Editing Plymouth Argyle F.C. (section)

==History==
{{Main|History of Plymouth Argyle F.C.}}

===Formation and early years (1886–1937)===
[[File:Plymouth Argyle 1903-04 Team Photo.jpg|thumb|1903–04 Argyle squad]]

The club was founded in 1886 as Argyle Football Club, the first match taking place on 16 October 1886 against Caxton, a team from [[Cornwall]] and in which the Pilgrims lost 2–0. Later that week Argyle won for the first time, beating Dunheved College (now Launceston College) in [[Launceston, Cornwall|Launceston]] (where many of the club's first members had been educated) 2–1.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8303000/8303515.stm | work=BBC News | title=History of Plymouth Argyle FC | date=14 October 2009 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=2 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802094941/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8303000/8303515.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> The club played several friendlies against [[Plymouth United F.C.|Plymouth United]], but poor performances on the pitch led to it going out of existence in 1894 before being resurrected in 1897 as one part of a general sports club, the '''Argyle Athletic Club'''.<ref>{{cite book |last= Danes |first= Ryan |title= Plymouth Argyle The Complete Record |year= 2009 |isbn= 978-1-85983-710-8 |page=12|publisher= Breedon }}</ref> In 1898, Argyle F.C. produced its first rulebook. The club's ground was given as Marsh Mills, an area on the edge of the city of Plymouth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greens on Screen: Complete History of Plymouth Argyle |url=https://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/argylehistory.asp?era=1886-1890 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www.greensonscreen.co.uk |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504170733/https://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/argylehistory.asp?era=1886-1890 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Much speculation surrounds the origin of the name ''Argyle''. One explanation is that the club was named after the [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]], an army regiment with a strong football side of its own.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Origin of the Argyle Name – PAHA |url=https://argylearchive.org.uk/uncategorized/whats-in-a-name/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Another theory is given by the local geography–suggesting the name comes either from the nearby [[public house]], ''The Argyle Tavern'', where the founder members may have met, or from a local street ''Argyle Terrace''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tonkin |first=W. S. |title=All About Argyle 1903-1963 |year=c. 1963 |pages=7}}</ref> The club adopted its current name when it became fully professional in 1903, joining the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]], under the management of [[Bob Jack]]. Argyle's first professional game was on 1 September 1903<ref>{{cite web 
 |url=http://www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheGreatsDetail/0,,10364~421021,00.html 
 |title=First Match–First Report from WMN 1903 
 |publisher=pafc.co.uk 
 |access-date=8 March 2007 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308121756/http://www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheGreatsDetail/0%2C%2C10364~421021%2C00.html 
 |archive-date=8 March 2007 
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] resulting in a 2–0 win for Argyle. The first home game as a fully professional club was on 5 September 1903 when Argyle beat [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] 2–0 in front of a crowd of 4,438. Argyle won the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in 1913,<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 1913 |title=Final League tables 1913 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003347/19130509/008/0001 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |publisher=Somerset Guardian}}</ref> then in 1920 entered the [[Football League Third Division]] as a founder member, finishing 11th in its first season.

[[File:PlymouthArgyleFC League Performance.svg|thumb|left|Chart of table positions of Plymouth Argyle in the Football League]]

In the summer of 1924, a Plymouth Argyle team visited South America to play some exhibition football in [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greens on Screen Tour |url=https://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/sv-tour-southamerica.asp |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www.greensonscreen.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 1924 |title=Argyle in The Argentine |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19240801/004/0002 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |publisher=Western morning news |page=2 }}</ref> Argyle thrashed [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] 4–0 in the first game (the team which went on to win the [[1930 FIFA World Cup|first ever World Cup]] just six years later), before pulling off another shock by beating [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] 1–0.<ref>{{Cite web |last=JLeAdm |date=2022-08-16 |title=ARGYLE LEGEND {{!}} The Jack Leslie Campaign |url=https://jackleslie.co.uk/argyle-legend/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |language=en-GB |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711052918/https://jackleslie.co.uk/.well-known/sgcaptcha/?r=%2Fargyle-legend%2F&y=ipr:207.241.235.240:1720675757.596 |url-status=live }}</ref> Argyle then held Argentine giants [[Boca Juniors]] to a creditable 1–1 draw. [[Moses Russell]] captained the side and played in all nine matches. Russell's style of play caught the attention of the Argentine press; at the end of the tour 'The Standard of [[Buenos Aires]]' commented: "The visit of Plymouth Argyle will be best remembered by the outstanding personality and genius of Moses Russell. His effective style, precise judgement, accurate and timely clearances, powerful kicking and no less useful work with his head...one of the most wonderful backs and one of the brainiest players ever seen on the football field."

