Plymouth Argyle FC is a football club originally called Argyle FC when formed in 1897, from the naval port of Plymouth on the Devon coast in the south west of England. The club moved into their Home Park ground overlooking the city on formation.
In 1903 the club took its present name as the turned professional and joined the Southern League, as well as the Western League for their second side. After finishing Southern League runners up on a couple of occasions, Argyle won the title in 1912-13.
‘The Pilgrims’ became founder members of Division Three South in 1920-21. Amazingly the decade saw the club end as league runners up in six consecutive seasons in the days when only one club were promoted. In the summer of 2014 Argyle embarked on a highly successful tour of South America, where they defeated the Uruguay national team 4-0 in their first game, before beating Argentina 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with Boca Juniors. Captain Moses Russell earned the plaudits of the hosts.
Eventually in 1929-30 Argyle won the league and were promoted to Division Two. During World War Two Home Park as well as the city, was badly damaged by the German Luftwaffe. The Grandstand was all but destroyed and the pitch heavily cratered. The Pilgrims remained in the second tier until relegation in 1950.
Two years later the reclaimed their place as the new Mayflower Grandstand was opened, but the spell lasted only four seasons before Argyle found themselves back in Division Three South. In 1958 Plymouth were placed in Division Three after Football League re-organisation, before winning the title at the first attempt. In 1964-65 Argyle reached the League Cup semi-final before being defeated by Leicester City.
In 1968 the club was relegated again, but once more they reached the last four of the League Cup in 1973-74 with former England centre forward Paul Mariner in the line up. This time Manchester City ended the dreams of the green army.
In 1975 Tony Waiters’ side won promotion as runners up. In October 1977 Home Park played host to the Manchester United v St Etienne European Cup Winners Cup tie, after United were forced to play at least two hundred and fifty miles from Old Trafford following crowd trouble at the first leg in France. The same year saw Argyle relegated, although long serving Kevin Hodges made his debut to lift the gloom.
In 1983-84 Plymouth went on an amazing FA Cup run all the way to the semi final as Southend United, Barking, Newport County, Darlington, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County were defeated. Watford won the last four encounter at Villa Park, but John Hore’s side including David Phillips had done the club proud. Dave Smith took over team affairs and led Argyle to Division Two in 1984-95.
Relegation followed in 1992. Peter Shilton arrived as manager and took the team to the play offs, where they were defeated by Burnley in the semi final. Worse was to follow as Argyle were later relegated to the newly named bottom tiered Division Three for the first time in their history.
Neil Warnock arrived at Home Park taking the side up in 1995-96 as a Ronnie Mauge header won the Play Off Final at Wembley against Darlington. Warnock was sacked the following season, to be replaced by his assistant Mick Jones. He failed to stem the teams decline as Argyle found themselves in the League’s basement once again. Kevin Hodges took over as manager.
After a season of consolidation another championship was added, as Plymouth found themselves in The Championship. However, Sturrock moved on to take the managers job at Southampton to be replaced by Bobby Williamson.
During the 2005-06 season Williamson departed, with Tony Pulis taking over a fine side including Mickey Evans, Akos Buzsaky and Tony Capaldi. Pulis steadied the ship, but gained a reputation for dour football. In the summer of 2006 he departed to take up the same role at Stoke City, to be replaced by Ian Holloway.
He continued the good work and took the side to the last eight of the FA Cup before controversially walking out to take the Leicester City job. In turn Sturrock resigned at Swindon Town to return to Home Park.
In December 2010 Sturrock moved to an ‘upstairs’ role after poor results. Former playing hero Paul Mariner was appointed as the new team manager as Jamie Mackie banged in the goals. However, it was to be in vain as Argyle were relegated at the end of the 2010 11 season. Mariner was replaced by manager by Peter Reid.
Crowds were dropping as games were lost. To add to the turmoil Argyle were hit with a winding up order by HRMC over unpaid tax in November 2011 as directors walked away from the club. Reid auctioned his FA Cup runners up medal earned with Everton to try and bring in money to pay the players.
The team was relegated in May 2012. Peter Risdale came in as acting chairman and controversially sacked Reid in September 2012, with player Carl Fletcher taking over. There had been rumours that Kevin Heaney the property developer and chairman of Truro City was keen to buy the club, but his bid was turned down before he eventually went bankrupt.
Fortunately for Argyle, banker James Brent’s Akkeron Group agreed to buy the club and come to a deal to pay off its creditors while selling Home Park back to Plymouth Council. John Sheridan was appointed as team manager in January 2013 as the team struggled to retain their League status, before ending in twenty first position.
The side reached the playoffs in 2014-15, losing in the semifinals to Wycombe Wanderers. The following season saw another playoff appearance, by which time Derek Adams had replaced Sheridan. Portsmouth were defeated before AFC Wimbledon won the final 2-0 at Wembley.
Promotion was achieved in 2016-17, with the playoffs in League One just being missed out on twelve months later. Simon Hallett bought the club as finances became more secure to allow planning for a brighter future.
The team was relegated back to the bottom tier in 2018-19, which saw Ryan Lowe arrive as manager at the seasons end. The new manager steered the side to promotion at the first attempt as Antoni Sarcevic led the scoring.
The goals of Luke Jephcott in 2020-21 helped Argyle to survival. Steven Schumacher took over as manager in December 2021, with his side just missing out on a playoff berth as the goals of Ryan Hardie thrilled the Home Park faithful.
Finn Azaz starred in a real team effort in 2022-23 as Plymouth lifted the League One title. Heroic manager Schumacher was attracted to the Stoke City job as Ian Collins replaced him. Morgan Whittaker provided the goals as the side consolidated their second tier status.
