Day of Sport

Yesterday marked another remarkable day in football - and sport as a whole - especially down here in Plymouth.  Firstly West Ham clinch promotion in a nail biting game, then as the Olympic Torch made its way through the streets, Chelsea would be firing one more penalty home against Bayern to be crowned Champion of Champions in Europe - and thus through a stroke of ill fate knocked Tottenham out of their 4th position into Europa, thus negating the whole of the season. 

Plymouth was in carnival mood yesterday with the combination of Lord Mayor's Day and the Olympic Torch relay, having been bedecked in red white and blue as people came to see the symbol  will dominate the summer, the other half of the city were watching the TV as Chelsea v Bayern descended into English v Germans (though how many English players are there at Chelsea?).  And if you thought that the ending of the Premier League a week ago was dramatic, then the ending of the Champions League was just as heart stopping.

But for all the thrill that this season of top flight football has brought with the race for 1st place, race for 3rd, race for 4th etc, and the subsequent matches that sealed the outcomes, what have we learnt?  That the winning clubs are those that spend their way to victory.  And you don't even have to be that good - in the case of Chelsea, who have ousted a team who were better than them in their own league. 

So what of next season?  Well to be sure that the 'winners' - Chelsea, City. are now out to get whoever they want at whatever cost, and will probably get their way, bolstered by their success.  Arsenal will probably lose Van Persie, and Spurs will probably lose half their squad.  And United are always a safe bet for agents.  I would say that, unlike the Games, next season's football will probably be more predictable.  And what a shame if it is.

Comings and Goings II

What an end to a season with City clinching the Trophy at the very last gasp of the league.  Things are shaping up now as to whom Argyle will be playing next season, with just the play-offs left.  We already know that Swindon, Shrewsbury and Crawley have gone up, and Hereford and Macclesfield wont feature due to their relegation.  Old foes Exeter on the other hand will be a feature, along with other ex-League One clubs Wycombe, Chesterfield and Rochdale.  Likewise we know that a trip to Blackpool's neighbours, Fleetwood, is guranteed but who out of Wrexham, Mansfield, York or Luton will be joining them?

(C) Manchester City

----------------------

Bolton

Blackburn

Wolves

Championship

­ ­Reading

­­Southampton

? West Ham

? Birmingham

? Blackpool

? Cardiff

----------------------

Portsmouth

Coventry

Doncaster

League 1

­Charlton

Sheffield Wednesday

? Sheffield United

? MK Dons

? Huddersfield

? Stevenage

----------------------

Wycombe
Chesterfield

Exeter

Rochdale

League 2

­Swindon

­Shrewsbury

Crawley

? Torquay

? Cheltenham

? Crewe

----------------------
Hereford

Macclesfield

Conference Premier

Fleetword

? Wrexham

? Mansfield

? York

? Luton 

Adieu notre ami

One of the finest men to don the Green/White/Black/Orange/Yellow shirt announced his retirement yesterday.  David Friio's mate has enjoyed his testimonial year and promotion to player/coach, but has now hung up his keeper's gloves on the upright.  Good bye Romain Larrieu.

Le keeper made a total of 317 appearances for the Greens (and only 3 other players every to have played for PAFC can boast higher) over 11 and a half years service, and was always considered number 1 between the sticks - even when younger keepers such as McCormick, Stack, Cole were regularly picked first.  Larrieu's gentlemanly stance made him a firm favourite and he was appointed club captain and had a song dedicated to him ('We all dream of a team of Larry-Os').  Ro publically played out his battle with  testicular cancer whilst at the club - not once but twice - and has been a faithful servant though the ups and downs, thick and thin.  Although Romain will no longer feature on the pitch as player, it is hoped that he will be able to continue in his role as coach.  We shall see.  But for now, for all your work between the stick.

Adieu, merci beaucoup et bonne chance.

...All Over...It is Now

Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Cheltenham Town

And so the season ends with the flourish of a tortoise fart, namely two loses.  Oh well it only really sums up how god awful 11/12 has been for Argyle and thank Christ that's over.  The last two games of the season meant nothing since survival was assured, apart from pride at stake, and the results could be interpreted that Argyle don't even have that especially as once again an ex-player came back to Home Park and was allowed to piss all over the place - scoring the first goal and setting up the second.   However its now time to breathe a huge sigh and take a rest from all the bitterness, infighting, stress and depression the last few years have been.  We're stuck with Fletcher for next season and whatever team we can cobble together to make 'professional', the outlook is not that rosy in stark terms.  But instead rather than worry let's enjoy England losing at the Euros, and the Summer Games, see what Brent has in store for his football club and try and start next season as a united Green Army.

