The rivalry between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City has often been exacerbated by the rival city dimension, which sees Devon's largest city do battle with its county town.
It is a rivalry that also extends to the city's rugby teams (although two divisions now separate Plymouth Albion and the Exeter Chiefs - the latter having emerged as the South West's premier rugby outfit in recent years) and their respective universities.
Like the rugby rivalries, the football rivalry has been in state of flux in recent with the Grecians having risen up through the leagues following the momentum of their return to the Football League in 2008.
This progress took them above the Pilgrims who fell into financial difficulties following relegation from the Championship in the 2009-10 season, before they were relegated again to League Two in the following campaign after receiving a ten-point penalty for going into Administration.
It was also a season in which Exeter equalled their highest ever league finish of eighth in League One.
Now, fast forward four and a bit years, and Argyle are due to face the Grecians for the first time since February 2002 as league leaders.
At that time, the Pilgrims were heading towards the Division Three title under Paul Sturrock, and parallels can be drawn with their present status under Sturrock's fellow Scotsman Derek Adams.
Former Ross County manager Adams enjoyed many Highland derbies with Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the latter of which saw him involved in a high-profile touchline bust-up with his opposite number Terry Butcher, although the duo remain best of friends to this day.
However, it is highly unlikely that he will undertake such a tussle with Paul Tisdale, for whom Adams is the fourth Pilgrims' boss that he has faced during his nine years in charge at St James Park.
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Sunday, 15 November 2015
AN OCCASION WORTH WAITING FOR
To say that Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper James Bittner's wait for his Football League debut for the Pilgrims against York City was a case of 'good thing coming to those who wait' is a bit of an understatement.
Ever since he was first named as a substitute goalkeeper for AFC Bournemouth against Tranmere Rovers in the 2001-02 season, patience has been a virtue for Bittner as, following spells with Fulham, Torquay United and Argyle, as well as stints in non-league football with Salisbury City, Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers and Hereford United.
Bittner made over 200 appearances for the aforementioned clubs in the Conference, but failed to make an appearance for Torquay during the 2005-06 season and Andy Marriott was ever present.
He finally got his chance after 4,991 after Pilgrims' first choice keeper, Luke McCormick, succumbed to a hip injury, in a game that Argyle won 2-1 to remain at the top of League Two.
Should McCormick not recover in a week's time, then Bittner could well be set to face his former club as the Pilgrims travel to St James Park to face Exeter City next week in the second Devon Expressway derby of the season.
Ever since he was first named as a substitute goalkeeper for AFC Bournemouth against Tranmere Rovers in the 2001-02 season, patience has been a virtue for Bittner as, following spells with Fulham, Torquay United and Argyle, as well as stints in non-league football with Salisbury City, Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers and Hereford United.
Bittner made over 200 appearances for the aforementioned clubs in the Conference, but failed to make an appearance for Torquay during the 2005-06 season and Andy Marriott was ever present.
He finally got his chance after 4,991 after Pilgrims' first choice keeper, Luke McCormick, succumbed to a hip injury, in a game that Argyle won 2-1 to remain at the top of League Two.
Should McCormick not recover in a week's time, then Bittner could well be set to face his former club as the Pilgrims travel to St James Park to face Exeter City next week in the second Devon Expressway derby of the season.
Sunday, 8 November 2015
AWARD CURSE STRIKES ADAMS
After winning the League Two manager of the month award for October 2015, Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams was brought crashing back down to earth when the Pilgrims were knocked out of the FA Cup by Carlisle United.
A first half strike from Peter Sweeney gave the Cumbrians the lead before Hallam Hope, who had been a loan target for Adams before his move from Bury to Brunton Park, added the second to enable Carlisle to avenge their 4-1 defeat in the league last April.
Meanwhile, Exeter City remain as Devon's sole representatives in the FA Cup after they banished memories of defeats against Curzon Ashton and Warrington Town in recent years with a 3-0 win over Didcot Town.
