Plymouth Argyle F.C. Player of the Year

English football award voted by its supporters

A man sporting a popular 1970s hairstyle, wearing a blue shirt.
Paul Mariner, winner of the Player of the Year award in 1975 and 1976.[1]

Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English association football club based in Plymouth, Devon. Founded in 1886 as Argyle Football Club,[2] they became a professional club in January 1903,[3] and were elected to the Southern League ahead of the 1903–04 season. The club won the Southern League championship in 1913 and finished as runners-up on two occasions,[4] before being elected to the Football League in 1920, where they compete to this day,[5] as a founder member of the Third Division.[6] Argyle won their first Football League championship, and promotion to the Second Division for the first time, ten years later in 1930.[7] As of 2010, the club has won five championships in the Football League, gained promotion on eight occasions, and been relegated eight times.[8] Four of those league championships were won in the third tier, which is a divisional record.[9] Argyle have made one appearance at Wembley Stadium, in which they won the 1996 Third Division play-off final.[10] The club has also achieved moderate success in domestic cup competitions; they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1984,[11][12] and the quarter-finals in 2007.[13][14] Argyle have also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup twice, in 1965 and 1974.[15][16]

The Plymouth Argyle Player of the Year award is voted for annually by the club's supporters.[17] It recognises the best overall performance by an individual player through the course of the season.[18] Each year, the winner is presented with the trophy on the pitch at Home Park before the club's last home game of the season. This is the more prestigious of the two awards made by Plymouth Argyle itself,[19] with the other being the Young Player of the Year accolade.[20] Since its inception in 1966, thirty-nine different players have won the award. Six of these players have lifted the award for a second time, the most recent being Welsh international Carl Fletcher. As of the 2010–11 season, only striker Tommy Tynan has received the award for a third time.[21] Three players have lifted the trophy in consecutive seasons; the first was Paul Mariner in 1976.[1] Steve McCall matched that feat in the 1994,[22] and Carl Fletcher became the third in 2011.[23] Seven winners of the award have represented their country at international level. Six winners have gone on to become the club's manager. The 2012–13 winner was Onismor Bhasera, who made 46 appearances in all competitions during the campaign.[24][25] Top goalscorer Reuben Reid won the award the following season, becoming the first forward to win the award since Mickey Evans.[26]

Table key

¤ Denotes divisional change due to promotion or relegation
* Elected to the Plymouth Argyle Hall of Fame
† Denotes player who has won full international caps
Player (X) Denotes the number of times a player has won the award
Div 2 Second Division (1892–1992), First Division (1992–2004), Championship (2004–)
Div 3 Third Division (1958–1992), Second Division (1992–2004), League One (2004–)
Div 4 Fourth Division (1958–1992), Third Division (1992–2004), League Two (2004–)