[[File:Plymouth argyle 1924.jpg|thumb|A Plymouth Argyle team during the tour on South America, 1924]]

In the match against Boca Juniors on 9 July 1924, the Boca Juniors supporters invaded the pitch after their team had scored the opening goal and carried all eleven home players shoulder high around the stadium. After a half-hour delay, the referee restarted the match, but a further invasion was sparked when the referee awarded a penalty against the home side. When the match was again restarted, the Argyle players had agreed that [[Patsy Corcoran]] would take the spot-kick and miss, to prevent another [[pitch invasion]]. However, the ultra-competitive Russell was not prepared to accept this, and just before Corcoran was about to take the penalty he was pushed aside by Russell, who took it himself and scored. This prompted a further pitch invasion by the Boca fans and this time the match was abandoned.<ref name="green1">[http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/argylehistory.asp?era=1920-1930 Chapter 13: 1920–1930] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507025020/https://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/argylehistory.asp?era=1920-1930 |date=7 May 2023 }} by Colin Parsons on Green on Screen website</ref>

[[File:Plymouth argyle v argentina 1924.jpg|left|thumb|Argyle vs [[Argentina national football team]] in 1924]]

Back in England, uniquely, between 1921–22 and 1926–27, Argyle finished second in the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] six seasons in a row, thereby missing promotion. Argyle eventually won promotion to Football League Division Two in 1929–30, when the club topped the Third Division South, with attendances that season regularly reaching 20,000. Manager Bob Jack resigned in 1937, having spent 27 years in charge of the Pilgrims. Eleven years earlier in 1928, [[David Jack (footballer)|David Jack]], who began his career with Argyle in 1919 but left in 1920, joined [[Arsenal F.C.]] from [[Bolton Wanderers]] for a fee of £10,890 – which made him the most expensive player in the world at the time.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8085391.stm| work=BBC News| title=History of the World Transfer Record| date=11 June 2009| access-date=17 August 2010| archive-date=11 July 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711052920/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8085391.stm| url-status=live}}</ref> He was also the first player to score at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06-001&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06| work=The Times| title=FA Cup Final 1923| date=30 April 1923| access-date=17 August 2010| location=London| archive-date=11 January 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111222529/http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06-001&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1937–1986===
After the [[World War II|Second World War]] Argyle's 20-year stay in Division Two came to an end in 1950–despite the efforts of inspirational captain [[Jack Chisholm]]. However, the club was back in Division Two before long, after winning the Third Division South in 1952. The closest the club has ever come to playing in the [[Football League First Division]] (top tier) was in [[1952–53 Football League|1952–53]], when reaching fourth place in the [[Football League Second Division]], the highest finish to date. In the [[1954–55 Football League|1954–1955]] season [[Floodlights (sport)|floodlights]] arrived at Home Park, but in 1956 Argyle went down again. The Pilgrims' reputation as a '[[yo-yo club]]' continued after winning Division Three–by now a national league–in 1959.

[[File:Jack Rowley.jpg|thumb|258x258px|[[Jack Rowley]] managed the club for over 230 games between 1955 and 1960, and won the [[Football League Third Division]] with the club in 1959]]

The 1960s started with one of the most bizarre events in Argyle's history. It came in the spring of 1963, when the club went on a mini-tour of [[Poland]]—the Pilgrims were invited to play a game as a warm-up to an international cycle race. Amazingly, 100,000 saw Argyle that day—the biggest crowd ever to attend a Plymouth match. In 1965 Argyle reached the [[Football League Cup]] semi-final, as a 2nd division team, for the first time in its history, but lost to Leicester City. But the decade ended disappointingly as Argyle returned to Division Three after relegation in 1968.

