Two Pompey Academy youngsters have signed professional contracts with the club.
Carl Walshe and Billy Tsovolos, both aged 17, join Perry Ryan, Pete Gregory, Ellis Martin and Billy Goddard who all signed one-year professional deals in the summer.
Walshe has been at the club for two seasons and is a striker who hails from Ireland, a product of Pompey’s partnership with Home Farm in Dublin.
He said: “You think about this when you’re young and dream about it because it doesn’t happen every day.
“I have always felt settled since coming over from Ireland and that has been made easier by the people I work with and who are around me.
“The ultimate aim now is to push on from youth team football and get into the first team.”
Tsovolos, a midfielder who arrived at the club a year ago in July, also has similar ambitions of following in the first-team footsteps of Marlon Pack, Joel Ward, Nadir Ciftci, Matt Ritchie and Gregory.
“I have come a long way to fulfil this dream and I definitely feel I am a step nearer to doing so,” he said.
“It’s everyone’s aim to try to get in the first team and I would like to think I can do that as soon as possible.
“There would be no fears for me of achieving that aim and I am looking forward to the day that it hopefully happens.”
Director of youth operations Paul Smalley said: “It is very pleasing and we now have this transition where players are coming into the academy and pushing on nicely.
“Both Billy and Carl have matured in their time here and they have taken on a lot more responsibility.
“Their all-round game has had to change in meeting the demands of the under-18 league which they have stepped up to.
“We would like to see both players continue to make progress and for Steve Cotterill to be looking and being complimentary about some of the qualities they have got.
“Out of the situation Steve has inherited, he has had to use some of the younger players who have taken well to a very competitive and unforgiving league.
“They are fit, loyal, want to play and they love the club and they have demonstrated that, but they still need our time and patience as they continue to make progress.
“Both Carl and Billy fall into that category and, like the others who have reached this juncture, they love the club and we hope they continue to make the kind of progress they have already shown.”