POMPEY - PORTSMOUTH?

Why is Portsmouth known as Pompey, everyone knows that Portsmouth, both the football club and the city, is known as Pompey, but why? There are numerous theories and explanations, some more believable than others, listed below are JUST some of them, but which is the real explanation, make your own mind up. Nobody seems to be able to put forward a definitive answer to this question, but we have gathered together various possible explanations of why Portsmouth is known as Pompey.

POMPEY ORIGINS