# List of Portsmouth F.C. seasons

This is a list of seasons played by Portsmouth Football Club in English and European football, from 1899 (the year of the club's first FA Cup entry and elected straight into the first division of the Southern League) to the most recent completed season. Football was played in the city of Portsmouth from the 1850s and was popular for sailors and dockers to play in the city. The current club was founded in 1898 with John Brickwood, owner of the local brewery, as chairman, and Frank Brettell as the club's first manager.
A common myth is that the club's first goalkeeper was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. While Conan Doyle did play as AC Smith for an amateur side, Portsmouth Association Football Club, that flourished from 1883 to 1896, the first goalkeeper of the professional era was Matt Reilly who previously played for the successful Royal Artillery team.
Portsmouth F.C. were formed on 5 April 1898 and coincidentally "replaced" the Royal Artillery Portsmouth club which had "retired" in 1899 after a professionalism scandal. Portsmouth were unusually elected straight into the first division of the Southern League, replacing Royal Artillery Portsmouth (who themselves had replaced the Southampton-based Freemantle F.C. in the 1897-98 season).
Portsmouth F.C.'s first ever league match was played at Chatham Town on 2 September 1899 (a 1–0 victory), followed three days later by the first match at Fratton Park against local rivals Southampton. That first season was hugely successful, with the club winning 20 out of 28 league matches, earning them runners-up spot in the Southern League. The league was won for the first time in the 1901–02 season, by which time Brettell had been replaced by club captain Bob Blyth as manager.
The 1906–07 season was highlighted by the visit of Manchester United to Fratton Park in the FA Cup, which generated a record attendance of 24,329. A 2–2 draw meant a replay in Manchester, and Portsmouth recorded a famous 2–1 win. However, this record attendance was surpassed two seasons later when Sheffield Wednesday visited Fratton for the second round of the new FA Cup.
1910–11 saw Portsmouth relegated, but with the recruitment of Robert Brown as manager the team were promoted the next season.
The club has won the League Championship twice, the FA Cup twice, never won the League Cup, the Charity Shield once (shared).
This list details the club's achievements in all major competitions, and the top scorers for each season. Top scorers in bold were also the top scorers in the English league that season. Records of competitions such as the Hampshire Senior Cup are not included due to them being considered of less importance than the FA Cup and the League Cup.

## Non-Football League era

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | FA Cup | Top goalscorer(s) | Top goalscorer(s) |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | FA Cup | Name(s) | Goals |
| 1899–1900 | SL Div 1 | 28 | 20 | 1 | 7 | 58 | 27 | 41 | 2nd | R1 | | |
| 1900–01 | SL Div 1 | 28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 56 | 32 | 38 | 3rd | INT | | |
| 1901–02 | SL Div 1 | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 67 | 24 | 47 | 1st | QF | | |
| 1902–03 | SL Div 1 | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 69 | 32 | 41 | 3rd | R1 | | |
| 1903–04 | SL Div 1 | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 38 | 42 | 4th | R1 | | |
| 1904–05 | SL Div 1 | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 61 | 56 | 36 | 8th | R2 | | |
| 1905–06 | SL Div 1 | 34 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 61 | 35 | 43 | 3rd | R1 | | |
| 1906–07 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 64 | 36 | 51 | 2nd | R2 | | |
| 1907–08 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 63 | 52 | 40 | 9th | R3 | | |
| 1908–09 | SL Div 1 | 40 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 60 | 46 | 4th | R2 | | |
| 1909–10 | SL Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 70 | 63 | 47 | 6th | R2 | | |
| 1910–11 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 27 | 20th | R1 | | |
| 1911–12 | SL Div 2 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 73 | 20 | 41 | 2nd | R2 | | |
| 1912–13 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 41 | 49 | 36 | 11th | R1 | | |
| 1913–14 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 57 | 48 | 40 | 9th | R1 | | |
| 1914–15 | SL Div 1 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 54 | 42 | 42 | 7th | R1 | | |
| No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the First World War |||||||||||||
| 1919–20 | SL Div 1 | 42 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 73 | 27 | 58 | 1st | R1 | | |

