List of Portsmouth F.C. seasons
This is a list of seasons played by Portsmouth Football Club in English and European football, from 1899 (the year of the club's first FA Cup entry and elected straight into the first division of the Southern League) to the most recent completed season. Football was played in the city of Portsmouth from the 1850s and was popular for sailors and dockers to play in the city. The current club was founded in 1898 with John Brickwood, owner of the local brewery, as chairman, and Frank Brettell as the club's first manager.
A common myth is that the club's first goalkeeper was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. While Conan Doyle did play as AC Smith for an amateur side, Portsmouth Athletic Football Club, that flourished from 1882 to 1894, the first goalkeeper of the professional era was Matt Reilly who previously played for the successful Royal Artillery team.
Portsmouth was formed to replace the defunct Royal Artillery Portsmouth club, and elected straight into the first division of the Southern League. The club's first league match was played at Chatham Town on 2 September 1899 (a 1–0 victory), followed three days later by the first match at Fratton Park against local rivals Southampton. That first season was hugely successful, with the club winning 20 out of 28 league matches, earning them runners-up spot in the Southern League. The league was won for the first time in the 1901–02 season, by which time Brettell had been replaced by club captain Bob Blyth as manager.
The 1906–07 season was highlighted by the visit of Manchester United to Fratton Park in the FA Cup, which generated a record attendance of 24,329. A 2–2 draw meant a replay in Manchester, and Portsmouth recorded a famous 2–1 win. However, this record attendance was surpassed two seasons later when Sheffield Wednesday visited Fratton for the second round of the new FA Cup.
1910–11 saw Portsmouth relegated, but with the recruitment of Robert Brown as manager the team were promoted the next season.
The club has won the League Championship twice, the FA Cup twice, never won the League Cup, the Charity Shield once (shared).
This list details the club's achievements in all major competitions, and the top scorers for each season. Top scorers in bold were also the top scorers in the English league that season. Records of competitions such as the Hampshire Senior Cup are not included due to them being considered of less importance than the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Non-Football League era
Season | League | FA Cup | Top Goalscorer(s) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Name(s) | Goals | |||||
1899–1900 | SL Div 1 | 28 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 58 | 27 | 41 | 2nd | R1 | |||||
1900–01 | SL Div 1 | 28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 56 | 32 | 38 | 3rd | INT | |||||
1901–02 | SL Div 1 | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 67 | 24 | 47 | 1st | QF | |||||
1902–03 | SL Div 1 | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 69 | 32 | 41 | 3rd | R1 | |||||
1903–04 | SL Div 1 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 38 | 42 | 4th | R1 | |||||
1904–05 | SL Div 1 | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 61 | 56 | 36 | 8th | R2 | |||||
1905–06 | SL Div 1 | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 61 | 35 | 43 | 3rd | R1 | |||||
1906–07 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 64 | 36 | 51 | 2nd | R2 | |||||
1907–08 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 63 | 52 | 40 | 9th | R3 | |||||
1908–09 | SL Div 1 | 40 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 60 | 46 | 4th | R2 | |||||
1909–10 | SL Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 70 | 63 | 47 | 6th | R2 | |||||
1910–11 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 27 | 20th | R1 | |||||
1911–12 | SL Div 2 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 73 | 20 | 41 | 2nd | R2 | |||||
1912–13 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 41 | 49 | 36 | 11th | R1 | |||||
1913–14 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 57 | 48 | 40 | 9th | R1 | |||||
1914–15 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 54 | 42 | 42 | 7th | R1 | |||||
No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War | |||||||||||||||
1919–20 | SL Div 1 | 42 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 73 | 27 | 58 | 1st | R1 |
Non-Football League era (Western League)
Season | League | Top Goalscorer | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Name | Goals | |
1900–01 | Division 1 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 1st | ||
1901–02 | Division 1 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 16 | 27 | 1st | ||
1902–03 | Division 1 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 14 | 24 | 1st | ||
1903–04 | Division 1 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 4th | ||
