Fratton Park, the long-term home of Portsmouth

Hudson details what Portsmouth U18s must do better after weekend heartbreak

Dan is a sports writer and broadcaster, who wrote for Breaking Media Limited's club sites including Pompey News between May 2024 and May 2025. Graduating from the University of Huddersfield in 2018 with First Class Honours in Sports Journalism, Dan has worked with several EFL clubs, as well as with BBC Radio, talkSPORT and TNT Sports. He previously resided in Sydney, Australia, where he continued his career as a freelancer in various sports. Dan was born and raised in Portsmouth, comes from a Pompey-supporting family, and was in attendance at both of the club's FA Cup finals in 2008 and 2010.

Published on:

30 Oct 2024, 6:30 am

Portsmouth Under-18s coach Sam Hudson has gone into further depth about what his side must do better moving forward.

Pompey's form has taken a turn for the better in recent weeks, securing a run of four straight wins.

However, a 1-1 draw with Newport County last Saturday [26 October] put a stop to that, as the South Wales side levelled in stoppage time to thwart the victory.

Hudson, who leads the professional development phase strategy at Fratton Park, told the club's official website [28 October]: "There were plenty of positives for us to take [on Saturday], but we needed to be better on the ball in the second half to see the game out.

"It only needs one delivery to land for [the opposition] to score and unfortunately that’s what happened right at the end against Newport.

"There were a few more moments from us after we scored, but we were lacking that killer touch in the final third to wrap things up."

Portsmouth acclimatising with new Academy squad

Portsmouth have an almost entirely new clutch of players representing the Under-18s side this year, explaining their slow start to the season.

However, Pompey have improved under the guidance of Hudson and are now fighting on three separate fronts: the Youth Alliance League, Youth Alliance Cup and Professional Development League Cup.

The group stage round in each of the cup competitions provides ample opportunity for game time, and Hudson's young starlets are taking their chance to develop.

Portsmouth's traditional home, Fratton Park

While there is currently no Under-21s side in place and no longer the EFL Trophy for more senior opportunities with John Mousinho, the regular Under-18s games are the sole focus for the teenage Blues.

Pompey Under-18s take on Exeter City twice in the next three games, either side of a trip to Forest Green Rovers. Meetings with Cardiff City and Swindon Town then complete the November schedule.

In other Portsmouth news, David Norris credits one young star for his impact on a struggling team.

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Sam Hudson

Portsmouth Academy