### Non-Football League era (Western League)

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | Top goalscorer | Top goalscorer |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Name | Goals |
| 1900–01 | Division 1 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 1st | | |
| 1901–02 | Division 1 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 16 | 27 | 1st | | |
| 1902–03 | Division 1 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 14 | 24 | 1st | | |
| 1903–04 | Division 1 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 4th | | |
| 1904–05 | Division 1 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 4th | | |
| 1905–06 | Division 1 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 29 | 19 | 7th | | |
| 1906–07 | Division 1 'B' | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 19 | 10 | 3rd | | |
| 1907–08 | Division 1 'A' | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 2nd | | |
| 1908–09 | Division 1 'B' | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 21 | 12 | 4th | | |

## Football League era

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe/Other | Europe/Other | Top goalscorer(s) | Top goalscorer(s) |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe/Other | Europe/Other | Name(s) | Goals |
| 1920–21 | Div 3 | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 46 | 48 | 49 | 12th | R1 | | | | Frank Stringfellow | 13 |
| 1921–22 | Div 3(S) | 42 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 62 | 39 | 53 | 3rd | R4 | | | | Percy Cherrett | 22 |
| 1922–23 | Div 3(S) | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 58 | 52 | 46 | 7th | R1 | | | | Jerry Mackie | 10 |
| 1923–24 | Div 3(S) | 42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 87 | 30 | 59 | 1st | R2 | | | | Willie Haines | 28 |
| 1924–25 | Div 2 | 42 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 58 | 50 | 48 | 4th | R2 | | | | Willie Haines Jerry Mackie | 17 |
| 1925–26 | Div 2 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 79 | 74 | 44 | 11th | R3 | | | | Willie Haines | 20 |
| 1926–27 | Div 2 | 42 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 87 | 49 | 54 | 2nd | R4 | | | | Willie Haines | 40 |
| 1927–28 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 66 | 90 | 39 | 20th | R3 | | | | Willie Haines Jack Smith | 11 |
| 1928–29 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 56 | 80 | 36 | 20th | RU | | | | Jack Smith | 9 |
| 1929–30 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 66 | 62 | 47 | 13th | R4 | | | | Jack Weddle | 21 |
| 1930–31 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 84 | 64 | 49 | 4th | R5 | | | | Jimmy Easson | 29 |
| 1931–32 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 62 | 62 | 45 | 8th | R5 | | | | Jack Weddle | 22 |
| 1932–33 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 74 | 76 | 43 | 9th | R3 | | | | Jack Weddle | 20 |
| 1933–34 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 52 | 55 | 42 | 10th | RU | | | | Jack Weddle | 17 |
| 1934–35 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 71 | 72 | 40 | 14th | R4 | | | | Jack Weddle | 24 |
| 1935–36 | Div 1 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 54 | 67 | 42 | 10th | R3 | | | | Jack Weddle | 16 |
| 1936–37 | Div 1 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 62 | 66 | 44 | 9th | R3 | | | | Cliff Parker | 12 |
| 1937–38 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 62 | 68 | 38 | 19th | R4 | | | | Jimmy Beattie | 21 |
| 1938–39 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 47 | 70 | 37 | 17th | W | | | | Jock Anderson | 10 |
| 1939–40 | Div 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 18th | — | | FA Charity Shield | — | — | — |
| No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War ||||||||||||||||
| 1945–46 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | R3 | | | | | |
| 1946–47 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 66 | 60 | 41 | 12th | R4 | | | | Duggie Reid | 29 |
| 1947–48 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 68 | 50 | 45 | 8th | R4 | | | | Duggie Reid | 15 |
| 1948–49 | Div 1 | 42 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 84 | 42 | 58 | 1st | SF | | | | Peter Harris | 22 |
| 1949–50 | Div 1 | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 74 | 38 | 53 | 1st | R5 | | FA Charity Shield | W | Ike Clarke | 20 |
| 1950–51 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 71 | 68 | 47 | 7th | R3 | | FA Charity Shield | — | Ike Clarke Len Phillips | 11 |
| 1951–52 | Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 68 | 58 | 48 | 4th | QF | | | | Duggie Reid | 18 |
| 1952–53 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 74 | 83 | 38 | 15th | R3 | | | | Peter Harris | 23 |
