Photo show a 'must' For Argyle diehards

PLYMOUTH Argyle fans, including former chairman Robert Daniels, flocked to the opening of an art exhibition with a difference at the Royal William Yard's Masa Fine Art Gallery.

Mr Daniels – on a five-day visit to the city from his home in Portugal – was a surprise guest at the show, which features photographs old and new relating to the club.

GREAT MEMORIES: Above, Former Argyle secretary Graham Little and former chairman Robert Daniel look back at pictures from the 1973 match with Santos with BBC Devon's Gordon Sparks (centre); right, Argyle steward Kevin Eales is captivated
TWO GENERATIONS: Terry Stephens and his grandson Nathan Fox
LOOKING BACK: Right, Sean Clee and Sue Holden at the opening of the Plymouth Argyle exhibition in the Masa Gallery in the Royal William Yard; far right, people enjoying the archive images

Formally opened by BBC radio personality and diehard fan Gordon Sparks, the exhibition includes evocative archive photos from the South West Image Bank and recent colour pictures by top photographers, including Sean Clee, twice voted Royal Navy Photographer of the Year.

Gordon said: "Some photographs lose their quality when they are enlarged, but that hasn't happened here.

"They will bring back so many memories for people visiting – they really take you back."

The photographs include world-famous players who have graced Home Park, including Pele and George Best, as well as England heroes like Peter Shilton and Paul Mariner.

Gordon added: "When you look at the flat caps in the pictures from the 1950s and the tank-tops the boys are wearing in the 70s as they queue up for Santos ticket, you realise you are looking at social history as well as football."

One aerial shot of the ground brought back special memories for The Herald.

It was taken from a 'cherry-picker' hired by the paper when the then chairman Dan McCauley banned us from the ground; peering over the wall from a dizzying height was the only way our intrepid journalists and photographers could report on the game.

The photos feature not just players but the ground itself in different eras and behind-the scenes looks at backroom staff and the work they do.

The exhibition was also boosted by film clips from the South West Film and Television Archive, showing many famous moments in the club's history.

Also on show are stunning black-and-white images of pre-war Plymouth from the Image Bank, which has 250,000 photos and has so far catalogued 26,000.

Many of the images are for sale.

And there is a chance to buy a £2 ticket for the Argyle Raffle, with signed shirts, a signed football and a photograph to be won.

The exhibition, which is open seven days a week, runs until the end of December.

Exhibition pictures – Page 23