Calls have been mounting about whether the Portsmouth Senior Cup finals location and whether it should be played at Fratton Park. Last season the showpiece of the PO postcode footballing scene saw the ground pulling out last minute due to Pompey’s exploits in the League 2 play-offs against Plymouth Argyle. Last month on the ‘over the white line’ programme on Express FM the Portsmouth FA said they were ‘hopeful’ of a Fratton Park final after ‘constructive talks’ in December. But the question remains, whether the Portsmouth Senior Cup final be played at Fratton Park?
Speaking to Lee Bradbury following Havant and Waterlooville’s semi-final win against AFC Portchester he said that “it should be, it’s the Portsmouth Cup and it would be great if it was played at Fratton Park because most of the lads are local and they would love to be able to play if they haven’t already and it would be great if they can (play the final at Fratton Park).” It is the third successive season in which Lee Bradbury has sent the Hawks into the Portsmouth Senior Cup final but the two finals previous have been played at Westleigh Park and AFC Portchester’s Wicor Recreational ground respectively.
A source has said that the final is to be played at Fratton Park this season in what may well be a future rotation basis for the location of the Portsmouth Senior Cup final.
Why Yes to the Fratton Final
Fans of Havant and Waterlooville FC have been getting involved via public forums about whether the final should take place at Fratton Park or not. In what is a rather mixed bag, the Hawks fans voted that the final should be played at the home of Portsmouth FC. First, it’s the fact that it is the Portsmouth Cup and that the cream has risen to the top of this competition and that fans feel they deserve the best stage as to which play the final on in the area for the biggest cup final in the area and would suffice as a good enough reward for teams who are successful in the competition at the end of a hard-fought season.
It also raises the profile of the competition. Having games at Fratton Park gages the eyes of social media and the papers and helps enhance the brand that is the Portsmouth Saturday Senior Cup. It would mean that in a season of possibly its greatest exposure through live draws on Express FM and decent listener figures on Hawks Radio commentary, as well as updates on club’s twitter feeds and Portsmouth News columns. The final would in effect guarantee Portsmouth News coverage as well as coverage via Hawks Radio (pending permission) to broadcast the final along with the rebranded ‘Over the White line’ programme giving the competition prominence over recent months and would entice a further 200/300 maybe even more to attend due to that factor, which in turn for the Portsmouth FA means they can bring in more revenue which helps themselves and the sides who take part in these competitions.
Leave Fratton alone
However, on the other side of the fence, fans that felt against playing the final made some rather intriguing and helpful pointers the other way. The most intriguing of which was the point that “the game will be lost at Fratton Park”. Which is a logical point, a ground which holds in capacity give or take 20,000 would only have the South Stand open for the occasion and would see a whole host of empty seats throughout, with the Hawks outnumbering whoever they play and even between the two of them are they going to fill under half of the stand. Whilst a game at Moneyfields or Westleigh Park would see “400/500 create a good atmosphere as well as creating a better atmosphere.” Which is another decision into the melting pot for the Portsmouth FA as they know that playing it at Fratton Park also creates an atmosphere that is intimidating on the other side of the ground being empty whereas the same number at the likes of any of the three sides left in the competition would create a good atmosphere.
Another point which was raised to me about playing the game away from Fratton Park is the fact that for the Portsmouth FA “it would be cheaper” to play the game away from the League 2 venue. A point which doesn’t resonate as highly in fans minds but those inside the process will be looking at heavily as the costs of Fratton Park will not be cheap, especially should the game come after a long season and a potential 30 games played on the surface, whilst Westleigh Park, Love Lane or Moneyfields would see similar crowd sizes however for a presumably smaller fee than those Portsmouth FC would charge and for the addition as said earlier of a more atmospheric venue.
In Conclusion
The last time in which the Portsmouth Senior Cup final was played at Fratton Park was in 2014 when Baffins Milton Rovers, then of the Hampshire Saturday Leagues faced Moneyfields with the former clinching their first major piece of silverware. For the Hawks and either Moneyfields or Petersfield who play in the second semi-final, the opportunity of the playing at the biggest stage in which this competition is played on would help aid the competition, not just in publicity but also in competitiveness. Whereas also we have the financial costs and whether empty seats at Fratton would be a key factor. We will soon find out the details about what happens regarding the final and will be intriguing to read the postcode in which we will be heading to for Portsmouth’s Footballing showpiece.
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 