South Coast derby explained

South Coast derby
City Or Region:Hampshire
First Contested:Portsmouth 2–0 Southampton
(6 September 1899 (Friendly))
Teams Involved:Portsmouth
Southampton
Mostrecent:Portsmouth 0–4 Southampton
(24 September 2019)
Most Wins:Southampton (35)
Total:71
Largestvictory:Southampton 5–1 Portsmouth
(FA Cup, 13 January 1906)
Portsmouth 5–1 Southampton (18 October 1919)
Southampton 5–1 Portsmouth
(11 September 1920)
Southampton 5–1 Portsmouth
(27 August 1960)
Southampton 4–0 Portsmouth
(17 April 1975)
Portsmouth 0–4 Southampton
(League Cup, 24 September 2019)

The South Coast Derby is a term used to describe football matches played between Portsmouth Football Club and Southampton Football Club. The term is popular in broadcast media and newspapers.

Portsmouth play their home games at Fratton Park, while Southampton play theirs at St. Mary's Stadium. Portsmouth and Southampton are historically the most successful clubs on the southern coast of England and lie only 19 miles (31 km) apart in Hampshire. However, because the two clubs have often been in different divisions, the derby game has only been played 71 times in "First Class" competition since the first one in 1899.

Portsmouth have won the most titles of the pair, being champions of England twice (1948–49 and 1949–50) and twice FA Cup winners (1939 and 2008), whilst Southampton have won a single FA Cup (1976). In "first class" matches between the two teams, Southampton have the most wins, and have been more regularly in a higher league than Portsmouth, including their 27 consecutive years in the top flight of English football. However, Portsmouth were southern England's first club outside of London to reach the First Division, in 1927, and stayed for 34 consecutive years until relegation in 1961, five years before Southampton reached the First Division.

In the 2024–25 season, Southampton will play in the top tier of English football, the Premier League and Portsmouth will play in the second tier of English football, the EFL Championship.

Changing fortunes

Southampton were originally formed in 1885 as St. Mary's Young Men's Association FC, before adopting the name Southampton St. Mary's when the club joined the Southern League in 1894. After they won the Southern League title in 1896–97, the club became a limited company and changed their name to Southampton FC. Portsmouth was founded in April 1898 and joined the Southern League in 1899.

The first match between the two clubs came in a friendly at Portsmouth's Fratton Park ground on 6 September 1899. The match was won "on their merits" 2–0 by Portsmouth, with goals from Dan Cunliffe (formerly with Liverpool) and Harry Clarke (formerly with Everton).

Southampton and Portsmouth first played each other in the Southern League in April 1900, with Portsmouth winning 2–0 twice in three days. The teams met regularly in the Southern League, and in the early years of the 20th century were rivals for the league title, with Southampton taking the title in 1901, 1903 and 1904 (having also been champions in three consecutive seasons from 1896–97 to 1898–99, before Portsmouth were formed) and Portsmouth taking the title in 1902 (and again in 1920).

The first of four South Coast derbies in the FA Cup took place on 13 January 1906. Because of the large crowd expected for the first FA Cup meeting between the two rivals, the local registrars in both towns postponed voting in the 1906 general election until the following week. The match at The Dell was attended by a capacity crowd of 14,000 and the Portsmouth fans, together with their players, did their best to unsettle the inexperienced Southampton goalkeeper, Bill Stead, who was making only his second first team appearance. Stead, however, showed few signs of nerves and produced a "phlegmatic performance", restricting Portsmouth to a single goal from Dan Cunliffe, while the Saints scored five and eventually progressed to the last eight, where they lost 3–0 at Liverpool.

For the 1920–21 season, both teams were admitted to the Football League (together with the majority of the Southern League First Division sides). The first Football League game between the two clubs was on 11 September 1920, with Southampton winning 2–0. After two seasons in the Third Division, Saints were promoted as champions in 1922. Pompey joined them in the Second Division in 1924 and were promoted to the First Division in 1927, becoming the first southern club outside of London to reach the top tier of English football. Up to this time the teams had met ten times in the Football League, with Saints winning four, Pompey three and three draws.

From 1927 until 1960 Portsmouth enjoyed a much-superior league position to their neighbours, winning the FA Cup in 1939 and back-to-back League titles in 1948–49 and 1949–50, until 1960, when Southampton gained promotion back to the Second Division, Portsmouth having been relegated from the First Division the previous season. From the 1960s onwards, Southampton found themselves in the ascendancy, being in a higher division nearly every season while defeating their rivals whenever the two sides met in cup clashes.