| 1953–54 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 81 | 89 | 39 | 14th | R5 | | | | Peter Harris | 24 |
| 1954–55 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 74 | 62 | 48 | 3rd | R3 | | | | Peter Harris | 23 |
| 1955–56 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 78 | 85 | 41 | 12th | R4 | | | | Peter Harris | 24 |
| 1956–57 | Div 1 | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 62 | 92 | 33 | 19th | R4 | | | | Johnny Gordon Peter Harris | 13 |
| 1957–58 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 73 | 88 | 32 | 20th | R4 | | | | Peter Harris | 18 |
| 1958–59 | Div 1 | 42 | 6 | 9 | 27 | 64 | 112 | 21 | 22nd | R5 | | | | Ron Saunders | 24 |
| 1959–60 | Div 2 | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 59 | 77 | 32 | 20th | R3 | | | | Ron Saunders | 17 |
| 1960–61 | Div 2 | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 64 | 91 | 33 | 21st | R5 | QF | | | Ron Saunders | 23 |
| 1961–62 | Div 3 | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 87 | 47 | 65 | 1st | R1 | R3 | | | Ron Saunders | 26 |
| 1962–63 | Div 2 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 63 | 79 | 37 | 16th | R4 | R4 | | | Ron Saunders | 29 |
| 1963–64 | Div 2 | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 79 | 70 | 43 | 9th | R3 | R4 | | | Ron Saunders | 34 |
| 1964–65 | Div 2 | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 56 | 77 | 34 | 20th | R3 | R3 | | | Cliff Portwood | 12 |
| 1965–66 | Div 2 | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 74 | 78 | 40 | 12th | R3 | R3 | | | Albert McCann | 13 |
| 1966–67 | Div 2 | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 59 | 70 | 39 | 14th | R4 | R2 | | | Albert McCann | 14 |
| 1967–68 | Div 2 | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 68 | 55 | 49 | 5th | R5 | R3 | | | Albert McCann | 16 |
| 1968–69 | Div 2 | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 58 | 38 | 15th | R4 | R2 | | | Ray Hiron | 17 |
| 1969–70 | Div 2 | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 66 | 80 | 35 | 17th | R3 | R1 | | | Ray Hiron | 18 |
| 1970–71 | Div 2 | 46 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 46 | 61 | 34 | 16th | R4 | R3 | | | Ray Hiron | 14 |
| 1971–72 | Div 2 | 46 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 59 | 68 | 37 | 16th | R5 | R1 | | | Richie Reynolds | 11 |
| 1972–73 | Div 2 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 59 | 35 | 17th | R3 | R2 | | | Ray Hiron | 10 |
| 1973–74 | Div 2 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 45 | 62 | 40 | 15th | R5 | R2 | | | Ron Davies | 16 |
| 1974–75 | Div 2 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 44 | 54 | 37 | 17th | R3 | R2 | | | Mick Mellows | 8 |
| 1975–76 | Div 2 | 42 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 32 | 61 | 25 | 22nd | R4 | R2 | | | Norman Piper | 12 |
| 1976–77 | Div 3 | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 53 | 70 | 36 | 20th | R3 | R1 | | | David Kemp | 17 |
| 1977–78 | Div 3 | 42 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 41 | 75 | 31 | 24th | R2 | R3 | | | David Kemp | 21 |
| 1978–79 | Div 4 | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 62 | 48 | 52 | 7th | R2 | R1 | | | Jeff Hemmerman | 16 |
| 1979–80 | Div 4 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 91 | 49 | 60 | 4th | R3 | R1 | | | Colin Garwood | 27 |
| 1980–81 | Div 3 | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 55 | 47 | 53 | 6th | R1 | R4 | | | David Gregory | 15 |
| 1981–82 | Div 3 | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 56 | 51 | 61 | 13th | R1 | R2 | | | Billy Rafferty | 19 |
| 1982–83 | Div 3 | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 41 | 91 | 1st | R2 | R1 | | | Alan Biley | 27 |
| 1983–84 | Div 2 | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 73 | 64 | 49 | 16th | R4 | R2 | | | Mark Hateley | 25 |
| 1984–85 | Div 2 | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 69 | 50 | 74 | 4th | R3 | R2 | | | Neil Webb | 18 |
| 1985–86 | Div 2 | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 69 | 41 | 73 | 4th | R3 | QF | Full Members' Cup | GS | Nicky Morgan | 15 |
| 1986–87 | Div 2 | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 53 | 28 | 78 | 2nd | R4 | R3 | Full Members' Cup | QF | Micky Quinn | 28 |
| 1987–88 | Div 1 | 42 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 36 | 66 | 35 | 19th | QF | R2 | Full Members' Cup | R1 | Micky Quinn | 11 |
| 1988–89 | Div 2 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 45 | 56 | 40 | 20th | R3 | R2 | Full Members' Cup | R2 | Micky Quinn | 21 |
| 1989–90 | Div 2 | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 65 | 61 | 12th | R3 | R2 | Full Members' Cup | R2 | Guy Whittingham | 25 |
