South Coast derby

Last updated
South Coast derby
Location Hampshire
Teams Southampton
Portsmouth
First meetingPortsmouth 2–0 Southampton
(6 September 1899 (Friendly)) [1]
Latest meetingSouthampton 0–0 Portsmouth
(14 September 2025)
Next meeting
Statistics
Meetings total72
Most winsSouthampton (35)
Largest victorySouthampton 5–1 Portsmouth
(FA Cup, 13 January 1906)
Portsmouth 5–1 Southampton (18 October 1919)
Southampton 5–1 Portsmouth
(27 August 1960)
Southampton 4–0 Portsmouth
(17 April 1975)
Portsmouth 0–4 Southampton
(League Cup, 24 September 2019)
Hampshire UK location map.svg
Blue pog.svg
Portsmouth
Red pog.svg
Southampton

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

Contents

Southampton play their home games at St. Mary's Stadium, while Portsmouth play theirs at Fratton Park. Southampton and Portsmouth 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 meeting in 1899 and most of these coming in the pre Football League era between 1899-1920.

In "first class" matches between the two teams, Southampton have the most wins. Portsmouth had enjoyed a 32 consecutive seasons run in the top flight until 1959, during this time they became champions of England on two occasions and an FA Cup while Southampton were in the lower levels of the football pyramid. Southampton gained promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history in 1966 and have been in a higher league than Portsmouth on 49 out of the 59 seasons that followed, including a consecutive run of 27 seasons in the top flight which is a few seasons shy of Portsmouth own record of 32. Portsmouth have won the most major 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 the FA Cup once (1976). Portsmouth also hold an impressive total number of 12 trophies to Southampton's 4 and are one of only five to win every league in the Football League.

With Southampton being relegated from the Premier League and Portsmouth successfully competing in the Championship, the South Coast derby will return during the 2025–26 season, marking the first time the clubs have shared a division since the two draws in the 2011–12.

Changing fortunes

Side-by-side comparison of Southampton and Portsmouth final league positions 1921 to the present. The two sides have rarely shared a division, hence the relatively low number of derbies played. South Coast Derby League Performance.svg
Side-by-side comparison of Southampton and Portsmouth final league positions 1921 to the present. The two sides have rarely shared a division, hence the relatively low number of derbies played.

Southampton were originally formed in 1885 as St. Mary's Young Men's Association FC, they adopted the name Southampton St. Mary's in 1894 and finally Southampton FC after becoming a limited company in 1897.

PortsmouthFC was formed 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 2–0 by Portsmouth, with goals from Dan Cunliffe (formerly with Liverpool) and Harry Clarke (formerly with Everton). [1]

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.

During the pre Football League era both teams enjoyed title success with Southampton winning the Southern League on six occasions 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1903 and 1904. with Portsmouth enjoying two Southern League Titles in 1901 and 1920 and three Western League titles in 1901, 1902 and 1903

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. [2] The match at The Dell was attended by a capacity crowd of 14,000 and the home side 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. [2]

For the 1920–21 season, both teams were admitted to the 3rd Division of the Football League. 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, Southampton were promoted as champions in 1922. Portsmouth 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. The first match in all Competitions since 1927 didn't end well for Portsmouth who were on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline at The Dell. Both teams enjoyed derbies for 8 consecutive seasons while both were in the Second Divsion.

It wouldn't be until the 1974-1975 seasons the two would met in the league again when Southampton were relegated to the First Division. A notable victory for Southampton included the 0-1 win on 6 April 1976 which is to date the last league victory for Southampton at Fratton Park.

In 1978 Southampton were promoted back to the First Division where the derby occurred only once in the FA Cup in 1984.

In 1987 Portsmouth gained promotion to first Division which ensured that the South Coast derbies would return for the first time in the league since 1976. A notable victory for Portsmouth coming in a 2-0 win at The Dell in an otherwise forgettable return to top flight football during the 1987–88 First Division season

During the period of 1988-2003 the derby only happened once in the form of an FA Cup match at The Dell in 1996.

Events such as the death of Portsmouth goalkeeper Aaron Flahavan, a Southampton-born footballer whose brother Darryl had played for Southampton (and would later play for Portsmouth), occasionally brought the fans together.

Portsmouth were crowned champions of Division One in 2003 which signaled not only Premiership and a return to the top flight but it reignited the clubs' rivalry – the first time the two teams had met in regular league competition since the 1987–88 First Division season. Both teams had a home victory in a brief return of derby games during the 2003–04 season and 2004-05 season

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. 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 Portsmouth registering a heavy 4-1 win at Fratton Park, which was their second biggest after the 1919 5-1 victory. It turned out to be Redknapp's only return to the ground with the club. Southampton were subsequently relegated from the Premiership 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 later in 2005 and enjoyed success.

During the seven years that followed it was Portsmouth's time to hold the higher league position in the Premier League while Southampton were in the Championship and then in League One.

Portsmouth won the FA Cup again in 2008 under Redknapp, whilst in 2009, Southampton were again relegated, this time to League One. [3] 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, due to financial problems Portsmouth were docked 10 points by the FA and were in turn relegated to the Championship for the 2010–11 season.

