Portsmouth Women: The team who have not played a league game since November

Having one game postponed is frustrating enough for players, coaches and fans, but what about more than a dozen in just half a season?

On Sunday, Portsmouth Women had a match called off for the 14th time this campaign, and the 12th time where it was related to an unplayable pitch.

The third-tier club’s latest fixture cancellation – which was supposed to be a League Cup tie at home to neighbours Southampton – came four days after a Hampshire Cup tie against Winchester was called off for a second time, following a pitch inspection more that 24 hours before the scheduled kick-off.

Fixture frustration has been nothing new for Pompey, who have not played a league fixture since 24 November, leaving them with as many as six games in hand on their league rivals in the National League Southern Premier Division.

“If we turn up and a game is on, it’s a bit more of a surprise for us,” Portsmouth manager Jay Sadler told BBC Sport.

“It is a burden on fans. We want to build an attendance and having a solid set of games helps build the fanbase.

“It’s very hard as the girls and the staff put all the effort in to train during the week and then all that planning goes out the window.”

Stay at home or move away? The choice facing Pompey

Pompey play at PMC Stadium, the home of non-league men’s club Baffins Milton Rovers, but the pitch – near to Langstone Harbour and Farlington Marshes – has struggled with drainage problems this term.

Of their 12 games called off over pitch issues, nine have been at home, with Baffins Milton’s ground waterlogged.

“The weather down on the south coast has been atrocious,” continued Sadler, who has been in charge of the team since November 2016.

“It’s very difficult. You can’t help the weather but we do need to start getting these games on. The league obviously aren’t too impressed.

“Prior to coming under the umbrella of the men’s club in 2018, we played at 14 different home venues. Since having our home base, our attendances have grown, so we want to stay within the city of Portsmouth and have a central hub.

“But unfortunately now we’re probably going to have to look elsewhere, because it is also affecting Baffins Milton. Between us we’ve got to play about 20 league games in around 15 weeks, plus cup ties.”

On 14 November, Pompey advertised five upcoming fixtures on social media, but none of them ended up taking place on the scheduled days because of rearranged games and postponements.