| 1990–91 | Div 2 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 58 | 70 | 53 | 17th | R5 | R3 | Full Members' Cup | R2 | Guy Whittingham | 20 |
| 1991–92 | Div 2 | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 65 | 51 | 69 | 9th | SF | R3 | Full Members' Cup | R1 | Guy Whittingham | 13 |
| 1992–93 | Div 1 | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 80 | 46 | 88 | 3rd | R3 | R3 | Anglo-Italian CupLeague play-offs | GSSF | Guy Whittingham | 47 |
| 1993–94 | Div 1 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 52 | 58 | 58 | 17th | R3 | QF | Anglo-Italian Cup | GS | Gerry Creaney Alan McLoughlin | 11 |
| 1994–95 | Div 1 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 63 | 58 | 18th | R4 | R3 | | | Gerry Creaney | 22 |
| 1995–96 | Div 1 | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 61 | 69 | 52 | 21st | R3 | R1 | | | Paul Hall Alan McLoughlin | 10 |
| 1996–97 | Div 1 | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 53 | 68 | 7th | QF | R2 | | | Lee Bradbury | 17 |
| 1997–98 | Div 1 | 46 | 13 | 10 | 21 | 51 | 63 | 49 | 20th | R3 | R1 | | | John Aloisi | 12 |
| 1998–99 | Div 1 | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 57 | 73 | 47 | 19th | R4 | R2 | | | John Aloisi | 17 |
| 1999–2000 | Div 1 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 55 | 66 | 51 | 18th | R3 | R2 | | | Steve Claridge | 14 |
| 2000–01 | Div 1 | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 47 | 59 | 49 | 20th | R3 | R2 | | | Lee Bradbury Steve Claridge | 11 |
| 2001–02 | Div 1 | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 60 | 72 | 53 | 17th | R3 | R1 | | | Peter Crouch | 19 |
| 2002–03 | Div 1 | 46 | 29 | 11 | 6 | 97 | 45 | 98 | 1st | R3 | R2 | | | Svetoslav Todorov | 26 |
| 2003–04 | Prem | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 47 | 54 | 45 | 13th | QF | R4 | | | Yakubu | 19 |
| 2004–05 | Prem | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 43 | 59 | 39 | 16th | R4 | QF | | | Yakubu | 17 |
| 2005–06 | Prem | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 37 | 62 | 38 | 17th | R4 | R2 | | | Lomana LuaLua Gary O'Neil Matthew Taylor | 7 |
| 2006–07 | Prem | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 45 | 42 | 54 | 9th | R4 | R3 | | | Nwankwo Kanu | 12 |
| 2007–08 | Prem | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 48 | 40 | 57 | 8th | W | R4 | | | Benjani Mwaruwari | 12 |
| 2008–09 | Prem | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 38 | 57 | 41 | 14th | R4 | R3 | FA Community ShieldUEFA Cup | RUGS | Peter Crouch | 16 |
| 2009–10 | Prem | 38 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 34 | 66 | 19 | 20th | RU | QF | | | Frédéric Piquionne | 10 |
| 2010–11 | Champ | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 60 | 58 | 16th | R3 | R3 | | | David Nugent | 14 |
| 2011–12 | Champ | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 50 | 59 | 40 | 22nd | R3 | R1 | | | David Norris | 8 |
| 2012–13 | Lg1 | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 51 | 69 | 32 | 24th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | R2 | Izale McLeod | 11 |
| 2013–14 | Lg2 | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 56 | 66 | 59 | 13th | R1 | R1 | Football League Trophy | QF | Jed Wallace | 7 |
| 2014–15 | Lg2 | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 52 | 54 | 57 | 16th | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R2 | Jed Wallace | 17 |
| 2015–16 | Lg2 | 46 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 75 | 44 | 78 | 6th | R4 | R2 | Football League TrophyLeague play-offs | R1SF | Marc McNulty | 12 |
| 2016–17 | Lg2 | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 79 | 40 | 87 | 1st | R1 | R1 | EFL Trophy | GS | Kal Naismith | 15 |
| 2017–18 | Lg1 | 46 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 57 | 57 | 66 | 8th | R1 | R1 | EFL Trophy | R3 | Brett Pitman | 23 |
| 2018–19 | Lg1 | 46 | 25 | 13 | 8 | 83 | 51 | 88 | 4th | R4 | R1 | EFL TrophyLeague play-offs | WSF | Jamal Lowe | 15 |
| 2019–20 | Lg1 | 35 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 53 | 36 | 60 | 5th | R5 | R3 | EFL TrophyLeague play-offs | RUSF | Ronan Curtis | 11 |
| 2020–21 | Lg1 | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 65 | 51 | 72 | 8th | R3 | R2 | EFL Trophy | R3 | John Marquis | 9 |
| 2021–22 | Lg1 | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 68 | 51 | 73 | 10th | R2 | R1 | EFL Trophy | R3 | Marcus Harness | 11 |
| 2022–23 | Lg1 | 46 | 17 | 19 | 10 | 61 | 50 | 70 | 8th | R3 | R2 | EFL Trophy | QF | Colby Bishop | 20 |
| 2023–24 | Lg1 | 46 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 78 | 41 | 97 | 1st | R1 | R2 | EFL Trophy | R2 | Colby Bishop | 21 |

