Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English association football club based in Plymouth, Devon. The 2010–11 season is their 108th as a professional club, their 86th as a member of the Football League and 39th in the third tier of the English football league system. The club's 23rd-place finish in the 2009–10 Championship season means they are competing in League One for the first time since 2004, when they were promoted as champions. It officially began on 1 July 2010 and ends on 30 June 2011, with competitive fixtures taking place between August and May.
Background
The 2009–10 season was the club's sixth consecutive season back in the second tier of English football, known as the Championship."Plymouth Argyle" . Statto. Retrieved 6 January 2011. It was manager Paul Sturrock's third season back at the club after returning to Home Park from Swindon Town."Sturrock returns as Plymouth boss". BBC Sport. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2011. He was replaced by Paul Mariner in December 2009 due to poor results, which had seen the club drop into the relegation zone."Paul Mariner replaces Paul Sturrock as Plymouth manager". The Guardian. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2010."Mariner relishing Pilgrims challenge". Sky Sports. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2011. Argyle were relegated with two matches still to play after a defeat at home to Newcastle United, which saw the visitors claim the league title."Newcastle United win Championship title and send Plymouth Argyle down". The Guardian. Tim Herbert. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011."Pilgrims arrive in unpromised land". BBC Sport. Philip Tuckett. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2010. Yoann Folly, David McNamee, and Lloyd Saxton were released after being informed that their contracts weren't being renewed,"Paul Mariner makes quality pledge despite cost of relegation" . The Plymouth Herald. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011."Plymouth to release trio". Sky Sports. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010. and defender Gary Sawyer also departed."Plymouth Argyle is in a state of flux, admits head coach Mariner" . The Plymouth Herald. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. A statement in May said that the club would seek a new manager and Paul Mariner would revert to his previous role as head coach."Plymouth Argyle to look for new manager". BBC Sport. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2010."Argyle begin manager hunt". Sky Sports. 6 May 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. Jamie Mackie joined Queens Park Rangers two weeks later for an undisclosed fee."Plymouth Argyle striker Jamie Mackie signs for Queens Park Rangers" . The Plymouth Herald. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. Bondz N'Gala joined the club from West Ham United on a free transfer,. The Plymouth Herald. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2011. and Rory Patterson was signed for an undisclosed fee from Glentoran,"Pilgrims pounce for Patterson". Sky Sports. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010. before the club confirmed Peter Reid as their new manager in June 2010."Peter Reid named as Plymouth boss" . The Independent. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
Review
Pre-season
Midfielder Simon Walton joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan."Simon Walton's switch to Sheffield United is his last chance, says Peter Reid" . The Plymouth Herald. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. He was followed by Ashley Barnes, who joined Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee,. The Plymouth Herald. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. and Alan Gow, who was released."Gow makes Plymouth exit". Sky Sports. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. The club's first pre-season friendly ended in a 2–0 win at Southern League team Truro City thanks to goals from Yannick Bolasie and Steve MacLean."Yannick Bolasie strike lights up Reid's Pilgrims opener at Truro City" . The Plymouth Herald. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. This was followed by a defeat at League Two club Torquay United. The visitors took an early lead through Craig Noone, but the home side responded with goals from Lloyd Macklin, Elliot Benyon and Nicky Wroe to secure a 3–1 win."Plymouth Argyle take the lead but go down to Gulls defeat at Torquay" . The Plymouth Herald. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Manager Peter Reid then selected a 26-man squad to travel to the Netherlands to play three matches against Dutch opposition."Tour party". Plymouth Argyle. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010. Included in the squad were three trialists, including former player Tony Capaldi. A headed goal from Joe Mason gave Argyle a 1–0 victory against Eredivisie side NAC Breda."Plymouth Argyle bounce back with encouraging Breda victory" . The Plymouth Herald. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. They suffered a defeat by the same scoreline against fellow Eredivisie side AZ in their next friendly. An early penalty from Nick van der Velden was the difference between the two sides in a match which saw Steve MacLean sent off in the second half."Plymouth Argyle work overtime in narrow defeat to classy AZ Alkmaar squad" . The Plymouth Herald. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
