loudly than we did - and their chants were hilarious.

But above all of that, they had travelled halfway up the length of the country in great spirit, and amazing costumes - Smurfs and lots of other colourful outfits. When the ball was kicked into their area, they wouldn't give it back... you get the idea.

Other snaps from this afternoon (early kick off which is why I'm blipping while the upper tiers are still playing)

mascot and kids

serious lens envy

the teams line up before the game