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

Thursday 30th June 2022

Argyle have unveiled their three kits for the new season. A predomiantly green home kit and a green and white away kit which is a homage to the famous promotion winning kit of the 1995/96 season. The third kit is predominantly black and pictures can be found on the club's official site.

Jordan Houghton is looking forward to the traditional curtain-raiser for the new season at Plymouth Parkway. Houghton said: "These games sum up the club and the city really. To play Parkway as the first game of every season, get the fans in, it's a very friendly, family orientated day. We have that little walk from the coach to the ground, there are loads of fans, lots of kids, it's just a perfect game really. We're really looking forward to it, obviously pre-season is a long and tough time, so it'll be nice to get out and play football again. The training has been good. I have had different, more old school pre-seasons in the past, but this is different it's good and with a lot more ball work. It has been very enjoyable, and we can see why the sessions have been planned the way they have. That's good for us as players because we can get on board with it and see why Elliot Turner is doing the things he's doing with us. You want to win, that's engrained in us as players. We do though have more of an emphasis on running harder and getting those metres in. It's a great group, we are a tight unit on and off the pitch and the new lads have settled in really well - there was never any doubt about that. It'll be nice to get out and play with the lads again, it's different from the training ground, but I think it'll be a bit easier as we have kept pretty much the whole squad."

29th

Argyle's League Cup first round tie with Peterborough United will take place on Wednesday 10th August for a 7:45pm kick off, in order to allow the Peterborough side to stay in Plymouth before the league game the following Saturday.

28th

Argyle recruit, Mickel Miller, is eager to show the Argyle fans exactly what he is about as he opens the latest chapter of his footballing career. The utility man said: "It feels good to be here," he said on signing his two-year deal, "It's a new beginning, it's exciting and I just want to get going to be fair. When I spoke with the manager I got a good vibe from him, he seems like a nice guy. The passion he showed in wanting me to join always sits well with a player. That was a big factor, along with the playing style of course. I've played against Argyle a couple of times before, last season and even when I was on loan at Northampton. Everyone knows they play good football, which suits me. I like the sound of the dressing room and the chat with the boys, so hopefully I won't look out of place."I began in non-league with Carshalton before heading all the way up to Scotland to play for Hamilton. It was a big move for me because I had never moved away from home. It was a bit of a shock to start off with because I didn't have my mum, my family, no cooking, all of that, but I got used to it and it helped me move on with my career. Rotherham was then good for me, we had a good season, obviously played at Wembley and forged some lifelong memories that I will never forget. I can't fault my time there, it was very good, but I am buzzing to be here now be honest, I just want to get out there and start playing ball. I am ready for a new challenge now."

27th

Argyle have confirmed one in and one out of Home Park with the news that former Rotherham United wing back Mickel Miller has joined on a two year deal. The promotion winner last season can play on either side or up front. Steven Schumacher said, "I am really pleased to finally announce that Mickel is an Argyle player. Talks have been on-going since the final day of last season to try and get this deal over the line. Mickel had a number of other clubs chasing him, but thankfully he has chosen to play his football with Argyle. He was part of a promotion team last season at Rotherham, so he has experience of competing at the top of League One. He will bring pace, energy and directness to our left hand side and I am sure the fans will take to him also when they see how hard he works for the team."

Meanwhile, George Cooper has left Argyle by mutual consent. The wing-back has had his pernmanent spell at Argyle riddled by injuries after joining in the summer of 2020, following a very successful loan spell. Schumacher said: "I wish George all the best in his next football challenge. I will fondly remember all of his assists in the 2019/20 promotion season, where if it hadn't have been for his free kick goal against Morecambe when the game was really tight, or his long range pass that set Ryan Hardie off against Macclesfield, then the points per game ratio could have been different. Over the last two seasons it's been hard for George getting over a number of injuries. We both felt that a new challenge was best for him, and I'm sure he is going to get back to his best again soon."

23rd

The Greens will begin their 22/23 Sky Bet League One campaign with a home tie against newly relegated Barnsley on Saturday 30th July. They will travel to Cheltenham for the second successive year on Boxing Day and a trip to Vale Park will round off the season. Full fixtures can be found on the club's official website. Argyle will host Peterborough in the first round of the League Cup and Crystal Palace under-21s will be the final team in the EFL Trophy group.

Steven Schumacher has attained his FA Level 5 UEFA Pro Licence after an 18-month course. The award is one of the highest achievable qualifications for football coaches and is a requirement for coaches who wish to manage at the highest level. The gaffer said: "It was brilliant, I'm buzzing. It has been a tough time, but a really good time. I have learnt so much and met some great people. There are only 600 people in the English FA that have the Pro licence, so I am incredibly proud. I have had time to look back over a hectic last few years; from stopping playing, to coaching, to getting an A-Licence to becoming a manger. It's great to get it done and now I can get on and focus on doing well at Argyle."

