Pompey did play up

Congratulations to Portsmouth on their promotion to the Championship and the fan base that stood by them. Fratton Park is a great atmospheric old style ground.

Portsmouth is unique in its status as England’s only island city, largely based on Portsea Island, which is connected to the mainland by a handful of road and rail bridges. It provides the setting for a unique mentality among football fans, with its British Navy base and links to the maritime industry core to the identity of many of the city’s 200,000-plus residents.

Theirs is a club who have seen the highs of Premier League and European football and an FA Cup final win in the past 20 years as well as a drastic slide that saw three relegations in four years from 2010, plummeting from the top to the bottom tiers of the English football pyramid. Alongside it, years of financial troubles resulting in two spells in administration saw the supporters take ownership of their club in 2012 before selling to the Eisners five years later.

They are one of the many great and wronged clubs harmed by mismanagement in recent history which adds to the pressures to restore the glory days seen at Fratton Park — one of the country’s best old grounds, with a capacity of 21,100.

When the former Disney corporation chief executive Michael Eisner bought Portsmouth, via his Tornante investment company, in 2017, they had just been promoted from League Two and the American billionaire pointed out that he and his family had “walked into a perfect situation”. Though fans and owners have had to be patient amid some frustrating and toxic moments as on-field progress stalled, their approach has been vindicated by appointing Hughes and Mousinho.

“I am sure this has taken longer than the Eisners wanted, but we should give them credit for being sensible and responsible owners,” Ashley Brown, who is head of governance and supporter engagement at the Football Supporters’ Association and was chair of the Pompey Supporters’ Trust when they sold up to the Eisners told The Athletic.

“I know some clubs with billionaire owners have enjoyed seeing them splash the cash and win things, but we’ve seen what can happen when that goes wrong. I prefer my football to be sustainable and we can all see the gradual improvements they’ve made to the ground. Nobody wanted to be in League One for seven years but the best word to describe them is that they have been custodians. I hope they enjoy the celebrations as much as the rest of us.”

Mousinho’s winning football has stemmed from smart tactical acumen but also his ability to build trust and understanding between his players. His calmness and quick understanding of the culture and expectations of Portsmouth, city and club, have been central to the project. As someone who played his final senior game as recently as November 2022, Mousinho has created a culture of empowerment for players to set their standards while being a reassuring presence in finding the answers and resolving issues as they have arisen.

At 37, Mousinho is one of English football’s most impressive young managers and is said to work well with Hughes and with Portsmouth’s directors. The relationship with Hughes allows them to speak frankly and trust in each other to turn down players who are not right for the club.

“Promotion means we are getting back to where we belong — as most Pompey fans would think that we are a Championship club at least,” says fan Brown.

“We were stuck in League One for too long, but we’re on our way back up now and that feels pretty good. I saw a stat last week that said we have filled 91 of the 92 possible places in the English league pyramid at some point in the last 20 years. The only one we’ve missed is being bottom of League Two. I’m not sure if it’s true, but it certainly sums up what life has been like for Pompey fans.”

“You look at the club and, as a kid growing up, I remember watching Portsmouth every Saturday night on (the BBC’s Premier League highlights show) Match of the Day; the UEFA Cup and those nights,” striker Bishop told The Athletic in October. “If you sign for Portsmouth and don’t understand that they don’t want to be in this league any more, then you’re in a different world.”

And on a raucous Tuesday night at Fratton Park, the weight of expectation finally lifted. As of next season, for the first time in over a decade, Portsmouth will be in a different world. The Championship awaits.

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The Political Economy of Football V2

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