Plymouth Argyle will play in the EFL Championship in the 2023-24 season.My visit
Plymouth Argyle 2 Torquay United 0 (Wednesday 1st January 2014) Football League Two (att: 10,126)
I had regretted not visiting Home Park for many years, when I didn’t make Scarborough’s dramatic 3-3 draw there in the League Cup back in 1992. I’d passed within views of the floodlights on a few occasions when visiting my good friends in Looe; Alain and Linda Le Ker, but didn’t have an opportunity to get to a game.
Something had to be done to put the record right, especially as I was closing in on completing the current ninety two League grounds. New Years Eve never really did it for me as a big night, especially since I moved to London.
I had been pondering on whether to have yet another quiet one and go to the game the following day in good form. I bit the bullet and bought a ticket online, despite the risk of awful weather postponing the game. The Argyle Twitter account and fans forum seemed confident.
My local pub was extremely average on New Years Eve. I felt lonely and a stranger in a place where I normally struck up conversation. An early night was definitely the right decision, even though some loud bangs woke me up briefly around midnight!
The all night running tube was full of discarded rubbish as I travelled to Waterloo for my train. By taking the South West Trains route to Exeter and then buying a separate ticket between there and Plymouth would allow me to get a third off the fare. I also had some vouchers to use from previous delayed journeys.
The trip was pleasant, especially after getting towards Wiltshire as girls spoke with accents fit for Ambrosia rice pudding adverts. The guard was a jolly chap and everyone made light of the flooding around the track and the awful weather. I was getting a little concerned but the positive Tweets kept coming from Argyle.
My plan was to take stock at Exeter, maybe over a pint, but a late running train to Plymouth was due within a few minutes so I jumped aboard. My back up games were out of the question and being postponed one by one. It was to be Home Park or bust!
After three pints of locally sourced ale at very agreeable prices and a chat with some friendly visiting Torquay fans who reminisced over previous visits to Scarborough, I strolled the last five minutes to the ground. The supporters had reassured me that the game was never going to be called off because of Argyle’s superb drainage system.
The rain had thankfully stopped as I strolled past a van selling tempting pasties to a long queue, so I decided to purchase some much needed grub inside. After buying the decent programme for £3 and wandering past the Plymouth Life Centre, where Tom Daley and future Olympic hopefuls practised their diving, I entered a busy concourse.
Fans were eating and drinking while watching the conclusion of the Swansea City v Manchester City lunchtime game. I bought a steak and kidney pie and Bovril, which was OK, and then a pastie to take to my seat, which was excellent and cheaper.
Home Park offered the old and the new. The Mayflower Grandstand was a majestic structure, with a large upper deck and then a middle section with boxes at the rear. There was an added roof nearest out end and a police building like a cottage at the far corner. The large open terraced paddock at the front of the stand was no longer in commission.
The Devonport and Barn Park End Stands were at either end and joined up with the Lyndhurst Stand down the side with a continuous single seating deck and roof. I liked it, especially the little touches like the murals of former players on the entrance walls leading to the seats.
My seat was to the side of the goal on the second row from the back. The leg room was thankfully decent. Mascot Pete the Pirate and the Argyle Angels dancers provided entertainment. The girls must have been frozen in their skimpy outfits.
My seat was to the side of the goal on the second row from the back. The leg room was thankfully decent. Mascot Pete the Pirate and the Argyle Angels dancers provided entertainment. The girls must have been frozen in their skimpy outfits.
The teams took the pitch as the Mariners Semper Fidelis March played over the PA system. Quite rightly the brilliant groundstaff were given praise by the man on the mic as they received a warm ovation. This was the only game on for around a hundred and fifty miles.
No matter how many different titles the Football League had given their divisions over the years, there was something unmistakable about what constituted fourth division fare and this was it. The pitch was playing well, although in fairness the wind must have been causing havoc.
No matter how many different titles the Football League had given their divisions over the years, there was something unmistakable about what constituted fourth division fare and this was it. The pitch was playing well, although in fairness the wind must have been causing havoc.
At the break I braved the packed concourse, although the queues were far too long to contemplate a hot drink. The arrangements allowed me to roam along the front of the Lyndhurst Stand to take photos around the stadium.
The second half was a slight improvement. There wasn’t too much to choose between the sides, although Argyle looked the most likely to create, and so it proved. After much short passing they eventually created a chance, when Caolan Lavery, on loan from Sheffield Wednesday fired home at the near post after an hour.
The 888 travelling Gulls fans present cheering on ‘yellows’ who were wearing all sky blue saw their team restricted in their chances. Plymouth keeper Luke McCormick kept out a long range swerving effort from Jordan Chappell. Ruben Reid showed signs of strength up front at the other end for the greens.
Argyle continued to probe, eventually putting the game to bed with five minutes of normal time remaining when Lewis Alessandra chested home a cross from skipper Conor Hourihane to send the majority of the crowd home happy.
I gave it a couple more minutes before making a move, just in case any trains had been delayed on the return journey. It was certainly easier walking back to the station! However, rather than saving time the boards gave the news that my intended train had been cancelled because of flooding. I had to catch one ten minutes later.
When nearing Exeter I used my iPhone app to see if my continuing service was on time, only to find out that the route was suspended owing to flooding. A quick call to South West Trains eased my fears when they said I could use any route possible back to London. The guard on my Great Western service confirmed this, which was extremely handy as the train I was on was going all the way to Paddington!
I sat back, bought a tea and relaxed with an occasional nap before getting back to Paddington and then to my flat with a take away just as Match of the Day was starting. My gamble had paid off. Many other groundhoppers were left with a blank day. I’d ticked off a really awkward ground in my quest. It was immensely more enjoyable that New Years Eve!
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