21st

Newbie Matt Butcher has declared his excitement at joining Argyle and beginning the pre-season process with the greens. He spoke with enthusiasm about the Pilgrims' style of play. Butcher raved: am very excited to be here and it's great to get in the door so early, meet everyone and get started. I want to be part of a successful team and hopefully we can be that this season. Everyone here seems to have their sights set high and building on what happened last season. I spoke to the manager, and of course know the assistant well from playing with him and was really engaged by their thoughts and ambitions. I have played against Argyle and have seen how well supported the club is and it's always been a dream to play for a big club, I just can't wait to get started now. I've heard that the group togetherness is massive and was a big part as to why the team was successful last season, so I am looking forward to meeting everyone and getting started. I loved it at Accrington, it was probably the most football I have played consecutively on my career, so it was great for my development to play that much. I played in a few different positions in midfield and learnt to play in a couple of different formations. I play with a lot of energy, like to get stuck in and always want to try and get my fair share of goals and assists. Scoring, arriving at the right time and being in those forward positions is something I think I can still work on, and speaking to the manager that's where he sees me improving. I will be working hard on getting better at those sorts of situations and hopefully add more attacking intent into my game."

"The style of play was a big drawing point for me. They play the ball around well and the midfield work well together. It was difficult to pick up men when I was playing against Argyle, so it'll be nice on the other side rather than chasing you around. Signing now and being in before pre-season means I can get on board with that as quickly as possible and be ready to hit the ground running straight away."

Young defender Finley Craske has signed his first professional contract at Argyle. The Academy graduate, who has been at the club since the age of seven, made a huge impact whilst on loan to city neighbours Plymouth Parkway last season, helping them to promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. The versatile player, who can play in midfield or in defence, made his Argyle debut in the Papa John's Trophy against Newport County AFC in November 2020 and then made his EFL bow later that season. He featured as a second half substitute in Argyle's final game of the 2020/21 season at Gillingham.

20th

Argyle have announced the much-anticipated first signing of the close season, bringing in central midfielder Matt Butcher from Accrington Stanley. The 25 year old central midfielder links up with the side as they return to pre-season training. Steven Schumacher said: "I'm delighted that Matt has joined us at Argyle. He is a player we have been watching closely for a couple of years at Accrington Stanley. Matt is a very technically gifted footballer who has also got physical attributes that we are needing to strengthen our midfield. He is versatile and is able to play different roles in our system. We will be looking for him to add goals to his game and I'm sure he is going to enjoy his time here at Argyle."

Argyle have been drawn alongside Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town in the 22/23 Football League Trophy. Newly promoted Rovers, Sky Bet League Two side Swindon and Argyle make up three of the four teams in Group E of the southern section of the competition, with one further invited under-21 side to be announced.

18th

Following a comprehensive review of the stadium operations and layout of Home Park over the close season, Argyle have confirmed that they have received approval to increase our match capacity by over 600 seats for the upcoming League One campaign. Taking into account these changes, a sold-out stadium next season (including away supporters), will come in at roughly 17,000.

17th

With the return to pre-season training nearing, Director of Football Neil Dewsnip gave an update on Argyle's progress in the transfer market. He explained: "We have been working hard all summer, talking to different people, trying to find the right fit for us and the fans will see that work very soon. We work with MRKT Insights in identifying targets that are appropriate for us and once we have them identified, we go about trying to get them. Over the last couple of years, we have created a profile of the type of player we want to bring to the club. That profile is based around their technical and tactical abilities, their physical and mental capabilities and also their personality and social mindset.

"We want to get the right person in and that could be anyone. It could be a player under contract at a club elsewhere, it could be a free agent, or it could be someone who has been made available for a loan signing. If they are going to improve Argyle and fit our recruitment profile, we will try and get them to Home Park."

"We are not attempting a major overhaul. We have got 22 players under contract, and what we know is the vast majority of that group got us to seventh place and a bit of a hard luck story. We have to be intelligent in the market, and that's what I think we would like to be, we know that we don't need to change a load unnecessarily and we do not intend to. We are just looking for a couple of fine tunings that can hopefully make us just a little bit better this year."

9th

Argyle have announced an innovative new front of shirt sponsor in the form of a new community social impact project for Plymouth, Project 35, in partnership with Ginsters and the Argyle Community Trust. This relates to the percentage of children living in poverty in some wards in the city. The partnership aims to both raise awareness and take practical action. Argyle Head of Commercial Operations, James Greenacre, said: "This is the most exciting and ambitious front of shirt partnership I have been involved in at the club, and we cannot wait to bring it to life in the season ahead. Project 35 has the potential to have a huge impact on our local community, using the power of Argyle for social good."

8th

Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the break-in at Home Park that saw the pitch left badly damaged by a tractor. The boys who are under the age of 16 and from the Plymouth area, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

5th

Argyle has today reported criminal damage at Home Park following a break-in at the stadium on the night of Saturday 4th June. Individuals broke through perimeter fencing before entering the grounds team's storage garage to gain access to a tractor. Having started the ignition with tools, the individuals proceeded to drive the tractor across the Home Park pitch, which is at an early and crucial stage of renovation ahead of the 22/23 season, leaving significant damage. Argyle are working with the police on this matter and have offered a reward for relevant information, the details of which can be found on the club website.

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