Rescuing Portsmouth: The Richie Barker Regime

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Founded in 1898, Portsmouth FC fought their way into the top flight of English Football in 1927 for the first time. During the next several seasons Portsmouth enjoyed their football, reaching two FA Cup finals before a 4-1 win over Wolverhampton in 1939. Pompey, as they are known, excelled in arguably their two best seasons in club history, winning Division One (now the Premier League) two seasons in a row in 1949 and 1950. A steady decline from here saw Portsmouth fall all the way into Division Four (now League Two).

Clawing their way back to competence, they fought themselves all the way back to the top flight in 1987. In the early 2000's, Pompey enjoyed a seven-year stay in the Premier League, some of their most consistent football in club history. 2008 was the year they found themselves back in an FA Cup Final, coming out as the victors in a 1-0 win over Cardiff City. Finding their way back to the pinnacle game of the FA Cup in 2010 was about the only thing that went right that season. Dropping the game 1-0 to Chelsea and being relegated out of the Premier League in the same season took a toll on the team and their finances. A steady downfall has occurred since and the team currently finds itself recently relegated to Football League 2 fighting for its life.

Enter Richie Barker and the Pompey Supporters Trust. The later fan-owned trust took control of the club in April of 2013 as the team spiraled towards the inevitable drop to League 2, making them the largest fan-owned club in England. Richie Barker knew what he was getting himself into before signing on the dotted line to right the ship in Portsmouth. As his record dictates, Barker has been a largely average manager with his two previous employers, but did enjoy a very successful early spell at Bury. Taking over with just 8 games remaining and winning 6 consecutive in 2011 he guided Bury to League One promotion. This earned him Football League 2 Manager of the Month Honors of April 2011. He then spent the following season at Bury before accepting the head spot at Crawley Town. He unfortunately was let go and immediately grabbed by Portsmouth FC which is where our story begins. Can the young 38 year old manager bring the once storied club back to prominence? Barker has pledged his allegiance to bringing Portsmouth back to the Premier League and will not leave until he can but has urged the supporters to be patient as they will take one season; one month; one game at a time, en route to their ultimate goals of promotion.

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Club History

2013-14 Season
League: Sky Bet League 2
League Record: 28-7-11 | 91 pts | 1st
FA Cup: 0-0-1 (Round 1)
Capital One Cup: 1-0-1 (Round 2)
Johnstone's Paint Trophy: 4-2-0 (Area Final)
Overall Coaching Record: 33-8-14
Leading Scorer: David Connolly | 35app 16g 1a
Awards: Richie Barker (Manager of the Season) | Bondz N'Gala (Team of the Season)


2014-15 Season
League: Sky Bet League 1
League Record:
FA Cup:
Capital One Cup:
Johnstone's Paint Trophy:
Overall Coaching Record:
Leading Scorer:
Awards:

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Cup and League History

2013-14 Season
Cups
Champions League Final: FC Bayern 2-1 Chelsea
Europa League Final: Tottenham 2-2 Marseille (5-4 pens)
FA Cup Final: Norwich City 4-0 Watford
Capital One Cup Final: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final: Leyton Orient 1-0 Sheffield United

Leagues
Austria: Red Bull Salzburg
Belgium: RSC Anderlecht
Denmark: FC Kobenhavn
England: Chelsea | QPR | Wolverhampton | Portsmouth
France: PSG | AJ Auxerre
Germany: FC Bayern | 1. FC Koln
Italy: Juventus | Palermo
Netherlands: Feyenoord
Norway: SK Brann
Poland: Lech Poznan
Portugal: FC Porto
Republic of Ireland: St. Pats
Russia: Zenit
Scotland: Celtic
Spain: FC Barcelona | Real Zaragoza
Sweden: IFK Goteborg
Switzerland: FC Basel

