2008–09 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season

Plymouth Argyle
2008–09 season
ChairmanPaul Stapleton
ManagerPaul Sturrock
Championship21st
FA CupThird Round (knocked out by Arsenal)
League CupFirst Round (knocked out by Luton Town)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Paul Gallagher (13)

All:
Paul Gallagher (13)
Highest home attendance15,197 vs. Southampton (26 December 2008)
Lowest home attendance9,203 vs. Swansea City (23 August 2008)
Average home league attendance11,533

The 2008–09 football season was Plymouth Argyle Football Club's 40th season in the Football League Championship, the second division of English football, and their 104th as a professional club. It officially began on 1 July 2008, and concluded on 30 June 2009, although competitive matches were only played between August and May.

The team's shirt supplier was Puma. The shirt sponsor was Ginsters.

Season summary

The club began the 2008–09 season in the Football League Championship for the fourth successive year, following a highly creditable 10th-place finish the previous year.[1] However, this season they finished 21st in the league table, one position and five points above the relegation zone with a record of 13 wins, 12 draws, and 21 defeats from 46 games.[2] Their leading goalscorer was Paul Gallagher with 13 goals in all competitions.

The club entered the FA Cup in the third round, where they lost 3–1 away to Premier League club Arsenal. They entered the League Cup in the first round and were eliminated away to Luton Town of League Two, losing 2–0.

Notable players to begin their careers with the Pilgrims this season included Carl Fletcher, Alan Judge, Paul Gallagher, Karl Duguid and Chris Barker. The club captain was Romain Larrieu and the team captain was Karl Duguid.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss

