The English Premiership season has given fans many talking points and, as always, one of the world’s fastest rollercoaster of emotions. There have been ups, downs, turns, and a few loose screws that provided thrills that were unanticipated and rarely seen before. One such loose screw has been Portsmouth, a small but proud club from England’s south coast that has enjoyed a rich history and some exciting times in the world’s greatest league.

 This year, though, the ever-loyal fans appeared to be supporting the likes of Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual rather than a soccer team. Indeed, the announcement of bankruptcy and the impending receivership the club fell into clouded the future with doubt, but the Cinderella run continues. Portsmouth was docked nine points in the league standings for their financial failures, succumbing the club to relegation to the Coca Cola Championship next season and forcing the club to list its most prized assets for sale, but their run in the FA Cup has been a charming tale of success, determination, and hard work.

Pompey somehow managed to will its way to the FA Cup semifinals earlier this month, and in doing so found itself paired up with Tottenham, a side battling for a top four spot this season after beating the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal. The fixture against Tottenham looked as if it would put the nail in the coffin of a dying club. Instead, with the media circus pointing to players that couldn’t play as the club couldn’t afford to pay their bonuses, manager Avram Grant did the unthinkable as he masterminded a 2-0 overtime win over Tottenham.

 Now, Portsmouth has a mouthwatering and historical clash against giants Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 15. The occasion marks the first time a Premier League club has gone bankrupt, and a cup final victory could provide the club a much needed cash boost to ensure financial survival. If there was ever an underdog story, Portsmouth is it. Their future truly depends on it.

 Brian Lofrumento writes fulltime for Premiership Talk (www.PremiershipTalk.com).