THE DAILY DIARY

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Greens on Screen's Daily Diary is a compilation of Argyle news, with help from these and other Argyle-related sites.

Plymouth Argyle FC

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On This Day:

Also included on the three most recent days, facts from Argyle's history.

Saturday 14th December 2019

On This Day:

1946: In the first season after the Second World War, over 27,000 saw Argyle beat West Brom 2-1 at Home Park, but after 90 minutes it looked like defeat was inevitable. Two goals in four minutes of injury time sent the fans wild. As the newspaper report had it: "white handkerchiefs fluttered to attract the attention of Ambulance men - it was all too much for some unfortunate spectators".

1974: If you were there, you'll never forget this one. Argyle beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in an emotion-stirring second round FA Cup tie, but only after despair in the final minute when Palace were awarded a penalty. Up stepped skipper Terry Venables to save the day for the visitors, but 37-year-old Jim Furnell flung himself to his right to smother the shot. The referee immediately signalled time and Furnell leapt around his penalty area in triumph, only to be mobbed by ecstatic fans.

13th

On This Day:

1960: League Cup 4th Round - Aston Villa 3 Argyle 3. A remarkable performance, and not only because the Pilgrims were playing a famous top-flight club on their ground. For a period, Argyle battled against the odds with just nine men on the pitch, including a stand-in keeper. In the days before substitutes, teams just had to make do. After lengthy treatment, Bill Wright returned to hobble on the left wing for much of the game, and Wilf Carter deputised in goal for Geoff Barnsley who missed 20 minutes of play to receive treatment for a broken nose. He returned to play on in pain.

12th

On This Day:

1952: Colin Randell was born in Neath, Wales, so 67 today. He joined Argyle from Coventry twenty years later and spent four seasons at Home Park before new Exeter manager Bobby Saxton lured him to St James Park. They both returned in 1979; Saxton as the Pilgrims' new manager and Randell settling back in the side to continue his Argyle playing career for another three years. He will be best remembered for his first spell at Home Park and many stylish performances in the midfield of the 1974/75 promotion winning dream-team.

29th November

Dom Telford has said that he is raring to go following a series of disruptions to his Argyle career due to injury. The striker said: "Touch wood. I'm feeling good. John Lucas has been brilliant with my strength programme and things like that and I'm feeling good in the gym and out on the grass. I've had a good month behind me in training and in reserve games, coming on now and then, but I feel like I'm getting back to where I was. It has definitely been tough but it's just part of the game and one of these things. You just have to make sure that you're working hard to come back stronger. It is frustrating, you come into a new dressing room and the lads don't see what you're capable of and the fans don't see what you're capable of. You just want to prove to everyone that you are a good signing. I had heard good things about Argyle and about Plymouth itself from people I know that have played here. I have heard positive things from everyone and when I came down here, I was blown away. so it was a no brainer for me. I feel like I'm in a good place physically now and hopefully I can string a few games together and stay fit, I'm doing everything I can to prevent an injury and hopefully the fans can see what I'm about. If you want to get promotion, you need to get momentum and back-to-back wins. Let's be honest, we beat two very good teams in Forest Green and Bradford. We have been resilient in both games in different ways, we are starting to click now but we are not the finished article. There is a long way to go but if we can keep picking points up and keep that momentum going, then it'll be good."

28th

Broadcaster Trevor East has joined the Plymouth Argyle Board of Directors. His appointment brings the Argyle board up to eight. He said of his arrival: "I'm absolutely delighted to be joining Argyle. It's a great club with terrific support. The potential is huge, and an infrastructure is being put in place to help Ryan and his team deliver the success Argyle deserves. The immediate aim is very clear: to get Argyle back in the Championship. I will do everything I can to help Simon, Andrew and the board fulfil everyone's ambitions."

27th

Argyle Chairman and majority shareholder Simon Hallett has invested a further £1.5m into the club. This additional investment sees him purchase another 1.5m £1 shares in the club. This takes his total shareholding to 17,220,768 shares, or 97.19% of the company. The latest cash injection was provided in order to cover several one-off Mayflower Grandstand-related costs.

25th

Ryan Lowe spoke of his experience being in the new Home Park dugouts for the first time as the grandstand redevelopment project nears completion. He quipped: "They are close to the opposition but we don't mind that because we're not an aggressive staff, looking to get involved with the opposition. There might be the odd heated moment now and again but that's what you expect. We might just put the tactics stuff on the far side, so they can't see anything. They are lovely and it all looked the part. The staff have all been walking past and taking pictures because it looks amazing."

