It was not long ago that Pompey fans were enjoying a brief spell above their local rivals Saints for the first time in nearly half a century, now they could be on a par with our academy team in the EFL Trophy.

Pompey fans enjoyed a brief day in the sun when in 2005 they finished above Saints in the league pecking order for the first time since 1961, this period would be short lived and by season 2011/12 Saints had again overtaken Portsmouth and normal service has been restored ever since.

Indeed the two clubs are farther apart than they have ever been in their entire history, in the 1950's the gap was two divisions when Saints spent a few years in the third division with Pompey in the top flight and for most of the period 1961-2005 Pompey were in the second tier of English football with Saints in the top flight.

The only real big gap between the two clubs in that spell was in the late 70's early 80's when Pompey spent a couple of years languishing in the third division and a couple of years in the then division 4, the same gap as now exists.

But it was for only two seasons that three division gap existed, that is up until now and Pompey now head into their fourth season in League 2 or Division 4 as older fans know it.

This has not quite been in their plans, in 2012 as we headed to the Premier and they departed the Championship for League One, they assured us that it would not be long before they met us again and overtook us, three seasons was the timescale quoted.

That has of course long expired and they still face another three seasons before they could again possibly sit above us, however they may get their wish to meet us again, or at least our Academy side if we are entered into the EFL Cup, this is of course the competition that we won back in 2010 under its old name of the Johnstones Paint Trophy.

However far from relishing the chance to put one over the Scummers, the Skates are not happy with the chance of our youth team beating them.

Ashley Brown, chairman of the Pompey Supporters' Trust, said:

"We believe this to be a step in the wrong direction for English football and a weakening of our fantastic pyramid structure.

"Unfortunately, the power of the Premier League is driven by their huge TV monies and although Portsmouth FC is strong enough to oppose this proposal, many other clubs are not.

"I believe the problem with the national game will be solved by investment in grassroots and (EFL) academies, not handouts to allow B teams to compete in the EFL Trophy."

The vote to do this has already been carried with the sweetener that prize money was doubled to £2 million for the coming season.

Invites with be sent to the 15 clubs with Academy One status and that includes Saints and that will be made up to 16 with Newcastle United or if they decline the next best club in the academy system.

If they enter Saints and the other teams will be limited to only four over age players in the competition.

On paper this seems to be a good idea, there are plenty of clubs in financial trouble who would welcome the chance to meet a Premier League side in the competition, it would mean a possible big gate and valuable income.

But Portsmouth do not seem to be a club welcoming this, they see themselves as the equals of Saints and other Premier League clubs and therefore above playing our academy side.

Perhaps I'm biased, but I would say this would revitalise a tournament that is poorly supported in the early rounds and add bit of glamour, perhaps Pompey do not need the money, but plenty of other clubs do and would welcome the chance of a big gate against one of the big clubs in the Premier, I am not being glib here, I do not think Saints would be the biggest crowd puller, but certainly the likes of Rochdale or Bury in the North and Orient or Barnet in the South would relish games against Manchester United or Chelsea or Arsenal, even if it was only a youth side.

Photo: Action Images

the_saint added 18:04 - Jun 29 Is this the same Pompey that called it a Mickey Mouse cup when we won it,oh how things have changed
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1970 added 19:41 - Jun 29 I think we should set up a petition to stop the skates from taking away our opportunity to do are shopping while watching the worlds best academy versus the team with the best-ess best-ess fans in the world and the chance to visit shatton park the spiritual home of Harry (top top) Redknapp coyr
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Big_T added 19:55 - Jun 29 We as a club and nation need to improve our academy player development curve perhaps this will be a way to do this, other leagues around Europe and the world have development teams in lower leagues permanently but then you end up with an Italian type league set up with 594 leagues with 3332 clubs or English leagues set up with 140 leagues with 5000 odd teams, somewhere in the middle must be a system that will aid development! Let's hope. But Pompey will find a way to sink to the bottom :-)

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