GoS-DB Players

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Greens on Screen started its life in 1999 before many of the football sites that we are familiar with today, including Plymouth Argyle's own official site. Greens on Screen is dedicated to the sights, sounds and history of Plymouth Argyle Football club. It is owned and run by the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive, a charity dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and display of the heritage of our great football club.

The site owes its existence to Steve Dean.Without Steve's dedication and commitment for over 25 years, GoS would not exist and be the valued and loved resource for all football fans that it is today. The site is truly the envy of many clubs, and we owe a huge debt to Steve for his tireless work, and continued support behind the scenes.

Greens on Screen's first page was published in January 1999. Its early purpose was to bring Plymouth Argyle a little closer to those unable to see their team, and whilst it has changed a great deal over the years, its core themes - sights and sounds for Westcountry exiles - still stand. The site was very lucky to take on the content of Trevor Scallan's Semper Viridis in the summer of 2007, and in 2009 launched GoS-DB, a wealth of facts and figures from PAFC's history. A year later, we embarked on a complete history of Argyle, with much-valued contributions from chapter authors. Greens on Screen was taken over by its new custodians, The Argyle Archive, in 2024.

Greens on Screen is an amateur website and proud of it. It is run by a team of volunteers from the Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive (Argyle Archive). Without the hard work and much-valued contributions of these volunteers, running the site would not be possible. Greens on Screen is self-taught and as a result, a little bit quirky.

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GoS's sole aim is to be a service to fellow supporters, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate Argyle's history for many years to come.

Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive.
April 2024

Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).

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JOHN CRAVEN

Born: 15 May 1947

Came from: Coventry City Went to: Vancouver Whitecaps

First game: 22 January 1977 Last game: 07 March 1978

Appearances: 55 (55/0) Goals: 3

Born in Lytham St Anne's, Craven started his career as an apprentice with Blackpool and made his debut as a left-back for the top-flight Tangerines in August 1967, initially teaming up with Jimmy Armfield. He later moved into a more central defensive / midfield role and was given the captain's armband by Bob Stokoe as Armfield's career wound down. Despite this and being voted Blackpool's Player of the Year in 1971 after leading them to an Anglo Italian Cup win over Bologna in Italy – a game in which he scored the equaliser – he requested a transfer. He had played 163 times for Blackpool, scoring 24 times, but got his wish and moved to Crystal Palace. In a two-year stay at Selhurst Park, he played 63 times before moving to Coventry City, where he played 89 times in a four-year stay. It was from Coventry that he was signed by Tony Waiters to move to Home Park, where he played regularly across two seasons before moving to Canada to play for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He played 70 times for the Whitecaps and also appeared for Calgary Boomers before winding down in the States, in the same league, with 19 games for California Surf in 1981.

Sadly, John Craven died in 1996, shortly before his 50th birthday, after suffering a heart attack whilst still resident in the USA.

YOUR CONTRIBUTION

If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.

From Malcolm T in Plympton on 29/11/2013 ...

I remember John Craven playing, not in a league match for Argyle but in a representative fixture at Bodmin's Priory Park on a very cold and frosty night in late October / early November of 1977-ish! Cornwall were playing an Argyle XI and I went to see them because my mate from college (that I'd left some 18 months previously) was in goal for Cornwall having had a brilliant season playing for Newquay. John Craven had a storming game at centre-half that night and afterwards I met him as he supped his post match pint in the corner of the Bodmin clubhouse. He was the perfect gentleman and had time to sign autographs for the kids ....and the adults too! Nothing was too much trouble and his stories of playing professional football modest and amusing.

APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]

The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.

I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.

The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.

Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. I have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material used on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of each page. Search facility powered by JRank Search Engine. UK time at page load: 04 October 2024, 18:47.