Lowe expanded on his pleasure about Saturday's win over Bradford, focusing especially on their ability to respond well to tactical changes. Lowe added: "Every single one of them, to a man, was different class. The willingness and desire to press, and close people down, do everything we ask, was brilliant. You feel comfortable in games and that comes from putting the work in, feeling confident in the boys that they're going to perform and withstand any pressure, which they did. Bradford play with one up front and James Vaughan is a handful. They changed in the second half to match us up with a 3-5-2 and it was tough, but we dealt with it. It shows the work we've put in, to be 2-0 up at half-time, they had to change it to try and get back into the game but the quality of our lads shone through in the end. The game is never won at 2-0 because it's a tough scoreline. We are on a good run of form and we have to continue that. You can't win every game because the league is so inconsistent but if you get a run together, you can start looking forward. We've got a free week from the league now, it's Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup and then we'll bounce into December. We feel that, if we can pick up some points in December, we'll be in a different position again. Come January, February and March, you can then kick-on."

24th

Ryan Lowe praised Argyle's ruthless and effective performance in dismantling a tough Bradford City side to climb to 8th in the league. Lowe analysed the win against the Bantams: "We knew it was going to be tough, Bradford weren't coming here to roll over, they were coming here to be effective. When a team changes shape at half-time, it shows that you've done something well. Some of the football we played today was terrific, some of the moves and the passages of play. We could have finished them off but they put their bodies on the line, cleared off the line. Overall, I'm pleased with the points. It was disappointing to concede an own goal from a ricochet but when you beat the top of the league 1-0, followed by third in the league 2-1, you've got to be happy. We work on things every day, work hard through the week and some of the performances were phenomenal. We are going to come up against teams throwing the ball forward but our boys are up for that, and they can deal with it."

"The build-up to the opening goal, more than anything, was important. We'll always look to move through the thirds to get the opportunities. We've had a couple of goes at it and he stabbed it away on the second one. Joe is a willing runner and a fantastic lad, he's shown that all season by playing in different positions. He's making that right-wing slot his own now, he was terrific and he slotted it in with his left-foot. I like those little side-foot finishes. We've been saying that when we start becoming a good team, then a very good team and an excellent team, it gradually takes time. We've had discussions with the lads, showed them video clips of what they've done well and the football takes care of itself. We put the sessions on for them to play that way and every single one of them was excellent. There was a move on around 78 minutes that would have been some goal and that's what I want from my boys. It doesn't always come off because you've got opposition trying to stop you but we look a good team when we're in full flow."

Matchwinning midfielder Joe Edwards was equally happy with the win, focusing on his own performance and the dedication to his recently born sons. The wing-back said: "It was a great win, we've played two teams at the top of the league now and got six points, which is fantastic. We have also beaten Bolton in the Cup, too, which is pleasing. It's something we have really worked hard on as we knew we had these games coming up, it was massive for us to get the victories. We struggled, especially at home, to get the early goals, to get that today was massively important. We worked on pressing, putting them on the back foot and we did that. For some reason I was in the box, it really paid off for me and I ended up scoring. I ended up being there, it led to a mistake and a goal for us which is great. but I feel everyone is on the same page now, we feel we can defend a lead and it's showing in the performances."

"I'm pleased with the goal. It's something that I can dedicate to my two boys, who were born recently. I did have something planned in celebration of the twins but I forgot to celebrate because I was so excited. Danny Mayor grabbed me, so I can only apologise to my missus for not doing it."

23rd

Argyle's good run of form has continued with a 2-1 victory at home to Bradford City. The greens took a quickfire lead thanks to goals from Byron Moore and Joe Edwards and whilst pegged back in the second half, secured a perfect month for November. Argyle: Palmer, Wootton, Cavanan, Sawyer, J Grant, Edwards, Sarcevic, Mayor, McFadzean, JV Grant(Taylor), B Moore(Telford). Subs: M Cooper, C Grant, Randell, G Cooper, Clarke.

22nd

Ryan Lowe emphasised that Argyle have not needed to turn a corner in their last two games, as they were already on good form. People are saying 'we have turned a corner'. For me, there was no corner to turn, we have only lost one in seven. We will never change our shape, but we can tweak a few things here or there to become more solid when needed. Personnel might change, but the shape doesn't. We've always been playing the same system. If you understand the philosophies of football, the styles and patterns of play, shapes and formations, then you will understand that it doesn't mean everything. When you're defending you can have a back four, middle four and two up front and when you're attacking, you can have three at the back and seven at the front. It's all positive."

