After a very difficult few days, I wanted to share just some of my memories of Alan McLoughlin.

I first met Macca in 2006, and the following year, we had an on-air partnership covering #Pompey games on the local radio station, 107.4 The Quay. They really were the best days.

I spent every weekend for a number of years travelling the country with him. Sharing car journeys, meals, hotels, nights out, and wrapped that around commentating on Portsmouth. He’d not long finished playing, and I’d not long started broadcasting. And we quickly became friends.

Macca was terrific company. He had so many good stories from his playing days, and used to give it the full works when he told them. He had such a dry wit, and he used to love silly jokes. The more silly the joke, the harder he laughed.

He’d often get me to repeat old jokes, and would giggle in the same manner every time.

Macca was also incredibly humble. So unassuming. For all he achieved as a player, there wasn’t even a snippet of an ego. He was fiercely proud of what he achieved, but never, ever boastful.

There are so many other qualities I loved about Macca too. He was always interested in what was going on with you. Even when I saw him last week, he just wanted to find out how I’d been. In adversity, his selflessness still knew no bounds.

Macca was passionate about his job after his playing career. Be it broadcasting or coaching, he had a real attention for detail. He’d always prepared thorough notes for games we covered together. And he cared greatly for the young players whose careers he was helping to shape.

You definitely wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of Macca though! If you did something wrong, he wasn’t afraid to tell you. And he didn’t forget it in a hurry either! I loved that about him. He was a man of principles. If you treated him with respect, you got it back.

But standing tall above everything else was his love and pride in his family. He would do absolutely anything for Debbie, Abby and Megan. They were his entire world, and I’m thinking of them every single hour.

I’ll miss you terribly, and I’m so proud to call you my friend.