1904–05 | Division 1 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 4th | ||
1905–06 | Division 1 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 29 | 19 | 7th | ||
1906–07 | Division 1 'B' | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 10 | 3rd | ||
1907–08 | Division 1 'A' | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 2nd | ||
1908–09 | Division 1 'B' | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 12 | 4th |
Football League era
Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup |
Charity Shield[1] |
Europe Other |
Top Goalscorer(s) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Name(s) | Goals | |||||
1920–21 Details |
Div 3 | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 46 | 48 | 49 | 12th | R1 | Frank Stringfellow | 13 | |||
1921–22 Details |
Div 3(S) | 42 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 62 | 39 | 53 | 3rd | R4 | Percy Cherrett | 22 | |||
1922–23 Details |
42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 58 | 52 | 46 | 7th | R1 | Jerry Mackie | 10 | ||||
1923–24 Details |
42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 87 | 30 | 59 | 1st | R2 | Willie Haines | 28 | ||||
1924–25 Details |
Div 2 | 42 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 58 | 50 | 48 | 4th | R2 | Willie Haines Jerry Mackie |
17 | |||
1925–26 Details |
42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 79 | 74 | 44 | 11th | R3 | Willie Haines | 20 | ||||
1926–27 Details |
42 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 87 | 49 | 54 | 2nd | R4 | Willie Haines | 40 | ||||
1927–28 Details |
Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 66 | 90 | 39 | 20th | R3 | Willie Haines Jack Smith |
11 | |||
1928–29 Details |
42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 56 | 80 | 36 | 20th | R/U | Jack Smith | 9 | ||||
1929–30 Details |
42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 66 | 62 | 47 | 13th | R4 | Jack Weddle | 21 | ||||
1930–31 Details |
42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 84 | 64 | 49 | 4th | R5 | Jimmy Easson | 29 | ||||
1931–32 Details |
42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 62 | 62 | 45 | 8th | R5 | Jack Weddle | 22 | ||||
1932–33 Details |
42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 74 | 76 | 43 | 9th | R3 | Jack Weddle | 20 | ||||
1933–34 Details |
42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 52 | 55 | 42 | 10th | R/U | Jack Weddle | 17 | ||||
1934–35 Details |
42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 71 | 72 | 40 | 14th | R4 | Jack Weddle | 24 | ||||
1935–36 Details |
42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 54 | 67 | 42 | 10th | R3 | Jack Weddle | 16 | ||||
1936–37 Details |
42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 62 | 66 | 44 | 9th | R3 | Cliff Parker | 12 | ||||
1937–38 Details |
42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 62 | 68 | 38 | 19th | R4 | Jimmy Beattie | 21 | ||||
1938–39 Details |
42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 47 | 70 | 37 | 17th | W | Jock Anderson | 10 | ||||
1939–40[2] Details |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 18th | [3] | [4] | N/A | N/A | |||
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War | |||||||||||||||
1945–46 | n/a[5] | R3 | |||||||||||||
1946–47 Details |
Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 66 | 60 | 41 | 12th | R4 | Duggie Reid | 29 | |||
1947–48 Details |
42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 68 | 50 | 45 | 8th | R4 | 15 | |||||
1948–49 Details |
42 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 84 | 42 | 58 | 1st | SF | Peter Harris | 22 | ||||
1949–50 Details |
42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 74 | 38 | 53 | 1st | R5 | Shared[6] | Ike Clarke | 20 | |||
1950–51 Details |
42 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 71 | 68 | 47 | 7th | R3 | [7] | Ike Clarke Len Phillips |
11 | |||
1951–52 Details |
42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 68 | 58 | 48 | 4th | QF | Duggie Reid | 18 | ||||
1952–53 Details |
42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 74 | 83 | 38 | 15th | R3 | Peter Harris | 23 | ||||
1953–54 Details |
42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 81 | 89 | 39 | 14th | R5 | 24 | |||||
1954–55 Details |
42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 74 | 62 | 48 | 3rd | R3 | 23 | |||||
1955–56 Details |
42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 78 | 85 | 41 | 12th | R4 | 24 | |||||
1956–57 Details |
42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 62 | 92 | 33 | 19th | R4 | Johnny Gordon Peter Harris |
13 | ||||
1957–58 Details |
42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 73 | 88 | 32 | 20th | R4 | Peter Harris | 18 | ||||
1958–59 Details |
42 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 64 | 112 | 21 | 22nd | R5 | Ron Saunders | 24 | ||||
