Pompey say 8,000 home fans. I do hope it’s better than that.
Sure they took more to Wembley the other year🤔
Unfortunately, home fans don't turn out in numbers for a game against lower opposition for a cup match. We had 680 against Whitley Bay in the Cup last season, and that included a good away support.
A total attendance approaching 9000 is, if anything, a bit more than I was expecting and a decent effort from Portsmouth.
Looking at the second round fixture list the only tie that I can see that may have more people attending is Bristol Rovers v Plymouth because its a West Country derby.
From Altrincham's receipts point of view I think that its the best possible tie you could have got.
I know that we (Pompey) will have been aware that its important to you, pricing of the match at £15 is probably maximising the shared revenue at the expense of another 1000 or so home supporters. (Our leasing.com match against Northampton on Tues is £10).
Our FA Cup second round fixture last year was on a Sunday away to Rochdale and attended by 2500 of which 600 came from Pompey (despite the match being on BT) for context.
I think whoever it was at your club (manager?) raising expectations of a 15 k crowd at this stage was probably a bit optimistic.
You are very welcome at Fratton Park and we will do our best to make a noise! It may not be a state of the art stadium by modern standards but in terms of traditional stadiums its pretty good.