Championship

9 August 2008 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Home Park, Plymouth
Fallon 7'
Seip 56'
(Report) Kightly 19'
Vokes 78'
Attendance: 14,789
Referee: K Friend
16 August 2008 Reading 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Madejski Stadium, Reading
Sonko 13', 49' (Report) Attendance: 19,202
Referee: R Beeby
23 August 2008 Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Swansea City Home Park, Plymouth
[1] Scotland 44' Attendance: 9,203
Referee: Andy D'Urso
30 August 2008 Burnley 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Turf Moor, Burnley
(Report) Attendance: 10,032
Referee: Michael Oliver
13 September 2008 Plymouth Argyle 1–2 Norwich City Home Park, Plymouth
Gallagher 90'
Timar  32'
(Report) Lupoli 15'
Sibierski 59'
Attendance: 11,185
Referee: A Woolmer
16 September 2008 Watford 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Vicarage Road, Watford
O'Toole 82' (Report) Duguid 30'
Summerfield 70' (pen.)
Attendance: 13,237
Referee: C Penton
20 September 2008 Crystal Palace 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Selhurst Park, London
McCarthy 85' (Report) Gallagher 28', 56' Attendance: 14,209
Referee: N Swarbrick
27 September 2008 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Nottingham Forest Home Park, Plymouth
Fallon 41' (Report) Attendance: 12,594
Referee: K Wright
30 September 2008 Bristol City 2–2 Plymouth Argyle Ashton Gate, Bristol
Akinde 69'
Noble 88'
(Report) Mackie 6'
Fallon 18'
Attendance: 17,489
Referee: I Williamson
4 October 2008 Plymouth Argyle 4–0 Sheffield Wednesday Home Park, Plymouth
Beevers 15' (o.g.)
Gallagher 25'
Mackie 29'
Seip 89'
(Report) Attendance: 10,795
Referee: R East
18 October 2008 Derby County 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Pride Park Stadium, Derby
Hulse 45'
Green 52'
(Report) Gallagher 8' Attendance: 28,495
Referee: C Webster
21 October 2008 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Preston North End Home Park, Plymouth
Fallon 18' (Report) Attendance: 9,824
Referee: A Penn
25 October 2008 Plymouth Argyle 1–3 Ipswich Town Home Park, Plymouth
Cathcart 80' (Report) Garvan 28', 41'
Lisbie 48'
Norris  90'
Attendance: 12,294
Referee: P Miller
28 October 2008 Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Hillsborough, Sheffield
(Report) MacLean 22' Attendance: 16,515
Referee: G Laws
1 November 2008 Sheffield United 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Beattie (pen) 49', 57' (Report) Attendance: 25,601
Referee: S Mathieson
8 November 2008 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Charlton Athletic Home Park, Plymouth
Doumbe 37'
Mpenza 90'
(Report) Youga 86'
Gray 90' (pen.)
Attendance: 10,716
Referee: A Hall
15 November 2008 Coventry City 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Ricoh Arena, Coventry
(Report) Noone 86' Attendance: 18,528
Referee: N Miller
22 November 2008 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Cardiff City Home Park, Plymouth
Mpenza 39'
Gallagher 41'
(Report) Chopra 62' Attendance: 11,438
Referee: P Taylor
25 November Southampton 0–0 Plymouth Argyle St Mary's Stadium, Southampton
(Report) Attendance: 14,895
Referee: A D'Urso
29 November 2008 Plymouth Argyle 1–2 Blackpool Home Park, Plymouth
Gallagher 67' (Report) Dickinson 78', 81' Attendance: 9,969
Referee: T Kettle
6 December 2008 Doncaster Rovers 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster
Stock 37' (Report) Attendance: 10,187
Referee: R Beeby
9 December 2008 Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Birmingham City Home Park, Plymouth
(Report) Carsley 62' Attendance: 10,446
Referee: K Wright
13 December 2008 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Queens Park Rangers Home Park, Plymouth
MacLean 83' (Report) Helguson 16' Attendance: 10,747
Referee: K Friend
20 December 2008 Barnsley 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Oakwell, Barnsley
De Silva 37'
Campbell-Ryce 90' (pen.)
(Report) Walton  28' Attendance: 10,944
Referee: D Whitestone
26 December 2008 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Southampton Home Park, Plymouth
Fallon 38'
Summerfield 52' (pen.)
(Report) Attendance: 15,197
Referee: R East
28 December 2008 Cardiff City 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Ninian Park, Cardiff
Bothroyd 81' (Report) McNamee  90' Attendance: 19,145
Referee: S Attwell
17 January 2009 Nottingham Forest 2–0 Plymouth Argyle City Ground, Nottingham
Earnshaw 26'
Anderson 51'
(Report) Attendance: 20,392
Referee: K Stroud
27 January 2009 Plymouth Argyle 0–2 Bristol City Home Park, Plymouth
(Report) McIndoe 61'
Fontaine 84'
Attendance: 11,438
Referee: P Taylor
31 January 2009 Ipswich Town 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Portman Road, Ipswich
(Report) Attendance: 20,333
Referee: D Deadman
3 February 2009 Preston North End 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Deepdale, Preston
Parkin 42' (Report) Mackie 13' Attendance: 10,660
Referee: A Haines
7 February 2009 Plymouth Argyle 0–3 Derby County Home Park, Plymouth
(Report) Teale 42'
Hulse 46', 52'
Attendance: 10,893
Referee: S Cook
14 February 2009 Charlton Athletic 2–0 Plymouth Argyle The Valley, London
Racon 31'
Bailey 68'
(Report) Attendance: 21,876
Referee: T Kettle
17 February 2009 Plymouth Argyle 1–3 Crystal Palace Home Park, Plymouth
Sawyer 67' (Report) Danns 20'
Lee 27'
Oster 43'
Attendance: 10,710
Referee: R Shoebridge
21 February 2009 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Sheffield United Home Park, Plymouth
Fletcher 49'
Gallagher 70'
(Report) Webber 63'
Halford 72'
Attendance: 10,044
Referee: A Woolmer
28 February 2009 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Molineux, Wolverhampton
(Report) Gallagher 1' Attendance: 25,710
Referee: C Boyeson
3 March 2009 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Watford Home Park, Plymouth
Gallagher (pen) 35', 73' (Report) Smith 61' Attendance: 9,529
Referee: N Miller
7 March 2009 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Reading Home Park, Plymouth
Gallagher 20'
Mackie 59'
(Report) Pearce 22'
Kebe 80'
Attendance: 14,014
Referee: A Bates
10 March 2009 Swansea City 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Scotland 78' (pen.) (Report) Attendance: 13,103
Referee: I Williamson
14 March 2009 Norwich City 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Carrow Road, Norwich
Mooney 53'
Russell  90'
(Report) Attendance: 25,064
Referee: F Graham
21 March 2009 Plymouth Argyle 1–2 Burnley Home Park, Plymouth
Judge 17' (Report) Caldwell 16'
Blake 78'
Attendance: 11,246
Referee: R Booth
4 April 2009 Blackpool 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
(Report) Sawyer 86' Attendance: 8,103
Referee: M Haywood
11 April 2009 Plymouth Argyle 4–0 Coventry City Home Park, Plymouth
Barnes 15'
Mackie 26'
Judge 27'
Seip 37'
(Report) Attendance: 12,568
Referee: C Oliver
13 April 2009 Birmingham City 1–1 Plymouth Argyle St Andrew's, Birmingham
Queudrue 50'
Taylor  24'
(Report) Gallagher 26' (pen.) Attendance: 19,323
Referee: Michael Oliver
18 April 2009 Plymouth Argyle 0–3 Doncaster Rovers Home Park, Plymouth
(Report) Spicer 15'
Hayter 33'
Heffernan 71'
Attendance: 11,100
Referee: P Crossley
25 April 2009 Queens Park Rangers 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Loftus Road, London
(Report) Attendance: 14,779
Referee: N Miller
3 May 2009 Plymouth Argyle 1–2 Barnsley Home Park, Plymouth
Sawyer 12' (Report) Hammill 34'
Campbell-Ryce 48'
Attendance: 14,529
Referee: C Penton