"If you get three points and clean sheets, then it's a double positive. For us, we are always looking at the weaknesses to try and improve. Clean sheets have been pleasing, particularly the way the lads have been putting their bodies on the line, but it's all about wins. We have targets for what we want to achieve – how many clean sheets we want. We know how many goals, how many points – it's up to the players to see if we can do that. It's not rocket science – we just need to win football matches and keep clean sheets. When we don't keep clean sheets, we have limited chances of earning three points. Plenty of their fans, with plenty of ours making the trip – I'm really looking forward to it, but our sole focus is Bradford in the league on Saturday, we'll turn our attention to Bristol Rovers on Monday."

"Me and Gary Bowyer are good friends; we have a good relationship. There is no battle between me him, I don't buy into that. I've got the utmost respect for him. We know it's going to be a tough game on Saturday. Gary Bowyer is a good bloke, and he's got some good players there. The expectations for where Bradford want to be are high, they want to keep climbing. Gaz has gone there and changed the philosophy of the club. It's going to be a tough test – last season is irrelevant. It's got nothing to do with the two managers battling it out, it's about two teams trying their best to get the three points. Sometimes, as the manager, you have to think on your feet and be ready for different scenarios to occur. Gaz is in the same position, he's an experienced bloke and I don't think he will try and outthink me, as I certainly won't with him. I don't play mind games like that. He will be setting up his team to get the three points, and I will be doing the same."

Amidst the improved run, Niall Canavan stated his happiness at reaching the milestone of 50 games for Argyle. He said: "I just enjoyed my time, obviously they were at the top of the league, so a big result for us," he said. "Hopefully, it sets us on what we all want, and that's a good run of form from now. It just shows that you are enjoying your football and enjoying your time out there with the boys and getting the results that I think we deserve. I am probably one of the ones that has a bit more of an understanding of the club and how things go here but I'm part of a small group, so there's not too many to pick from."

21st

This weekend will see another milestone reached in the grandstand redevelopment project. Pilgrims' boss Ryan Lowe, his staff and substitutes – as well as their Bradford counterparts – will be using the new dug-outs for the first time. Lowe enthused of the project: "It's the last game before we get some fans in there, which will be nice. It has been a long process and it's finally here now. Everyone involved really needs a pat on the back because it's going to look phenomenal once it's full. It's all budgets. Simon Hallett has put a lot of money into the football club to make it just like that. I'm aware that they have got planning permission to come around eventually and build up. If the club starts moving through the league swiftly then I'm sure that will happen. The same with the training ground eventually, they will start doing it up. What the club has got to do is stand on its own two feet really with the money. Simon can't just keep ploughing money in all the time. If the team is successful then you start climbing the league and the money starts coming in."

"For League Two it's unbelievable. We all know we are not in the right league, because of the stadium, the fanbase, the club and everything else that is with it. Unfortunately, we are where we are. Hard work has started with the grandstand, with the recruitment of myself and my players to hopefully push on. It certainly helps when you are going to have potentially 18,000 here on New Year's Day against Swindon Town. I actually took the dug-outs down at Bury last year because you were in like a little hut and I wanted to be close to the fans. We took them away and we were literally in with the fans. There were some good moments and some bad moments in that. But as long as it's constructive criticism, if it's aimed at me or any of my staff, or my players, then that's fine. We want the fans to be around us. It's going to be good – I'm looking forward to it."

Lowe went on to confirm that Billy Clarke will be back in the squad following his absence from the Forest Green squad. He said of the niggle: "Billy is fine. He trained on Tuesday with John, and then trained yesterday with him. He's full training today. We have just got to make sure that we do right by Bill. He has just had a little niggle. He's a terrific player, a terrific lad and he knows how hard it is to get in the team. He has got to work to get in there. He's not far off. He has been working his socks off. He will be around."

19th

Argyle will travel to Bristol Rovers in the second round of the FA Cup. The Pilgrims have been confirmed for a trip to the Memorial Stadium in Bristol on Sunday, December 1, kick-off 2pm. Rovers booked their Argyle visit by winning 1-0 at Bromley in the first round replay.

Antoni Sarcevic extolled the virtues of defensive play as well attacking flair after Argyle's ground out win at Forest Green. He reflected: "It's a game of football, it's not all about attacking, we can't win every game 3-0 or 4-0. If we won 1-0 every weekend, everyone's happy, so we've worked on holding on to a lead because it was something we were struggling with at the start of the season. You can see a different side to us, so it's going to help us going forward. The clean sheets are massive and then it comes down to the attacking players to produce goals to make it a bit easier for the defence. We've seen in the last two weeks there's a bit of both, creating a bit of a quality for the top end and we know how to see games out now. We've been to Exeter, which was disappointing but we've come away and beaten the top of the league. That's going to happen in this league. Teams, wherever they are in the league, are going to pick up points, we just need to make sure we focus and look after ourselves. We're still in November, things are going to happen, we've done well, and we need to make sure we carry on this consistency because that's key now. It's nice to know that gaffer had faith at the start of the season. I'm just trying my best to help the team as much as I can, that's all that matters to me. It's always nice to get a goal and make sure were pushing in the right direction. I want to do as much as I can to stamp a mark and get us back up into League One. It's the biggest thing on my mind this season and the lads are all on the same page.

