The Argyle Podcast

A table of redemption.

When he arrived at Home Park in what could have risen to be a club record fee, there were incredibly high hopes for Simon Walton.

He broke into his boyhood Leeds United side as a teenager, had almost 100 games at Championship level under his belt and was supposed to be part of a rebuild job that would take Argyle forward.

Fast forward just a couple of months and he was wanting out. A combination of bad performances, lack of professionalism and falling out with the manager left Walts on the transfer list – he was gone.

He had loan spell after loan spell and was losing his love for football until he was given the armband and the chance to prove himself and boy did he do that. He, along with the players in the 2011/12 season, will forever be remembered.

This is the story of Simon Walton.

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The voice of Home Park.

From last minute winner, to promotions, penalty shootout wins and semi-final triumphs, Gary McLean has been there for all of them, over the last 15 seasons.

For an outgoing Argyle fan who always had a love for being a showman, being the stadium announcer has to be up there as a dream job.

In 2010, the club was looking for someone new to take the mic and Gary was the man to get Home Park ready for matchday’s ever since.

He’s seen big cup ties, semi-final wins, last minute winners and fights on the touchline. He has a close-up view of the goings on at Home Park.

This is the story of Gary McLean.

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The latest episode of the Argyle Podcast is ready for you to listen to!

An Argyle team led by former player David Norris and Under-18s Head Coach Jamie Lowry will head Stateside this summer to take part in The Soccer Tournament (TST) in North Carolina.

TST, a 7v7 event with a $1million winner-takes-all prize will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, from June 4-9.

Argyle’s full squad will be announced in due course but will feature former players and futsal stars and be overseen for the week by player-manager Norris and player-assistant-manager Lowry.

Also competing at TST will be the likes of European giants Villarreal and Borussia Dortmund, as well as Sergio Aguero’s 'Selección Potrero', and Luis Nani's 'Nani FC'.

Hear from the coaches themselves in this latest episode.

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A perfectly imperfect career.

Jamie Ness was a big deal in the youth ranks at Rangers. He was one of a crop of youngsters, alongside future Pilgrim Gregg Wylde, who were highly thought of and tipped to go to the top. And while it didn’t go totally to plan, Jamie made himself a bit of a cult hero.

Injuries blighted him throughout his career. After a stunning introduction to the Ibrox fans, with a 40-yard piledriver against bitter rivals Celtic, injuries and the club going bust meant he had to move on.

A trip to Stoke and a pre-season with Tony Pulis halted his career once more, as on day two he picked up a nasty injury.
After a few further moves, he perhaps played his best football in Devon, arriving at Home Park in the summer of 2017. Without being the standout, his partnership in midfield with David Fox and Antoni Sarcevic almost saw Argyle claim an unlikely play-off place in his first season.

He’s since moved back up north, to Scotland, where he has set up an Academy training young Jamie Ness’ of the future.

This is the story of Jamie Ness.

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The Blissett family name.

If your name is Blissett, you’re a striker and you’re trying to make a name for yourself in football, there is no doubt conversation will quickly turn to the great Luther Blissett and that is exactly how life turned out for Nathan.

Every new club he joined, every person he met, the second question to him was always ‘are you related to Luther?’ and the answer, ‘yes.’

Nathan grew up not knowing about his uncle Luther until he saw the name on Soccer AM in the early 2000s. When Nathan then turned his attentions to football, having an icon as your uncle was no bad thing.

It wasn’t the usual story into the game for Nate, but the help uncle Luther was able to provide meant he was able to extract every ounce of his ability and have a 12-year professional career.

12 months of that was spent at Home Park where, although never holding down a first team spot, Nathan was a member of a promotion winning side and a scorer in a Devon Derby.

This is not your usual footballer’s tale; it is the story of Nathan Blissett.

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Argyle Fives on festive matches – Festive Fives

Every fan enjoys football over the festive period. The traditional Boxing Day matches always produce a unique atmosphere and quite often a lot of goals.

In the 40s and 50s games would be played back-to-back against the same side. Local games usually get arranged for this time of year and there is a freshness around the New Years Day fixtures.

Goals, Christmas jumpers, thrilling comebacks, huge wins, managerial sackings; they have all taken place over the Christmas period and Charlie Price, Rob McNichol and Kevin Nancekivell talk through their favourites.

Merry Christmas!
Argyle Fives is also available to watch on Argyle TV - enjoy!

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Bursting onto the scene

At 14 he was playing at Twickenham for England juniors, at 16 he was making his Argyle debut and at 44 he is still turning out on a Saturday for Plymouth True Blues.

Lee Phillips packed a lot into a relatively short time at Argyle. He was thrust into the limelight as a teenager, becoming the youngest player to play for the club in 1996. A quick and powerful striker, it was clear to see why he was so quick to make an impression.

He had to wait for his first goal, that came two years later, in one of the most famous matches of lower league football. Most people will have heard the story of goalkeeper Jimmy Glass saving Carlisle United in the final minute of the season. But not so many will be able to tell you that it was against Plymouth Argyle and the Pilgrims' scorer that day was 18-year-old Lee Phillips. A good quiz question answer.

After leaving Argyle Lee became a fans’ favourite at both Exeter City and Torquay United and was, unfortunately, a three-time play-off final runner up.

This is the story of Lee Phillips.

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“…not a bad ball in…”

Few Argyle players have experienced as much as Mark Patterson did in his four years at Home Park. Having arrived from Derby Country and once again teaming up with Peter Shilton, Pato experienced a playoff semi-final defeat, then relegation to the basement division and a subsequent promotion at Wembley, where he also claimed the assist.

A North East lad, who played out his dream with Newcastle United legends helping him along the way. Bob Stokoe, Pop Robson and Arthur Cox all helped in his development, a development that would go on to produce three Wembley appearances.

A no nonsense, athletic and technically brilliant player, who was one of Argyle greatest full backs, this is the story of Mark Patterson.

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“Both ends that is all…”

Kevin Wills will forever go down as a legend of South West football. Maybe more fondly remembered by Truro City supporters for his double, scoring at both ends, in the FA Vase final triumph in 2007. But he also won promotions with both Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle.

Joining the Greens in the late 90s, Willsy made his breakthrough in 1998 as an exciting forward. Despite never quite making it as a regular during his time at Home Park, he was an integral part of Paul Sturrock’s centurions in 2001/02, playing 18 matches mainly away from home, as Argyle clinched promotion.

A promotion with Torquay United two years later followed, and then four more in the White of Truro, he was a lucky omen wherever he went.

This is the story of Kevin Wills.

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The next Trevor Francis.

Well, it didn’t quite turn out like that for George Foster, but he certainly has no complaints about his career.

The Plymouth born, football mad kid who grew up watching the sides of the late 1960s got his big chance against the player he was always likened to. Being thrust on to try and deal with one of the best forwards in the country, in a position you’re not accustomed to would probably faze most people, not George, it was a challenge.

He went on to captain Argyle, play almost 250 times before moving to Derby County and then Mansfield Town where he continued to enjoy success.

A hard man, who always got the best out of himself, this is the story of George Foster.

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