PU PREVIEW 21: TRANMERE ROVERS

Tranmere Rovers were founded as Belmont FC in 1884 when the footballing arms of two cricket clubs, Lyndhurst Wanderers and Belmont, came together. Before their second season began, the club changed its name to Tranmere Rovers, a name they adopted from a disbanded side who had played under the name "Tranmere Rovers Cricket Club (Association football section)". The club's first games were played at Steeles Field in Birkenhead with a subsequent move to Ravenshaws Field (1887) which was purchased from Tranmere Rugby Club. This ground was renamed Prenton Park in 1895. Tranmere entered the West Lancashire League in 1889, joining the Combination in 1897. They joined the Lancashire Combination in 1910 and, two years later, moved to the site of the present-day Prenton Park. In 1919, the club entered the Central League and were invited to join the new Third Division (North) of the Football League in 1921 as founder members. On Boxing Day 1935, Tranmere defeated Oldham Athletic 13-4, a record for the aggregate of goals scored in a League game to this day. Bunny Bell scored nine of the goals. The club won the Welsh Cup in 1935 and the Third Division championship in 1938. When the lower divisions of the Football League were restructured in 1958, Tranmere became founder members of the new Division Three. Tranmere's captain at this time, Harold Bell, established a British record with 459 consecutive appearances for the club from the first game in the 1946 season until 30 August 1955. When the club was relegated into Division Four in 1961, the new manager changed the kit to all-white. The kit from 1904 until then had been the same colours as local rivals Everton. In 1973, Tranmere defeated Arsenal 1-0 in a League Cup tie at their old Highbury ground. The club experienced financial difficulties after relegation in 1979, which led to administration eight years later. Local businessman Peter Johnson took over the club and this proved to be a turning point in Tranmere's history. In 1991, the club won promotion to Division Two for the first time since the 1930s and reached the play-offs in three successive seasons (1993-95). Tranmere reached the League Cup semi-final in 1994, losing on penalties to Aston Villa. In the 1999-2000 season, the club reached the sixth round of the FA Cup and made the League Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to Leicester City. In 2001, they defeated Southampton 4-3 in the FA Cup after being 3-0 down, having beaten Everton in the previous round. Tranmere lost their League status in 2015, regaining it in 2018 with victory over Boreham Wood in the Conference play-off final. Tranmere finished last season in 6th place in League Two and were promoted via the play-offs, beating Newport County 1-0 in the final.

The BBC broadcaster David Dimbleby and singer Elvis Costello are fans of Tranmere, who are currently managed by Micky Mellon.

Pompey have faced Tranmere on thirty-five occasions. Of the four Cup meetings, Pompey have won two (1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup) and Tranmere two (both FA Cup). In the thirty-one League meetings, both sides have won twelve and seven have ended as draws. The most recent meeting was in August 2019 at Fratton Park, which Pompey won 2-0.

(Information via Wikipedia and www.11v11.com)