Pilgrim's Progress
The beginning...
Forum Discussion
180 Replies
Nice one, glad to have a new story in this thread! Whereas I'm not a big fan of the money machine that is the Premier League, I do like the authenticism of the English Football League (Ch., One and Two)
Any special connections to this team? The Pilgrims have a unique geographical position. They have a fairly large hinterland for themselves in the Southwest of England. That in theory would not make it unlikely if they'd make it to the highest tier in English football. Wouldn't that be a first?
Plymouth Argyle was created in 1886 as Argyle FC, in the Devon county town of Plymouth. The town is famous as a naval base of operations, and from where Sir Francis Drake sailed to confront the Spanish Armada back in 1588. It is also the port where the Mayflower finally departed England, bound for what is now the USA, carrying the pilgrims that give the club its nickname to Massachusetts. The club proudly includes the Mayflower in its crest.
The club has predominantly played in green and white throughout their history, with a few exceptions in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Argyle have traditionally bounced between the bottom two divisions in the football league, since the start of the 21st century occasionally and briefly playing in the second tier - what is now the EFL Championship.
We join the club after a successful campaign in 2022-23 saw promotion to the EFL Championship, after a long period away from the second tier which included brief seasons in the bottom division and a period when it seemed the club might go out of business. Owner Simon Hallett has restored financial stability to the club and now wants to progress Plymouth to the next level. He was hoping that manager Steve Schumacher would be the man to do that, having overseen two promotions over the last 4 years, but Schumacher has been tempted by the opportunity to manage Hull City, a club he believes are wealthier and which has a better chance of making it into the Premier League. Plymouth's owner, whilst bankrolling certain aspects of the club, insists that it must live within its means and the new manager will need to work within those constraints.
- @Danimal5981
No special connections, no. I happen to like the colours they play in, I like the name (the 'Argyle' bit, which is unique) and, interestingtly, the game has for a number of years featured their matchday chant, which is quite cute when you play as them.
I've 'done' them a few times over the years, usually starting in League 1, where they normally are.
Yes, they've never been in the top division, as indeed no club really has (much) from the South West of the country, which is traditionally Rugby Union territory. I know that Bristol City did appear in the old First Division (now the Premier League) at one point in my life, but only for a short time. Interestingly, the 'South West derby' against them is the opening match of their league season... Brilliant this, I'd been waiting for you to start something up. Can't say I know much about this club, or the city from where they're from. My only reference would be my childhood memories of playing the "Colonization" game, where you'd sail off from Plymouth and find yourself somewhere in America to settle. And send ships back to Plymouth with cotton and whatever goods you were able to produce... I suppose I've always had this very old game in my mind, whenever I've come across the Argyles, in FIFA or whatever. Well, time to make a new point of reference 😉
Classic move by the manager, by the way, moving to a club like Hull in stead. But if I was a betting man, I would probably put my money on you reaching the Premier League before the Tigers do.
"Could it be? That I see here, with my moral eyes, a text written in purest green!?" (Lord Percy somewhere in the late 16th century, Blackadder II)
Written in Plymouth-green: nice detail!
A Brit with C0J0NES ! 😃
So, a link with Mexico - interesting. Apologies for repeating the question, but is this connected to something personal? Do you like Mexico for any particular special reason? Or, is it completely made up? Or does the link to Mexico suggest a primary objective for the club to sign Mexican players (if there is such a thing) ?
@Danimal5981 wrote:A Brit with C0J0NES ! 😃
So, a link with Mexico - interesting. Apologies for repeating the question, but is this connected to something personal? Do you like Mexico for any particular special reason? Or, is it completely made up? Or does the link to Mexico suggest a primary objective for the club to sign Mexican players (if there is such a thing) ?
I had the same question. But I'll bet it has something to do with a plan to bring in a few Mexican free agents, as @CO88LER5 has done in previous careers too. I suppose it would provide a more realistic feel to that game plan.
Three Departures from The Pilgrims
Three stalwarts for Plymouth have departed, as new manager Bobby Stones starts to make his mark.
Right back and sometime captain Joe Edwards completed a move to Norwich City for £900,000, which is a good price for the 32-year-old.
Goalkeeper Callum Burton was sold to FC Luzem for £400,000, the 26-year-old realising that his likely time on the pitch this season would be limited.
Centre-Back Brendan Galloway has gone to Pogon Szczecin for £600,000.
"We need to raise some money to implement the start of our reorganisation, and these deals represent good value for the club," the manager said. "All three had expressed a desire to move on within the last few days, so to get good prices is a bonus."
It is believed that the three had expressed unease at the direction Stones is taking, and their potential part in it. All three, especially Edwards and Galloway, would expect normally to be regular starters and it is believed that this is not what was on offer.