Winners

A man wearing a black, red and white football shirt during a game.
Graham Coughlan was the club's top league scorer in 2001–02.[27]
A man wearing a red and white football shirt after a game; with his arms raised triumphantly.
Paul Wotton captained the club to league titles in 2002 and 2004.[28]
A man wearing a black football kit before a game.
Romain Larrieu won the award in his ninth season with the club.[29]
A man wearing a yellow and green football shirt during a game.
Carl Fletcher was the first Welsh player to win the award in 2010.[30]
As of end of 2021–22 season.[31]
Plymouth Argyle F.C. Player of the Year winners
Season Level[A] Player[B] Position[C] Nationality Apps[D] Goals[D] Caps[E] Notes
1965–66 Div 2 Johnny Newman Defender  England 328 11 0 [F]
1966–67 Div 2 Norman Piper Midfielder  England 233 37 0 [G]
1967–68 Div 2 Pat Dunne Goalkeeper  Republic of Ireland 164 0 5†[32] —
1968–69 Div 3¤ David Burnside Midfielder  England 113 17 0 [H]
1969–70 Div 3 Derek Rickard Forward  England 121 42 0 —
1970–71 Div 3 Jim Furnell* Goalkeeper  England 207 0 0 —
1971–72 Div 3 David Provan Defender  Scotland 139 10 5†[33] —
1972–73 Div 3 Neil Hague Defender  England 113 17 0 —
1973–74 Div 3 Ernie Machin* Midfielder  England 70 7 0 —
1974–75 Div 3 Paul Mariner* Forward  England 155 61 35†[34] —
1975–76 Div 2¤ Paul Mariner* (2) Forward  England 155 61 35†[34] [I][J]
1976–77 Div 2 Neil Ramsbottom Goalkeeper  England 41 0 0 —
1977–78 Div 3¤ George Foster Defender  England 248 6 0 —
1978–79 Div 3 Fred Binney Forward  England 81 42 0 —
1979–80 Div 3 George Foster (2) Defender  England 248 6 0 [J]
1980–81 Div 3 David Kemp Forward  England 95 45 0 —
1981–82 Div 3 John Sims Forward  England 185 49 0 —
1982–83 Div 3 Gordon Nisbet* Defender  England 334 17 0 —
1983–84 Div 3 Gordon Staniforth Forward  England 114 25 0 —
1984–85 Div 3 Tommy Tynan* Forward  England 310 145 0 —
1985–86 Div 3 Kevin Hodges* Midfielder  England 620 87 0 [K]
1986–87 Div 2¤ Tommy Tynan* (2) Forward  England 310 145 0 —
1987–88 Div 2 Steve Cherry Goalkeeper  England 102 0 0 —
1988–89 Div 2 Tommy Tynan* (3) Forward  England 310 145 0 [L]
1989–90 Div 2 Nicky Marker Defender  England 237 18 0 —
1990–91 Div 2 Kenny Brown Defender  England 144 4 0 —
1991–92 Div 2 Dwight Marshall Forward  Jamaica 155 48 0 —
1992–93 Div 3¤ Steve McCall Midfielder  England 160 6 0 [J]
1993–94 Div 3 Steve McCall (2) Midfielder  England 160 6 0 —
1994–95 Div 3 Marc Edworthy Defender  England 87 1 0 —
1995–96 Div 4¤ Michael Heathcote Defender  England 235 17 0 —
1996–97 Div 3¤ Chris Billy Midfielder  England 137 9 0 —
1997–98 Div 3 Martin Barlow Midfielder  England 377 26 0 [M]
1997–98 Div 3 Carlo Corazzin Forward  Canada 85 24 59†[35] [M]
1998–99 Div 4¤ Michael Heathcote (2) Defender  England 235 17 0 [J]
1999–00 Div 4 Paul McGregor Forward  England 90 24 0 —
2000–01 Div 4 Wayne O'Sullivan Midfielder  Republic of Ireland 97 3 0 —
2001–02 Div 4 Graham Coughlan* Defender  Republic of Ireland 193 26 0 [N]
2002–03 Div 3¤ Paul Wotton* Defender  England 476 66 0 [O]
2003–04 Div 3 Mickey Evans* Forward  Republic of Ireland 432 81 1†[36] [P]
2004–05 Div 2¤ Paul Wotton* (2) Midfielder  England 476 66 0 [J]
2005–06 Div 2 David Norris Midfielder  England 243 28 0 —
2006–07 Div 2 Lilian Nalis Midfielder  France 111 6 0 —
2007–08 Div 2 Krisztián Timár Defender  Hungary 91 5 4†[37] —
2008–09 Div 2 Romain Larrieu Goalkeeper  France 318 0 0 —
2009–10 Div 2 Carl Fletcher Midfielder  Wales 107 9 36†[38] —
2010–11 Div 3¤ Carl Fletcher (2) Midfielder  Wales 107 9 36†[38] [J]
2011–12 Div 4¤ Maxime Blanchard Defender  France 115 4 — —
2012–13 Div 4 Onismor Bhasera Defender  Zimbabwe 114 4 19† —
2013–14 Div 4 Reuben Reid Forward  England 89 24 — —
2014–15 Div 4 Luke McCormick Goalkeeper  England 227 0 — —
2015–16 Div 4 Graham Carey Midfielder  Republic of Ireland 39 11 — —
2017–18 Div 3¤ Graham Carey (2) Midfielder  Republic of Ireland 47 15 — [J]
2018–19 Div 3 Rúben Lameiras[39] Midfielder  Portugal 82 18 — —
2019–20 Div 4¤ Antoni Sarcevic[40] Midfielder  England 132 20 — —
2020–21 Div 3¤ Joe Edwards[41] Defender  England 137 16 — —
2021–22 Div 3 Michael Cooper[42] Goalkeeper  England 111 0 — —