"It's a massive piece of me now and I think I owe a lot to the club, the fans and everyone from Argyle to get them back into League One. We took 1,200 to Forest Green, "it's the best fanbase by an absolute mile and we need to make sure that we repay that. The lads this year know that the fans travel in numbers and show their passion and it's something we do appreciate. It's all exciting, we just need to make sure we do the stuff on the pitch and we can all enjoy the last stage of the season."

17th

A display of determination and strength saw Argyle win 1-0 at Forest Green this weekend, according to Ryan Lowe. He said of the display: "It was a fantastic performance, especially in the second half when we were backs-to-the-wall and dogged defending. What I'm seeing from these boys is them putting their bodies on the line. I would've liked to keep the ball a little better in certain areas but sometimes you can't do that. We were at the league leaders, a good footballing side, but when I see my lads putting their bodies on the line and taking whacks, it shows me the determination that these boys want to keep clean sheets and make sure the points are on the board. Game-management is part and parcel of football. We've been clever in certain areas and you've got to have that understanding. We're getting better at it, getting better at bodies on the line, getting better at seeing games out and getting better at passing the ball through the thirds. The determination, steel and desire; the players have given us everything. We give them everything as staff as well, and we're all as one. It pays off because, while some of them are in there bruised and battered, it will taste nicer tonight when they get home to their families and have a glass of red wine. Every day is a learning day. We're not going to get carried away but we'll enjoy that because we've come to the league leaders and won 1-0. They've worked hard all week and come home with three points."

Of the players who didn't make the squad, Lowe said: "Will Aimson and Conor Grant just missed out so they were the two spare men. We took 20 lads. Billy Clarke, we left him at home because in shooting at training on Friday he just tweaked his groin. He will be alright, he just feels it needs to settle down. Bill is a seasoned pro and wanted to make sure it was right. So rather than me putting him on the bench, him sitting there cold and stiffening up, I have have got a squad and we had Zak and Tayls."

Antoni Sarcevic praised the importance of mindset in Argyle's win at Forest Green, in masterfully seeing out the game. He said: "We knew coming here would be tough. Obviously, they're top of the league but our mindset on games is about us. We know how good we are and we know what we need to do to win and it's a big win for us, we need to seriously start pushing on now and creating good form. The first half was a good game of football with two teams who want to play and then in the second half we are in a different mindset, we're 1-0 up, they're going to have moments in the game, bringing their centre half upfront and they're pumping balls, so we've just got to make sure we've got that other side to us and that's what we are showing at the minute. You've seen on the pitch now that we are hard to beat."

"The gaffer is massive on short corners. We're not a huge team but we've got good players that can get on the ball. We work on me and Danny going short in training. I've just seen him on his own with only one man and I've come inside, as soon as it opened up, I knew I'd connected with it well and it was nice to see it hit the back of the net. You know when you've hit it sweet, and I got to celebrate with the fans who were unbelievable. When you get a second goal, the game is seen out, but we didn't get it and they were pumping the ball forward and it just shows that other side to us now, we're resilient and that's what we need going forward. The game's going to have its moments and in the last fifteen minutes when they're pushing for a goal, that's just how it goes, so we've got to make sure we stop that and make sure we can see the game out like we have done."

"You can't read too much into the position, we're not even past December. Putting a marker down by coming to the top of league at this time and winning in front of 1,200 of the best fans in the league by a mile is nice. It's always nice to make sure they go home happy."

16th

Argyle have another win and another clean sheet on the board, winning 1-0 at league leaders Forest Green Rovers. The goal came from an Antoni Sarcevic deflected strike halfway through the first half. Argyle: Palmer, Wootton, Canavan, Sawyer, J Grant, Edwards, Sarcevic, Mayor, McFadzean (Riley (Telford)), JV Grant(Taylor), B Moore. Subs: M Cooper, Randell, G Cooper, Rudden.