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Results Under Richie Barker

AFC Wimbledon (1-0-1)
Oct. 19, 2013 AFC Wimbledon 1-4 Portsmouth
Mar. 28, 2014 Portsmouth 1-2 AFC Wimbledon
Accrington Stanley (1-0-1)
Sept. 17, 2013 Portsmouth 3-1 Accrington Stanley
Dec. 21, 2013 Accrington Stanley 2-1 Portsmouth
Bristol Rovers (1-0-1)
Dec. 3, 2013 Portsmouth 0-2 Bristol Rovers
Mar. 1, 2014 Bristol Rovers 1-2 Portsmouth
Burton Albion (1-1-0)
Nov. 30, 2013 Burton Albion 0-1 Portsmouth
Mar. 11, 2014 Portsmouth 2-2 Burton Albion
Bury (2-0-0)
Oct. 1, 2013 Bury 0-2 Portsmouth
Jan. 7, 2014 Portsmouth 2-0 Bury
Cheltenham Town (2-0-1)
Aug. 20, 2013 Portsmouth 2-0 Cheltenham Town
Dec. 10, 2013 Portsmouth 3-1 (ET) Cheltenham Town (Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Semi Final)
December 28, 2013 Cheltenham Town 1-1 Portsmouth
Chesterfield (1-0-1)
Nov. 23, 2013 Chesterfield 1-0 Portsmouth
Dec. 31, 2013 Portsmouth 1-0 Chesterfield
Dagenham and Redbridge (0-1-1)
Aug. 10, 2013 Portsmouth 0-0 Dagenham and Redbridge
Jan. 28, 2014 Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0 Portsmouth
Exeter City (1-0-1)
Sept. 28, 2013 Portsmouth 3-0 Exeter City
Jan. 18, 2014 Exeter City 1-0 Portsmouth
Fleetwood Town (1-1-0)
Jan. 4, 2014 Fleetwood Town 0-1 Portsmouth
Apr. 19, 2014 Portsmouth 1-1 Fleetwood Town
Hartlepool United (1-0-1)
Dec. 14, 2013 Portsmouth 0-1 Hartlepool United
Apr. 26, 2014 Hartlepool 1-2 Portsmouth
Mansfield Town FC (2-0-0)
Sept. 21, 2013 Mansfield Town FC 2-3 Portsmouth
May 3, 2014 Portsmouth 3-0 Mansfield Town FC
Morecembe (2-0-0)
Aug. 31, 2013 Portsmouth 2-0 Morecambe
Apr. 15, 2014 Morecambe 1-2 Portsmouth
Newport County AFC (1-0-1)
Aug. 24, 2013 Newport County 1-3 Portsmouth
Dec. 24, 2013 Portsmouth 0-2 Newport County
Northampton Town (1-0-2)
Oct. 22, 2013 Portsmouth 2-0 Northampton Town
Nov. 9, 2013 Portsmouth 0-1 Northampton Town (FA Cup Round 1)
Mar. 8, 2014 Northampton Town 3-2 Portsmouth
Oldham Athletic (1-0-0)
Oct. 8, 2013 Portsmouth 1-0 Oldham Athletic (Johnstone's Paint Trophy Round 2)
Oxford United FC (1-0-1)
Sept. 14, 2013 Oxford United FC 1-2 Portsmouth
Apr. 12, 2014 Portsmouth 0-1 Oxford United FC
Plymouth Argyle (2-0-0)
Nov. 5, 2013 Plymouth Argyle 2-3 Portsmouth
Feb. 15, 2014 Portsmouth 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Rochdale (0-1-1)
Oct. 26, 2013 Rochdale 2-2 Portsmouth
Mar. 4, 2014 Portsmouth 1-2 Rochdale
S****horpe United (1-1-0)
Feb. 25, 2014 Portsmouth 0-0 S****horpe United
Apr. 8, 2014 S****horpe United 1-2 Portsmouth
Sheffield United (0-3-0)
Sept. 4, 2013 Sheffield United 0-0 (6-5 PEN) Portsmouth (Capital One Cup Round 2)
Jan. 20, 2014 Portsmouth 1-1 Sheffield United (Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final Leg 1)
Feb. 4, 2014 Sheffield United 0-0 Portsmouth (Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Final Leg 2) **Sheffield United advanced 1-1 on away goals**
Southend United (1-1-0)
Mar. 18, 2014 Southend United 0-0 Portsmouth
Apr. 22, 2014 Portsmouth 1-0 Southend United
Swindon Town (1-0-0)
Aug. 27, 2013 Swindon Town 0-1 Portsmouth (Johnstone's Paint Trophy Round 1)
Torquay United (2-0-0)
Aug. 17, 2013 Torquay United 0-2 Portsmouth
Jan. 25, 2014 Portsmouth 1-0 Torquay United
Watford (0-1-0)
Aug. 13, 2013 Watford 1-1 (3-4 PEN) Portsmouth (Capital One Cup Round 1)
Wycombe Wanderers (3-0-0)
Nov. 2, 2013 Portsmouth 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers
Nov. 12, 2013 Portsmouth 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers (Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Quarter Final)
Feb. 18, 2014 Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Portsmouth
York City (2-0-0)

