CLAIMS TO FAME

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

1 NAMING FIGHTS

Plymouth are the only team in Britain with ‘ Argyle’ in their name – and no one knows why. The most popular theory is that the Pilgrims took their moniker from a street ( Argyle Terrace), but others include a pub ( the Argyle Tavern) and army regiment ( Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). Either way, it’s unique and has been in use since Argyle Football Club were formed in 1886.

2 HOME COMFORTS

Home Park was the smallest venue picked as part of England’s unsuccessful 2018 World Cup bid. The 18,600- capacity stadium was selected alongside Wembley, Old Trafford and St James’ Park in the doomed offering. Had Russia not prevailed, Pilgrims could have seen the ground’s size hiked to 46,000 – a bit much for League One, maybe?

3 BIG IN EUROPE

Then again, Argyle have played before 100,000 people... in Poland. In 1963, they went behind the Iron Curtain to feature as a sideshow act for the 16th International Cycle Race for Peace in Warsaw – a game that was stopped several times so that a motorbike could cross the pitch to indicate when cyclists were going to do laps of the ground. You wouldn’t get that down in Devon.

4 PLYMOUTH > PELE

Argyle may not have produced many World Cup winners, but they have welcomed them. Plymouth even got one over on Jules Rimet hogger Pele when Santos visited the south coast for a friendly in 1973. He scored a penalty in front of a 37,639 crowd, but the hosts won 3- 2. Just like watching Brazil.

5 GO ( SOUTH) WEST

Plymouth are both the most westerly and southerly Football League side. There’s no greater gap between two professional English clubs than Argyle and Newcastle; separated by 336 bird miles, or seven hours by car. That’s one cup draw no one ( or everyone) wants.