Portsmouth fans storm Fratton Park pitch with flares as supporters celebrate long-awaited return to Championship

Portsmouth supporters stormed the Fratton Park pitch with flares to celebrate their return to the Championship.

Pompey have not played in the second tier of English football since 2012, when they were relegated following a ten-point deduction resulting from financial mismanagement.

Promotion was secured with a 3-2 win over Barnsley, who traveled to Fratton Park with ambitions of securing promotion themselves.

However, it was a night that belonged firmly to Portsmouth and their passionate supporters, as they won the League One title in what was a memorable clash.

Fratton Park has seen some of world football’s biggest stars strut their stuff, with Brazilian legend Ronaldinho calling it “one of the best atmospheres ever”.

But on Tuesday night, the game was bouncing around more than it had in years, with some fans even storming onto the field before the full-time whistle was blown.

Responding to their success, talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara took to social media and wrote: “Pompey are back kkkkkkk in the boys.”

Former England and Portsmouth goalkeeper David James also wrote: “Step up Pompey”, while another former player wrote: “Step up Pompey!”

Portsmouth were relegated from the Premier League in 2010 to kick off an era in which the club entered administration twice.

They have also suffered three relegations, with the club playing in Ligue 2 as recently as 2017.

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Since then, the club has slowly rebuilt and is now looking forward to life in the second division for the first time in 12 years.

Portsmouth certainly had to work for their victory, with Barnsley leading the game on both occasions.

However, goals from Kusini Yengi, Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy were enough to get the job done and clinch the title to cap off an exceptional season.