15th

Danny Mayor revealed his is thrilled to have regained his place in the Plymouth Argyle side and spoke about how fellow playmaker George Cooper has pushed him hard for his spot in the team. Mayor explained: "I'm glad to be back out there on the pitch, but there is definitely more to come from me. I have had a few distractions off the pitch that have made things a bit more difficult, it's been up and down really. Not really the form I wanted, but definitely more to come. Where I am playing at the moment is where I have played for the past couple of years and I've enjoyed it. I don't feel like I am out on the wing, maybe not getting the ball as much or getting as involved. I love playing in the centre of midfield. I love playing football, as that is what I have come here to do. We have a lot of good players at Argyle. I want to create chances, Sarce creates chances, but to score goals and create chances is our job. If I'm doing that, and if other clubs are noticing that, then it means I am doing something right. I definitely like having George pushing me. He is a top lad. I just want us to win games and if George is the one setting up goals, then he deserves his place. It is definitely a good thing to have George pushing me and me pushing him. The aim is to get promotion. Whatever team we field, that is the aim. I cope with being kicked by trying not to react. Sometimes easier said than done. I reacted a few times last season and the gaffer had to have words with me not to repeat it. I figure, if you're getting kicked, then you must be doing something right. You must be playing well. Take it on the chin and just keep getting up."

"I have to admit that I did think I would struggle. I hadn't left home for a couple of years and never this far south. It felt like I was in France. I'm loving it down here though. It is different here and there are some things you can't do here that you can up north, but the things I can do here I love doing with my little boy, so I'm very relaxed. I came down here with all of the Bury lads, but I also really get on with the lads who were here last year. There are no cliques. I get on really well with Joe Edwards, he's my room-mate. The gaffer always says, it's not just about ability – he also wants good lads."

After some impressive recent performances, Ryan Lowe issued a hands off warning to all clubs thinking of making an approach for talented young keeper Mike Cooper. Lowe said of his young star: "No-one is going to be getting his phone number, no-one is going near my players. I haven't thought of that because he's my goalkeeper, he's contracted to us, he's not going anywhere. And if he does, we want a lot of money for him."

14th

Creative midfielder Jose Baxter has left Plymouth Argyle. The 27-year-old midfielder and the club have mutually agreed to end his short-term contract a few weeks before its January expiry date when it became clear that the recent calf injury would severely curtail his availability. Announcing his decision, Baxter said: "Because of a recurring calf injury that I have suffered this season, it seemed sensible to come to an agreement with the club so that I and they can both plan for the future. I am very grateful for everyone associated with Argyle for welcoming me with open arms. My stay has been short, but memorable, and it is a fantastic club with an amazing manager and coaching staff; great people who work behind the scenes; and a fantastic Green Army following. I wish everyone at the club all the success in the world."

In other news, Argyle's involvement in the Leasing.com Trophy this season has come to an end. The Pilgrims were relying on Swindon Town doing us a favour at Bristol Rovers on Wednesday night but Graham Coughlan's Pirates ran out 1-0 winners, pushing Argyle down to third in the group. Ryan Lowe gave his take on the competition, stating clubs should be allowed to opt out if they please: "I take every cup competition as serious as I can. I want to win every cup competition. Other people, other managers and other clubs don't, without going into too much detail. We fulfilled our games with good squads and good players, and players that have played the following game. I think a line needs to be drawn in that department. For me, I like the competition. I got to the semi-final of it last year and was half a game away from Wembley. I wanted to do the same this year. Unfortunately, it weren't to be. I think where the Premier League teams are asked whether they want to come in, they should ask the Football League teams do they want to go out, and see where it goes from there.

For me, I would rather play a game in the Leasing.com Trophy than probably play a 11-v-11 behind closed doors, or on the training pitch, whatever it is. Yeah, you do experiment and throw one or two in there to see if they can do it if called upon in a league game, and rightly so. That's what the competition is for, to breed the youngsters. If the fans are not happy about it I think maybe that's a case for them to ask the questions and not me. I just get told where to go, where to play and that's it, pick a team."

Danny Mayor spoke of the bitter disappointment of Argyle's 4-0 loss to Exeter City and added that the impressive performance against Bolton set a benchmark for future standards of performance. Mayor added: "We have come off of a good result last week and we just want to continue it. We had to bounce back after the Exeter City defeat, after how disappointing it was. We have had a couple of weeks to reflect on it and train hard. I thought we thoroughly deserved the win at Bolton. We weren't necessarily on the ball. First ten minutes, they were on top, but we got back into it. I thought we played well and defended well. I think that is the benchmark for how we want to defend in games and will help us keep clean sheets. I think going forward, however, we can definitely improve. We worked on seeing the game out. The gaffer has showed us a couple of videos, brought us in for a couple of meetings and also worked on it out on the training ground, cutting out silly mistakes. We want to play football, but in the last couple of minutes, if we need to take it into the corners, then that is what we will do. At the end of the day, everyone wants to win football matches and, if that is the way we need to do it, then we will. If I'm honest, I don't really know a lot about Forest Green this season, but I do know they are doing well. They were a good team last year and I thought, as well as us Bury, were one of the best teams in the league. They have been doing really well, carrying on their good form from last season. The last time I went there with Bury we got battered, but we did win 2-1. I would take that if they give us a good game on Saturday."

