FOOTBALL is a funny old game -- especially if you travel to the other end of the country to watch your adopted team.

But that's what four local lads have done for the past three seasons in their incredible quest to watch Portsmouth play.

Paul Smith, Ivan Lowry and Shane Preston of Darwen and Vic Preston of Great Harwood started following Pompey in January, 1997. They decided to put the entire third round draw of the FA Cup into a hat and vowed to go and watch the tie they pulled out. It happened to be Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth, which Pompey won 1-0.

Since then, the four away day fans have tried to get to as many home matches as possible -- a 600-mile round coach journey, setting off Friday night and getting home in the early hours of Sunday. Paul Smith, 34, a ground worker from Darwen said, "Our friends think we are completely mad because we have no affiliation with Portsmouth at all.

"We went to see Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth play and decided to follow whoever won in the rest of the FA Cup. Pompey were knocked out in the next round but we have followed them ever since."

The four get down to Fratton Park up to 15 times a season and have been nicknamed the Northern Blues by the Pompey faithful.

Two of them have even named their pets after the beloved blues. Paul calls his kitten Chimes, after the famous Pompey Chimes, while Vic's cat is Pompey.

Paul added: "Even the fans in Portsmouth think we've got a screw loose. Some think that we put our northern accents on because they can't believe we have travelled so far. But they are a great bunch of fans."

The four will also get to chance to see Portsmouth play a lot closer to home as they are in the same division as Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Preston and Bolton.

Meanwhile, the four have just started up their own seven-a-side football team, called Northern Blues, and are looking to recruit new players. But don't worry, supporting Portsmouth is optional! Ring Paul on 01254 708063 or 0794 9678777.

Picture: Portsmouth FC followers (clockwise from top) Vic Preston, Shane Preston, Paul Smith and Ivan Lowry and their route to Portsmouth.