First home game for over a year for Blues

Jay Sadler looked ahead to a new era for Pompey Women and beamed: ‘There's a real excitement around the club.’

The Blues begin life playing home games on the new 3G surface at Westleigh Park on Sunday against Plymouth Argyle (2pm).

Remarkably, it will be the first time Pompey have hosted a National League Southern Premier Division fixture in more than a year - since Oxford United travelled to the PMC Stadium last September.

Sadler's side have played home competitive matches in the Women's FA Cup and League Cup since then, but the Blues boss is finally looking forward to somewhere the club can put down roots.

Pompey had their first visit to see the new Westleigh Park surface on Tuesday and they will train at the venue ahead of Sunday’s game.

And Sadler, below, feels the facilities on offer can catapult the club to the next level - provided they begin to deliver on the pitch.

‘I think now we’ve finally got a home game where we can get fans in,’ he said.

‘We know there is going to be a game with a new fantastic artificial pitch - at the minute there’s a lot of excitement building up to that game.

‘We were joking about this last night actually.

'Our last home league game was September last year, so it’s over a year since we’ve been at a home venue in the league.

‘It feels a bit surreal in a way. ‘We’ve been down to see the Havant pitch and it’s looking phenomenal.

‘The whole set up is brilliant and knowing we’ve got the security and consistency of it is brilliant.

‘The girls and the staff are eager to get out there and put on a performance for hopefully what will be a good crowd that comes down.'

Sadler believes things are now falling into place off the pitch in order to give his squad the best chance to perform on it.

In previous years even his focus has not been fully on delivering results.

But with Pompey now having a 'solid foundation' and the comfort of a new base, this is the season where the team can really kick on.

'The biggest thing since we came under the main club a few years ago ... the focus and energy, even from myself, has been around off the pitch,' he added.

‘It’s been around sorting the training logistics, the professionalism of the football club and making sure we’re sustainable financially, which has been a crucial thing.

'Now we’ve got a solid foundation, we can start putting our focus into results on the pitch.

'It’s been a process but this year now is about points and wins.'

- LEWIS MASON

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