In March 1973 a memorable moment in Argyle's history was witnessed by 37,639 people at [[Home Park]]. Argyle played a friendly match against Brazilian giants [[Santos FC]], who at the time were one of the best teams in the world. That day Santos also had arguably the best footballer of all time in their starting line-up –[[Pelé]]. However, Argyle, then a Third Division side, shocked the world with a 3–2 win. The Greens were actually 3–0 up at one stage (thanks to goals from Mike Dowling, [[Derek Rickard]] and [[Jimmy Hinch]]) but a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] scored at the Barn Park End by Pelé helped a Santos fightback. However, in the end Santos came up short and were defeated. There was a huge pitch invasion at the final whistle after a win for The Pilgrims.<ref name="Argyle 3 Santos 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/santos72H.asp|title=Argyle 3, Santos 2|publisher=Greens on Screen|access-date=5 June 2010|archive-date=1 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801060936/http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/santos72H.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1974 – with future England striker and Argyle manager [[Paul Mariner]] now playing for the team – Argyle again reached the League Cup semi-final, this time as a Third Division side. Argyle drew the first leg at home against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] 1–1, but lost the [[Maine Road]] encounter 2–0. After spending six years in Division Three, Argyle finally returned to Division Two in 1974–75, under the management of [[Tony Waiters]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Story of Plymouth Argyle 1974/75 {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/video/player/0_pbfht0zb |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711053037/https://www.pafc.co.uk/video/player/0_pbfht0zb |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony Waiters R.I.P {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/november/tony-waiters-r.i.p |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505074113/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/november/tony-waiters-r.i.p |url-status=live }}</ref> This was mainly thanks to strike partners [[Paul Mariner]] and [[Billy Rafferty]], who scored a very impressive 46 goals between them. However, the club was back down again in 1977. Although the decade did end on a high note–in 1978–79 [[Kevin Hodges]] made his Argyle debut, and he went on to play 620 games for the club–more than any other player.

[[File:Home Park, Plymouth - geograph.org.uk - 1229431.jpg|thumb|Match at [[Home Park]] in 1981|left]]

