End of an era - Portsmouth News' Sports Mail to be published for last time after 119 years

After 119 years, the country’s last-remaining weekend sports paper will publish for the final time.

We’ve been here before, of course, with the Sports Mail last folding in October 2012.

However, 10 months later, demand from the Fratton faithful drove its resurrection, coinciding with rejuvenated Pompey’s new era under fan ownership, having survived the threat of liquidation.

Indeed, 10p from every copy sold was initially donated by The News towards the Pompey Supporters’ Trust, with a cheque presented at the end of each season.

Since 2017, following the closure of the Southern Daily Echo’s Sports Pink, the Sports Mail has stood alone in what was once a thriving market for Saturday/Sunday sports papers.

Unfortunately, we must also now bow out, with our final edition scheduled for July 23.

A special collector’s copy will mark the end, containing in-depth Pompey pre-season coverage looking ahead to the 2022-23 League One campaign.

As ever, it will feature interviews with Danny Cowley and the vast majority of his first-team squad as the Blues gun for a long-awaited Championship return.

The final Sports Mail will also include plenty of nostalgia, along with some of the more memorable front pages during its long existence.

Under the banner of the Football Mail and then Sports Mail, the publication has scrutinised the fortunes of Pompey and other local sports since 1903.

It’s now the end of an era - for the Sports Mail and all sports newspapers in this country.

Click here if you wish to reserve your own copy of our very last Sports Mail.