With Southampton being in a higher division for most of the period from the 1960s through to the early 2000s, the two clubs rarely met. Events such as the death of Portsmouth goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan, a Southampton-born footballer whose brother Darryl had played for Southampton, occasionally brought the fans together.

Southampton dominated the South Coast derby games in the post-war era, with fourteen wins to Portsmouth's six. Portsmouth's promotion to the Premiership in 2003 evened matters and reignited the clubs' rivalry – the first time the two teams had met in regular league competition since the 1987–88 First Division season. Southampton held the upper hand, winning two of the three matches played between the two sides in the 2003–04 season to Portsmouth's one.

The rivalry was galvanised with the appointment of Harry Redknapp as Southampton manager in December 2004, just days after he had resigned as manager of Portsmouth, and less than a month after the Saints had beaten Portsmouth at St Mary's Stadium. The following month, the Saints were drawn against and defeated their rivals in a fiery FA Cup match, with former Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch (who would go on to rejoin Portsmouth in 2008) scoring the decisive penalty in the last minute of the match.

However, Portsmouth struck back in the next league encounter between the rivals, with Southampton beaten 4–1 at Fratton Park by their relegation rivals in Redknapp's only return to the ground with the club. Southampton were subsequently relegated from the Premiership a few games later on the final day of the 2004–05 season, ending their 27-year run in the top flight of English Football. Redknapp caused more controversy when he left Southampton and returned to Portsmouth and enjoyed success.

Portsmouth won the FA Cup again in 2008 under Redknapp whilst, in 2009, Southampton were again relegated, this time to League One.[1] The two sides met in a fierce FA Cup match at St Mary's in 2010 which Portsmouth came out 4–1 victors again and went on to reach the FA Cup final that season but did not perform too well in the league. Portsmouth were in turn relegated to the Championship for the 2010–11 season after having been deducted nine points as a penalty for entering administration.[2]

The matches played during the 2011–12 season both ended as draws, but the club's fortunes differed considerably, with Southampton gaining promotion to the Premier League and Portsmouth once again going into administration and being relegated to League One.[3]

In Portsmouth's absence, AFC Bournemouth and Brighton and Hove Albion – based about and from Southampton respectively – gained promotion to the Premier League, with some media outlets marketing fixtures against them as a 'South Coast derby';[4] [5] [6] however, there is very little shared history or animosity between the clubs and supporters have never acknowledged these as significant rivalries,[7] [6] [8] something which was emphasised in September 2019 when Southampton were drawn against Portsmouth in the EFL Cup for their first meeting in seven years, with the event being discussed with much more anticipation than Saints league matches against both Bournemouth and Brighton a few weeks earlier.[9] [8] [10]

Harry Redknapp

The acrimonious departure of Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth to Southampton brought the bitter rivalry between the two clubs to a new level. When Redknapp returned to Portsmouth in November 2005 following Southampton's relegation, it only served to further sour relations between the two clubs, which arguably remain at an all-time low. The two clubs' chairmen at the time, Rupert Lowe (Southampton) and Milan Mandarić (Portsmouth), publicly criticised one another on a number of occasions, with Lowe calling for an inquest into irregular betting patterns in the run-up to Redknapp's re-appointment. Mandarić had even sent a boxed duck as a Christmas "gift" to Lowe (as Lowe had been on a hunting trip when the "ordeal" began), but the gesture only furthered the animosity between the two.[11] [12] [13] [14]

Inter-fan rivalry

Exactly when the fierce rivalry between the supporters of the two clubs began is not entirely clear. Until as recently as the early 1970s, many fans would go and watch the other team when their side was playing away, indicating anything but hatred. Some ascribe the growing rivalry since then to the cities' diverging economic fortunes.

In 1976, there were changes in fortune for both cities and their football clubs. Portsmouth International Port was built next to the new M275 motorway spur, both opening in 1976. This was seen as a threat to the Port of Southampton by its dockers. Portsmouth FC, on a decline, lost a fifth consecutive derby match against Southampton in a period from 1966 to 1976.[15] Southampton FC, then in the Second Division, were on the rise and won a shock victory in the 1976 FA Cup Final against First Division Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. The goal was scored by Portsmouth-born Bobby Stokes.

Southampton were promoted to the First Division in 1978. Meanwhile, Portsmouth plummeted to the Fourth Division in the same period. Jealously, bragging, changing fortunes between the opposing fans, and the rise of football hooliganism in 1970s England are most likely the cause of the bitter rivalry that now exists between both sets of supporters.

In the early 1980s, cross-channel ferry services then moved from Southampton to Portsmouth International Port. Portsmouth's closer proximity to the European continent saved fuel, journey time and made more economic sense to ferry operators. Portsmouth's closer distance to London by road and rail was also seen as a positive by European visitors.