In 1984 Plymouth reached the [[FA Cup]] semi-final despite being in the Third Division.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=2020-03-14 |title=On this day: Argyle reached FA Cup semi-finals for first and only time |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/day-plymouth-argyle-reached-fa-3950537 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505074116/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/day-plymouth-argyle-reached-fa-3950537 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a successful cup run in which Argyle beat [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] away, a top division team at the time (1–0 courtesy of a [[Tommy Tynan]] goal after 58 minutes), and [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] (the first game at Home Park ended 0–0, but Argyle won the replay 0–1 at the [[Baseball Ground]]), they lost 1–0 to [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] in the semi-final at [[Villa Park]] courtesy of a [[George Reilly]] goal. However, manager [[John Hore (footballer, born 1947)|John Hore]] was sacked during the following campaign and was replaced by [[Dave Smith (footballer born 1933)|Dave Smith]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dave Smith: 1933-2022 {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/dave-smith-1933-2022 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914004051/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/dave-smith-1933-2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1985–86, Smith's first full season in charge, Argyle finished as runners-up in Division Three, resulting in promotion. The following season, despite being a newly promoted team, Argyle finished a respectable 7th place in Division Two, thereby narrowly missing the division's new play-off zone and the chance to move to the First Division (now the Premier League). In 1988 Smith surprisingly left to take charge of [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]], making way for [[Ken Brown (footballer born 1934)|Ken Brown]] to become manager.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greatest Managers: 20-16 {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/july/greatest-managers-20-16 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505073150/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/july/greatest-managers-20-16 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Success and into the Championship (1986–2008)===
In the 1990s a new face took over the club: Businessman [[Dan McCauley]] became chairman, and his first major decision was to sack Dave Kemp and appoint England's record cap holder [[Peter Shilton]] as player-manager in the 1991–92 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan McCauley RIP {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/march/dan-mccauley-rip |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505073150/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2020/march/dan-mccauley-rip |url-status=live }}</ref> But Shilton was unable to prevent relegation as Argyle finished 22nd in Division Two. Ahead of the 1992–93 season, English football had a revamp. The First Division (top tier) became the Premiership, Division Two (second tier) became Division One, Division Three (third tier) was now Division Two and so on. As a result, Argyle was still in Division Two, but it was now the third tier instead of the second.<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacInnes |first=Paul |date=2017-07-23 |title=Deceit, determination and Murdoch's millions: how Premier League was born |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/23/deceit-determination-murdochs-millions-how-premier-league-was-born |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=24 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224224653/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/23/deceit-determination-murdochs-millions-how-premier-league-was-born |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1992–93 Argyle finished in mid-table in the third tier, but Peter Shilton's side finished third the following campaign (as a result of playing some excellent football), thereby qualifying for the play-offs. But Argyle lost in the semi-final against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], which saw the start of a fierce rivalry between the two clubs. The Pilgrims suffered even more disappointment in 1994–95 as Shilton parted company with the club, which was eventually relegated to Division Three (fourth tier) for the first time in its history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |date=2018-02-21 |title=Ex-Argyle boss and England great Peter Shilton to appear on #ArgyleChat |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/england-legend-former-plymouth-argyle-1239965 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505073156/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/england-legend-former-plymouth-argyle-1239965 |url-status=live }}</ref> Player [[Steve McCall]] became the club's manager on a short-term deal after Shilton's departure, but at the end of the season his contract was not renewed and [[Neil Warnock]] stepped in as his successor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neil Warnock: Are You With Me? Live at Home Park Stadium {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/neil-warnock-are-you-me-live-home-park-stadium |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505073156/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/neil-warnock-are-you-me-live-home-park-stadium |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Abel |first=Stuart |date=2022-04-09 |title=Argyle legend Neil Warnock retires from football |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/plymouth-argyle-legend-neil-warnock-6929966 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711052918/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/plymouth-argyle-legend-neil-warnock-6929966 |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the end of the [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]] season, Warnock took Plymouth to Division Three play-off glory in his first campaign as manager. The semi-final was a memorable affair. Argyle played [[Colchester United]] and although 1–0 down from the 1st leg, won 3–1 at Home Park in the 2nd, meaning that the Pilgrims were going to [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] for the first time in their history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Argyle Archive {{!}} Pilgrims Win at Wembley 96 {{!}} Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/argyle-archive-pilgrims-win-wembley-96 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.pafc.co.uk |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505073136/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/argyle-archive-pilgrims-win-wembley-96 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wembley 1996 Reunion – PAHA |url=https://argylearchive.org.uk/news/wembley-1996-reunion/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Argyle beat Darlington 1–0 in the play-off final to gain third-tier football once more.

[[File:Home Park 1996.jpg|thumb|Home Park in 1996]]

But Warnock was sacked within a year as the club narrowly avoided being relegated back to the fourth tier.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-02-04 |title=Football : Plymouth dismiss Warnock |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-plymouth-dismiss-warnock-1276887.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505074651/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-plymouth-dismiss-warnock-1276887.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mick Jones (footballer, born 1947)|Mick Jones]] became his successor, and, that season, in February 1997 Argyle participated in 'The Battle of [[Saltergate]]' – in a 1–2 win at [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]. The following season Argyle went down under Jones, and his successor [[Kevin Hodges]] (the club's record appearance holder) lasted three years before a failure to attain promotion (or even a play-off place) cost him his job. At this point Argyle was in danger of insolvency, and it was the lowest point in its history.

The appointment of [[Paul Sturrock]] as manager in November 2000 marked a turning point in Argyle's history. He saved the club from relegation out of the Football League (the club was fourth from bottom of the league when he became manager), and finished 12th in his first season. The following campaign proved to be the most successful in the club's history. Argyle defeated [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]] 2–0 in the final game of the season to achieve a club and league record of 102 points and clinch the Division Three title.

Argyle was one of the favourites to win the Division Two title going into the 2003–04 season, and proved everyone right as the club earned its second promotion in three years. In March 2004 [[Bobby Williamson]] was appointed manager. Argyle's first game in the newly re-branded 'Championship' (second tier) saw them draw 0–0 at home to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], who were [[FA Cup]] finalists the season before. Argyle's strong start continued, and the club briefly reached the top of the table – its highest ever position – after a 0–1 win at [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], before plummeting down the table and finishing 17th. The 2005–06 season included some memorable results for the Green Army including the 2–0 win against high-flying [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and a 0–0 draw at Leeds United, who went on to reach the play-off final at the [[Millennium Stadium]] before losing 3–0 to [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]. The Pilgrims finished 14th that season, in the end well clear of the relegation zone.