1959–60 Details |
Div 2 | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 59 | 77 | 32 | 20th | R3 | 17 | ||||
1960–61[8] Details |
42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 64 | 91 | 33 | 21st | R5 | QF[9] | 23 | ||||
1961–62 Details |
Div 3 | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 87 | 47 | 65 | 1st | R1 | R3 | 26 | |||
1962–63 Details |
Div 2 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 63 | 79 | 37 | 16th | R4 | R4 | 29 | |||
1963–64 Details |
42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 79 | 70 | 43 | 9th | R3 | R4 | 34 | ||||
1964–65 Details |
42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 56 | 77 | 34 | 20th | R3 | R3 | Cliff Portwood | 12 | |||
1965–66 Details |
42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 74 | 78 | 40 | 12th | R3 | R3 | Albert McCann | 13 | |||
1966–67 Details |
42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 59 | 70 | 39 | 14th | R4 | R2 | 14 | ||||
1967–68 Details |
42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 68 | 55 | 49 | 5th | R5 | R3 | 16 | ||||
1968–69 Details |
42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 38 | 15th | R4 | R2 | Ray Hiron | 17 | |||
1969–70 Details |
42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 66 | 80 | 35 | 17th | R3 | R1 | 18 | ||||
1970–71 Details |
46 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 46 | 61 | 34 | 16th | R4 | R3 | 14 | ||||
1971–72 Details |
46 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 59 | 68 | 37 | 16th | R5 | R1 | Richie Reynolds | 11 | |||
1972–73 Details |
42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 59 | 35 | 17th | R3 | R2 | Ray Hiron | 10 | |||
1973–74 Details |
42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 45 | 62 | 40 | 15th | R5 | R2 | Ron Davies | 16 | |||
1974–75 Details |
42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 44 | 54 | 37 | 17th | R3 | R2 | Mick Mellows | 8 | |||
1975–76 Details |
42 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 32 | 61 | 25 | 22nd | R4 | R2 | Norman Piper | 12 | |||
1976–77 Details |
Div 3 | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 53 | 70 | 36 | 20th | R3 | R1 | David Kemp | 17 | ||
1977–78 Details |
42 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 41 | 75 | 31 | 24th | R2 | R3 | 21 | ||||
1978–79 Details |
Div 4 | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 62 | 48 | 52 | 7th | R2 | R1 | Jeff Hemmerman | 16 | ||
1979–80 Details |
46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 91 | 49 | 60 | 4th | R3 | R1 | Colin Garwood | 27[10] | |||
1980–81 Details |
Div 3 | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 55 | 47 | 53 | 6th | R1 | R4 | David Gregory | 15 | ||
1981–82 Details |
46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 56 | 51 | 61[11] | 13th | R1 | R2 | Billy Rafferty | 19 | |||
1982–83 Details |
46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 41 | 91 | 1st | R2 | R1 | Alan Biley | 27 | |||
1983–84 Details |
Div 2 | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 73 | 64 | 49 | 16th | R4 | R2 | Mark Hateley | 25 | ||
1984–85 Details |
42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 69 | 50 | 74 | 4th | R3 | R2 | Neil Webb | 18 | |||
1985–86 Details |
42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 69 | 41 | 73 | 4th | R3 | QF | FMC GS | Nicky Morgan | 15 | ||
1986–87 Details |
42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 53 | 28 | 78 | 2nd | R4 | R3 | FMC QF | Micky Quinn | 28 | ||
1987–88 Details |
Div 1 | 42 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 66 | 35 | 19th | QF | R2 | FMC R1 | 11 | ||
1988–89 Details |
Div 2 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 45 | 56 | 40 | 20th | R3 | R2 | FMC R2 | 21 | ||
1989–90 Details |
46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 65 | 61 | 12th | R3 | R2 | FMC R2 | Guy Whittingham | 25 | ||
1990–91 Details |
46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 58 | 70 | 53 | 17th | R5 | R3 | FMC R2 | 20 | |||
1991–92 Details |
46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 65 | 51 | 69 | 9th | SF | R3 | FMC R1 | 13 | |||
1992–93 Details |
Div 1[12] | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 80 | 46 | 88 | 3rd[13] | R3 | R3 | AIC GS | 47[14] | ||
1993–94 Details |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 52 | 58 | 58 | 17th | R3 | QF | AIC GS | Gerry Creaney Alan McLoughlin |
11 | ||
1994–95 Details |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 63 | 58 | 18th | R4 | R3 | Gerry Creaney | 22 | |||
1995–96 Details |
46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 61 | 69 | 52 | 21st | R3 | R1 | Paul Hall Alan McLoughlin |
10 | |||
1996–97 Details |
46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 53 | 68 | 7th | QF | R2 | Lee Bradbury | 17 | |||
1997–98 Details |
46 | 13 | 10 | 21 | 51 | 63 | 49 | 20th | R3 | R1 | John Aloisi | 12 | |||
1998–99 Details |
