Bristol Rovers Supporters Club were delighted to welcome former Rovers and Portsmouth defender Paul Hardyman to the Memorial Stadium for the Boxing Day clash between his two former clubs.
Paul joined Pompey in July 1983, signing his first pro contract for the Fratton Park outfit in May 1983. He went on to score three goals in 117 league appearances during his Portsmouth career.
In July 1989 Sunderland paid a fee of £130,000 to secure his signature and his career with the Wearsiders took in nine goals in 106 league games.
He was a member of the team that won promotion to the top flight of English football, through the play offs, in 1990, and his final appearance for the club came in the 1992 FA Cup Final against Liverpool.
A few weeks later he joined Rovers, going on to score five goals in 67 league games following his debut against Oxford United on 15th August 1992, when he became the 573rd player to make his Rovers league bow.
He later played for Wycombe, Barnet, Slough and Basingstoke before coaching roles at Portsmouth in their Centre of Excellence and Academy.
Under the Supporters Club cap initiative, Rovers CEO Tom Gorringe presented Paul with his cap to commemorate his debut for the club back in 1992.