By player

Plymouth Argyle F.C. Player of the Year winners by player
Player Total Years
England Tommy Tynan 3 1985, 1987, 1989
England Paul Mariner 2 1975, 1976
England George Foster 2 1978, 1980
England Steve McCall 2 1993, 1994
England Michael Heathcote 2 1996, 1999
England Paul Wotton 2 2003, 2005
Wales Carl Fletcher 2 2010, 2011
Republic of Ireland Graham Carey 2 2016, 2018

By country

Plymouth Argyle F.C. Player of the Year winners by nationality
Country Players Total
 England 32 39
 Republic of Ireland 4 5
 France 3 3
 Wales 1 2
 Canada 1 1
 Hungary 1 1
 Jamaica 1 1
 Portugal 1 1
 Scotland 1 1
 Zimbabwe 1 1

Footnotes

A. ^ : The official level of competition in the structure of the English football league system.[43]
B. ^ : Winning players are sourced to Danes (2009), up to and including the 2008–09 season,[44] and to the official Plymouth Argyle website as appropriate thereafter.[45] Players that have been inducted into the club's Hall of Fame, created in 2004 to mark their 100th season as a professional club,[46] are sourced to Cowdery & Curno (2009), up to and including the 2008–09 season,[47] and to the official Plymouth Argyle website as appropriate thereafter.
C. ^ : For a detailed description of playing positions, see Association football positions.[48]
D. a b : Appearances made and goals scored are sourced to Danes (2009), up to and including the 2008–09 season,[49] and Soccerbase as appropriate thereafter.[31] All appearances made and goals scored during their career with the club are included.
E. ^ : Caps earned at international level are sourced to Danes (2009), up to and including the 2008–09 season,[50] and the relevant player reference thereafter.
F. ^ : The first winner of the award in 1966.[44][51]
G. ^ : Piper won four caps for the England U23 team,[52][53] and two caps for England B.[54]
H. ^ : Burnside earned one cap for England at U23 level.[55][56]
I. ^ : Mariner was the first player to win the award twice, and in consecutive seasons.[44][57]
J. a b c d e f g : Won the award on two occasions.[23][44][57]
K. ^ : Holds club record for appearances made;[58] eighth overall for goals scored.[59][60]
L. ^ : The first player to lift the trophy on three occasions.[57][61]
M. a b : Shared award.[44][62][63]
N. ^ : Included in the Team of the Century while still a member of the squad.[47][64]
O. ^ : 2009 Hall of Fame inductee.[28][65]
P. ^ : 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.[66][67]

