A Pompey supporter recently experienced a 50th birthday that will be hard to forget, but unfortunately not for the cheerful reasons one would expect. Louis Bruzon and his wife Louise embarked on a lengthy 2,500-mile journey from Brympton, Gibraltar, to Fratton Park to witness the Blues’ Championship clash against Ipswich and reunite with family and friends for a joyous celebration.
In honor of Louis’s milestone birthday last month, they were treated to an exclusive experience by being booked into the Partners’ Lounge for match-day hospitality as a party of six and even secured the role of match-ball sponsors. However, their anticipation and excitement soon turned to disappointment as they arrived at Fratton Park at 11am only to be met with the unfortunate news that the game had been called off due to a frozen pitch – a sudden twist that Louis would come to describe as an ‘absolute nightmare.’
The misfortunes seemed to follow Louis throughout the weekend, with their Friday flight from Gibraltar being delayed by over two hours and their stay at the Premier Inn on Commercial Road experiencing a shortage of hot water, resulting in chilly showers. Despite these setbacks, Louis, known as the creative mind behind the popular Pompey social media character Gibraltar Monkey, attempted to maintain a positive outlook.
Reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, Louis shared with The News, “My New Year’s Resolution was to accept the things I cannot change – and this is one I definitely cannot change! It has been an absolute nightmare, to be frank. If this is all the bad luck I get in 2026, then that’s it, we are now good to go!”
He continued to recount the chain of events that led to their disappointment, highlighting their early arrival at Fratton Park in anticipation of their hospitality experience, only to be greeted with the cancellation announcement via social media upon reaching the North Stand car park. Dreams of an informative stadium tour were dashed when the scheduled tour was also called off, leaving Louis and the others part of the hospitality experience disheartened.
Louis shared his disappointment about what was meant to be a significant celebration for his 50th birthday along with his friend Stephen’s upcoming milestone. Despite the series of unfortunate events, Louis remains hopeful as he has reached out to the club requesting to reschedule the event for another time.
Accompanied by their son Charles and his fiancée Dayla Gibbons, who travelled from Nottingham, as well as season-ticket holder Stephen Shephard and his wife Christine, Louis and Louise made the most of their time in Portsmouth by indulging in a pleasant Saturday evening meal at Carluccio’s in Gunwharf, soaking in cherished moments with friends and family amidst the disappointment.
Looking ahead, Louis, a committed Fratton End season-ticket holder based in Gibraltar, is eager to return for the upcoming FA Cup third-round clash against Arsenal. While their journey may not have gone as planned, Louis and Louise found comfort in a pleasant stay at a Premier Inn room in Gatwick Airport, complete with the welcome luxury of uninterrupted hot running water as they prepare to conclude their visit by flying back to Gibraltar on Monday morning.