## Key

* P = Played
* W = Games won
* D = Games drawn
* L = Games lost
* GF = Goals for
* GA = Goals against
* Pts = Points
* Pos = Final position
* Div 1 = Football League First Division
* Div 2 = Football League Second Division
* Div 3 = Football League Third Division
* Div 3(S) = Football League Third Division South
* Div 4 = Football League Fourth Division
* Prem = Premier League
* Champ = EFL Championship
* Lg1 = EFL League One
* Lg2 = EFL League Two
* n/a = Not applicable
* INT = Intermediate Round
* GS = Group Stage
* R1 = Round 1
* R2 = Round 2
* R3 = Round 3
* R4 = Round 4
* R5 = Round 5
* QF = Quarter-Finals
* SF = Semi-Finals
* RU = Runners-up
* W = Winners
| Champions | Runners-up | Promoted | Relegated |
Note: bold text indicates a competition won. Note 2: Where fields are left blank, the club did not participate in a competition that season.

## Footnotes

* ↑ The 1939–40 season was abandoned in early September and all results annulled.
* ↑ Held The FA Cup the longest because of World War II and beat Sheffield United's record of 5 years because of World War I.
* ↑ The 1939 FA Charity Shield was not held due to the outbreak of the Second World War.
* ↑ The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume until the following season. They had the Football League South.
* ↑ From 1939 to 1993, in the event of a draw, the Charity Shield would be shared between the two competing teams, with each team having possession of the trophy for six months. Shared with Wolverhampton Wanderers after drawing 1–1 at Highbury.
* ↑ Should have played Arsenal because they won the FA Cup. However, the match was contested between an England World Cup XI and the FA Canadian Touring Team.
* ↑ Played for Aldershot Town and Portsmouth in the same season but scored 10 goals for Aldershot and 17 goals for Portsmouth.
* ↑ The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win.
* ↑ The 1992–93 season saw the introduction of the Premier League, so Division 1 replaced Division 2, Division 2 replaced Division 3 and Division 3 replaced Division 4.
* ↑ Pompey goalscoring record.
* ↑ Deducted 9 points for entering administration.
* ↑ Deducted 10 points for entering administration.
* ↑ Deducted 10 points for exiting administration.
* ↑ Lowest League finish.
* ↑ The 2019–20 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with league positions decided on a points-per-game basis. Portsmouth averaged 1.71 points from 35 games.