References

General
  • Knight, Brian (1989). Plymouth Argyle: A Complete Record 1903–1989. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 0-907969-40-2.
  • Riddle, Andy (2002). Plymouth Argyle: 101 Golden Greats. Westcliff-on-Sea: Desert Island. ISBN 1-874287-47-3.
  • Cowdery, Rick; Curno, Mike (2009). Plymouth Argyle: Miscellany. Plymouth: Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905411-40-5.
  • Danes, Ryan (2009). Plymouth Argyle: The Complete Record. Plymouth: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-710-8.
Specific
  1. ^ a b "Paul Mariner profile" Archived 2010-08-24 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  2. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 10–11.
  3. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 14–15.
  4. ^ Cowdery & Curno (2009), Miscellany, p. 42.
  5. ^ "Plymouth Argyle". The Football League. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Plymouth Argyle" Archived 2008-06-14 at the Wayback Machine. Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  7. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 23–24.
  8. ^ "Plymouth Argyle" Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. Statto. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  9. ^ "Past winners" Archived 2014-07-17 at the Wayback Machine. The Football League. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Pilgrims progress". The Independent. Rupert Metcalf. 26 May 1996. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  11. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 71–72.
  12. ^ "Where are they now?". BBC Sport. Chris Bevan; Chris Charles. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  13. ^ "Argyle 0–1 Watford" Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  14. ^ "Plymouth 0–1 Watford". BBC Sport. Mandeep Sanghera. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  15. ^ "1964–65 results" Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine. Statto. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  16. ^ "1973–74 results" Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine. Statto. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  17. ^ "In the studmarks of Ro" Archived 2010-04-14 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  18. ^ "On the trail of the Beast" Archived 2009-04-08 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  19. ^ "Fletcher runs away with Herald award". The Plymouth Herald. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  20. ^ "Young Player of the Season" Archived 2010-06-03 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  21. ^ "Tommy Tynan profile" Archived 2012-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  22. ^ "Steve McCall profile" Archived 2012-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  23. ^ a b "Captain Carl Fletcher set to stay with Plymouth Argyle next season" Archived 2011-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. The Herald. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  24. ^ Barker, Sam (20 April 2013). "Bhasera Is Player Of The Season". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  25. ^ "Onismor Bhasera". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  26. ^ "Gongs for Reuben and Curtis". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  27. ^ "Plymouth 2001/2002 player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  28. ^ a b "Paul Wotton profile" Archived 2012-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  29. ^ "Le Keeper" Archived 2009-05-07 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 4 May 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  30. ^ "Player of the Season" Archived 2012-09-13 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  31. ^ a b "Plymouth Argyle" Archived 2006-11-16 at the Wayback Machine. Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  32. ^ "Pat Dunne profile" Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  33. ^ "Davie Provan profile". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  34. ^ a b "Paul Mariner profile" Archived 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. The Football Association. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  35. ^ "Carlo Corazzin profile" Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  36. ^ "Ireland's international players". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  37. ^ "Krisztián Timár profile" Archived 2009-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  38. ^ a b "Fletcher opts to end Wales career". BBC Sport. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  39. ^ "Player of the Season Result | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  40. ^ Errington, Chris (17 June 2020). "Argyle player-of-the-year Antoni Sarcevic leaving promoted Pilgrims". PlymouthLive. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  41. ^ "VIDEO: Interview | Player of the Season Joe Edwards | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  42. ^ "Cooper wins Player of the Season vote | Plymouth Argyle - PAFC". www.pafc.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  43. ^ "National League System". The Football Association. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  44. ^ a b c d e Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 368.
  45. ^ "Max Is Player of the Season". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  46. ^ "Plymouth Argyle's Team of the Century". BBC Sport. Gordon Sparks. May 2004. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  47. ^ a b Cowdery & Curno (2009), Miscellany, p. 25.
  48. ^ "Position guide: who is in a team?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  49. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 382–398.
  50. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 369–381.
  51. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 110–111.
  52. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 378.
  53. ^ "Norman Piper profile" Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  54. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 114.
  55. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 370.
  56. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 86.
  57. ^ a b c Cowdery & Curno (2009), Miscellany, p. 24.
  58. ^ Cowdery & Curno (2009), Miscellany, p. 156.
  59. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, pp. 99–100.
  60. ^ Cowdery & Curno (2009), Miscellany, p. 157.
  61. ^ Danes (2009), Complete Record, p. 123.
  62. ^ Cowdery & Curno (2009), Miscellany, p. 110.
  63. ^ "Martin Barlow profile" Archived 2012-08-26 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  64. ^ "Graham Coughlan profile" Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  65. ^ "Hall of Fame" Archived 2009-05-06 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  66. ^ "The gigantic Green summer quiz" Archived 2010-05-31 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  67. ^ "Mickey Evans profile" Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine. Plymouth Argyle. 15 October 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2010.

External links

  • Plymouth Argyle F.C. official website
  • Plymouth Argyle F.C. archive
  • v
  • t
  • e
Plymouth Argyle Football Club
  • Players
  • Managers
  • Reserves & youth
  • Records & statistics
  • Honours
  • Current season
  • Ladies
The clubStadiumTraining ground
  • Harpers Park
Players
RivalriesRelated articles
  • v
  • t
  • e
Plymouth Argyle F.C. – Player of the Year
  • v
  • t
  • e
Lists of male footballers in England by club
Premier League
Championship
League One
League Two
Non-League /
Defunct
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2023–24 season.
Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.