Argyle took a three-goal lead against Eerste Divisie club SC Cambuur, but eventually had to settle for a 3–3 draw. A brace from Reza Ghoochannejhad and an equaliser from Robert van Boxel cancelled out Argyle's lead, which was given to them by Craig Noone and a brace from Joe Mason.. The Plymouth Herald. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Having featured in all of the club's pre-season matches, midfielder Anton Peterlin signed a permanent contract."American midfielder Anton Peterlin set to sign for Plymouth Argyle" . The Plymouth Herald. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Argyle won their next friendly later that day against Hereford United of League Two. Steve MacLean was on target to secure a 1–0 win for the visitors."MacLean on target as Greens claim narrow win over Hereford" . The Plymouth Herald. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Striker George Donnelly returned to Stockport County on a six-month loan."Donnelly back with Hatters". Sky Sports. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. A penalty from Luke Summerfield earned the club a draw against Championship side Queens Park Rangers. Former player Jamie Mackie scored the equaliser for the hosts."Plymouth Argyle denied victory by Jamie Mackie's late strike at Loftus Road" . The Plymouth Herald. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Argyle completed their pre-season campaign with an 8–0 win against South West Peninsula League team Saltash United. Strikers Bradley Wright-Phillips and Rory Patterson both scored twice while trialist Owain Tudur-Jones, Craig Noone, Joe Mason and Curtis Nelson also found the back of the net."Tudur Jones on target as Argyle smash Saltash 8–0" . The Plymouth Herald. 3 August 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
August Goalkeeper David Button joined the club on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur,. The Plymouth Herald. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. and defender Lee Molyneux signed a permanent contract after impressing on trial.. The Plymouth Herald. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. Two other players left the club on loan. Defender Chris Barker joined Southend United for one month, and midfielder Damien Johnson signed a season-long deal with Huddersfield Town. The club started the season with a 1–0 win at Southampton."Southampton 0–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010. Luke Summerfield scored the winning goal in a match which was broadcast live on Sky Sports."Early goals give Sheffield Wednesday winning start against Dagenham". The Guardian. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.. The Plymouth Herald. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011. They were knocked out of the League Cup by Notts County three days later. A second half goal from John Spicer eliminated Argyle at the first round stage for the third year in row."Plymouth 0–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2011. Midfielder Dean Parrett arrived on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur."Parrett set for Argyle bow". TeamTalk. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014. A late goal from Rory Patterson earned the club a share of the points at Home Park against Carlisle United in a 1–1 draw, having fallen behind to an Ian Harte goal."Plymouth 1–1 Carlisle". BBC Sport. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010. This was followed by a 2–1 defeat at Walsall. Joe Mason gave Argyle the lead, but second half goals from Paul Marshall and former player Reuben Reid won the game for the home side."Walsall 2–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010. Kári Árnason was shown a straight red card in stoppage time."Plymouth Argyle 'own worst enemies' in defeat at Walsall" . The Plymouth Herald. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010. Sean Kinsella and Jordan Trott were loaned out to Bridgwater Town for one month."Peter Reid rubbishes rumour of Adam Le Fondre player-plus-cash deal" . The Plymouth Herald. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2011. Argyle were defeated 3–0 at home by Peterborough United, who scored three second-half goals thanks to strikers Craig Mackail-Smith, who scored twice, and Aaron McLean."Plymouth 0–3 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 28 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010. The club completed two transfers before the summer transfer window closed. Defender Stéphane Zubar arrived from Vaslui on a free transfer,"Pilgrims snap up Zubar". Sky Sports. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2014. and Chris Barker joined Southend United permanently, also on a free transfer, after spending a month with them on loan.
September
Simon Walton had his season-long loan with Sheffield United cancelled after sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury during a pre-season game.. The Plymouth Herald. 4 September 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2011. Réda Johnson scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw at Colchester United."Colchester 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2010. Having fallen behind to a goal from Andy Bond, the visitors equalised in the second half before Lee Molyneux was sent off for two bookable offences. Argyle won their next game 3–2 at home against Sheffield Wednesday despite being reduced to 10-men again. Captain Carl Fletcher and James O'Connor scored before Bondz N'Gala was shown a straight red card on the stroke of half time."Plymouth 3–2 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010. The away side's Tommy Miller cancelled out Bradley Wright Phillips' first goal of the season before a Craig Noone header won the game. Three days later, the club suffered a 2–0 home defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion. Tommy Elphick and former player Ashley Barnes scored the goals."Plymouth 0–2 Brighton". BBC Sport. 21 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010. Bradley Wright-Phillips gave Argyle the lead at Rochdale, but the home side salvaged a 1–1 draw thanks to a goal from Craig Dawson."Rochdale 1–1 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 25 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010. The club took an early two-goal lead in their next game at Swindon Town through Réda Johnson and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Swindon drew level after goals from David Prutton and Michael Rose before Prutton and Johnson were both sent off. Argyle won the game 3–2 in stoppage time thanks to a header from Wright-Phillips, giving the club their second away win of the campaign."Swindon 2–3 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
October