League table

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
19 Nottingham Forest 46 13 14 19 50 65 −15 53
20 Barnsley 46 13 13 20 45 58 −13 52
21 Plymouth Argyle 46 13 12 21 44 57 -13 51
22 Norwich City 46 12 10 24 57 70 −13 46
23 Southampton 46 10 15 21 46 69 −23 45

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 13 12 21 44 57  −13 51 7 5 11 31 35  −4 6 7 10 13 22  −9

As of games played 3 May 2009[3]

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAAHAHHAHHAAHAHAHAH
ResultDLLDLWWWDWLWLWLDWWDLLLDLWLLLDDLLLDWWDLLLWWDLDL
Position1018222124201812125128109111097781112131312151516161617181920191717181921191919191921
Updated to match(es) played on 3 May 2009. Source: League Fixtures
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

Third round

3 January 2009 Arsenal 3–1 Plymouth Argyle Emirates Stadium, London
van Persie 47' 85'
Bendtner 50'
(Report) Duguid 53' Attendance: 59,424
Referee: M Jones

Football League Cup

First round

12 August 2008 Luton Town 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Kenilworth Road, Luton
Jarvis 15'
Plummer 77'
(Report) Attendance: 2,682
Referee: R Shoebridge

Squad details

Player statistics

Key

  * First appearance(s) for Plymouth Argyle.
  ¤ On loan to another club from Plymouth Argyle during season.
  ‡ On loan at Plymouth Argyle from another club during season.
  † Permanent player left club during the season.

# = Squad number; Pos = Playing position; P = Number of games played; G = Number of goals scored; = Yellow cards; = Red cards; GK = Goalkeeper; DF = Defender; MF = Midfielder; FW = Forward

Statistics do not include minor competitions or games played for other clubs. All players who were provided a squad number during the 2008–09 season are included.[4]

No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline Notes
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals [5][6][7]
1 GK Romain Larrieu 41 0 1 0 0 0 42 0 1 0 [8]
2 MF Karl Duguid 39 1 1 1 1 0 41* 2 4 0 [9]
3 MF Jim Paterson 7+10 0 0 0 1 0 8+10 0 1 0 [10]
4 MF Simon Walton ¤ 12+1 0 0 0 1 0 13+1 0 3 1 [11]
5 DF Krisztian Timar 13+8 0 0 0 1 0 14+8 0 0 1 [12]
6 MF Chris Clark 30+6 0 1 0 0 0 31+6 0 2 0 [13]
7 MF Jason Puncheon ¤ 5+1 0 0 0 1 0 6+1* 0 0 0 [14]
8 MF Yoann Folly 6+5 0 0 0 1 0 7+5 0 0 0 [15]
9 FW Steve MacLean 11+10 2 0+1 0 1 0 12+11 2 4 0 [16]
10 FW Jermaine Easter ¤ 2+2 0 0 0 1 0 3+2 0 0 0 [17]
11 FW Paul Gallagher 36+4 13 1 0 0 0 37+4* 13 6 0 [18]
13 DF Mathias Doumbe 21+3 1 0 0 0 0 21+3 1 5 0 [19]
14 FW Rory Fallon 26+18 5 1 0 0+1 0 27+19 5 6 0 [20]
15 DF Chris Barker 38+2 0 1 0 1 0 40+2* 0 1 0 [21]
16 DF David McNamee 5+5 0 0 0 0 0 5+5* 0 3 1 [22]
17 MF Craig Noone 3+18 1 1 0 0 0 4+18* 1 1 0 [23]
18 DF Gary Sawyer 13 3 0 0 0 0 13 3 2 0 [24]
19 DF Marcel Seip 41 3 1 0 0 0 42 3 4 0 [25]
20 MF Luke Summerfield 28+1 2 1 0 0+1 0 29+2 2 3 0 [26]
21 GK Graham Stack ¤ 5 0 0 0 1 0 6* 0 0 0 [27]
22 DF Craig Cathcart 29+1 1 1 0 1 0 31+1* 1 1 0 [28]
23 MF Alan Judge 15+2 2 0 0 0 0 15+2* 2 2 0 [29]
23 MF Nicolas Marin 1+5 0 0 0 0 0 1+5* 0 0 0 [30]
24 FW Ashley Barnes 12+3 1 0 0 0 0 12+3 1 2 0 [31]
25 MF Jamie Mackie 35+8 5 1 0 0+1 0 36+9 5 3 0 [32]
26 MF Yannick Bolasie ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [33]
27 GK Lloyd Saxton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [34]
28 MF Carl Fletcher 13 1 0 0 0 0 13* 1 3 0 [35]
28 DF Shane White † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [36]
29 DF Damien McCrory ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [37]
30 MF Dan Smith 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [38]
31 FW Emile Mpenza 3+6 2 0 0 0 0 3+6* 2 0 0 [39]
33 DF David Gray 14 0 1 0 0 0 15* 0 2 0 [40]
35 FW George Donnelly 0+2 0 0 0 0 0 0+2* 0 0 0 [35]
37 MF Roudolphe Douala 1+1 0 0 0 0 0 1+1* 0 0 0 [41]

