Wednesday 18 January 2017

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT

All eyes will be on Home Park this evening as Plymouth Argyle host Liverpool in their FA Cup third round in front of what is set to be the club's biggest home attendance in recent times.

Around 1,800 temporary seats have been added to the Mayflower Stand to increase the ground's capacity such was the demand for tickets for the occasion.

As well as those watching the tie in the flesh, BT Sport will also be broadcasting the match live with former Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and ex Argyle boss Neil Warnock acting as pundits.

Regardless of the outcome of the match, the match will give the Pilgrims the opportunity to showcase that word that has so often been associated with them through much of their history - potential.

After Hull City's promotion the Premier League in 2008, Plymouth has held the mantle of the largest city in Europe never to have hosted top-flight football, although the potential - yes, that word again - has often been recognised by many.

Since the turn of the century, the likes of Blackpool, Bournemouth, Cardiff City, Hull, and Swansea City have risen through the leagues to reach the Premier League and they look set to be joined by Brighton and Hove Albion, and possibly even Huddersfield Town as well - if the Terriers can negotiate the Championship Play-offs. All of these clubs are of equivalent size, if not smaller, than the Pilgrims, 'so if them why not us?' the Green Army may ask.

In the ultimate of reality shows, of which contestants in the manager's hot seat have included Malcolm Allison, Billy Bingham, Tony Waiters, Bob Moncur, Peter Shilton, Warnock and Ian Holloway to name but a few, the Pilgrims have never quite managed to reach the top-flight of the domestic game.

However, in current manager Derek Adams they have the man who guided Ross County into the Scottish Premier League for the first time ever, so maybe their luck might change.

Their rich history includes an FA Cup semi-final in 1984, which saw Watford break their hearts at Villa Park, and a couple of fourth placed finishes in the 'old' Second Division in the 1930's, decades before the end of season play-offs were even dreamed of.

However, tonight the Pilgrims' faithful can enjoy being reminded of that word 'potential' without being made to feel weary by it.