Pompey Women ‘icon’ Molly Clark joins AFC Bournemouth

Manager Jay Sadler admitted the departure of the midfielder will be a 'big' loss to his squad.

Clark has taken up a full-time role with the Cherries, supporting the women's and girls' set up at the club as well as playing for the Dorset club.

The midfielder amassed almost 150 Pompey appearances and Sadler feels she will be a massive loss.

'Molly has ended up over there with a full-time job at the football club,' he said.

‘Obviously as part of that role she has been offered to play for them to all fit in together as one whole package.

‘It was a big one to lose because of her professionalism and her character.

‘But we wish her all the best down at Bournemouth.

'She’s blue at heart and she’ll continue to be - even though she’ll be wearing the red and black stripes of Bournemouth.'

Clark scored a hat-trick on her Cherries debut in a 10-0 Women’s FA Cup win at Eastleigh. Among her new colleagues are two other ex-Pompey regulars, Gemma Hillier and Rebecca Barron.

Next up is a trip to US Portsmouth in the same competition this coming Sunday. The winners will face Moneyfields Women at Dover Road.

Like Moneys, Bournemouth play in the Southern Region Premier Division.

Pompey kicked off their FA Women's National League Southern Premier Division campaign with a 2-2 draw at Yeovil.

The Blues twice came from behind with Katie James' strike and Jade Widdows' spot-kick salvaging a point for the visitors.

But it could have been an opening-day victory for Pompey had James not missed a first-half penalty.

The Blues travel to Keynsham Town, who were 5-1 winners over Plymouth in their first league fixture, this weekend.

Pompey’s first four league games are all away before their first home game on October 11 against Plymouth on the 3G pitch at Hawks’ Westleigh Park.

The club are using the new surface at Hawks after spending the last two seasons based at Baffins Milton Rovers.