In the 1987-88 First Division season, Portsmouth and Southampton both met in the top division of English football for the first time in their shared histories. This was the first season that Southampton fans began using the derogatory "Skate" nickname for Portsmouth's supporters, which had been chosen from a fanzine poll. Despite a 2-2 home draw at Fratton Park and a 2-0 away win at The Dell, Portsmouth were relegated back to the Second Division after only one season.

In the early 2000s, Southampton based ship builder Vosper Thornycroft moved from its Woolston yard to new facilities at Portchester (near Portsmouth), and also into a newly built ship hall within HMNB Portsmouth. West Quay shopping mall in Southampton city centre was also opened, which attracted many Portsmouth residents away from Portsmouth's traditional shopping areas, favouring the new West Quay mall which offered more variety than Portsmouth's declining Commercial Road and Palmerston Road shopping areas.

On 15 May 2005, Portsmouth - now in the Premier League - lost 2-0 away to relegation threatened West Bromwich Albion. Portsmouth's loss earned West Bromwich Albion three points and survival to end one place above the relegation zone. However, this result also affected and confirmed bottom-placed Southampton's relegation to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1978.[16] Portsmouth supporters ironically celebrated their 2-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion as a victory, which had relegated Southampton to a division lower than that of Portsmouth. The last occasion this had happened was in the 1960-61 season, where Portsmouth had been in the Second Division and Southampton were in the Third Division.

In 2015, 10,000 Portsmouth people signed a petition against Portsmouth City Council's decision to allow airline Emirates to use its red and white livery (Southampton colours) for its sponsorship of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.[17] The city council subsequently came to an agreement with sponsors Emirates to use blue and gold (Portsmouth colours) instead.[17]

In 2019, the two teams met at for the first time in over 7 years, an EFL Cup tie at Fratton Park. Tensions at the game ran high, and as such police presence was high; hundreds of police officers were bought in from multiple police forces across Hampshire in order to prevent violence between the two sets of fans in what has been described as the biggest football policing operation conducted in Hampshire.[18] The police worked for over an hour, pushing fans away from one another in order to prevent a brawl as Southampton fans made their way from Fratton railway station to Fratton Park.[18] Despite the best efforts of the police, violence and anti-social behaviour ensued; before the game, red and blue flares were set off near Fratton Train Station and the Shepherd's Crook pub respectively.[18] Following the 0-4 result, tensions increased as items were thrown towards police and a police horse was punched.[18]

Nicknames

Portsmouth supporters refer to Southampton supporters as "Scum" or "Scummers". According to some Portsmouth fans, the term "scum" developed out of a fictitious acronym standing for Southampton City (or Corporation) Union Men, with the term allegedly originating from when Southampton dockyard workers supposedly crossed the picket lines in the 1930s when Portsmouth dockyard workers were on strike. However, this story is unlikely, as the two cities rely on entirely different types of ports — Southampton being a merchant port and Portsmouth a naval one. There is also no known record of any strike occurring during the aforementioned time period. Rather, this seems to be a modern attempt to incorrectly describe the origins of the rivalry.[19]

Southampton supporters have taken to referring to their local rivals as "Skates", after a Southampton fanzine, The Ugly Inside, asked its readers in 1988 to suggest an abusive term most likely to cause offence to Portsmouth supporters.[20] [19] This date coincides with Portsmouth's return to the First Division in its 1987–88 season, when both clubs occupied the same division for the first time since 1976.[21] Skates was chosen as the derisive alternative to "matelot" to describe naval sailors, Portsmouth being the home of the Royal Navy. The name "Skate" originates from the civilian population of Portsmouth, and was originally an insult directed towards sailors working on ships in HMNB Portsmouth, or who were otherwise associated with the Royal Navy.[22] Sailors on long voyages would go long periods without female company, so would use Skate (fish) to relieve themselves sexually; this led to sailors who attempted to approach prostitutes in Portsmouth being refused and told "I ain't no skate bait, mate".[22]

