Stadium

History of Fratton Park

Welcome to the home of Portsmouth Football Club, Fratton Park. It is unique in English football as the only professional football ground not on the mainland of Great Britain. In 1898, Pompey’s six businessmen founders, led by chairman John Brickwood, successfully acquired a four-acre site of market garden land in Milton – a village on Portsea Island – to build a ground for their new football club.

On the land would be built north and south stands measuring at 240 and 100 feet respectively and were both designed by local architect Arthur Cogswell. Fratton Park was officially opened to the public on in August 1899 as more than 1,000 people came along to see the new ground.

The club’s founders named it ‘Fratton Park’ to make fans think it was close to Fratton’s railway station, but it was actually located a mile apart from each other.

The first match at Fratton Park was a friendly against local rivals Southampton on September 6, 1899 with 4,141 supporters in attendance. Over £141 was received at the gates for the match. The first competitive home match followed on September 9, 1899 as Portsmouth recorded a Southern League win over Reading with 9,000 fans present.

Redevelopments of Fratton Park

In 1905, Fratton Park was increased in capacity. They added a pavilion with a clock tower in the south-west corner which was also designed by Cogswell. The pavilion had a cool tower, and beneath it, a gallery for a clear view of the whole pitch. Two new terraces called Fratton Railway End and Milton End were added behind the goals.

The club took down the clock tower in the 1920s, but part of the pavilion still exists in the South Stand today. In 1935, world-renowned Archibald Leitch put his touch on the stadium by designing a larger North Stand and in the same year, Fratton Park’s overall capacity reached 58,000.

However, this was reduced to 52,000 after the Burnden Park disaster in 1946 when 33 people died as a result of a crush at a match between Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City. The highest attendance ever at Fratton Park was recorded in 1949 during an FA Cup tie against Derby County as 51,385 attended the clash.

The Fratton Railway End was replaced in 1956 by a new stand called ‘The Fratton End’ and on February 22 that year, Portsmouth’s ground became the first English football stadia to host an evening Football League match under artificial light.

In 1962, floodlight towers were added and became iconic in Portsmouth. Since 2015, they’ve been replaced by modern roof-level lights and one tower was relocated to the main car park in 2019. Fratton Park became an all-seater stadium in 1996 which reduced the maximum capacity and in 1997, a new Fratton End opened.

Plans to completely relocate Portsmouth’s home started in the early 1990s and continued into the 2000s, but objections and fiscal issues kept the club at Fratton Park. Known as ‘The Old Girl’ by Portsmouth supporters, the stadium has a reputation for high attendances and a powerful atmosphere. The maximum capacity is now 20,899 as an all-seater stadium.

How to get to Fratton Park in Portsmouth

Fans can reach Fratton Park by a number of modes of transport. If you are arriving by train, then the nearest station is Fratton Station which is just an eight-minute walk way from the stadium. Exit the station onto Goldsmith Avenue and continue along until turning left onto Frogmore Road. From there, you’ll see Fratton Park in front of you.

If you are arriving by car, it must be noted firstly that parking spaces in and around Fratton Park on matchdays are limited due to demand and parking restrictions. You can park in the club car park beside the North Stand but fans will need to book a space in advance of their journey. You must bring your parking e-ticket with you to the ground and show a steward on arrival.

Motorists from the west or midlands can travel to Fratton Park via the M27, the A27 and then the A2030. Motorists can also access the ground via the M25.

Cyclists can arrive and park their bike at one of the ground’s bike racks. They are dotted around the stadium but the majority of bike racks can be found behind the Fratton End.

Stadium tours

Portsmouth provide stadium tours on matchdays and non-matchdays. For matchday tours, Pompey fans can enjoy a pre-match tour around the ground guided by a team of experts including Colin Farmery, Mick Comben, Roger Higgins, and Paul Boynton from the Pompey History Society.

You will be able to dive into fascinating stories about the club’s history, ask questions and hear tales of Fratton Park heroes both from the past and present.

Highlights of the tour include a visit to the trophy cabinet of the most successful club in the south of England, an opportunity to explore the Champions of England exhibition and just a chance to immerse yourself in the rich history of Portsmouth.

Public matchday tours commence from 10.30am on a Saturday and last for around 45 minutes. Non-matchday tours usually take place on a Thursday at 9.30am and 11.30am.

Fratton Park address

Address: Portsmouth Football Club, Fratton Park, Portsmouth, PO4 8RA