Portsmouth Women prepare to round off first year of successful new era with season finale
When Portsmouth Women take to the field at Westleigh Park on Sunday, they can reflect on how far they’ve come.
In the space of a year, Pompey’s women’s team have transitioned to a semi-professional outfit, and have stormed to the Women’s National League South title with 19 wins from 21 matches thus far.
After securing top spot, however, the club still had to obtain a licence to play Championship football, which was achieved following an exemplary application process.
Pompey conclude their triumphant campaign against bottom club London Bees on Sunday (2pm), with fans encouraged to celebrate the girls’ achievements with both the National League trophy and the men’s League One trophy in attendance for supporters to take photos with from 12:30pm.
Jay Sadler’s team are expected to go out with a bang and a convincing result as they leave the third tier behind – just as John Mousinho’s men have done – but in just their first year as a semi-professional operation.
Just how good has the Portsmouth Women journey been?
Sadler and his girls deserve every ounce of credit – not just for this year, but from where they have come.
Club owners, the Tornante Company owned by the Eisners, should be lauded for providing the due care and investment into the women’s team, and enhancing the ‘one club’, island mentality we pride ourselves on as Portsmouth folk.
It was also an excellent and entirely necessary touch that last weekend’s title celebrations on Southsea Common were a joint affair, and allowed the Women’s side and staff the opportunity to bask in their glory in front of thousands.
For an amateur side until just last summer to achieve the league dominance that they have – alongside a League Cup semi-final – is testament to all the hard work put in behind the scenes for years. A summer evaluation of events will no doubt motivate Pompey Women for the upcoming Championship test.
In other Portsmouth news, John Mousinho’s future is discussed after claiming the League One title.
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