Pompey joy blunted by FA Cup medals theft

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Portsmouth's FA Cup final celebrations were marred at the weekend when two players had their winners' medals stolen.

The England defender Glen Johnson and reserve goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown were the victims of the thefts which were discovered when the players returned to their hotel in Windsor following Sunday's victory parade in Portsmouth.

Johnson, the former Chelsea defender who played the full 90 minutes in Portsmouth's 1-0 win over Cardiff City at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, said his medal had been taken from his washbag.

"I'm so disappointed, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that someone's going to give it back," he told the Portsmouth club website. Ashdown, who did not play in the final, said his medal had been taken from inside a jacket pocket.

Peter Storrie, the club's chief executive, said the incident had put a dampener on the club's first FA Cup final success since 1939. "If someone has taken these medals they have deprived our players of a lifelong dream," he said.

Thames Valley Police confirmed the medals had been reported stolen yesterday and were carrying out investigations to retrieve the items.