In summer 2006, in one of Ian Holloway's first games in charge of the club, Argyle played a pre-season friendly against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in Austria, as both clubs were training in the country at the time. Holloway's first competitive game in charge was a 1–1 draw at home to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves.]] The team made significantly better progress than in recent seasons in the FA Cup, reaching the quarter-finals. They beat League Two [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]. They beat Championship league leaders [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] 2–0 in the next, but in the quarter finals, faced Premier League strugglers Watford at home and lost. Argyle finished the 2006–07 in 11th place, the highest league finish for 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Curno |first=James |date=2020-05-03 |title=Back in Time 2006/07 - Rewriting Argyle History - Part One |url=https://argyle.life/gaming/back-in-time-2006-07-rewriting-argyle-history-part-one/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Argyle Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Before the start of the 2007–08 season, manager [[Ian Holloway]] said that Plymouth was capable of earning promotion to the Premier League for the first time in its history, and the team made a good start to the new season with a 2–3 win at [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]].<ref name="James">{{Cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |date=2020-03-28 |title=Argyle's hostile reunion with Holloway that will never be forgotten |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-leicester-ian-holloway-3986961 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en}}</ref> The club's good start continued as they stayed near the play-off places for the first few months. However, on 21 November 2007 Ian Holloway controversially resigned to take charge of [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brereton |first=Christopher |date=2007-11-21 |title=Holloway hands in Plymouth resignation |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/21/newsstory.plymouthargyle |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711052918/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/nov/21/newsstory.plymouthargyle |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="James"/>

===Decline and financial issues (2008–2018)===
[[File:Plymouth Argyle Football Club - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Match at Home Park in 2008]]The club finished 2008 in 15th place–now 8 points adrift of the play-offs. On 3 January 2009, Argyle travelled to the recently built [[Emirates Stadium]] to play against [[Premier League]] giants [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the FA Cup third round.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-01-03 |title=Arsenal 3-1 Plymouth |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7803232.stm |access-date=2023-05-05 |archive-date=5 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105140458/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7803232.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Striker [[Robin Van Persie]] scored his second of the game five minutes from time to give Arsenal a 3–1 win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Channon |first=Max |date=2018-04-20 |title=ARSENE WENGER RESIGNS: Remembering when Argyle took on Arsenal in the FA Cup |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/arsene-wenger-resigns-remembering-argyle-1481005 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505072316/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/arsene-wenger-resigns-remembering-argyle-1481005 |url-status=live }}</ref> The club finished 21st in the league table, five points and one place clear of the relegation places–Argyle's first season which didn't improve its league position for eight years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Gordon |date=2018-03-12 |title=Green Barmy: Paul Gallagher's goals kept Argyle in the Championship |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/green-barmy-paul-gallaghers-goals-1330432 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=PlymouthLive |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505073149/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/green-barmy-paul-gallaghers-goals-1330432 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Paul Sturrock's second stint in charge came to an end on 10 December 2009, when a press conference confirmed he was relieved of his managerial duties due to two years of poor results and fan unrest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burnton |first=Simon |date=2009-02-20 |title=Pilgrims' regress leaves Sturrock sweating on second-tier survival |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/feb/20/plymouth-argyle-championship-football |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711052918/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/feb/20/plymouth-argyle-championship-football |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Mariner lost his first two games–his first fixture resulted in a 2–0 loss at [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] and then Argyle was defeated 1–0 at home to Coventry, leaving the Pilgrims bottom of the table and six points adrift of safety. Argyle ended the season as the second lowest-scoring team in the division.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-04-20 |title=Argyle relegated : Have Your Say |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8631000/8631622.stm |access-date=2023-05-05}}</ref> The club's six-year stay in the second tier of the Football League was over. On 20 November, following a 1–2 home defeat to [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]], newly relegated Argyle was 20th in League One, just one place and three points above the relegation zone.