Southampton were in League One during the 2010-11 season so it would not be until the next season South Coast Derby football would return.

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. [4]

In September 2019 when Southampton were drawn against Portsmouth in the EFL Cup for their first meeting in seven years, unsurprisingly Southampton comfortably beat their rivals 4-0 who were 51 places below them in the football pyramid.

After a disastrous season for Southampton in which they only managed to get two wins, 30 defeat and they were the earliest team relegated from the Premier League and Portsmouth successfully finishing mid table in the Championship set up the first South Coast Derby in the league for 13 years. The first derby came September 2025 at St Mary's with a goaless draw however Portsmouth were far the better side especially in the first half.

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. 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. [5] [6] [7] [8]

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.

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. [9] 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.[ citation needed ]

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 English football hooliganism in the 1970s are most likely[ according to whom? ] 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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ which? ] 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.[ citation needed ]

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.[ citation needed ]

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. [10] Portsmouth supporters ironically celebrated their 2–0 loss to West Bromwich Albion as a victory as it had relegated Southampton to a lower division than Portsmouth for the first time since the 1960-61 season, when Portsmouth had been in the Second Division and Southampton were in the Third Division.[ citation needed ]

In 2015, 10,000 Portsmouth residents 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. [11] The city council subsequently came to an agreement with sponsors Emirates to use blue and gold (Portsmouth colours) instead, donating the now-unnecessary red paint to local charities instead. [11] [12]

In 2019, the two teams met for the first time in over seven 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. [13] The police worked for over an hour separating fans in order to prevent a brawl as Southampton fans made their way from Fratton railway station to Fratton Park. [13] 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 station and the Shepherd's Crook pub respectively. [13] Following the 0–4 result, tensions increased as items were thrown towards police and a police horse was punched. [13]

Nicknames

Portsmouth supporters refer to Southampton supporters as "Scum" or "Scummers". According to Portsmouth fans, the term "scum" developed out of acronym standing for "Southampton City (or Corporation) Union Men", with the term originating from when Southampton dockyard workers crossed the picket lines in the 1930s when Portsmouth dockyard workers were on strike. [14]

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. [15] [14] 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. [16] Skates was chosen as the derisive alternative to "matelot" to describe naval sailors, Portsmouth being the home of the Royal Navy.[ citation needed ] 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. [17] Sailors on long voyages would go long periods without female company, so would use skate 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". [17]

Derby results in summary

"First class" competitions only [18]

CompetitionPlayedResultsGoals
SouthamptonPortsmouthDrawSouthamptonPortsmouth
Southern League 32151254343
Football League 29126115036
Premier League 422066
FA Cup 5410126
League Cup 220060
TOTAL7235211611791

All-time results

League

Southampton vs Portsmouth

DateVenueScoreCompetition
11 September 1920 The Dell 5–1 Third Division
25 March 1922The Dell1–1 Third Division South
27 September 1924The Dell0–0 Second 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 1964The Dell2–3Second Division
16 January 1965The Dell2–2Second Division
28 August 1965The Dell2–2Second Division
14 September 1974The Dell2–1Second Division
17 April 1975The Dell4–0Second Division
3 January 1988The Dell0–2 First Division
21 December 2003 St Mary's 3–0 Premier League
13 November 2004St Mary's2–1Premier League
7 April 2012St Mary's2–2 Championship
14 September 2025St Mary's0–0Championship
Southampton winsDrawsPortsmouth wins
764

Portsmouth vs Southampton

DateVenueScoreCompetition
18 September 1920 Fratton Park 0–1 Third Division
18 March 1922Fratton Park0–2 Third Division South
29 November 1924Fratton Park1–1 Second 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 Park2–2 First Division
21 March 2004Fratton Park1–0 Premier League
24 April 2005Fratton Park4–1Premier League
18 December 2011Fratton Park1–1 Championship
Portsmouth winsDrawsSouthampton wins
457

Cup tournaments

DateScoreWinnerCompetitionVenue
13 January 1906
5–1
Southampton FA Cup The Dell
20 January 1984
0–1
SouthamptonFA CupFratton Park
7 January 1996
3–0
SouthamptonFA CupThe Dell
2 December 2003
2–0
Southampton League Cup St Mary's
29 January 2005
2–1
SouthamptonFA CupSt Mary's
13 February 2010
1–4
PortsmouthFA CupSt Mary's
24 September 2019
0–4
SouthamptonLeague CupFratton Park