13th

Argyle drew 1-1 with Everton in the Premier League Cup (a competition primarily for under-21s) on Saturday and the match was mostly notable for the performance of promising young goalkeeper Mike Cooper, who made a number of fine saves. Cooper assessed his display, saying: "I loved it and a draw was what we deserved. The boys worked their socks off to get the draw and a fair result overall. Everyone grafted really well, the senior boys and younger boys all working hard, everyone had a really good game. It was a good team performance and good team spirit to come out with a draw. We went over in the hotel that we don't fold, that's not what Argyle are about. We showed a good reaction to going behind, we went forward and created chances. Playing against Premier League competition and arguably one of the best teams in Europe at this age, you know you're going to be tested and that's what we want. I've kept working, kept believing in myself and doing things right in games. The boys have helped massively and everything is falling for me at the moment, so let's keep it going. We now go to Fulham in the next game, knowing we can score goals and also keep the ball out of our net. I wouldn't have it any other way at 20 years-old. I was on the bench [at Bolton] and a cracking win, even though it was freezing, and then playing against Everton."

12th

Steven Scumacher has spoken about his transition from Bury to Argyle in his role as assistant to Ryan Lowe. The Liverpudlian spoke of his appreciation for the size of the club and the local area, saying: "We got a phone call a couple of days after the season ended, saying 'Plymouth Argyle would be interested in speaking to you. Who wouldn't want to speak to Argyle? We understand that what we did last year was great, but last year's gone. We have to do it all over again," he says. "A group that were here got relegated, there's also a group that got promoted, and a third group that are completely new to it. To bring them all together and make them gel, takes time. It doesn't happen in six weeks, it may not happen in six months, but, hopefully by the end of the season, you can see the work behind the scenes come to fruition, and we're in a position that the fans can be proud of."

"Nance is top drawer – Plymouth Argyle through and through, and he loves the club," says Schumacher, as if anyone ever needed to be reminded. "He's energetic, he's enthusiastic, he loves his job, and he's one of the hardest working staff members I've come across. For the first couple of days, Nance explained to me what Janners meant! Having people on board who understand the club is vitally important."

"The coaching staff, we feel, has been a good mix, a good blend, of old and new. Definitely. Little bits of information that they can give to us, like, for instance, the walk-out song. Nance says to me that it gets the hairs on the back of his neck standing up, like me with the Z-Cars. When I come out now, I try to listen for the tune, get into it and understand it. Just those little snippets of knowledge are massively important. They know the areas, where to go, what to do, what to say. We're a young, inexperienced management staff who are desperate to do well, and we have to take everybody else's advice on board."

"I love it, my wife loves it down here, the kids are loving it and we're renting a nice house. The area itself, there's loads to do, and we've settled in and made friends already. The people are friendly here, much more friendly than when we were down in London. We're enjoying it at home, I'm enjoying it on the training pitch, and if the results keep coming, it will be even better."

Ryan Lowe, meanwhile, has spoken of Argyle's academy and how he wants it to be the pride of the league. He said: "First and foremost, Kev served the club well. I had a great relationship with him. For me, I want to wish him all the best in what he chooses to do next. In terms of the club going forward, it's something I'm big on, I have given kids a chance already. I don't want to just have the best team in the league, I want to have the best academy also. When that comes along, definitely I will be a part in hopefully shaping it."

"Neil will be helping along the way as well where we need to go with it. Neil is the best in the business. He has run academies for so many years – I won't tell you how many years, he will shout at me for showing his age. I'm only early in my tenure here. The academy has been okay. We have got some good players. You look at Randell, who has been an ever present in the squad this season. ) Lolos has made appearances, there is Jude Boyd and Rubin Wilson, so there are some players there."Some clubs haven't even got that but our standards now, we want to have the best. We have got some good kids in the academy, let's have it right. We have got some fantastic talent in there. I'm up there most Tuesdays and Thursdays watching them, ranging from nine right the way up. We know all the kids. They have got their own dressing room so they are here at Home Park and they have breakfast with us. We know what type of players they are, we know what type of characters they are. We have seen a lot of them. "They have been playing at Harper's Park, they have trained at Harper's Park and they have played on the ground. We have got a good feel of what they have got. We have got some good players in there that we just need to get out now. We are hoping that we can bring the best out of them."

