Where are they now? What title heroes are up to five years on
POMPEY clinched the League Two title on the final day of the 2016/17 season after a 6-1 triumph against Cheltenham at Fratton Park.
Five years on, the Blues remain in League One with none of the members of that title-winning squad part of Danny Cowley’s current set-up.
Here we take a look at the 18-man squad from that day and where they are now...
DAVID FORDE
The Millwall loanee featured in every league game during the title-winning season – keeping an impressive 19 clean sheets.
After a brief stint at Cambridge, the stopper retired the following year and founded a personal coaching and development programme called Pathfinder.
In March, the 42-year-old joined Stephen Kenny’s backroom staff in the Republic of Ireland set-up as a mental and wellbeing coach.
GARETH EVANS
After his infamous chant on Southsea Common the following day, the versatile midfielder became an instant fans’ favourite at PO4.
Leaving Fratton Park in 2020, he returned to Bradford, where he has since amassed 52 appearances – scoring three goals in League Two.
MATT CLARKE
Clarke has gone down as one of the best central defenders at Pompey in recent times among many fans.
After picking up two player of the season awards during his time at PO4, he earned a big-money move to Brighton in 2019.
The 25-year-old spent two years on loan at Derby, picking up the player of the season honour in his first campaign at Pride Park, and this term has seen him win fans’ player of the season while on loan at West Brom.
CHRISTIAN BURGESS
Despite being in and out of the starting XI in the early part of his Pompey career, the defender flourished in his final 18 months at Fratton Park and was rewarded with the player of the season award in his final campaign.
Leaving PO4 in 2020, he has enjoyed amazing success with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, winning promotion from the second tier in his first year before ending the regular season top of the Belgian Pro League.
His USG side could be four games away from the Champions League.
ENDA STEVENS
The underrated left-back was a regular fixture in Paul Cook’s starting XI while at Fratton Park, claiming the player of the season honour in his second term.
Yet he left for free and has gone on to enjoy plenty of success with Sheffield United, gaining promotion from the Championship in 2019 and subsequently playing in the Premier League for two years.
Although now back in the second tier, his Blades side are eyeing an instant return to the top flight after finishing fifth in the Championship this term.
MICHAEL DOYLE
The undisputed leader in the dressing room was captain for both of his seasons while with Pompey.
After failing to agree to a new deal, the Irishman departed PO4 that summer but would go on to win promotion again from League Two the following season with Coventry.
After retiring in 2021, he became assistant head coach at Notts County and still holds the same role now.
DANNY ROSE
After Cook’s departure that summer, Rose was in and out of the side under new manager Kenny Jackett and left in 2018.
Following a spell at Swindon, the 34-year-old joined Grimsby but was part of the side relegated to the National League last term.
After falling out with boss Paul Hurst, the midfielder found himself with
National League North club Darlington but has since returned to the Mariners’ set-up.
CARL BAKER
Despite playing a key role in the promotion campaign, Baker only played four times after Jackett’s appointment.
The right-midfielder went on to have a spell in India with ATK before returning to England with Coventry in 2018.
The 35-year-old dropped down to the National League that year but was appointed assistant coach at AFC Telford last November and also runs the Carl Baker Football Academy.
KAL NAISMITH
Naismith finished the 2016/17 season as the Blues’ top scorer and netted two on the final day.
After another year at Fratton Park, he joined
Wigan in 2018 and impressed in the Championship under Cook.
Naismith left the DW Stadium after financial struggles at the club and joined Luton, subsequently being converted into a more defensive player.
Now captain of the Hatters, he has led Nathan Jones’ side to the Championship play-offs – making 42 outings this season.
KYLE BENNETT
The winger made 113 outings in a Pompey shirt during his two-and-a-half years at Fratton Park before joining Bristol Rovers in 2018.
During the Covid lockdown in 2020, he set up Nextinction, which produces ethicallymade clothes with profits going to environmental charities.
Like Rose, the 31-year-old was relegated to the National League with Grimsby and now finds himself playing for Hednesford Town in the
Southern League Premier Division Central.
CONOR CHAPLIN
The Pompey academy graduate made 122 appearances in total for the Blues, scoring 25 times.
After an impressive season with Coventry, Chaplin joined Barnsley and scored 15 times in 85 Championship outings, helping the Tykes reach the play-offs last season.
The 25-year-old made a shock move to Ipswich last summer and netted against the Blues last October.
LIAM O’BRIEN
It was O’Brien’s second spell at Pompey after previously coming through the youth system.
Yet he never made a league appearance for the Blues that season and went on to join Coventry in the summer.
A spell at Yeovil followed before joining Stratford
Town in the Southern League Premier Division Central in 2020 where he continues to play now.
JACK WHATMOUGH
After coming through the academy, the defender amassed 137 appearances for the Blues.
He failed to negotiate fresh terms with Pompey after his contract expired last summer and instead joined Wigan, recently winning promotion to the Championship under ex-Blues coach Leam Richardson.
AMINE LINGANZI
The midfielder made 23 appearances for the Blues during that campaign but was one of a number of players to leave that summer.
Spells at Swindon and Salford followed. The 32-yearold is now without a club, but is now an ambassador for sports brand Puma.
STANLEY ABORAH
Aborah only managed 122 minutes of action during that campaign and quit football that summer.
Although he made a return to the sport with Irish outfit Waterford, the midfielder’s time there didn’t last long.
Now living in Belgium, the 34-year-old has been a sales manager at Cask BVBA, as well as an ambassador for the Holland Ghana Foundation.
GARY ROBERTS
The final day triumph proved to be Roberts’ last outing for the Blues after failing to be a part of Jackett’s plans.
The midfielder followed Cook to Wigan that summer before having spells at Bala Town and Accrington.
The 39-year-old linked up with his former boss at Ipswich and became assistant coach at Portman Road.
JAMAL LOWE
Lowe joined Pompey that January and netted the two goals which sealed promotion at Notts County.
The winger enjoyed a successful two years with the Blues before moves to Wigan and Swansea followed.
After a surprise switch to Bournemouth last summer, the 27-year-old was last week promoted to the Premier League with the Cherries.
NICKE KABAMBA
Joining with Lowe, his Pompey career was a lot shorter lived than his former team-mate’s.
He was sent out on loan to Aldershot that summer before joining Hawks the following year. Spells at Hartlepool, Kilmarnock and Northampton followed, and he’s currently on loan at National League side Woking.