Goals from Clinton Morrison, Tom Nichols and Alex Nicholls ensured the Grecians' passage to and they await tomorrow's draw to find out who they will play in the next round.
A first half strike from Peter Sweeney gave the Cumbrians the lead before Hallam Hope, who had been a loan target for Adams before his move from Bury to Brunton Park, added the second to enable Carlisle to avenge their 4-1 defeat in the league last April.
Meanwhile, Exeter City remain as Devon's sole representatives in the FA Cup after they banished memories of defeats against Curzon Ashton and Warrington Town in recent years with a 3-0 win over Didcot Town.
Goals from Clinton Morrison, Tom Nichols and Alex Nicholls ensured the Grecians' passage to and they await tomorrow's draw to find out who they will play in the next round.
Thursday, 5 November 2015
ADAMS PREPARES FOR CUP BOW WITH THE PILGRIMS
During Derek Adams' first spell in charge of Ross County, he led them to the Scottish Cup final in 2010.
Now, in 2015, he will embark on his first FA Cup tie in charge of Plymouth Argyle against the team left in the competition which is the nearest geographically to his homeland: Carlisle United.
It will be the second time that the Cumbrians have travelled to Home Park this season. The pair met previously in a league fixture in August, which Argyle won 4-1.
The Pilgrims also have a fine history in the competition, having reached the Semi finals of the competition in 1984 and - more recently - the Quarter finals in 2007, which on both occasions they were beaten 1-0 by Watford.
In recent seasons, after failing to win an FA Cup tie between 2008 and 2013, Argyle have reached the third round and second round in the previous two campaigns and will be hoping for further success this time around.
Standing in their way are two players who are no strangers to the South West in the form of Carlisle manager Keith Curle and new loan signing Mark Ellis.
Curle played for Torquay United during the 1983-84 season, and managed the Gulls briefly in 2007. Ellis, who hails from Kingsbridge, also played for Torquay and was a childhood Argyle fan and one-time mascot.
After Saturday, the Pilgrims will be back in cup action on Tuesday when Millwall come to Home Park for a Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area Quarter Final encounter.
Now, in 2015, he will embark on his first FA Cup tie in charge of Plymouth Argyle against the team left in the competition which is the nearest geographically to his homeland: Carlisle United.
It will be the second time that the Cumbrians have travelled to Home Park this season. The pair met previously in a league fixture in August, which Argyle won 4-1.
The Pilgrims also have a fine history in the competition, having reached the Semi finals of the competition in 1984 and - more recently - the Quarter finals in 2007, which on both occasions they were beaten 1-0 by Watford.
In recent seasons, after failing to win an FA Cup tie between 2008 and 2013, Argyle have reached the third round and second round in the previous two campaigns and will be hoping for further success this time around.
Standing in their way are two players who are no strangers to the South West in the form of Carlisle manager Keith Curle and new loan signing Mark Ellis.
Curle played for Torquay United during the 1983-84 season, and managed the Gulls briefly in 2007. Ellis, who hails from Kingsbridge, also played for Torquay and was a childhood Argyle fan and one-time mascot.
After Saturday, the Pilgrims will be back in cup action on Tuesday when Millwall come to Home Park for a Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area Quarter Final encounter.
Saturday, 31 October 2015
NICHOLSON CAN SEEK INSPIRATION FROM KENDALL
If Kevin Nicholson needs any inspiration following his appointment as manager of Torquay United, he could do a lot worse than examine the achievements of the late Howard Kendall.
A number of similarities can be found between Nicholson and Kendall; namely the fact that the pair were key members of successful teams of the clubs they later became manager of.
Nicholson had been a stalwart of the Gulls side that won promotion back into the league under Paul Buckle in the 2008-09 season, and remained a key part of the teams that reached the League Two Play-offs under Buckle and Martin Ling.
Kendall was part of an Everton midfield holy trinity that also included the late Alan Ball and Colin Harvey, who helped the Toffees to win the league title in the 1969-70 campaign.
