The former Leeds, Ipswich and Southend striker made 24 appearances for the Blues
This weekend, Pompey will face one of Reading’s League Two title winners.
On Saturday, John Mousinho’s side will step up pre-season preparations by facing a Royals team that finished seventh in League One last season.
They are managed by Noel Hunt, who played 24 games for Paul Cook’s promotion-winning Blues team in the historic 2016-17 season.
The Irishman took over as Reading manager in December 2024, succeeding Ruben Selles, who left for Hull.
He then brought them within three points of play-off qualifying, an astonishing performance given the club’s persistent ownership issues that had pushed them to the verge.
Hunt is leading the club’s push for a return to the Championship, which has been owned by Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair since May. Signings include former Blues loanee Mark O’Mahony.
Recruited following a Portsmouth trial
Hunt signed a 12-month contract with Pompey in August 2016 after successfully trialling with them during the pre-season, scoring against the Hawks and Salisbury in five friendly matches.
The Republic of Ireland international, then 33, had previously played in the Premier League for Reading as well as Leeds and Ipswich, and his arrival bolstered an assault that included Conor Chaplin, Michael Smith, and Curtis Main.
The hardworking striker, who was primarily used off the bench, scored his only Blues goal against Mansfield in a 4-0 Fratton Park win in November 2016.
Cook’s men had a small 1-0 lead against a 10-man opposition until his 84th-minute strike, and the Fratton faithful were growing agitated with the team’s failure to seal the win.
Hunt’s goal sparked a late flurry, with Carl Baker adding two more as the hosts scored three in the closing six minutes, despite a second Mansfield red card, to complete a crushing victory.
Hunt made one of his four League Two starts that season on Boxing Day at Newport County, when Pompey rallied from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to Kal Naismith’s 87th-minute goal.
Hunt kept his place in the following match at Yeovil, which was made more memorable by the dense fog that made it difficult for supporters to see the players in a goalless draw.
However, his season was cut short at Hartlepool in April 2017 when he injured his shoulder in an awkward fall during a 2-0 victory.
With six games remaining, Hunt continued to assist on the training pitch, particularly with the forwards, indicating a growing interest in teaching, which would eventually lead to his becoming Reading manager.
Following the final-day 6-1 victory over Cheltenham, which sealed the League Two title in the most dramatic of circumstances, Hunt’s contract was not renewed, and he left Fratton Park at the age of 34.
Paul Cook reunion
Nonetheless, he reunited with Cook at Wigan in August 2017, where he appeared 14 times and scored once, earning his fourth career promotion as they won League One.
His ascension is now complete, having served as manager for the past eight months, and he will face former club Pompey on Saturday.
Reading will play at Fratton Park in the Carabao Cup on August 11.
Leave a Reply