The Royals will be making history today when they finally play their first ever league game at Step 4 level of the non-league football pyramid system.
It has been a long time in the making – ever since the club won promotion from Wessex League Division 1 in 2012 they have harboured ambitions of joining the upper levels of non league football.
They went close a number of times – a third place finish in the Premier Division in 2014-15 under then manager Graham Rix and they endured final day heartbreak at the end of the 2022-23 season when after leading the division for most of the season, they went into their final game of the campaign in second place but lost to Bemerton Heath Harlequins and finished the night in fourth place.
The 2023-24 season saw them knocked out of the promotion play-offs at the semi final stage when Brett Pitman’s goal against his old side put Shaftesbury through and set them on course for their eventual promotion.
However, 13 proved to be lucky for Portchester – 13 years after first gaining promotion to the Wessex Premier Division they secured automatic promotion thanks to winning the league title, and going on to add three further trophies to The OnSite Group Stadium’s trophy cabinet to complete an unprecedented quadruple.
Over what felt like 13 very long years waiting for the next step up in the pyramid, plenty of investment was made on and off the pitch to ensure the club was in the right position to seize the opportunity of Step 4 football with both hands.
And that doesn’t stop with that achievement – the improvements and upgrades keep on coming, with plenty of exciting plans in the pipeline for the future of the club.
Exciting times indeed and the club starts its journey into the unknown looking forward to the new challenges and adventures that lie ahead of it.
Today brings an exciting start to that journey with the visit of Bognor Regis Town to kick-off the new Pitching In Isthmian League South Central Division campaign.
It’s the first time the two clubs have met in a competitive fixture. There have been pre-season friendly meetings in the past but the clubs have been on different trajectories until now – Bognor enjoying plenty of Step 2 and 3 football while the Royals were stuck at Step 5.
But as is often the way in football and how the fortunes of clubs swing in different directions over time, the two sides are now brought together in the same division and at the same step level for the first time.
It promises to be an historic and fascinating afternoon. History made as the club makes its debut at Step 4 level and fascinating to see how the afternoon pans out for both sides as they start new chapters in their own histories.
Both sides are well supported so a big crowd will no doubt be inside The OnSite Group Stadium to witness this new beginning for AFC Portchester.
It promises to be an exciting afternoon – one that has been long awaited but eagerly anticipated by those backing the Royals.