Oct. 5, 2013 Portsmouth 3-1 York City
Apr. 5, 2014 York City 0-3 Portsmouth

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Reserved for Europe History

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The Pompey Supporters Trust has come out with their expectations for the 2013-14 season under new manager Richie Barker. It seems as if the trust have listened, but not taken into account Barker's plea for patience with the tough roads ahead. Here are the objectives.

Board Objectives

League Objective: Gain automatic promotion

FA Cup Objective: Reach the round of 32

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21. July 2013

In a recent press conference leading into the teams training camp, Richie Barker was asked about the challenges of taking the reigns of a sputtering club. "I'm excited to be here at Portsmouth and will give my all day in and day out, just as I expect my players to do. Nothing is easy in the lower divisions of England. I, of all people, know this very well from my playing days and early days of managing. We all expect bumps in the road, but I plan to preach consistency, as that is the only true way to stability."

When asked about the age of his two main strikers, he poo-pooed the thought of it hindering the club at all. "First of all, I was once there too. David Connolly and Patrick Agyemang are great players. These guys can score, have scored, and will continue to score at a high level. Their experience will be great for the youngsters like Ashley Harris and Jack Maloney. Tom Craddock and Ryan Bird find themselves in the middle there with many years of football ahead of them, but a nice amount of games under their belts. I'm excited to see how whatever combination sets out will do."

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Pompey are set to bid farewell to David Connolly at seasons end as the 36 year old striker considers hanging up his boots after this season. A once very promising career for the Irishman turned into one of what could have been. Injuries played a big role during Connolly's career, yet he still found the back of the net aplenty.

In his 456 senior squad games Connolly has scored 182 career goals. He has been a member of the stammering Portsmouth side for 17 games and has struck 7 times. Pompey will look for Connolly to finish his career with yet another 10-plus goal season. "He has been a great man to work alongside with. I can see him taking the next step into managing after the dust has settled on his playing years. His ability to throw his knowledge at the youth of our club has been incredible and we look to take advantage of that for the full season."

Here's a look at David Connolly's career:

Years - Club - Apps. (Goals)
1994-1997 Watford 26 (10)
1997-2001 Feyenoord (Ned.) 25 (7)
*1998-1999 Wolverhampton 32 (6)
*1999-2001 Excelsior (Ned.) 48 (42)
2001-2003 Wimbledon 63 (42)
2003-2004 West Ham United 39 (10)
2004-2005 Leicester City 49 (17)
2005-2006 Wigan Athletic 19 (1)
2006-2009 Sunderland 39 (13)
2009-2012 Southampton 61 (14)
2012-Present Portsmouth 17 (7)

* On loan from Feyenoord