Plymouth celebrates as Argyle beat relegation threat
CITY leaders have expressed their relief at Plymouth Argyle escaping a 'tragic' drop out of the Football League.
Argyle guaranteed their place in the league next season at a jubilant Home Park this weekend.
It came after a nightmare season where the club was on the brink of league and financial oblivion – which would have sent shockwaves through Plymouth's economy.
But now Argyle are on safer ground for the next year at least after the Pilgrims kept their vital place in the league.
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City council leader Vivien Pengelly said: "It's terribly important that a city our size should have a professional team in the league, though we should be in the Championship, not League Two.
"A successful football team means a successful city – it gives everyone a lift.
"I'm a season ticket holder and see coaches come from Cornwall and North Devon, while some fans travel from the other side of London.
"They may stay for the weekend and their wives go shopping – it's all good for Plymouth."
David Parlby, chief executive of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, said: "This is very good news for the morale of the city as a whole.
"For the 15th biggest city in the country not to have a team in the league would be very unusual.
"We are the biggest city in the South West next to Bristol, and it is our rightful place to act as a hub for sport, leisure and many other things."
Argyle owner James Brent, who only days ago revealed plans for a major revamp of the Pavilions and a new 1500-seater ice rink at Home Park, said: "Not having a professional football team would have been tragic, but the important thing for me was Plymouth Argyle not going into liquidation.
"That would have been disastrous for the city, the region and the fans who passionately love Plymouth Argyle.
"We have the best theatre in the region, the best facility of its kind in the Life Centre and a football club which has been good and can be great."
Fans witnessing the triumphant end to Argyle's heroic fight on Saturday also told The Herald of their joy and relief at their survival.
Plymouth-born John Jemmett, aged 65, had travelled from his home in London to see his beloved Argyle.
John said: "We're safe! It's a big deal - we don't want to go down the league. We've been relegated for the last three years.
"It's only been a year but we've gone through so much and gone so far."
Mary Staff said she was in tears at the final whistle.
The 52-year-old season-ticket holder said the game went "right down to the bitter end".
"The atmosphere was tremendous," she said.
"In the Green Army, we've got the best supporters in the country. We've supported our club, the players, the staff throughout the tough times.
"I was in tears at the end. With everything that's gone on it's a bit of justice."
Raymond Harris and his wife Margaret, from Saltash, were ecstatic. Raymond, aged 68, said: "From what we've been through from the start, from the youngsters who fought for Argyle at the beginning of the year, staff working with no wages. You forget these people at the beginning, but without them and the back room staff, where would we have been.
"It's fair to say its one of the happiest days of our lives – even though it's only football."
Margaret, aged 46, was quick to praise Argyle owner James Brent.
She said: "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here. Thank you Mr Brent for keeping us going. We sit by you in the stands and we'd like to shake your hand."
Colin Reynolds, from Taunton, said the result "means a lot more than you'll ever know" before recounting how his father – a long-term Argyle season-ticket holder – passed away in January.
Colin, aged 46, said: "I promised him they would stay up.
"With what James Brent's doing here and what's been built next door [The Life Centre] I think people in Plymouth should look forward. This football club and its survival should lead the way for the city."
Colin said his father's ticket has now been passed to his 12-year-old daughter – named Hope – who was with him for Saturday's landmark match.
Comment – Page 11
Comments
by helterfc
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 11:39PM
“I agree, Wilf. The word 'retarded' has no place in Crazy's comments. There's absolutely no need to use offensive terminology just because people have a different opinion.
I applaud the local support for Argyle. Although I have lived away from Plymouth for over 35 years, they are still my team and I cannot envisage that ever changing. It is also telling that Argyle fans are spread all over the country and have not altered their allegiance just because they live somewhere else. Crazypenguin simply cannot experience the joys and tribulations like we can. COYG!!”
by WILFWASTHEMAN
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 10:23PM
“Penguin - funny how people like you always have a passion for a top club - I have yet to meet anyone who had a passion for a club from league 2 except those who have a direct connection to that area - now why is that do you suppose. By the way a good friend of mine suffers from learning difficulties - could you please avoid the use of a horrible term like retarded when you are speaking of someone who disagrees with you - the term is extremely offensive.”
by realist1955
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 9:42PM
“will it be any better next season?”
by GreenGOM
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 5:29AM
“Total relief to end a year of worry and uncertainty. Well done to James, Carl and all the lads. Also well dine to the Argyle backroom staff and the fans for sticking being the club. The fact that we have languished at the bottom but still had one of the biggest average crowds in league two says it all.
Let's hope we add to some of the good core players we have now and push for promotion. Let's have a repeat of the packed Home Park and the atmosphere of our promotion seasons of the last decade.
COYG”
by norlidaud
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 2:58AM
“Well done Argyle. I hope we get promotion next season.
Unable to be there but two supporters here in Brazil are very pleased (and one of them is my friend who is Norwegian) How about that for international support !”
by crazypenguin
Tuesday, April 24 2012, 12:57AM
“WILFWASTHEMAN I disaggree it doesnt matter where your from it matters what team you have a passion for....that passion yes can take the form of local pride but the `local team for local people` idea is moronic....do you have any idea how small a fan base clubs would have if that was the case? ive lived down here all my life but im not a fan of plymouth the city to be honest and have no passion what so ever for plymouth the team....so why should I support them just because there local?
Im a man united fan ive supported them since I was a lad of about 5 (almost 25 years now) they are the team ive always had a passion for and the team id support through thick and thin, you dont need a connection to an area to enjoy a teams football that argument is and always has been retarded.”
by Rongreenblood
Monday, April 23 2012, 11:27PM
“Ref.Billhicks,strike partnership.The best I have seen at Home Park,Mariner & Rafferty.”
by udrivememad
Monday, April 23 2012, 11:17PM
“Rgiyol r ****!!!”
by billhicks1
Monday, April 23 2012, 6:39PM
“It must be very disconcerting to all concerned when Argyle score their goal after only 2 minutes to then have to wait and see when and how many the opposition will bang in.. I dearly hope that our savior/benifactor and his manager (it surely has to be Fletcher after helping to pull off the Houdini escape of the century so far... unless he gets lured away by Southhampton ) lend some pondification to the problem which has plagued Argyle for a good number of years.... that being, the securing of a strike partnership which is capable of sticking the fear of God up defensives... None of the present bunch seem able to step up to the mark and a couple of them will be back to their own clubs soon anyway... Can anyone even remember when we had a really good strike partnership...
Let's hope that Mr Brent deems it necessary to give some thought to that whilst he mulls over what he going to build on the land that he has acquired...”
by WILFWASTHEMAN
Monday, April 23 2012, 6:36PM
“Alabar - fully agree with you lets have local youngsters wearing the local team shirt- whenever I come across a Man U supporter/shirt wearer I always ask what their connection with Manchester is - you very rarely find one its just the name and fame they relate to. Be proud of your local team . My son was always obliged to wear the Argyle shirt to school in London and was usually the only one not wearing a premiership team shirt ( much to his displeasure!!).”