View: Portsmouth Women can find respite and new fans in FA Cup tie
The step up to the Championship has been a tricky one for Portsmouth Women.
Last season was one of joy for Pompey supporters as the women and the men earned promotion to the second tier.
Indeed, the success of the women’s team led to a full-time, professional model from the start of the 2024-25 season and the excitement of going up against higher-calibre teams.
That improvement in the calibre of opposition has been hard, though, and through nine games of the Women’s Championship, Jay Sadler’s team have just a solitary point to their name thanks to a draw with fellow strugglers Sheffield United last month.
Things have been no better in the Women’s League Cup, which starts with an initial group phase, with a pair of defeats in Group C – including a dispiriting 4-0 hammering by rivals Southampton.
Portsmouth Women have great chance in Women’s FA Cup
But this weekend offers the chance for some respite as Portsmouth host Luton Town Ladies at Westleigh Park (8 December).
Luton are going well in the Premier League of the Eastern Region Women’s Football League, sitting second and just three points back of Royston Town FC Women with a game in hand.
However, that represents the fifth tier of the women’s football pyramid and you would hope that Portsmouth’s quality would shine through in that tie.
It is not just the chance to earn a much-needed win that is on the agenda, though.
The club earned praise for the decision to charge junior’s just £1 to attend the game (official website), with adult tickets also only priced at £6.
Hopefully the attractive prices will attract a sizeable crowd and give the women’s team a good opportunity to grow their fanbase, especially with the younger generation.
While this season may have been a struggle, the long-term foundations for the women’s team are pretty solid. A win coupled with inspiring the next generation of Pompey talent would be a great double boost this weekend.
In other Portsmouth news, the men’s team have one clear area they must improve after what Andre Dozzell said.
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