FA Cup winners' medals stolen

Portsmouth's Glen Johnson and Jamie Ashdown have had their FA Cup winners' medals stolen while staying at a hotel in Windsor.

Defender Johnson and goalkeeper Ashdown discovered the gongs were missing when they returned to the Oakley Court Hotel, near Windsor, after the victory parade through the streets of Portsmouth yesterday, which attracted crowds of more than 150,000 people.

"We checked out of the room on Sunday morning and left our bags in a safe place to collect them after the parade. But when I got back to the hotel and checked to look at my winners' medal, it was gone," said Johnson. "I'm so disappointed. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed someone's going to give it back."

The pair were part of the squad which helped Pompey win the cup for the first time in 69 years with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff at Wembley on Saturday.

Ashdown, who was an unused substitute in the final, said: "The medal was in its box in one of my jacket pockets. The jacket was hanging on the back of a chair while I enjoyed a drink at the hotel with some of the other players and their families."

Thames Valley Police confirmed the medals had been reported stolen after a burglary at the hotel following the final.

Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie said: "If someone has taken these medals, they have deprived our players of their lifelong dream."