On 23 November, Argyle came from 0–1 down to beat fellow strugglers [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]] 2–1 at Home Park, lifting them up to 15th. However, just 4,960 were present at the game. That was Argyle's lowest league attendance since playing in the bottom tier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patterson earns Argyle late win |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/plymouth-argyle-vs-dagenham-redbridge/report/216205 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Sky Sports |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505072302/https://www.skysports.com/football/plymouth-argyle-vs-dagenham-redbridge/report/216205 |url-status=live }}</ref> Not long after, the Pilgrims were presented with a winding-up order by HMRC and appeared in court on 8 December, only to earn a 63-day adjournment so they could pay the taxes they owed. Relegation was later confirmed on 2 May, following a 3–1 home defeat against [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13184984.stm "Plymouth 1 – 3 Southampton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503040629/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13184984.stm |date=3 May 2011 }}. [[BBC Sport]]. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.</ref>

[[File:Homepark2.png|left|thumb|Match at Home Park in 2017]]

James Brent's Akkeron Group agreed to a deal with the Administrators to buy the club with [[Peter Ridsdale]] also confirming that he would leave the club when the deal had been completed.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15100530.stm "Administrators agree Plymouth Argyle sale"]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15035687.stm "Peter Ridsdale to leave Plymouth Argyle"]</ref> Further problems occurred with the Administrators threatening to quit the club.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15314429.stm "Plymouth Argyle administrators threaten to quit"]</ref> Argyle agreed to a deal to sell [[Home Park]] back to [[Plymouth]] council on 14 October for £1.6m and had to pay £135,000 a year in rent.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-15354187 |title="Plymouth Argyle Home Park stadium deal agreed" |work=BBC News |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=22 June 2018 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020053254/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-15354187 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team's form greatly improved after the takeover, and while the eventual League finish of 21st was the lowest in the club's history, the club still secured survival with three games to spare, which was quite an achievement considering it had been well adrift at the bottom for the first half of the campaign. In the following season, the club was again narrowly saved from relegation, and finished 21st for a consecutive season. Sheridan then agreed a three-year contract to continue as Argyle manager, and in his first full season in charge, the club finished 10th. Argyle had a far stronger start to its fourth consecutive season in League 2, winning 4 games consecutively for the first time since 2008.

The team had the chance to go up as champions. But the title was handed to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] via goal difference.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32362789|title = Plymouth Argyle 3-2 Tranmere Rovers|work = BBC Sport|access-date = 4 May 2023|archive-date = 16 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150616123739/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32362789|url-status = live}}</ref> The Pilgrims got off to an appalling start to their [[2017-18 EFL League One|League One]] campaign, gaining only 5 points in their first 11 games and sitting rock bottom, already 4 points from safety after only 11 games. And a 2–1 defeat at home to [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood]] added to Argyle's woes, extending the winless run to 10 games and earning just 2 points from a possible 30 in that time. Some fans disputed the board sacking [[Derek Adams]] even after taking them up in the previous season, due to poor tactics and game management. From December 2017, through 2018 saw Argyle record 16 wins, 6 draws and only 5 losses to escape relegation and finish 7th, only missing out on a play-off spot by 3 points.

===Hallett takes over (2018–present)===
In August 2018, Hallett became the majority shareholder of the club, with James Brent reducing his stake, as well as stepping down as chairman.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Brent to Step Down|url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2018/august/james-brent-to-step-down/|work=Plymouth Argyle|access-date=7 June 2019|date=14 August 2018|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126063637/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2018/august/james-brent-to-step-down/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hallett had originally appointed [[David Felwick|David Felwick CBE]] as Argyle's chairman-elect, but he cited "''personal reasons''" for being unable to takeover, so Hallett took over as chairman on 1 November 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Simon Hallett to Become Pilgrims' Chairman |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2018/october/club-statement2/ |website=pafc.co.uk |publisher=Plymouth Argyle |access-date=7 June 2019 |archive-date=17 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117232054/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2018/october/club-statement2/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=21 August 2018 |title=Who is Simon Hallett? A profile of Argyle's new majority shareholder |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/plymouth-argyle-owner-simon-hallett-1919888 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=PlymouthLive |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505072303/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/plymouth-argyle-owner-simon-hallett-1919888 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the end of the [[2018–19 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season|2018–19 season]], Argyle was relegated to [[EFL League Two|League Two]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Plymouth Argyle 3–2 Scunthorpe United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48074731|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 June 2019|date=4 May 2019|archive-date=12 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112192911/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48074731|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:CharltonArgyle201121 (8 of 8).jpg|thumb|Plymouth Argyle players before a match against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in 2021]]

