Plymouth Argyle v Rovers: 3rd Feb 2018 - a pilgrimage

The Day Pelé Came to Plymouth!
In 1973 the city’s local football team, Plymouth Argyle, hosted a friendly match against Brazilian side Santos FC, one of the best clubs in the world at the time. Their line-up featured world-renowned player, Pelé. And despite the superstar scoring a penalty, shockingly it was Plymouth Argyle who won!

The Day Rovers Visit Plymouth
A group of 8 of us are making the trip down to Plymouth for along weekend. For 2 of the ‘crew’ it is a pilgrimage to a City they spent many a good night out whilst in the Royal Navy. The bus is booked (the very latest launch from Leyland DAF) and the crates of brown ale are ordered, and the condoms sorted.



I have never been to Home Park before so this will take me up to 70 grounds. I used to live in the SW and drove past the ground many times but never attended. Of course who can forget our 5-2 battering of Argyle in the 70’s (even Pinkrover will remember I suspect if she admits to her true age ) after their fans arrived in Blackburn in their thousands from 8am onwards causing havoc and running out of green spray paint. One of my all time favourite Rovers memories.

From the Lancs Telegraph:
“February 15, 1975, Rovers 5 Plymouth 2

ROVERS moved back to the top of the Third Division table with this comeback win over promotion rivals Plymouth.

The fixture came just 11 days after Rovers had lost 2-1 at Plymouth. The Devon side went 2-0 up at Ewood as Hugh McAuley scored after good work from Paul Mariner, then John Delve also found the net.

Rovers’ misery deepened as Don Martin’s penalty was saved by Plymouth keeper Jim Furnell, but it was 2-1 when Ken Beamish scored before half time.

Gordon Lee’s side then moved 3-2 in front after the interval with two quick goals from Martin and Mike Hickman.

The duo each scored again, in a pivotal result in Rovers’ promotion campaign.

Rovers: Jones, Heaton, Burgin, Metcalfe, Hawkins, Fazackerley, Beamish, Oates, Hickman, Parkes, Martin.”

Famous Fans
Sir Charlie Drake used to watch Argyle in between fighting the Spanish Armada and trying to hit it off with a queen. Here is an image of him in his Royal Navy finest:


Other fans include this fella (never heard of him except via an t’internet search) Josh ‘Anne’ Widdicombe:

What a frightening image!!

My Prediction
16 bottles of red wine
72 pints
8 hangovers
0 arrests
8 bollockings on returning home
3 points

EIEIEIO off to Devon we do go.

Another cracking preview BB and like you say the 5-2 win still rates as probably my favourite ewood memory

Certainly up there with the best memories, suprised you have never been to home park,PB I've had many a happy day there,not least the last visit.When a play off place was secured and eventually promotion to the land off £££££££££.
Went on the train once arrived at 6am and was drinking in the docks by 7am,went in the wrong end and when I went for a piss my mate was half way across the pitch whilst the game was ongoing.By the time I bailed him out and got a large carry out the night train was our return,walk up in a place called Carstairs.

Fantastic and funny BB .

Your reviews always raise a chuckle in our household . The Plymouth 5-2 home game was my favourite all time Rovers match . Thanks for reviving the memories

Did anyone find that lad who went bonkers in the home end when we scored and then finished sixth then to win the ply offs? he leapt up and down in the home end when we scored!

rovers95 said:

Did anyone find that lad who went bonkers in the home end when we scored and then finished sixth then to win the ply offs? he leapt up and down in the home end when we scored!

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Stuck in a place called Carstairs

Only 550 tickets were left on Friday

I'd recommend a trip to the Devon Rivera, Torquay is lovely at this time of year.For those staying in Plymouth a Rovers fan has a bar on the barbican.

Rovers tweeted that we have 300 left of our 1,516 allocation.

A couple of weeks ago Wigan had an allocation of 740 and took 588 - poor show for top of the league.

I wonder if any of our travelling fans are taking a couple of cans of blue aerosol spray paint with them and planning retribution around their city forty odd years on.

darrenrover said:

I wonder if any of our travelling fans are taking a couple of cans of blue aerosol spray paint with them and planning retribution around their city forty odd years on.

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No, not us, we are well behaved - only cans of beer .

Can't believe you're leaving pooch

ABBEY said:

Can't believe you're leaving pooch

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It was a struggle to negotiate. I will have my photos of him to keep me going.

We have a match tomorrow if anybody is still interested in view of the lack of posts today.
I am hoping that Mowbray will name an unchanged team. The first half v Walsall we really looked like a football team however I have the feeling that he will weaken it by playing Conway, who he seems to think has defensive ability, in place of either Payne or Armstrong. Have some guts Tony and go for it from the start. That's the way to win.

It’s difficult to be anything but positive about this Rovers team which I think is more dangerous & more likely to win away than at home . I still have worries defensively & would prefer more solid central defenders but Mowbray doesn’t seem to see that as a problem .

I’ll trust him to plan the strategy tomorrow , but agree with Al , we should have no fear of Plymouth , they should be fearing and be worried sick of a free scoring & 18 match unbeaten Rovers . Go out , dominate & bring back 3 points

Respect to all the fans who are making the long trip .

And I did not remember them scoring,remember watching shilts,as a travelling England fan that was a sad day as I remember hI'm having much better days.
Who will be our speedie today,I reckon Armstrong.
4-2 t,rovers.

khmerblue said:

And I did not remember them scoring,remember watching shilts,as a travelling England fan that was a sad day as I remember hI'm having much better days.
Who will be our speedie today,I reckon Armstrong.
4-2 t,rovers.

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Fortunately we have at least two, possibly three who are capable of "doing a Speedie". I would site Armstrong, Dack and possibly the "New" Graham.

Alan said:

Fortunately we have at least two, possibly three who are capable of "doing a Speedie". I would site Armstrong, Dack and possibly the "New" Graham.

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Do I detect a slight change in your opinion Al?

For those who study form and stats............

http://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england3

Attendances (home)
https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/league-one/attendances