Players who have played for both clubs

Updated to 9 February 2024

PlayerPortsmouth careerSouthampton career
SpanLeague
Appearances
League
Goals
SpanLeague
Appearances
League
Goals
Matt Reilly 1899–19041380189520
Arthur Chadwick 1901–19044391897–1901816
John Lewis 1900–19012171907–19082410
C. B. Fry 1902–1903201900–1902160
George Molyneux 1905–19062301900–19051420
Alex McDonald 1902–190377190155
Tommy Bowman 1904–19098531901–1904882
Kelly Houlker 1902–19032311903–1906593
Isaac Tomlinson 1906–1907501905–1906298
Jack Warner 1906–1915227101905–1906170
John Bainbridge 1906–19072541907–19108420
Alex Glen 1907–1908711906–19072910
Ernest Williams 1906–1909325191210
Arthur Charles Brown 1907–1910901906–1907
1910–1912
0
39
0
0
Edward Bell 1911–1912401906–190840
Billy Beaumont 1907–19107021910–1911270
Jerry Mackie 1920–1928278781928–19318124
Robert Blyth 1921–1922821922–192380
Ted Hough 1931–1932101921–19311750
Willie Haines 1922–19281641191928–19327047
Johnny McIlwaine 1928–19305651930–1932
1933–1937
46
81
9
9
Bill Rochford 1931–194613811946–19501280
Bill Kennedy 1932–1933101936–1938430
Mervyn Gill 1953–1955601955–195610
Harry Penk 1955–1957921960–1964526
Ron Davies 1973–197459181966–1972240134
Mick Channon 1985–19863461966–1977
1979–1982
391
119
157
28
Bobby Stokes 1977–19782421968–197721640
Steve Middleton 1977–19782601969–1970240
Paul Gilchrist 1977–19783931972–197710717
Malcolm Waldron 1984–19862311974–198317810
Trevor Hebberd 1991401976–1982977
Ivan Golac 1985801978–1983
1984–1985
144
24
4
0
George Lawrence 19931201980–1982
1985–1987
10
70
1
11
Eamonn Collins 1986–1989501981–198330
Ian Baird 1987–19882011982–1985225
Jon Gittens 1993–19968311985–1987
1991–1992
18
19
0
0
Colin Clarke 1990–199385181986–19898236
Barry Horne 1987–19897071989–19921126
Andy Cook 1987–19911611997–199890
John Beresford 1989–199210881998–2000170
Alan McLoughlin 1992–1999309541990–1992241
Matthew Robinson 1998–20006911993–1998140
Dave Beasant 2001–20022701993–1997880
Eyal Berkovic 2004–20052221996–1997284
Scott Hiley 1999–20027501998–1999320
Nigel Quashie 2000–2005148132005–2006375
Peter Crouch 2001–2002

2008–2009

37

38

18

11

2004–20052712
Vincent Péricard 2002–2006449200850
Ricardo Fuller 2004–20053112005–2006319
Martin Cranie 2007–2009202004–2007160
Jhon Viáfara 2005–20061412006–2008765
Grégory Vignal 2005–20061402007–2008203
David Connolly 2012–201538112009–20126114
Gavin Bazunu 2021–20224402022–610

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

HonoursPortsmouthSouthampton
Football League First Division /
Premier League
(first tier) [19]
Champions 1948–49, 1949–50
Runners-up 1983–84
Football League Second Division /
Football League First Division
(second tier) [19]
Champions 2003
Runners-up 1927, 1987
Runners-up 1966, 1978, 2012
Football League Third Division (South) /
Football League Third Division
(third tier) [19]
Champions 1924, 1962, 1983, 2024Champions 1922, 1960
Runners-up 2011
Football League Fourth Division (fourth tier) [19] Champions 2017*Never Competed*
FA Cup Winners 1939, 2008
Runners-up 1929, 1934, 2010
Winners 1976
Runners-up 1900, 1902, 2003
League Cup Runners-up 1979, 2017
FA Charity Shield Winners 1949 (Shared)
Runners-up 2008
Runners-up 1976
Southern League Champions 1902, 1920
Runners-up 1900, 1907
Champions: 1897, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1903, 1904
Western Football League Champions 1901, 1902, 1903
Runners-up 1908
Champions 1908
Runners-up 1904, 1906, 1909
Football League Trophy Winners: 2019Winners: 2010

References

  1. 1 2 Juson 2004, p. 9.
  2. 1 2 Juson 2004, pp. 42–43.
  3. "Southampton 2–2 Burnley". BBC Sport. 25 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  4. Husband, Tony (3 May 2012). "South-coast pendulum swings Southampton's way". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. "Redknapp in limbo over Lowe delay". 5 December 2005. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019 via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. "It's up to Lowe". Daily Echo. 6 December 2005.
  7. "Fowl offering from Pompey chairman". Daily Echo. 22 December 2005. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. "Portsmouth charged with illegal approach". The Irish Times.
  9. "Portsmouth football club: record v Southampton". www.11v11.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-19. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  10. "West Bromwich Albion v Portsmouth, 15 May 2005". 11v11.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Spinnaker Tower branding: New design revealed by council". BBC News. BBC. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  12. "Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower: Unwanted red paint given away". 6 July 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Police Operation 2019 and subsequent violence". The News. NationalWorld. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  14. 1 2 Mitchell, Kevin (23 January 2005). "Scummers v Skates". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  15. "Why Bournemouth Will Never Be Saints Rivals ! - Southampton News". The Ugly Inside. Archived from the original on 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  16. "Southampton football club: record v Portsmouth". www.11v11.com.
  17. 1 2 "Origins of the term Skate". 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  18. Juson 2004, p. 267, Table 2 (Updated for later results).
  19. 1 2 3 4 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.

Bibliography