Ahead of the [[2019–20 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season|2019–20 season]], Hallett appointed [[Ryan Lowe]] as [[Derek Adams]]'s successor, signing the then 40-year-old Liverpudlian and his assistant manager [[Steven Schumacher]] from [[Bury F.C.|Bury]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Club Statement: Ryan Lowe |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/june3/club-statement-ryan-lowe/ |website=pafc.co.uk |publisher=Plymouth Argyle |date=5 June 2019 |access-date=7 June 2019 |archive-date=7 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607113225/https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2019/june3/club-statement-ryan-lowe/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |date=5 June 2019 |title=Plymouth Argyle appoint Bury's Ryan Lowe as their new manager |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/plymouth-argyle-appoint-burys-ryan-2898885 |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=PlymouthLive |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505074111/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/plymouth-argyle-appoint-burys-ryan-2898885 |url-status=live }}</ref> The change in management was a success as that season, Argyle finished in third place, gaining promotion back to [[EFL League One|League One]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=9 June 2020 |title=The Greens are going up: Plymouth Argyle promotion is confirmed |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-promotion-league-one-4204408 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=PlymouthLive}}</ref> Albeit, the next season the team struggled to find their footing in the third tier, and finished 18th on 53 points. The following season was an improvement, and in December 2021 [[Ryan Lowe]] was replaced by his assistant, [[Steven Schumacher]] leading the club into 7th place for the [[2021–22 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season|2021–22]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=22 November 2022 |title=Steven Schumacher on new contract, January signings and Ryan Lowe |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/steven-schumacher-new-plymouth-argyle-7849090 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=PlymouthLive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reeves |first=James |date=25 November 2022 |title=Opinion: Steven Schumacher fully deserves his new contract at Plymouth Argyle |url=https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-steven-schumacher-fully-deserves-his-new-contract-at-plymouth-argyle/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=FootballLeagueWorld}}</ref>

Argyle enjoyed its best season since [[2007–08 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season|2008]] in [[2022–23 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season|2022–23]], with the new Mayflower stand fully built, the capacity of [[Home Park]] rose to 17,900, and the club regularly saw 16,000 fans turning up to support the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Higher Home Park Works To Begin - Plymouth Argyle - PAFC |url=https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/higher-home-park-works-begin |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=www.pafc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=29 October 2021 |title=Argyle announce Home Park sell-out for Ipswich clash |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-announce-home-park-6134924 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=PlymouthLive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=2 May 2023 |title=Simon Hallett addresses Argyle capacity issues at Home Park |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/simon-hallett-addresses-plymouth-argyle-8403433 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=PlymouthLive |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711060506/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/simon-hallett-addresses-plymouth-argyle-8403433 |url-status=live }}</ref> The club won the [[EFL League One]] title, clinching it in an away win at [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], and finishing the season on 101 points.<ref>{{Cite news |title=How abandoning 'the football way' took Plymouth up |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65456016 |access-date=7 May 2023 |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505221626/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65456016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Errington |first=Chris |date=7 May 2023 |title=Argyle lift League One winners' trophy after beating Port Vale |url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-lift-league-one-8416980 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=PlymouthLive |archive-date=7 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507232308/https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-lift-league-one-8416980 |url-status=live }}</ref> In their first season back in the second tier in thirteen years, Plymouth finished in 21st position, avoiding relegation on the final day of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cv2xnpv14ykt |title=Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Hull City |first=Brent |last=Pilnick |website=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2024 |access-date=4 May 2024 |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711053919/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cv2xnpv14ykt |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[2024–25 FA Cup|2024–25 season]], Plymouth, who were sitting at the bottom of the league table, defeated Premier League leaders [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] 1–0 at Home Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liew |first=Jonathan |date=9 February 2025 |title=Stunned Liverpool sent crashing out of FA Cup in major upset at Plymouth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/09/plymouth-liverpool-fa-cup-match-report |access-date=9 February 2025 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>