Goal scorers

Scorer Goals
Paul Gallagher 13
Rory Fallon 5
Jamie Mackie
Gary Sawyer 3
Marcel Seip
Karl Duguid 2
Alan Judge
Steve MacLean
Emile Mpenza
Luke Summerfield
Ashley Barnes 1
Craig Cathcart
Mathias Doumbe
Carl Fletcher
Craig Noone

Starting 11

The following players have been named in the most starting line-ups. This line-up may differ from the list of players with most appearances.

No. Nat. Position Name Starts
1 GK Romain Larrieu 42
13 DF Mathias Doumbe 21
22 DF Craig Cathcart 31
37 DF Marcel Seip 42
15 DF Chris Barker 40
25 MF Jamie Mackie 36
2 MF Karl Duguid 41
20 MF Luke Summerfield 29
6 MF Chris Clark 31
14 FW Rory Fallon 27
11 FW Paul Gallagher 37

Awards

2008–09 Awards Pos. Player
Player of the Year GK Romain Larrieu
Young Player of the Year DF Craig Cathcart

Transfers

Permanent

In

Date Pos. Name From Fee
1 July 2008 FW George Donnelly Skelmersdale United Undisclosed
15 July 2008 DF David McNamee Coventry City Free
18 July 2008 GK Graham Stack Reading Free
1 August 2008 MF Yannick Bolasie Floriana Undisclosed
6 August 2008 MF Simon Walton Queens Park Rangers Undisclosed
9 August 2008 DF Chris Barker Queens Park Rangers Undisclosed
30 August 2008 MF Craig Noone Southport Undisclosed
1 September 2008 FW Emile Mpenza Manchester City Free
21 March 2009 MF Roudolphe Douala Asteras Tripolis Free

Out

Date Pos. Name From Fee
3 July 2008 MF Jimmy Abdou Millwall Free
16 July 2008 MF Péter Halmosi Hull City £2,500,000
22 July 2008 GK Luke McCormick Free agent Released
31 July 2008 MF Lilian Nalis Swindon Town Free
4 February 2009 DF Shane White Free agent Released
31 May 2009 MF Dan Smith Free agent Released
1 June 2009 MF Roudolphe Douala Free agent Released

Loans

In

Start date Pos. Player To End date
8 August 2008 DF Craig Cathcart Manchester United 25 May 2009
29 August 2008 FW Paul Gallagher Blackburn Rovers 25 May 2009
1 September 2008 MF Nicolas Marin Lorient 1 January 2009
1 January 2009 DF David Gray Manchester United 25 May 2009
29 January 2009 MF Alan Judge Blackburn Rovers 31 May 2009
19 February 2009 MF Carl Fletcher Crystal Palace 1 June 2009

Out

Start date Pos. Player To End date
9 September 2008 MF Dan Smith Morecambe 9 October 2008
25 September 2008 FW Jermaine Easter Millwall 9 November 2008
8 October 2008 DF Damien McCrory Port Vale 29 December 2008
24 October 2008 MF Jason Puncheon Milton Keynes Dons 21 December 2008
20 November 2008 FW Jermaine Easter Colchester United 20 December 2008
22 November 2008 MF Yannick Bolasie Rushden & Diamonds 2 January 2009
27 November 2008 GK Graham Stack Blackpool 1 January 2009
27 November 2008 FW Ashley Barnes Eastbourne Borough 26 January 2009
27 November 2008 MF Dan Smith Eastbourne Borough 1 June 2009
28 November 2008 DF Shane White Truro City 28 December 2008
9 January 2009 MF Jason Puncheon Milton Keynes Dons 1 June 2009
22 January 2009 MF Yannick Bolasie Barnet 1 June 2009
26 March 2009 GK Graham Stack Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 June 2009
26 March 2009 MF Simon Walton Blackpool 1 June 2009

See also

Plymouth Argyle seasons

References