Exclusive:Ambitious Portsmouth favourite Terry Devlin aiming high as he refuses to rest on last season
The outstanding Northern Ireland international won 17 player awards in 2025-26
Pompey favourite Terry Devlin shrugged off his staggering silverware haul and insisted: I want to do even better this season.
The Northern Ireland international swept the board in the end-of-season awards, capturing all 17 trophies up for grabs to seal a stunning personal campaign.
The popular right-back is in no mood to dwell on last term’s remarkable personal achievements, however, with plenty more goals to accomplish at Fratton Park.
As a team, the Blues are eager to progress in the Championship, having avoided relegation in the final few weeks of both previous campaigns.
And for Devlin, who remains a long-standing Wrexham target, there’s also plenty more room for improvement in his own game.
‘Football is a ruthless, ruthless game’
He told The News: ‘Obviously we want to push on. As a group, we’ve said it’s now time to kick on. Our goals for the season is to make sure we aren’t in a relegation scrap come March/April/May. We want to be looking up the table instead.
‘There are so many things I can improve on, bits of my game I feel that need to be worked on. I will speak to the gaffer at some stage and see where he thinks I need to work on, then I’ll just get my head down and do it.
‘Probably that creativity aspect, improving in the final third, while keeping up the defensive work.
‘Football is a ruthless, ruthless game, it can bring you back down to earth so quickly, it’s so important not to get too high. It’s never too high, never too low, you have to stay focused on your goals and just keep working hard.
‘That’s my mindset, to work as hard as possible and enjoy working and playing football for a living. It’s the type of person I am, it’s the way I was brought up, the way I will always be.
‘It's really important for me to remain grounded, I can always be better, I can improve on so much more and become so much better. That’s the exciting part.’
The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season
Devlin was recognised with Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Goal of the Season at Pompey’s End of Season Gala Dinner in April.
He subsequently won another 13 awards from Blues supporter clubs, who unanimously chose the Irishman as their player of the season.
Finally, Devlin comfortably beat Regan Poole and Zak Swanson to The News/Sports Mail Player of the Season - and he’s done well to find room for all of them in his home.
The 22-year-old added: ‘My three ones from the Pompey awards night are on the window sill, then the rest are in the kitchen.
‘I have made room for them. I live on my own, so I’ve spread them around the house. It's nice, it gives you a wee reminder of the season you've had and achievements.
‘I want to do better big time, the goal now is keeping that standard. I am sure there will be lads coming for those trophies this year - and it’s my job to see if I can keep hold of them.
‘If it’s possible, I will give it a good go to get even more.’