WEYMOUTH’S Jemma Tewkesbury has helped rewrite the history books at Portsmouth FC.

The star striker may have missed out through injury as her Pompey team-mates clinched the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division title by beating Plymouth Argyle, but with 17 goals in 19 competitive outings she has played a pivotal role in the club’s success.

And having leapfrogged both West Ham and Colchester United in the table, Portsmouth Ladies will next season play in the national tier for the first time in the club’s history.

Tewkesbury, who may return for the final game of the season at QPR on Sunday, May 13 (3pm), said: “I wasn’t able to play against Plymouth but it was brilliant to see us win the league and it’s been a great season overall.

“The Southern Division is a close league and most teams can beat anyone on their day, so to finally win the league is a great achievement.”

Discussing her injury, the 21-year-old added: “We think it is a lateral knee ligament strain and it probably happened against Gillingham at the start of last month.

“I didn’t play against Plymouth, but I was on the bench just in case they desperately needed me.”

Winning the league crown, and the Hampshire Cup, caps a superb debut season in Pompey blue for the Osmington resident, who joined the south-coast club from Yeovil Town.

She said: “I signed for Portsmouth at the start of the season. Yeovil got relegated last year, Portsm-outh’s manager approached me for this season and I’ve been with them since then and very much enjoyed it.

“I knew Lindsay Howe from my time at Yeovil but no one else so it was all quite new for me. But I wanted to be able to build my game and get as high as I can.

“Especially down in Weymouth, you don’t get scouts come down to look at players. The only way you will climb the ladder is by doing it yourself.”

The multi-skilled athlete is also a talented javelin thrower and has been selected to take part in the British Universities & Colleges Sport Outdoor Athletics Championships, which are due to be held at the Olympic Stadium this weekend.

With the event starting today, the Bournemouth University student added: “I’m really looking forward to it. Just to have the chance to be able to throw at the Olympic Stadium will be great and I don’t want to miss it.”