 Gilchrist spent a brief, unhappy period at the end of 1976 on loan to Alahfi in Saudi Arabia, before moving to Portsmouth in March 1977.Ian St. John, then manager at 3rd Division Portsmouth, invited Gilchrist to join the struggling club.Although Gilchrist played in every remaining game that season, because of his history with their local rivals, he was made the scape-goat for his new club's problems, and was barracked by the home fans throughout every game.