- Founded: 1987
- Stadium: Westleigh Park, Havant & Waterlooville
- Head coach: Jay Sadler
- Current league: Women’s Championship
Portsmouth Women, originally founded as Portsmouth Ladies, were formed in their current operation in 1987.
The Blues’ women’s side had played pre-war matches against men’s teams, but a ban on women’s football in the 20th century prevented opportunities.
Dave Coyle was the Pompey Ladies’ first manager, later swapping roles with Vanessa Raynbird, who had initially arrived as director of football.
Pompey reached the quarter-final of the Women’s FA Cup in the 2013-14 season, losing out to Notts County for a place in the last four in a tie played at Gosport Borough, away from the usual home ground of Westleigh Park in Havant.
Perry Northeast and Craig Taylor undertook spells in charge in the 2010s, before the latter was succeeded by Jay Sadler in 2017 – who remains as head coach today.
Under Sadler, the club rebranded as Portsmouth Women in 2019, and recovered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to compete well in the Women’s National League – the third tier of the English game.
A major breakthrough occurred in 2023, when the Tornante Company – the Eisner family’s ownership of Portsmouth – fully incorporated and invested into the women’s department, and in 2023-24, Sadler’s side soared into the Championship for the first time as a semi-professional side.
Just a year after turning semi-pro, Pompey in the second tier turned fully professional, and managed to stay up in the Championship in the 2024-25 season, their inaugural campaign at the level – just one division below the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Portsmouth Women head coach
Sadler has now been at Portsmouth for over eight years, and turned full-time in 2024 when the Eisners further funded the operation to become fully professional.
The Pompey Women boss has masterminded several promotions, cup campaigns and has managed to keep the Blues in the Championship in his first attempt.
An experienced coach, Sadler is the first full-time leader of the Pompey Women squad, succeeding a line of managers which includes Craig Taylor, Perry Northeast, Vanessa Raynbird and Dave Coyle.
Originally from the North West, Sadler has an extensive CV which includes the University of Portsmouth, as well as soccer schools coaching at Arsenal and academy work at AFC Bournemouth.
Portsmouth Women honours
Portsmouth Women are currently plying their trade in the Women’s Championship, the second tier of the English pyramid, which is now solely full-time.
Pompey remained in the division in their first season at the level in 2024-25, having cantered to the National League southern title the previous year.
- FA Women’s National League champions: 2012, 2015, 2024
- South West Combination Women’s Football League champions: 2003
- Southern Regional Football League champions: 1998
- Hampshire Cup: 17-time winners, latest in 2022
- South West Combination League Cup winners: 1999
- Portsmouth Divisional FA Cup: 5-time winners, latest in 2023