FOOTBALL fan John Bentley uses the famous Pompey chimes as his signature tune and he's collected more than 580 autographs from Portsmouth players.

John, Blackburn Town Hall's commissioner, has been a keen Portsmouth fan since the late 1950s and has signatures from stars who played as early as 1930.

The Pompey chimes are named after the fans' chime-like chant.

During Saturday's 1-1 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor he added Japanese newcomer Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's signature to his store of stars. The newly-signed Portsmouth goalkeeper cost the team £1.8million three weeks ago and he has already made more than that back in merchandise sales.

John, of Sharrock Lane, Blackburn, said: "This is an exciting addition to my collection as Yoshi is Japan's equivalent of David Beckham. He is hero worshipped and mobbed wherever he goes. This was a really big signing for Portsmouth and it is brilliant that the team will now have two players in the World Cup -- with him and Robert Proseneski."

John, 57, first grew interested in the team when he lived in Derbyshire and his first wife was from Portsmouth, although his love for the team outlasted the marriage.

He got his first Portsmouth autograph in the early 1960s from Jimmy Dickinson, just before he retired after more than 760 appearances, and continued with the collection from there.

He said: " The greatest players were the more humble men because their arrogance did not get in the way of their game -- and they are my favourite signatures too.

"Yoshi is also a very humble man who does not swagger as some footballers do. When he signed autographs on Saturday, he even thanked the children for talking to him.

"He has the right attitude that children should look up to and is an ideal role model."

John has also collected thousands of items of other memorabilia over the years including pictures, newspaper cuttings, medals and shirts.