United Services Portsmouth F.C.

United Services Portsmouth F.C. is a football club based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. They were established in 1962 as Portsmouth Royal Navy and were among the founding members of the Wessex League in 1986. In 2004, they changed their name to their present one. They are currently members of the Wessex League Premier Division.

United Services Portsmouth
Full nameUnited Services Portsmouth Football Club
Nickname(s)The RN
Founded1962 (as Portsmouth Royal Navy)
GroundThe Victory Stadium, Portsmouth
ChairmanLt Cdr Richard Stephenson RN
ManagerFraser Quirke
LeagueWessex League Premier Division
2023–24Wessex League Premier Division, 19th of 20
WebsiteUSPortsmouthfc.co.uk

History

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Portsmouth Royal Navy FC was formed in 1962 by Dennis Probee with the intention of providing competitive football at the highest level possible to bridge the gap between the United Services mid week Leagues and the Royal Navy and Combined Services Representative Sides.[1]

Portsmouth Royal Navy FC played in the Hampshire League from its formation until the 1985–86 season when the club became one of the seventeen founder members of the Wessex League. They stayed in the Wessex league until the 2001–02 season. This prompted changes in the infrastructure of Portsmouth Royal Navy FC and the change of name to United Services Portsmouth FC in 2004. The change of name also marked the opening up of the side to players from all of the armed services as well as civilians.[2] The club remained in Division One until 2021, when they were promoted to the Premier Division based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

Ground

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United Services Portsmouth play their home games at Victory Stadium, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2EJ.

The Victory Ground has gradually developed and now has a 500 seated covered stand, two floodlit Hockey Astroturf pitches, the main hockey pitch is named after LT CDR Alan Walker the father of Royal Navy Hockey Association. electronic scoreboard and a clubhouse. Changing facilities were constructed under the main stand during the 1995–96 season.[1]

Honours

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  • Hampshire League Division Two:[1]
    • Winners: 1967–68, 1977–78 1980–81
  • Russell Cotes Cup[1]
    • Winners: 1967–68
  • Portsmouth Senior Cup[3]
    • Winners: 2011–12

Records

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  • Highest League Position:[4]
    • 17th in Wessex League Premier Division: 2021–22
  • FA Cup Best Performance[5]
    • Second Qualifying Round: 1997–98, 1998–99
  • FA Vase Best Performance[4][5]
    • Semi-finals: 2020–21

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 August 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Extreme groundhopping". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Success for Services - non league football - Portsmouth News". Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Football Club History Database - United Services Portsmouth". Fchd.info. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Football Club History Database - Portsmouth Royal Navy". Fchd.info. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
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50°47′39″N 1°06′03″W / 50.79417°N 1.10083°W / 50.79417; -1.10083