Out with a Whimper

Morecambe 2 - 2 Plymouth Argyle

Rather than going out of the season - which is now secure in League 2 - with a bang, it seems that a whimper is more on the cards.  Fletcher took the chance of a no stress game to get his new young keeper on the pitch, Chenoweth, and leave Wotton out to avoid suspension.  After a lively start the Greens (or rather Whites) could have been a few goals ahead but by half time were cruising 0-1.  Unfortunately the second half started to turn out as one of those performances that the Green Army have got so used to - Argyle lost shape and the balls started to go stray.  It was left to Morecambe to get the equaliser and eventually take the lead before Purse managed to head in a ball parried from their keeper.  All in all it had a party over feeling rather than a party on that was hoped for.

Comings and Goings

Last week we started to see who found be celebrating and weeping as the season ends, with a few clubs crowned champions or relegated.  However, following this week the picture of who will be playing who next season has become more clear.

Championship

­ ­Reading

­Southampton

? West Ham

? Birmingham

? Blackpool

? Cardiff

----------------------

Portsmouth

Coventry

Doncaster

League 1

­ Charlton

? Sheffield Wednesday

? Sheffield United

? MK Dons

? Huddersfield

? Stevenage

----------------------

Wycombe
Chesterfield

Exeter

Rochdale

League 2

­ Swindon

­ Shrewsbury

? Crawley

? Torquay

? Cheltenham

? Crewe

----------------------

Macclesfield

There's still a lot in it for some clubs, though Argyle will be playing Exeter next season in league 2, it still remains to be seen if Torquay will be there too.

All Over Bar the Shouting

Plymouth Argyle 1 - 1 Oxford United

Not quite the 3 points wanted but the draw means Argyle have secured their place in the football league for another season. As the champagne corks get swept up and the Green Army breathes a huge sigh of relief, it's not really the aim that the beginning of the season had - to spend most of the time on the brink of going out of the league and to pull of the great escape. Such a ftought season of emotions running very high as we stared at the very real possibility of Argyle dropping into oblivion. There are 2 games left to go, but are academic now that survival has been won. There is a lot of work to do before next season, to even contemplate Argyle being any force to be reckoned with again, but with the close scrape avoided it's time for positivity that a new start will hopefully bring.

End of Season

There will be no season tickets at Argyle for 12/13 season, instead the board are introducing new 'Join the Club' membership statuses instead.

GREEN+

Access to all home league games and priority ticketing for home cup games
Replica Shirt*
Match-day Programme
Argyle Player for a year
Invites to regular club events (6 per season)
Pre-match e-mail
One free room-hire
15% discount in the Argyle Superstore
10% discount at Akkeron Hotels and Saltrock clothing
(*or retail item(s) to the equivalent value)

Full price: £425
Concessionary price: £325

GREEN

Tickets for all home league games and priority ticketing for home cup games
Argyle Player - one month free
Invites to regular club events (6 per season)
Pre-match e-mail
One free room-hire
15% discount in the Argyle Superstore
10% discount at Akkeron Hotels and Saltrock clothing

Full price: £340
Concessionary price: £250

WHITE

Tickets for 6 home league games and second priority ticketing for home cup games
Benefits:
Argyle Player - one month free
Invites to regular club events (6 per season)
Pre-match e-mail
10% discount in the Argyle Superstore
10% discount at Akkeron Hotels and Saltrock clothing

Full price: £100
Concessionary price: £75

PILGRIM

Second priority for home cup matches
Invites to regular club events (6 per season)
Pre-match e-mail
10% discount in the Argyle Superstore

Price: £25
No concessionary price

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP (aged 17 or under before 18 August)

Tickets for all home league games and priority ticketing for home cup games
Pre-match e-mail
Junior Greens 'Meet the Players' Day
Signed birthday card
Free use of Home Park function room for birthday party
15% discount in the Argyle Superstore
10% discount at Saltrock clothing

Price: £60
No concessionary price

FAMILY+ (one adult GREEN+ and one child)

As per GREEN+

Price: £450

FAMILY (one adult GREEN and one child)

As per GREEN

Price: £375
Second adult at concessionary price
Extra children £30

IN ADDITION

CHILDREN AGED 5 AND UNDER (before 18 August)

Free admission with any adult member

ARGYLE FOUNDATION MEMBERS

5% discount on any membership

Existing season ticket holders have until 31 May to reclaim their seat.
Concessions include:
65+ (on August 18, 2012)
21 and under (on August 18, 2012)
Full-time student
Disabled (if non-ambulant, carer comes free)
Serving Armed Forces

More information

Rocky Robins

Swindon Town 1 - 0 Plymouth Argyle

A little bit of rough on the road to survival as a chance for another 3 points, or at least 1, slipped by. But what are the chance against Swindon - top of the league and only lost 9 games all season and dropped 27 goals. Then again to have hung on so long and concede to a substitute at such a late time in the game is extra galling.