Derby results in summary

"First class" competitions only

All-time results

League

Southampton vs Portsmouth
width=120Date width=80Venuewidth=35Scorewidth=125Competition
11 September 1920The Dell5–1Third Division
25 March 1922The Dell1–1Third Division South
27 September 1924The Dell0–0Second Division
5 September 1925The Dell1–3Second Division
15 January 1927The Dell0–2Second Division
27 August 1960The Dell5–1Second Division
2 March 1963The Dell4–2Second Division
8 February 1963The Dell2–3Second Division
16 January 1965The Dell2–2Second Division
28 August 1964The Dell2–2Second Division
14 September 1974The Dell2–1Second Division
17 April 1975The Dell4–0Second Division
3 January 1988The Dell0–2First Division
21 December 2003St Mary's3–0Premier League
13 November 2004St Mary's2–1Premier League
7 April 2012St Mary's2–2 Championship
width=100Southampton wins width=100Drawswidth=100Portsmouth wins
754
Portsmouth vs Southampton
width=120Date width=80Venuewidth=35Scorewidth=125Competition
18 September 1920Fratton Park0–1Third Division
18 March 1922Fratton Park0–2Third Division South
29 November 1924Fratton Park1–1Second Division
16 January 1926Fratton Park1–2Second Division
28 August 1926Fratton Park3–1Second Division
31 December 1960Fratton Park1–1Second Division
13 October 1962Fratton Park1–1Second Division
28 September 1963Fratton Park2–0Second Division
12 September 1964Fratton Park0–3Second Division
5 February 1966Fratton Park2–5Second Division
26 December 1974Fratton Park1–2Second Division
6 April 1976Fratton Park0–1Second Division
22 August 1987Fratton Park2–2First Division
21 March 2004Fratton Park1–0Premier League
24 April 2005Fratton Park4–1Premier League
18 December 2011Fratton Park1–1Championship
width=100Portsmouth winswidth=100Drawswidth=100Southampton wins
457

Cup tournaments

Date Score Winner Competition Venue
13 January 1906SouthamptonFA CupThe Dell
20 January 1984SouthamptonFA Cup Fratton Park
7 January 1996SouthamptonFA Cup The Dell
2 December 2003SouthamptonLeague CupSt Mary's
29 January 2005SouthamptonFA Cup St Mary's
13 February 2010PortsmouthFA Cup St Mary's
24 September 2019SouthamptonLeague Cup Fratton Park

Players who have played for both clubs

Updated to 9 February 2024

PlayerPortsmouth careerSouthampton career
Span League
Appearances
League
Goals
Span League
Appearances
League
Goals
John Bainbridge1906–19072541907–19108420
1987–19882011982–1985225
Gavin Bazunu2021–20224402022–610
2001–20022701993–1997880
1907–19107021910–1911270
Edward Bell1911–1912401906–190840
1989–199210881998–2000170
2004–20052221996–1997284
1921–1922821922–192380
1904–19098531901–1904882
1907–1910901906–1907
1910–1912
0
39
0
0
1901–19044391897–1901816
1985–19863461966–1977
1979–1982
391
119
157
28
Colin Clarke1990–199385181986–19898236
Eamonn Collins1986–1989501981–198330
2012–201538112009–20126114
1987–19911611997–199890
2007–2009202004–2007160
2001–2002
2008–2009
37
38
18
11
2004–20052712
1973–197459181966–1972240134
C. B. Fry1902–1903201900–1902160
2004–20053112005–2006319
1977–19783931972–197710717
1953–1955601955–195610
1993–19968311985–1987
1991–1992
18
19
0
0
1907–1908711906–19072910
1985801978–1983
1984–1985
144
24
4
0
Willie Haines1922–19281641191928–19327047
Trevor Hebberd1991401976–1982977
1999–20027501998–1999320
1987–19897071989–19921126
1931–1932101921–19311750
1902–19032311903–1906593
1932–1933101936–1938430
19931201980–1982
1985–1987
10
70
1
11
1900–19012171907–19082410
1902–190377190155
1928–19305651930–1932
1933–1937
46
81
9
9
1920–1928278781928–19318124
1992–1999309541990–1992241
1977–19782601969–1970240
1905–19062301900–19051420
1955–1957921960–1964526
2002–2006449200850
1899–19041380189520
2000–2005148132005–2006375
1998–20006911993–1998140
1931–194613811946–19501280
1977–19782421968–197721640
1906–1907501905–1906298
2005–20061412006–2008765
2005–20061402007–2008203
1984–19862311974–198317810
1906–1915227101905–1906170
1906–1909325191210

Managed both clubs

Played for one, managed/coached the other

Women's football

Both Portsmouth and Southampton have had women's counterparts in the past. Southampton Saints L.F.C. had the better history, affiliating to Southampton F.C. and taking on the club name in 1995, maintaining membership of the FA Women's Premier League National Division from 1998 to 2003 and finishing runners-up in the Women's FA Cup in 1998-99. Portsmouth F.C. Women, formed in 1987, has never climbed higher than the second tier.

Both teams played in the Southern Championship in the 2006–07 season. Portsmouth was a strong contender for promotion (they finished 3rd), while Southampton was relegated to the Regional Combinations. The former Portsmouth manager, Vanessa Raynbird, also played in and later managed Southampton as well.