The duo also arrived as managers at the Launa Windows Stadium and Goodison Park respectively as player-managers, even though the playing side of Kendall's managerial role at Everton proved to be extremely brief.
Although Kendall would oversee one of the most successful ever eras in Everton's history, which saw the Toffees win two league titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup Winner's Cup - he did have overcome a difficult spell in at the start of his reign.
At one stage, a run of six wins in 21 league fixtures prompted Kendall to offer his resignation which was rejected by his Chairman Philip Carter, but the first of what proved to be three spells in charge at Goodison Park was changed on one moment of inspiration.
In a League Cup Quarter Final with Oxford United during the 1983-84 season, in which Everton were trailing by a goal to nil, U's defender Kevin Brock mis-timed a back pass which Adrian Heath latched on to and scored an equaliser for the Toffees.
Had Everton lost that tie, it is not inconceivable that Kendall could have lost his job.
Everton then won the replay 4-1 and went on to reach the final, which they lost to Liverpool after a replay and also won the FA Cup - the first of their trophies won during Kendall's reign - when they beat Watford 2-0 through goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray.
Nicholson's reign as Gulls manager so far has seen Torquay win once in six games, including an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Basingstoke Town - who joined the list of non-league sides to lose to and beat United in the cup that includes Yeovil Town, Sutton United and Harrogate Town.
A career defining moment like the Brock back pass could be around the corner for Nicholson, but with a number of home games coming up later in the season against Welling United, FC Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harriers and Southport still to come - the Gulls fate is still very much in their hands.
A number of similarities can be found between Nicholson and Kendall; namely the fact that the pair were key members of successful teams of the clubs they later became manager of.
Nicholson had been a stalwart of the Gulls side that won promotion back into the league under Paul Buckle in the 2008-09 season, and remained a key part of the teams that reached the League Two Play-offs under Buckle and Martin Ling.
Kendall was part of an Everton midfield holy trinity that also included the late Alan Ball and Colin Harvey, who helped the Toffees to win the league title in the 1969-70 campaign.
The duo also arrived as managers at the Launa Windows Stadium and Goodison Park respectively as player-managers, even though the playing side of Kendall's managerial role at Everton proved to be extremely brief.
Although Kendall would oversee one of the most successful ever eras in Everton's history, which saw the Toffees win two league titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup Winner's Cup - he did have overcome a difficult spell in at the start of his reign.
At one stage, a run of six wins in 21 league fixtures prompted Kendall to offer his resignation which was rejected by his Chairman Philip Carter, but the first of what proved to be three spells in charge at Goodison Park was changed on one moment of inspiration.
In a League Cup Quarter Final with Oxford United during the 1983-84 season, in which Everton were trailing by a goal to nil, U's defender Kevin Brock mis-timed a back pass which Adrian Heath latched on to and scored an equaliser for the Toffees.
Had Everton lost that tie, it is not inconceivable that Kendall could have lost his job.
Everton then won the replay 4-1 and went on to reach the final, which they lost to Liverpool after a replay and also won the FA Cup - the first of their trophies won during Kendall's reign - when they beat Watford 2-0 through goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray.
Nicholson's reign as Gulls manager so far has seen Torquay win once in six games, including an early FA Cup exit at the hands of Basingstoke Town - who joined the list of non-league sides to lose to and beat United in the cup that includes Yeovil Town, Sutton United and Harrogate Town.
A career defining moment like the Brock back pass could be around the corner for Nicholson, but with a number of home games coming up later in the season against Welling United, FC Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harriers and Southport still to come - the Gulls fate is still very much in their hands.
Thursday, 22 October 2015
BACK TO THE FUTURE FOR ARGYLE
In the week that saw the marking of the date that Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled back to in Back to the Future 2, Plymouth Argyle's present is looking familiar to the time in which the duo started their journey from.
On October 21st 1985, the Pilgrims were managed by a Scotsman in the form of Dave Smith just like they were on the same date in 2015 in the form of current manager Derek Adams.
Like Smith, Adams has embraced the city of Plymouth and built a bond with its loyal fanbase since his appointment in the summer.