10th

Argyle have been drawn away to either Bristol Rovers or Bromley in the second round of the FA Cup. Ties will be played on the weekend of November 30 / December 1.

Josh Grant spoke of his first team in the defensive midfield role, saying he couldn't have done it without the support of the back three behind him. He reflected: "It my first time playing there from the start of the game and those three were excellent to me – they didn't stop talking to me the whole game. I knew what I was doing through them, and that's the help I need. As I'm a defender, I know how to help the back three out and stop things going into the opposition strikers and, if I can get the ball, just play and get Danny Mayor and Sarce on the ball as much as possible because they are two great players. The gaffer spoke to me and said that I've got some qualities that I can bring to it and 'it's an opportunity for you to play and play well' so I took my opportunity. I had to step up my performance and I felt that I did well. I've had a few cameo roles there, coming off the bench, and I'm starting to learn. I'm looking at Joe's performances and I'm starting to learn, and that's all I can do as a young kid – just keep learning. We looked at Bolton's qualities and saw their strengths and thought how we could nullify that, and the gaffer thought I was the man for the job. That's credit to us – the concentration that we showed and the bravery to play at this lovely stadium. We could have had more goals and should have had more goals, but we still got the win at the end of the day. O'Grady and Murphy are two big lads and they very good at what they do. We thought we could nullify that and get the ball down and play with the likes of Danny and Sarce, and get it up to our strikers as quickly as possible."

Ryan Lowe spoke effusively about the performance, especially the re-invented Grant. Lowe said: "When Grimsby went, I was immediately thinking about Bolton and that's also what players do. When you put in the hard graft in the training pitch and work on the opposition, it's good when it pays off. There are certain games when things don't reach expectations but I knew my players weren't coming off that pitch defeated, they were coming off as winners, and they certainly did that. Working hard is a given for me. My lads know they've got to work hard to get in the team and it's great when I see players putting in a shift. It's hard, because when you lose a game of football, you want to get back on it straightaway and then the game was called off last week. Remi Matthews is a terrific 'keeper and the one that did go in has rattled off the bar. We knew Bolton have got some good players, they're on a transition and trying to stay in the league. They will win more games than they lose because they've got good players but Saturday was about us. We work on stuff all the time and it baffles me sometimes because I don't know what people think, but coaches and players have to work hard every day."

"Josh is a fantastic kid and he's been highlighted for making a couple of mistakes that led to goals, but we can't just hang him out to dry. He's a fantastic player, a fantastic lad, who has come through the Chelsea ranks. We've been monitoring him in that position and young Adam Randell has been terrific when he's gone in there as well. That's why we do our 11v11 practise matches to see who plays the best and he was terrific in there. He can play numerous positions and he was fantastic, fair play to him."

9th

Argyle have progressed to the second round of the FA Cup following a 1-0 victory at League One Bolton Wanderers. Argyle dominated the first half with an early goal from Callum McFadzean sealing the win. Argyle saw out a narrower second half. Argyle: Palmer, Wootton, Canavan, Sawyer, J Grant, Edwards, Sarcevic, Mayor, McFadzean, JV Grant(Clarke), B Moore(Telford). Subs: M Cooper, Aimson, Randell, G Cooper, Taylor.

8th

Gary Sawyer has revealed his dream of facing off against his boyhood side Spurs in the FA Cup, hoping for winnable games in the earlier rounds starting with the trip to Bolton. Sawyer said: "I think everyone does to be honest, the big games are the ones that you want to play in," he said. "If you get to the third round and you can pull your boyhood dream club, it's great. It's something that you are desperate for, to get to the third round. The easier the route there, the better it is for that, but, football being football, you don't get that easy tie. I know how much it means but there is no easy way to do it unfortunately," he said. "You just need to get a good bit of form, a bit of momentum behind you and try and get to the third round. If you pull a big name out, then great, but if not, you try can progress again, it's exciting."

"All of my family are from North London so that was the club. I didn't grow up there, I moved down here when I was young, but all of my family are Tottenham fans and especially with the new stadium. I haven't had the chance to go up there due to our schedule but it is somewhere I will go the next time I have the chance. For me, that would be the icing on the cake for my career if I could finally get Tottenham. It is one that I have been chasing for my whole career but unfortunately it's never happened for me yet, so fingers crossed."

