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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