Portsmouth
Youth
“ Youth football is very important to us . On a PR level , giving local lads the chance to come through our system and play for the first team is very important for a community club . On a practical level it makes good business sense . Striker Conor Chaplin , for instance , is a key element of the squad this season and defender Jack Whatmough likewise .
To have signed players of their calibre from other clubs would have meant a significant investment . In recent summers we have also sold youngsters Jed Wallace and Adam Webster for substantial transfer fees .”
Integration
“ Our academy and first team train at the same site and the operations of the two departments are highly integrated . The academy adopts the same football philosophy as the first team manager . Having everything in close proximity means that our young players are exposed to the first team environment all the time and that makes transition – as well as having support mechanisms in place – very easy .”
Community
“ We are very much a community club . Our share structure sees the Pompey Supporters ’ Trust own 49 % of the club and the
remaining 51 % is split between 16 individual fan investors , none of which owns more than a ten per cent stake .
The PST stake was raised by 2500 fans buying a £ 1000 community share and their names are commemorated on the North Stand . In 2013 it was only the supporters that came between the club and oblivion . Fan shareholders are kept involved and informed , but the club has a Board of Directors – with three PST representatives – and a management team with significant football experience . Fan engagement is important to us and we work closely with our community trust and the
PST to do this .”
Challenges / Ambitions
“ Hopefully we will have the challenge of raising adequate finance to allow Pompey to punch its weight when we return to the Championship . A top-flightaspiring club has always been Pompey ’ s natural ‘ place ’ and , given the right circumstances , we are more than capable of sustaining top flight football . In the Championship , with clubs having tens of millions in parachute payments , that will present a challenge as a fan-owned club , but it would be a nice ‘ problem ’ to have . We want to get back to the Championship . The last time Pompey dropped out of the second tier in 1976 it took us seven seasons to get back . We were relegated from the Championship in 2012 , so getting back there by 2019 has to be a challenging , but achievable , target for everyone involved at the club .”
Here for you
Our caring and professional team are here to guide and advise you 24 hours a day , 7 days a week .
We ’ re here when it matters most Our services also extend to :
- Pre-paid Funeral Plans - Memorial Masonry - Floral Tributes
Contact your local Funeral Directors : Meridian Funeral Services 252 Havant Road , Drayton , PO6 1PA 023 9222 1299
Meridian Funeral Services
Funeral Services Limited , a registered society registered in England and Wales with registration number 30808R and registered office 1 Angel Square , Manchester , M60 0AG . VAT registered 403 3146 04 . Part of Co-operative Group Limited . www . footballfocus . biz 75