Ryan Lowe joked ahead of Argyle's trip to Bolton about the reunion with goalkeeper Remi Matthews, who Lowe was sent off for a rough tackle against when Bury last visited Argyle at Home Park. Lowe quipped: "I will give him a slight dig when I walk out the tunnel! It was the worst journey of my life. Six hours on the way home and no-one spoke to me. It's football. I don't carry things on. I don't dwell on things. He played the game and I wish some of my players would play the game sometimes when they are being whacked. Look, it is what it is. I have got no hard feelings against him at all."

7th

Ryan Lowe has passed his best wishes to youngster Cameron Sangster as he left the greens to focus on a career in business. Lowe said of the midfielder: "I told him how he would miss it but told him to have a couple of months off and sort out his business, then maybe get back into football. How long it lasts, I don't know because maybe someone else might try and do it. I've said to him, 'while you are doing well now in business – do keep your football on track as well, as you might need to go back to it'. I was only briefly aware of his company and how big it is. I spoke to Cam Sangster and his agent. I asked him what he wanted to do, where he wanted to go and he said he wanted a little bit of time off to decide what he wanted to do, especially with the growth of his business".

"He had something in the back of his head and he was a little torn. He's focused on his business venture and doing well, so it was a mutual agreement between me and Cam and we were very happy to agree. Of course, his ambition was to play for Argyle's first team, but that was limited for him."

"He is a good enough player to certainly make a living out of the game, whether it's non-league or Football League, I think he has the attributes. He is a fantastic kid who has come through the Academy, made appearances, but what he is doing now is phenomenal. We can't hold Cam back, as he has gone to focus on the business side of things. Is it one that we might have left slip out the net, possibly, but I think for my models of what we are as a football club – we let the boy move on. If the boy goes and cracks it elsewhere, then great. We wish him all the best."

Gary Sawyer has stressed how seriously Argyle will be taking their FA Cup first round clash with Bolton ahead of the game in his hope of a third round moneyspinner. Sawyer said: "There is a slight difference in terms of they are a league above us, the pressure probably more goes on to them than us. It's another game and it is a game that we feel that we want to do well in, and we want to progress through the cup, so we take it seriously like any league game. We keep marching forward and hopefully we can get the result that we want on Saturday. Bolton is a massive club, they obviously escaped what could have happened to them with their fate and it's a huge club, great stadium and it's another ground that I haven't played at before."

"I actually stayed there when I played the Man United game. Me and a lad that used to play here, Marcus Martin, we roomed together, and I remember walking around obviously knowing you're playing Man United the next day. I was looking out at Bolton's stadium and just thinking 'this is amazing, I'd love to play here' and I've never had a chance since then, so the FA Cup has brought me that too. Remi Matthews was great for us, a great lad as well off the pitch. A fantastic 'keeper, he will do well for them, as he did for us, but it will be nice to stick one over on him."

6th

Kevin Hodges has left Plymouth Argyle, stepping down from his position as Academy Director with immediate effect. The 59 year old was Argyle's record appearance holder and has also served Argyle as a player and manager in an association with the club that goes back more than 40 years.

2nd

Argyle's game against Grimsby at Home Park has been postponed following structural damage sustained to the Home Park roof above the Barn Park End following overnight storms rendering it unsafe for supporters. The continuing weather conditions, with winds gusting to gale-force at times, has made it impossible to safely access the roof to make repairs.

1st

Klaidi Lolos and Mike Peck have signed for Southern League Premier Division South side Dorchester Town on youth loans. Lolos joins until New Year's Day 2020 and Peck has joined on an initial 28 day spell. They will join up with fellow young professional Tom Purrington whilst Cameron Sangster has announced he will be leaving Argyle by mutual consent to focus on his business career.

Callum McFadzean was insistent Argyle look forward rather than back as they prepared to face Grimsby in their first league game since the thumping at Exeter. The wing-back said: "It is a good thing, depending on results, we have had two poor results, so it's good in that sense that we have a lot of games coming up because we can put it right. I know it's only a matter of time before we do put it right. When you go in with confidence, you want the next game to come so you can put it right. There are still a lot of games to play," said Fadz."Last season with Bury, we went through a stage where there were some games we should have won. It's all about putting a run of games together. If you put a good amount of games together unbeaten then you will be right up there. We are there now, really. We just need to put a set of good results together and we'll be right back in there."

"From last season, I think Grimsby are going to be a better outfit than last season. We will prepare like always, but it is down to ourselves because we know, if we are on our game, we can cause anyone problems. It helps with the fans behind us because the Green Army singing like they do, it's a massive help. Teams will be coming here thinking 'wow, we are in for a tough day here'."

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