Southampton F.C. had ended its links with Southampton Saints L.F.C. in 2005. In 2017, Southampton F.C. formed a women's section, Southampton F.C. Women. In summer 2021 Southampton F.C. Women were awarded upward club movement to the third-tier FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division, of which Portsmouth F.C. Women are long-serving members, meaning the 2021-22 season saw the resumption of the South Coast Women's Derby.

Major honours won by the clubs

HonoursPortsmouth Southampton
Football League First Division /
Premier League
(first tier)[23]
Champions 1948–49, 1949–50
Runners-up 1983–84
Football League Second Division /
Football League First Division
(second tier)
Champions 2003
Runners-up 1927, 1987
Runners-up 1966, 1978, 2012
Football League Third Division (South) /
Football League Third Division
(third tier)
Champions 1924, 1962, 1983, 2024Champions 1922, 1960
Runners-up 2011
Football League Fourth Division (fourth tier)Champions 2017-
FA CupWinners 1939, 2008
Runners-up 1929, 1934, 2010
Winners 1976
Runners-up 1900, 1902, 2003
League CupRunners-up 1979, 2017
FA Charity ShieldRunners-up 1976
Southern LeagueChampions 1902, 1920
Runners-up 1900, 1907
Champions: 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1903, 1904
Western Football LeagueChampions 1901, 1902, 1903
Runners-up 1908
Champions 1908
Runners-up 1904, 1906, 1909
Football League TrophyWinners: 2019Winners: 2010
Hampshire Senior CupWinners: 1896, 1903, 1913, 1952, 1987Winners: 1891, 1892, 1895, 1899, 1901, 1902, 1905, 1908, 1910, 1914, 1920, 1921, 1935, 1940, 1950, 1976

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Southampton 2–2 Burnley . 25 April 2009 . BBC Sport. 7 May 2009.
  2. News: Portsmouth lose nine points for entering administration . BBC Sport. 8 September 2010 . 17 March 2010.
  3. Web site: Husband. Tony. South-coast pendulum swings Southampton's way. BBC Sport. 3 May 2012. 3 May 2012.
  4. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/13926409.afc-bournemouth-what-should-we-call-the-derby-between-cherries-and-southampton/ AFC Bournemouth: What should we call the derby between Cherries and Southampton?
  5. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/southampton-1-brighton-1-premier-league-match-report-goals-glenn-murray-jack-stephens-a8188301.html?amp Southampton snatch equaliser against Brighton in the south coast derby but remain in the relegation zone
  6. https://bournemouth.vitalfootball.co.uk/bournemouth-against-southampton-the-other-south-coast-derby/ Bournemouth against Southampton the “other” South Coast Derby
  7. https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/sport/football/albion/southampton-v-brighton-a-derby-fans-don-t-care-about-scott-mccarthy-1-8634188/amp Southampton v Brighton: A 'derby' fans don't care about
  8. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bournemouth-end-long-wait-for-a-win-at-southampton-38518884.html Bournemouth end long wait for a win at Southampton
  9. News: Saints off the mark at 10-man Brighton. BBC Sport.
  10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49684490 Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth
  11. News: Redknapp in limbo over Lowe delay. 5 December 2005. news.bbc.co.uk.
  12. Web site: It's up to Lowe. Daily Echo. 6 December 2005 .
  13. Web site: Fowl offering from Pompey chairman. Daily Echo. 22 December 2005 .
  14. News: Portsmouth charged with illegal approach. The Irish Times.
  15. Web site: Portsmouth football club: record v Southampton. www.11v11.com.
  16. Web site: West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth, 15 May 2005. 11v11.com.
  17. Web site: Spinnaker Tower branding: New design revealed by council . BBC News . BBC . 19 June 2015 . 19 June 2015.
  18. Web site: Police Operation 2019 and subsequent violence . The News . NationalWorld . 8 October 2019. 9 February 2024.
  19. News: Scummers v Skates . Kevin . Mitchell . The Guardian . 23 January 2005 . 2 May 2012.
  20. Web site: Why Bournemouth Will Never Be Saints Rivals ! - Southampton News. The Ugly Inside.
  21. Web site: Southampton football club: record v Portsmouth. www.11v11.com.
  22. Web site: Origins of the term Skate . 24 February 2021 . 9 February 2024.
  23. Up until 1992, the top division of English football was the Football League First Division; since then, it has been the Premier League. Similarly until 1992, the Second Division was the second tier of league football, when it became the First Division, and is now known as The Championship. The third tier was the Third Division until 1992, and is now known as League One.