Plymouth Argyle F.C
Plymouth Argyle Football Club, also known as the Pilgrims, are one of the few football clubs in the English Football League to play in a principally green strip. They have recently changed their customary white away strip to one which is principally tangerine in colour, an act of hommage to the highly successful manager Paul Sturrock, a former international player with Scottish league side Dundee United (known as "The Tangerines" on account of the colour of their strip), who won them promotion within one season of joining the club. The tangerine strip has now engendered a new soubriquet applied to the team when they are playing in it, the tangergreens.
The club takes it's nickname from the vast number of people that left Plymouth for the New World. The club crest features the Mayflower, the Plymouth ship, which carried many of the original pilgrims.
Their original ground at Home Park, was destroyed by German bombers during the Blitz on Plymouth during World War II. Rebuilt after the war, Home Park was largely demolished as part of an extensive process of renovation, and the first phase of a new stadium built by Barrs plc was completed in May 2002. The old Devonport End was opened for the 2001 Boxing Day fixture with Torquay United. The other end, the Barn Park End opened on the same day. The Lyndhurst stand reopened on 26 January 2002 for the game against Oxford United. Plans are currently under discussion regarding the completion of the refurbishment of the ground with the replacement of the Mayflower stand.
The club was founded in 1886 as Argyle Athletic Club and gets its name from The Argyle Tavern (thought to be where the founder members first met) or possibly the Argyll and Southerners based in the area at the time. The club adopted its current name when it became fully professional in 1903.
Argyle's record victories are 8-1 wins over Hartlepool United and Millwall. On 3rd January 2004, this winning margin was equalled with a 7-0 thrashing of Chesterfield. The club's record defeat is 9-0 by Stoke City in 1960. Also in 2004, goalkeeper Luke McCormick set a record of seven games without conceding a goal.
Throughout the 1990s Argyle had a string of managers. Peter Shilton, Neil Warnock and John Gregory all managed the club, with mixed success.
The club was promoted from English league Division Three to Division Two as champions at the end of season 2001/02, after attaining 102 points, a club and Division Three record.
Centenary season
The 2003/04 season is Argyle's 100th since becoming professional in 1903. The club has put on several celebratory events, whilst the team has won many awards.
A list of notable events in 2003/04 season:
- 22 October 2003: Plymouth Argyle defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsborough to go top of Division Two.
- 24 October 2003: Argyle receive performance of the week award for their 5-1 victory over Port Vale.
- 01 November 2003: Paul Sturrock named Division Two manager of the month for October.
- 06 November 2003: David Friio announced as Division Two player of the month for October.
- 23 December 2003: Paul Sturrock signs a four and a half year contract with Argyle.
- 26 December 2003: Paul Wotton scores Argyle's 5000th League goal in a 2-0 victory over A.F.C. Bournemouth.
- 02 January 2004: Paul Sturrock named Division Two manager of the month for December.
- 03 January 2004: David Friio scores the first hattrick for Argyle since Paul McGregor in March 2000.
- 06 January 2004: Paul Sturrock named as the winner of the Tissot Managers' Performance League.
- 17 January 2004: Billy Rafferty and Paul Mariner make a guest appearance at Home Park. Argyle played Rushden & Diamonds on that day and won 3-0.
- 05 February 2004: Graham Coughlan announced as Division Two player of the month for January.
- 19 February 2004: The club's first retail outlet in Plymouth city centre opens. The club also unveils next season's away kit - the first to be voted for by fans.
The current Argyle squad
- 1 Romain Larrieu
- 2 David Worrell
- 3 Lee Hodges
- 4 David Friio
- 5 Graham Coughlan
- 6 Steve Adams
- 7 David Norris
- 8 Jason Bent
- 9 Michael Evans
- 10 Ian Stonebridge
- 11 Martin Phillips
- 14 Tony Capaldi
- 15 Paul Wotton
- 16 Hasney Aljofree
- 17 Brian McGlinchey
- 18 Nathan Lowndes
- 19 Marino Keith
- 21 Blair Sturrock
- 22 Paul Connolly
- 23 Luke McCormick
- 24 Peter Gilbert (loan)
- 29 Marcus Martin
- 90 Michael Foot
Curent non-playing staff
- Manager - Paul Sturrock
- Assistant Manager - Kevin Summerfield
- Defensive Co-ordinator - John Blackley
- Youth Coach - Stuart Gibson
- Physiopherapist - Paul Maxwell
- Chief Scout - John James
- Chairman - Paul Stapleton
- Vice Chair - Peter Jones
- Directors - Michael Foot, Phillip Gill, Nicholas Warren, Robert Dennerly
- Community Officer - Geoff Crudgington
- Commercial Manager - Andy Budge
- Club Shop Manager - Rachel Fry
- Club Photographer - Dave Rowntree
- Official Webmaster - Steven Hill
Complete list of previous managers
Team managers of Plymouth Argyle and the dates they took over.
