Jay Sadler‘s Portsmouth FC won promotion to the Barclays Women’s Championship at the end of their dominant 2023/24 season in the FA Women’s National League South. The Halfway Line heard from vice captain Ava Rowbotham as Pompey gear up for their inaugural season competing in the second tier of English women’s football.
The midfielder opened up about her personal journey, Portsmouth’s goals for the season, and their transition to a full-time professional model.
Embed from Getty ImagesExciting times on the South Coast
With both Portsmouth’s men’s and women’s sides securing their spots in their respective Championship leagues, Rowbotham described what prepares to be a“whirlwind of a season,” continuing to say“There’s big excitement around the club.”
After celebrating their FA Women’s National League victory, Pompey announced that the women’s team would turn fully professional before their debut campaign in the second tier commenced. The midfielder stated the news “created a big buzz in the women’s side.”
“It’s a massive change for all of the girls,” she said.”Going from working full-time, juggling playing football and chasing a dream – to now that being a reality. It’s incredible.”
Speaking on the benefits of the changes that have come with the professionalisation of the club, the Brighton-born footballer affirmed, “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.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe key Pompey player went on to explain,“You were finishing and not getting home until about 10.30pm. It’s been a huge lifestyle change, not just within the club, but for a lot of people outside. It’s truly life-changing.”
Rowbotham also highlighted how the backroom changes at the club help players to meet the demands of the Championship, sharing how “The intensity of the league, the amount of games that will be played, and the speed of the games, only get better as you come up.” The youngster also explored how in turn, “The demands on us to step up and perform increases. Everything has to be quicker and a lot more professional, even in training. I have noticed the change.”
The 2024/25 season of the Barclays Women’s Championship will see Portsmouth face off against their old rivals, Southampton FC, in the highly-anticipated South Coast derby. Pompey will host their home fixture against the southern rivals at Fratton Park on October 13th, with the reverse match being played at St. Mary’s.
“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. We tend to get a big crowd there and the atmosphere is always incredible. It’s one of the games you want to play.”
Embed from Getty ImagesLife as the underdogs
With a rapidly-investing Newcastle United on the other side now promoted to the Barclays Women’s Championship, Portsmouth are not shying away from the challenges that lie ahead.
Rowbotham confidently told the media, “I think being an underdog doesn’t come with much pressure. You have other teams who have been in the league a long time and big clubs like Newcastle, who are a big footballing club, so there is a lot of pressure on them to do well. Being the underdogs gives us more freedom to play.”
With not only Newcastle, but also clubs like London City Lionesses both making statement signings such as Demi Stokes and Kosovare Asllani respectively, the Portsmouth player spoke about what it’s like preparing to come up against the likes of the Swedish international and the England great.
“It’s great to see. We only want the game to grow and to attract bigger players that have been on world stages. It was good to see and I think all of us were excited to test ourselves against players like [Kosovare Asllani]. We want to know how we would play against players like that.”
“This year is just about settling in and making our mark on the league, showing what we’re about because we’ve got a group full of quality. But definitely, that’s where the club is striving to go and hopefully they can attract big players.”
Embed from Getty ImagesNew professional horizons for Rowbotham
Regarding Pompey’s priorities as they embark on this exciting and demanding new chapter of their journey, Rowbotham set out the approach being taken by Sadler’s side, and what they want to achieve. “For the club, just to win as many games as possible. We are looked at as the underdogs this year being the newly-promoted team. But we are a really together team and want to win as many points as possible.”
In terms of her personal on-pitch goals, the vice captain explained, “We want to keep as many clean sheets as we can. As an individual I want to compete and perform at the highest level I can each week. I want to get a couple of goals – that would be nice! But it’s just doing my job as an individual and putting the team first. I want to ensure I can compete at the highest level I can each week.”
Rowbotham signed her one-year professional contract with Sadler’s Pompey following a stellar spell as vice-captain. Speaking on her growth alongside that of the team, the player asserted “Reaching 100 appearances for Portsmouth was a massive moment in my career. Gaining promotion with a club like Portsmouth has just been amazing. I’ve been there for the past four years now and I’ve seen just how much the club has grown.”
“The support the club has given the women’s side has been great year on year. It’s small changes like getting expenses to travel, shifting into part-time and then finally going full-time. There’s a lot of pride in that, knowing I’ve been on that process and on that journey with a few of the girls and the club as well.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThat support extends beyond just the training ground, as The Halfway Line heard more about Rowbotham’s individual experience and what it meant to become a full-time professional footballer.
“The year just gone, I was working towards becoming a teacher. I had just graduated! It’s realising that job you can park for a little bit and you can chase the dream. I had a conversation with my manager, and it was pure emotion and I guess a bit of relief as well. It was something I had worked for my entire life, so for that to pay off was just incredible.
It was the same when I told my family. They were really proud because they see what it takes and all the hard work behind the scenes. For that to become reality is just incredible. They have been really supportive with me through that.”
Portsmouth are set to face last season’s runners-up in Charlton Athletic on the league’s opening weekend, as they make the journey to The Valley and look to begin their already-historic campaign on a high.
