Plenty has changed at Portsmouth in recent years but their ambition has remained constant – and the south coast club are relishing their first crack at the second tier, writes Paul Martin.
Portsmouth were promoted as FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division winners last season, winning 20 of their 22 matches and scoring 125 goals in all competitions.
Following a joint celebration in front of 40,000 fans with the men’s team, who also won promotion to the Championship, there was barely any time to bask in the glory as it was straight back down to business – specifically, the process of becoming a full-time professional outfit.
Such a move would have been unthinkable when captain Hannah Haughton joined the club in 2018, at which point it was in a very different place.
“We had two different training venues and a home pitch we couldn’t play on as it was always waterlogged,” she said.
Read more: Women’s League Cup draw confirmed
“The floodlights often didn’t work, we didn’t have enough footballs or drinks bottles, kit was few and far between.
“But we had a team and Jay (Sadler, manager) had a dream. Now, we are in every day, we can have two drinks bottles each if we want them – and the floodlights definitely work!”
Goalkeeper Haughton, also a beach soccer star who has featured for Great Britain, grew up a Southampton fan and represented the Saints in their former guise.
She has fully embraced life in blue since switching to Pompey, however, and one of her finest moments with the club came when she was the hero in a Hampshire Cup final penalty shootout between the two sides, with Pompey claiming the bragging rights and silverware.
Check out our new YouTube channel, with fixtures live streamed every week.
“That is right up there as one of the top moments of my career,” she said.
“Winning promotion will never be topped but to win that south coast derby was amazing.
“It was my first Hampshire Cup win – I’d played against Pompey a few times while with Saints and been humbled.
“That was a really proud moment and to do it against our rivals was insane.
“It was just after the lockdowns and it was the day after it was announced that fans were legally allowed back at matches.
IT. IS. MATCH. WEEK. 🤩#Pompey pic.twitter.com/3B2x9zAUpN
— Portsmouth Women (@PompeyWomen) September 3, 2024
“We had 1,500 people there and it was amazing. Penalties are a lottery but it’s the best way to win. I will always remember that night.”
A reunion between the rivals is in store this season with both lining up in the second tier but Haughton’s loyalties are no longer split.
“It’s a real family club,” added the shot-stopper, who is retaining her role as a school teacher on a one-day-a-week basis alongside her now full-time Pompey commitments.
“Right from when I went to my first game at Fratton Park, I was overwhelmed by the level of support from the fans.
“For the last season and a bit, I’ve been to every home game. I love the team and I love the club.
“I’m truly excited about this season. You never know what might happen and we have to be ready for anything. I’m confident in this group of players and the staff.”
Pompey’s eagerly-awaited clashes with the Saints, the first of which will take place at Fratton Park over the weekend of October 12/13, will not be the only hotly-contested derbies taking place in the Championship this season.
The same weekend will see Sunderland host Newcastle at the Stadium of Light, while London City Lionesses will welcome Charlton Athletic in the capital.
Newly-promoted Newcastle have made some eye-catching summer additions – including players Championship Player of the Season Claudia Moan from their local rivals – while Durham make up the north-east trio vying to be the region’s top dogs.
Elsewhere, Charlton, Southampton and Birmingham all played their part in the thrilling promotion race last season and will be looking to challenge again.
Bristol City are bidding for an instant return to the Barclays WSL while London City Lionesses have installed former PSG boss Jocelyn Prêcheur as their new manager under ambitious owner Michelle Kang.
Blackburn and Sheffield United are each aiming to build on mid-table finishes last time out in what is set to be a gripping Championship season, with the action getting underway this weekend.
Click here for the full fixture list.
