Portsmouth club stats
Thursday, 24 May 2007 17:54
Facts
Formed: 1898
Home Ground: Fratton Park, capacity 20,224
Nickname: Pompey.
People
Owner: Alexandre Gaydamak
Chairman: Alexandre Gaydamak
Chief executive: Peter Storrie
Head coach: Harry Redknapp
Assistant coach: Tony Adams
Team captain: Sol Campbell
History
Founded at the end of the 19th century, Portsmouth football club arose from a local Royal Artillery team which had to disband following a breach of amateur rules. Shortly after their inception, the club won the Southern League championship and did so again after the First World War, adding their first FA Cup trophy before the outbreak of war once more in 1939. A league title in the First Division followed, with the club's two titles arriving back-to-back in Pompey's heyday.
It proved a high watermark for the club, which sank through the divisions after the war and found itself staving off bankruptcy in the mid 1970s. Since then the club has got back on track, with the late Alan Ball leading the club to the top flight once more in 1987.
In 1992 a young Darren Anderton was among a clutch of promising players at the club, as Pompey reached an FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. The arrival of the centenary year in 1998 heralded serious financial problems again, however. Flamboyant chairman Milan Mandaric bought the club and, with the recruitment of Harry Redknapp, Pompey eventually secured Premiership football.
Despite Redknapp's brief tenure with fierce rivals Southampton and the largely disastrous reign of French manager Alain Perrin, the south-coast side have cemented their place in the top flight after last year's near miss. Pompey have proved to be a difficult proposition in the Premiership, particularly at home, and the arrival of a new chairman – and investor – in the shape of Alexandre Gaydamak has bolstered Redknapp's flair for unearthing talent and restoring reputations. The addition of established players with experience at the highest level, such as Sol Campbell and David James, has brought greater consistency.
Honours
Division One champions: 2 – 1949, 1950
FA Cup winners: 1 – 1939
Community Shield winners: 1 – 1949 (shared)
Last Season
Premiership: 8th - P 38 W 14 D 12 L 12 GF 45 GA 42 GD +3 PTS 54
FA Cup: Fourth round – lost 2-1 to Manchester United
League Cup: Third round– lost 3-0 to Newcastle United
A fan's view of the 2006/07 season
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