46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 57 | 73 | 47 | 19th | R4 | R2 | 17 | ||||
1999–2000 Details |
46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 55 | 66 | 51 | 18th | R3 | R2 | Steve Claridge | 14 | |||
2000–01 Details |
46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 47 | 59 | 49 | 20th | R3 | R2 | Lee Bradbury Steve Claridge |
11 | |||
2001–02 Details |
46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 60 | 72 | 53 | 17th | R3 | R1 | Peter Crouch | 19 | |||
2002–03 Details |
46 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 97 | 45 | 98 | 1st | R3 | R2 | [15] | Svetoslav Todorov | 26 | ||
2003–04 Details |
Prem | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 47 | 54 | 45 | 13th | QF | R4 | Yakubu | 19 | ||
2004–05 Details |
38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 43 | 59 | 39 | 16th | R4 | QF | 17 | ||||
2005–06 Details |
38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 37 | 62 | 38 | 17th | R4 | R2 | Lomana LuaLua Gary O'Neil Matthew Taylor |
7 | |||
2006–07 Details |
38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 45 | 42 | 54 | 9th | R4 | R3 | Nwankwo Kanu | 12 | |||
2007–08 Details |
38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 48 | 40 | 57 | 8th | W | R4 | Benjani Mwaruwari | 12 | |||
2008–09 Details |
38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 57 | 41 | 14th | R4 | R3 | R/U | UC GS | Peter Crouch | 16 | |
2009–10 Details |
38 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 34 | 66 | 19[16] | 20th | R/U | QF | Frédéric Piquionne | 10 | |||
2010–11 Details |
Champ | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 60 | 58 | 16th | R3 | R3 | David Nugent | 14 | ||
2011–12 Details |
46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 50 | 59 | 40[17] | 22nd | R3 | R1 | David Norris | 8 | |||
2012–13 Details |
Lg1 | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 51 | 69 | 32[18] | 24th | R1 | R1 | FLT R2 | Izale McLeod | 11 | |
2013–14 Details |
Lg2 | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 56 | 66 | 59 | 13th | R1 | R1 | FLT QF | Jed Wallace | 7 | |
2014–15 Details |
46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 52 | 54 | 57 | 16th[19] | R1 | R2 | FLT R2 | 17 | |||
2015–16 Details |
46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 75 | 44 | 78 | 6th[20] | R4 | R2 | FLT R1 | Marc McNulty | 12 | ||
2016–17 Details |
46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 79 | 40 | 87 | 1st | R1 | R1 | EFLT G1 – 3rd | Kal Naismith | 15 | ||
2017–18 Details |
Lg1 | 46 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 57 | 57 | 66 | 8th | R1 | R1 | EFLT R3 | Brett Pitman | 23 | |
2018–19 Details |
46 | 25 | 13 | 8 | 83 | 51 | 88 | 4th[21] | R4 | R1 | EFL Trophy | W | Jamal Lowe | 15 | |
2019–20 Details |
35 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 53 | 36 | 60 | 5th[22] | R5 | R3 | EFL Trophy | F | Ronan Curtis | 11 |
Key
|
|
|
Champions | Runners-up | Promoted | Relegated |
Note: bold text indicates a competition won.
Note 2: Where fields are left blank, the club did not participate in a competition that season.
Footnotes
- The Charity/Community Shield was founded in 1908.
- The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled.
- Held The FA Cup the longest because of World War II and beat Sheffield United's record of 5 years because of World War I
- They didn't play the match because War broke out soon after the FA Cup final and the Charity Shield was never played
- The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume until the following season. They had the Football League South
- From 1939 to 1993, in the event of a draw, the Charity Shield would be shared between the two competing teams, with each team having possession of the trophy for six months. Shared with Wolverhampton Wanderers after drawing 1–1 at Highbury
- Should have played Arsenal because they won the FA Cup. However the match was contested between an England World Cup XI and the FA Canadian Touring Team
- The League Cup.
- First time in the League Cup.
- Played for Aldershot Town and Pompey in the same season but scored 10 Goals for Aldershot and 17 Goals for Pompey
- The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.
- The Four Divisions Changed name Level 1 was called the Premier League
Level 2 was called Division 1
Level 3 was called Division 2
Level 4 was called Division 3 - Lost 3–2 on aggregate to Leicester City in the play-off semi-final
- Pompey goalscoring record.
- The Charity Shield is renamed the Community Shield.
- Deducted 9 points for entering administration
- Deducted 10 points for entering administration
- Deducted 10 points for exiting administration
- Lowest League finish.
- Lost 3–2 on aggregate to Plymouth Argyle in the play-off semi-final
- Lost 1–0 on aggregate to Sunderland in the play-off semi-final
- Lost 5–4 on penalties to Oxford United in the play-off semi-final