In a Women’s Championship suddenly filled with big spenders, international names and former Super League giants, Portsmouth could be forgiven for feeling out of place.
But the south coast side, entering their first season as both a second division team and a professional club, are ready to give the big girls a bloody nose.
The team of landscapers, teachers and NHS workers stormed to the Women’s National League Southern Division title last season with 20 wins from 22 matches, earning promotion to the second tier for the first time and allowing the club to go full-time.
Centre-back Jazz Younger, Portsmouth’s longest-serving player, says the impact off the pitch has been immense.
“I’ve been a landscaper for six years since I was 17, I was coming into training after a hard day’s graft,” Younger told BBC Sport.
“It definitely took its toll – we finished training at 9pm, I live an hour and a half from training so wasn’t getting home until late, until 11:30 sometimes with traffic. Then I would be getting up at 5am for work, and with landscaping you don’t get much rest time.
“Now us girls don’t know what to do with all our free time, actually relaxing and recovering properly. We’ve all started a bit of golf – we’re not very good at it.”
Midfielder Ava Rowbotham had just graduated from teacher training when she learned she was about to become a professional footballer.
“I had a conversation with my manager and it was pure emotion and I guess a bit of relief as well,” she said of leaving the classroom behind for now.
“It [playing football full-time] was something I had worked for my entire life, so for that to pay off was just incredible.”
‘The boys would give me stick on Monday morning’
Portsmouth hope going full-time will allow them to survive in what looks likely to be the most competitive Championship season ever.
Fellow newly promoted side Newcastle United are heavily backed by their Saudi-led ownership, with signings including former England international Demi Stokes, while London City Lionesses – led by wealthy owner Michele Kang – have signed Sweden international Kosovare Asllani among other statement signings.
Add in former WSL clubs Birmingham City, Bristol City and Sunderland, and the scale of Portsmouth’s task becomes clear – but the players feel the right moves are being made.
“It’s coming in, having breakfast, training, doing your gym work, having lunch and being fed well,” says Rowbotham. “It makes such a difference compared to last year where you were coming in after a full day of work, racing to get to training on time, probably not having dinner then having to try and perform in the evening when it can be cold, dark and things like that. It’s truly life-changing.”
For Younger, going professional represents a major change from just a couple of years ago when she was “buzzing” about being allowed to claim 15p a mile for petrol, and having to deal with being the butt of co-workers’ jokes.
“Some of the boys from work came down to the games and would give me stick on a Monday morning,” she said. “I would get it in the neck. They used to watch the highlights and I would walk in at 6am and they’d be like, ‘Jazz, why did you do that’.
“I got some stick when I scored an own goal, they didn’t let that go for three weeks. And as a centre-half most of the highlights were when the opposition scored.
“But they are just buzzing for me. I’ve left that work now, there were a few tears for me from fully grown men, but it feels good to play football full-time.”
‘We want to win our battles’
Younger – who is unlikely to be fit to play until near Christmas as she recovers from a knee ligament injury – says Portsmouth will deal with being Championship underdogs by refusing to take a backwards step, encouraged by the front-footed tactics of head coach Jay Sadler.
They scored 86 goals in 22 National League games – more than all other third-tier sides last season and 22 more than any rival Southern Division team.
“Our manager uses the word intensity,” Younger said. “We play a high-intensity game, aggressive on the ball. We want to win our battles. We like to press high, win the ball high.”
The Championship campaign starts on 8 September, but some attention has already turned to 13 October – the scheduled date of the first league meeting of the season between Portsmouth and Southampton.
One of the most intense rivalries in English men’s football, it reared its head in the Women’s FA Cup last season when Pompey and Saints were drawn together in round four.
In front of more than 1,800 fans at Westleigh Park, Southampton edged a 2-1 victory – and there is an appetite for more.
“It’s definitely something we do look out for,” said Rowbotham. “There hasn’t been much focus on it yet as we’re all adapting to the new surroundings, but a lot of us are excited and have said that will be the most exciting game for us this season, playing them at home. It’s one of the games you want to play.”
Portsmouth are probably facing a lot of work to survive in the Championship this season – by September 5 just 14 women’s players were listed on the club website, with a trolley dash needed to put together a competitive squad.
But they are up for the fight.