Position: Forward

Debut vs: Doncaster Rovers, at Worldnet '98

Appearances: 22 (16)

Goals: 3

It was the end of era at the weekend of Worldnet 2001. Phil Porter stepped down from his position of Player-Manager after 3 years and four Worldnet tournaments in charge of the Drunkards and decided it was someone elses turn in taking the running of the team. Porter did not have much in the terms of success during his reign but undoubtedly made the team what it is today - a well established team in the Internet football world with an exciting academy system.

Porter was the man who started the whole saga and even came up with the name of the team. In Spring 1998 he sent this email:-

"Now seeing as we don't have much to talk about at the moment and are reduced to spotting grammatical and spelling error in the messages that we do send I have been doing some research. On the 17th - 19th of July is WorldNet '98. This is a football competition for people on Internet mailing lists. It is an annual competition of 2/3 years standing and is being held in Reading this year. The question arises - do we want to send a representative team to the competition this year, and if we do are we too late? I am currently investigating the answer to the latter but the former I cannot answer alone.
Matches are 11 a-side although they are only 15 mins a half. There is a group stage early on, followed by a knock-out for the group winners and runners up. The entrance fee is 100 of you earth pounds (Fry and Laurie did do this gag first) and the squad can be up to 22 players.

I am happy organising this if we can get enough people interested and are allowed entry. Anyone fancy giving it a go?

Phil."

Although his playing career is yet, not as legendary as his managerial role, his reluctance to pick himself ahead of others is something to be admired. Phil's greatest triumph was to beat a West Bromwich Albion side 9-0 away. This win, however was overshadowed by events which followed this match.

Tributes from other PDFC players

"I hope that PDFC will be able to continue and flourish, now Phil P is stepping down after a magnificent job in keeping us organised" - Chris Towell

"I'd just like to say (on behalf of everyone) thanks to Phil P.for the work he's done in forming and keeping us together. Under his leadership, we've become one of best teams in the league when it comes to friendship and playing in the spirit of the game. Long may this continue" - Brian Durrant