In the film, there were a number of differences between the way of the life in the Western world between 1985 and 2015, and there has certainly been several big changes to the approach of a Plymouth Argyle manager in the intervening three decades.
Whilst hoverbonds and flying cars are not in the mind of the current Argyle boss, different ideas on a range of things from tactics, sports science and diet and nutrition certainly are.
One factor that links the two Scots is the prospect of a promotion, which Smith led the Pilgrims to at the end of the 1985-86 from the 'old' Division Three. Their promotion challenge was spearheaded by the return of Tommy Tynan on loan from Rotherham United, and - in 2015 - Adams also has Argyle's most prolific scorer since Tynan, Reuben Reid, currently at his disposal.
In Back to the Future 2, it was predicted that the Chicago Cubs would finally win Baseball's World Series, but there is no such predictions were made on the future of English football; let alone Plymouth Argyle.
It would be fitting if the Pilgrims were able to mark their own 30th anniversary with another promotion triumph with a side that fans could compare to their 1985-86 side.
On October 21st 1985, the Pilgrims were managed by a Scotsman in the form of Dave Smith just like they were on the same date in 2015 in the form of current manager Derek Adams.
Like Smith, Adams has embraced the city of Plymouth and built a bond with its loyal fanbase since his appointment in the summer.
In the film, there were a number of differences between the way of the life in the Western world between 1985 and 2015, and there has certainly been several big changes to the approach of a Plymouth Argyle manager in the intervening three decades.
Whilst hoverbonds and flying cars are not in the mind of the current Argyle boss, different ideas on a range of things from tactics, sports science and diet and nutrition certainly are.
One factor that links the two Scots is the prospect of a promotion, which Smith led the Pilgrims to at the end of the 1985-86 from the 'old' Division Three. Their promotion challenge was spearheaded by the return of Tommy Tynan on loan from Rotherham United, and - in 2015 - Adams also has Argyle's most prolific scorer since Tynan, Reuben Reid, currently at his disposal.
In Back to the Future 2, it was predicted that the Chicago Cubs would finally win Baseball's World Series, but there is no such predictions were made on the future of English football; let alone Plymouth Argyle.
It would be fitting if the Pilgrims were able to mark their own 30th anniversary with another promotion triumph with a side that fans could compare to their 1985-86 side.
Saturday, 10 October 2015
GULLS END 12-MATCH WINLESS RUN AGAINST SOUTHPORT
Torquay United recorded their first win under the reign of player-manager Kevin Nicholson with a slender victory away at Southport.
Alex Fisher scored the game's decisive in the opening minute, when he turned home a corner from Dan Butler to score his fifth goal of the season.
Louis Briscoe was unlucky not to add a second shortly afterwards when he had an effort cleared off the line, but the Gulls managed to hang on to secure their first win in 12 matches and their first clean sheet since the opening day of the campaign against Macclesfield Town.
The win was a big boost to United, who had previously tasted defeat in Nicholson's first two games in charge against Aldershot Town and Dover Athletic.
Next up for United is a trip to Woking on Tuesday night, which is then followed by a home fixture with Play-off chasing Grimsby Town next Saturday.
By that point, Nicholson might have drafted in an assistant to work alongside himself and goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey.
Alex Fisher scored the game's decisive in the opening minute, when he turned home a corner from Dan Butler to score his fifth goal of the season.
Louis Briscoe was unlucky not to add a second shortly afterwards when he had an effort cleared off the line, but the Gulls managed to hang on to secure their first win in 12 matches and their first clean sheet since the opening day of the campaign against Macclesfield Town.
The win was a big boost to United, who had previously tasted defeat in Nicholson's first two games in charge against Aldershot Town and Dover Athletic.
Next up for United is a trip to Woking on Tuesday night, which is then followed by a home fixture with Play-off chasing Grimsby Town next Saturday.
By that point, Nicholson might have drafted in an assistant to work alongside himself and goalkeeper coach Kenny Veysey.
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