Southampton and Portsmouth: A Historic Rivalry Reignited
It has been over 2,000 days since fierce rivals Southampton and Portsmouth last met on the pitch, with the Saints claiming a 4-0 victory in the League Cup back in September 2019.
The most recent league encounter took place even further back, resulting in a 2-2 draw in April 2012.
Since then, the two clubs have taken markedly different trajectories leading up to Sunday’s eagerly awaited derby in the Championship.
Southampton has experienced success in the Premier League and even ventured into European competitions during the past 13 years, while Portsmouth faced significant financial difficulties, dropping all the way down to League Two before beginning their climb back to the second tier.
The long hiatus between matches has done little to lessen the intensity of the rivalry, with just 17 miles separating the two Hampshire clubs.
In terms of major trophies, Portsmouth boasts two English league titles and two FA Cups, while Southampton has one FA Cup victory from 1976.
Since their last league meeting, Southampton enjoyed an impressive streak of 11 consecutive seasons in the Premier League, which included four top-10 finishes and a taste of European football.
Conversely, Portsmouth has not played in the top flight since the 2009-10 season, when they were relegated. Following two seasons in the Championship, they faced back-to-back relegations, tumbling down to the fourth tier.
The Origins of the Rivalry
While natural rivalries exist between the two cities and their ports, the animosity between the supporters is often steeped in "mythology," according to Colin Farmery, chair of trustees at the Pompey History Society.
A widely circulated tale among fans suggests that the rivalry originated when Southampton dockers broke a picket line in Portsmouth during the 1950s, leading to mutual derogatory names. However, Farmery notes that there is no substantial evidence to support this claim, stating, "Most of it is nonsense. While there is a naval and commercial element, I believe the rivalry is primarily sporting in nature."
Since the dawn of the 21st century, the two clubs have met only 10 times, with just a single FA Cup match occurring in the 1990s. The 1980s featured only three derbies, and in the 1970s, they faced each other four times, totaling just 72 encounters in 125 years.
Farmery remarked, "The last derby was in 2019, which has allowed the grudge to fester for quite some time. The prolonged absence of matches contributes to the intensity of the rivalry."
Duncan Holley, Southampton's club historian, highlighted that the Saints' historical dominance in league standings has further fueled the rivalry. "In the past 64 seasons, Saints have only finished below Portsmouth on seven occasions," he explained. This relative success has led to growing animosity from Portsmouth fans, especially by the end of the 1960s.
Holley added, "Saints fans retaliated, and that’s how the rivalry intensified. While it began as a friendly competition, it has evolved into a fervent derby, one of the strongest in the region."
Redknapp's Move Stokes the Fire
Manager Harry Redknapp significantly escalated the rivalry in the mid-2000s. Shortly after leaving Portsmouth in 2004, he controversially moved to Southampton, despite previously asserting that he would never do so. The two clubs were drawn against each other in the FA Cup the following month, with former Pompey striker Peter Crouch scoring a last-minute penalty to secure a win for Redknapp’s new team.
Portsmouth, however, responded by winning the next two encounters decisively, including a 4-1 victory in April 2005, which marked Redknapp's return to Fratton Park amid a hostile atmosphere. This result contributed to Southampton's relegation from the Premier League, while Portsmouth managed to stay up.
In February 2010, Portsmouth again triumphed over Southampton in the FA Cup, winning 4-1 at St Mary’s Stadium. Their last league meeting before the current season was during the 2011-12 Championship, where both matches ended in draws. That season concluded with Southampton gaining promotion back to the Premier League, while Portsmouth faced severe financial issues and dropped to League One, from which it took them years to recover.
Southampton's Rebuilding Under New Management
Southampton achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2012, enjoying 11 seasons in the top tier, with a highest finish of sixth. Their memorable 2016-17 campaign included a notable Europa League victory against Inter Milan.
However, the 2022-23 season marked a downturn. The team began the season under Ralph Hasenhuttl, transitioned to Nathan Jones, and ultimately ended with Ruben Selles at the helm, resulting in relegation.
Russell Martin led Southampton to immediate promotion back to the top flight via the play-offs, but the team struggled once again, leading to the dismissal of both Martin and his successor, Ivan Juric.
The current rebuilding effort is led by new manager Will Still, who previously impressed in France with Reims and Lens. He became the youngest coach in Europe’s top five leagues when appointed by Reims at the age of 30 in October 2022.
Portsmouth's Resurgence
After being relegated from the Championship in the 2011-12 season, Portsmouth faced further decline, landing in League Two for the 2013-14 season. The club endured multiple ownership changes and severe financial troubles, coming close to bankruptcy.
In April 2013, Portsmouth became England's largest community-owned football club when the supporters' trust raised approximately £2 million through a share ownership scheme to buy the club, effectively saving it.
Current owner Michael Eisner purchased the club in 2017 and has since invested millions into football operations and infrastructure at Fratton Park. Portsmouth secured promotion from League Two that same year under Paul Cook, finishing at the top of the division, and spent seven years in League One before winning the title in the 2023-24 season.
Manager John Mousinho joined midway through the 2022-23 season, just a year after achieving success in the lower leagues.