- 1903-08-01 Frank Brettell
- 1905-08-01 Bob Jack
- 1906-08-01 Bill Fullerton
- 1910-08-01 Bob Jack
- 1938-04-01 Jack Tresardern
- 1948-09-01 Jimmy Rae
- 1955-02-01 Jack Rowley
- 1961-03-01 Neil Dougall
- 1961-11-01 Ellis Stuttard
- 1963-10-01 Andy Beattie
- 1964-05-01 Malcolm Allison
- 1965-05-01 Derek Ufton
- 1968-02-01 Billy Bingham
- 1970-03-01 Ellis Stuttard
- 1972-10-11 Tony Waiters
- 1977-05-01 Mike Kelly
- 1978-02-14 Lennie Lawrence (Caretaker)
- 1978-03-16 Malcolm Allison
- 1979-01-05 Bobby Saxton
- 1981-06-01 Bobby Moncur
- 1983-10-01 Johnny Hore
- 1984-11-01 Dave Smith
- 1988-07-06 Ken Brown
- 1990-02-06 John Gregory (Caretaker)
- 1990-03-01 David Kemp
- 1992-03-02 Peter Shilton
- 1995-01-02 Steve McCall (Caretaker)
- 1995-06-22 Neil Warnock
- 1997-02-03 Mick Jones
- 1998-06-21 Kevin Hodges
- 2000-10-04 Kevin Summerfield (Caretaker)
- 2000-10-31 Paul Sturrock
Former players of note
- John Hope Peddie
- Jack Leslie
- Paul Mariner
- Billy Rafferty
- Peter Shilton
- Tommy Tynan
Major club honours
Third Division South
- Champions
- 1930,1952
- Runners-up
- 1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927
Third Division (Old Format)
- Champions
- 1959
- Runners-up
- 1975,1986
Division Three (New Format)
- Champions
- 2002
Results
How to get to the ground (and other useful information)
The ground is located at the north of Central Park, approximately half a mile from the main Plymouth railway station, and about a mile from the coach station.
From the station
By bus
Turn immediately right out of the station, and cross the main road by footbridge. Any bus bound for Milehouse will drop you within 100 yards of the ground.
Walking
Turn immediately right out of the station, and right again under the pedestrian footbridge and railway bridge. You will arrive at a roundabout: in front of you will be a pub, the Pennycomequick. From here you can either walk up Alma Road to the top and turn right at the Britannia pub (the long way) or you can cut across the park about 50 yards up Alma Road, heading right. You will come to a concreted path, follow it uphill and it will bring you past the council-run pitch and putt golf course to Home Park itself.
Arriving by road
- Arriving from the east you will (probably) be on the A38 Devon Expressway. As you approach Plymouth, there is a major exit, the Marsh Mills roundabout. Do not take this exit unless you fancy wasting time driving through city-centre traffic. The next exit, the Leigham roundabout, is also sub-optimal. The third exit which will be signposted the A386 for Plymouth City Centre and Devonport is the one you want. Head in the direction of Plymouth city centre. (NB There are speed cameras along the length of this road and the police often have a mobile patrol laser-checking as well). The car-parks are well-signposted, however as Argyle have become progressively more successful, it has taken longer to leave these car-parks after the game...
Arriving by coach
Unless you are on a club coach explicitly bound for Home Park, you will be deposited at Breton Side Bus Station.
By bus
Any bus bound for Milehouse will drop you within 100 yards of the ground.
Walking
Exit the bus station through either of the staircases. If you are immediately outside the St Charles church (or what remains of it, as it was blown up during the Blitz), then turn left and follow the signs for the railway station, and follow instructions as per arriving by rail. If you find yourself outside the Post Office, just head for the St Charles church....
Links
- http://www.pafc.co.uk - Club official website.
- http://www.argyle.org.uk - PASOTI (Plymouth Argyle Supporters On The Internet, the main fans' site).
- http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk - Useful site with audio/visual round ups of games as well as many good links.
- http://www.rubofthegreens.com - Club forum which also has some club news.
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