2013 Prediction League; Game 9 v Plymouth Argyle (away)

Div3North · 27-09-2013, 00:43

Plymouth Argyle

V

Accrington Stanley

2013/14 Prediction League – Game 9; v Plymouth Argyle (away)

Having been non-League since inception, Plymouth Argyle “turned pro” in 1903, joining the Southern league; their first professional player was Bob Jack, father of David (who scored the first ever Wembley goal); Bob – a Scottish “outside forward” - began at Alloa, before joining Bolton, Preston and Glossop in the league, and then Plymouth and Southend in the Southern League. He came back to Plymouth in 1905 as player-manager, went to Southend in 1906 for four years, and then returned to manage the Pilgrims from 1910 to 1938 (Fergie eat your heart out!)

They began life as Argyle Football Club, but that soon went under; in 1897 they re-formed as part of the Argyle Athletic Club, and they took their present name in 1903; there seem to be many possible explanations about where the name derives from; one suggestion is that they were named after the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, an army regiment with a strong football side of its own; another theory suggests the name comes either from the nearby pub, The Argyle Tavern, where the founder members may have met, or the local street named Argyle Terrace; a third suggestion is that their initial kit was decorated in the famous Argyll Diamond pattern.

They were elected to the Football League when Division 3 was set up in 1920/21; the first winners were Crystal Palace; Plymouth finished 11th that year, with 43 points. The following year Division 3 became Division 3 South and North; Plymouth came second in Div3South (no relation), behind Southampton on goal difference (only one, of course, went up); over the next five years (1922/3 to 1926/7 inclusive) they finished second – and missed promotion – every time, beaten to the punch by Bristol City (by 6 points), Portsmouth (4 pts), Swansea (1 pt), Reading (1 pt) and Bristol City (again, this time by 2 points); ain’t life a bitch?

I can’t explain the nickname (“The Pilgrims” – their club crest features the Mayflower, to boot), and there’s no evidence at all that the Pilgrim Fathers ever went to the games ……………..

Famous ex players include GK Jim “Fumbly” Furnell, GK Titch Horne (I kid you not; 1904-1906 & 1907 – 1914); the wonderfully-named Septimus Atterbury (a FB who played for the club from 1907 to 1921, and then coached for many years; he also played as a guest for Leicester Fosse); Jimmy Dickinson, England striker Paul Mariner; striker Tommy Tynan (257 goals in 629 games); and ex management pair Carl Fletcher (Welsh MF) and Romain Larrieu (French GK).

Former managers – of whom they’ve had a few – include the famous Jack Rowley, the flamboyant Malcolm Allison (twice), Billy Bingham, Tony Waiters, Bobby Moncur, Peter Shilton, Neil Warnock, Paul Sturrock (twice), Paul Mariner, Tony Pulis, Ian Holloway and Paul Reid; 21 (including repeats) in the last 35 years ……………. They’ve never been in the top flight (Plymouth apparently being the largest city in England never to have hosted top-flight football (who the hell works this stuff out?

), and hold the record of the most titles won in the third tier of League football (under three names – Third Division South, Third Division and Second Division ……………)

They just about saved their bacon last season – finishing 21st on 52 points, one above Dagenham and Barnet (currently 12th in the Conference) despite losing 3 of their last four games (all 1-0, to Rotherham, Rochdale and Burton). Out, in the summer, went CF Reuben Reid (24) to Yeovil, LB Onismor Bhasera (26), who joined BIDVest Wits FC in South Africa, CF Warren Feeney (32) to Salisbury, keepers Rene Gilmartin (26) to League of Ireland side St Patrick’s Athletic and Ollie Chenoweth (21 – bet he doesn’t come from Cornwall!

) to Truro; CF Paris Cowan-Hall (23) went to Wycombe, and veteran CB Anthony Charles (32) to Luton ………..

In, amongst others, came CMF Hamza Bencherif (25) from Notts County, Chesterfield’s “surplus to requirements” CB Neal Trotman (26); Oxford’s keeper Luke McCormick (29), striker Lewis Alessandra (24) from Morecambe, Shrewsbury’s massive (6' 7") CF Marvin Morgan (now 30), CMF Domenic Blizzard (29) from Yeovil, and one Romuald Boco (28), of whom some of you might have heard

As we speak, they’re lying 17th, with 3 wins and 5 losses from their 8 games, having scored 6 and conceded 10 for 9 points; the wins have come at Cheltenham (3-1) and at home to Rochdale and Bristol Rovers, both by 1-0; they’ve failed to score four times – twice at home – and (Cups apart, they having gone out of the Capricorn One Cup 3-2 at Birmingham and having won their Tinpot 1st Round at Cheltenham on penalties (5-4 after a 3-3 draw); they’ve only once managed more than one goal in a game. Leading scorers are Alessandra and Reid, each with 3, and Rommy with two ……. And it does cross my mind that Cheltenham must be sick of the sight of them ……!

Last season it was 1-1 at home (James Beattie (In Whom We Trust) with our goal) and 0-0 at Home Park (I haven’t seen a match there, but I have caught the Park and Ride from the car park there three times ……….

); the year before it was 2-2 away, and a 4-0 stuffing at our place

……… Still looking for our first win, then …………. And our first win against them ……………

The deadline for entries is scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on 28th September 2013. Time to win? Oh yes …………… I think so! The fight-back starts here …… Doesn’t it, Lads?

Good luck to everyone ……………….Remember; passion overcomes logic ………..Keep the faith ……………………. And thanks for playing!