Plymouth Argyle
2003–04 season
ManagerPaul Sturrock August–March
Kevin Summerfield (caretaker) March–April
Bobby Williamson April onwards
Division Two1st
FA CupFirst Round
League CupFirst Round
Football League TrophySecond Round (South)
Top goalscorerDavid Friio (14 goals)
Highest home attendanceQueens Park Rangers (19,888)
Away: Sheffield Wednesday (20,090)
Lowest home attendanceWycombe Wanderers (4,298)
Away: Colchester United (2,367)
Biggest win7–0 Chesterfield (home)
Biggest defeat3–0 Queens Park Rangers (away)
3–0 Tranmere Rovers (away)
4–1 Oldham Athletic (away)

The 2003/04 football season saw Plymouth Argyle regain a place in the second tier of English football for the first time in twelve seasons, Along the way to capturing the Division Two championship they accumulated 90 league points, 21 clean sheets and a club record of seven straight clean sheets whilst also losing arguably the most successful manager in recent history in Paul Sturrock to Southampton F.C.

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[1][2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK France FRA Romain Larrieu
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL David Worrell
3 MF England ENG Lee Hodges
4 MF France FRA David Friio
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Graham Coughlan
6 MF England ENG Steve Adams
7 MF England ENG David Norris
8 MF Canada CAN Jason Bent
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Mickey Evans[notes 1]
10 FW England ENG Ian Stonebridge
11 MF England ENG Martin Phillips
14 DF Northern Ireland NIR Tony Capaldi[notes 2]
15 DF England ENG Paul Wotton (captain)
16 DF England ENG Hasney Aljofree
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW England ENG Nathan Lowndes
19 MF Scotland SCO Marino Keith
21 FW Scotland SCO Blair Sturrock
22 DF England ENG Paul Connolly
23 GK England ENG Luke McCormick
24 DF Wales WAL Peter Gilbert[notes 3]
25 DF England ENG Matt Villis
26 MF England ENG Andrew Watkins
27 FW England ENG Ryan Trudgian
28 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Wayne O'Sullivan[notes 4]
29 MF England ENG Marcus Martin
32 FW England ENG Stewart Yetton
34 DF England ENG Ryan Dickson
  1. ↑ Evans was born in Plymouth, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in October 1997.
  2. ↑ Capaldi was born in Porsgrunn, Norway, but also qualified to represent Scotland and Northern Ireland internationally through his father and grandmother respectively and represented Northern Ireland at U-18 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in March 2004.
  3. ↑ Gilbert was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally and represented Wales at U-21 level.
  4. ↑ O'Sullivan was born in Akrotiri, Cyprus, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented the Republic of Ireland at U-21 level.

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Northern Ireland NIR Brian McGlinchey (to Torquay United)
20 MF England ENG David Beresford (to Tranmere Rovers)
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Eugène Kangulungu (released)
31 GK Finland FIN Jani Viander (to Brentford)

Pre-season

Matches

15 July 2003 St Blazey 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Blaise Park, Cornwall
Evans
28 July 2003 SV Bad Ischl 1–1 Plymouth Argyle
Beresford

Last updated: 5 November 2014
Source:Greens on Screen

Football League Division Two

Matches

9 August 2003 1 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Grimsby Town Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Keith 32'
Coughlan 51'
Capaldi Yellow card		 Boulding 28'
Anderson 64'
Barnard Yellow card
Cas Yellow card		 Attendance: 9,590
Referee: L Cable
16 August 2003 2 Rushden and Diamonds 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Nene Park, Irthlingborough
15:00 Lowe 54'
Jack 56'
Mills Yellow card		 Capaldi 77' Yellow card
Friio Yellow card		 Attendance: 4,045
Referee: B Knight
23 August 2003 3 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Stockport County Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Keith 21'
Hodges 23'
Bent 28'
Norris Yellow card
Evans Yellow card		 Beckett 43'
Goodwin Yellow card
Gibb Yellow card		 Attendance: 7,594
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
30 August 2003 5 Plymouth Argyle 3–3 Brighton Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Coughlan 19'
Stonebridge 81'
Friio 89'
Wotton Yellow card
Evans Yellow card		 Connolly (o.g.)
Butters 36'
Knight 73'
Roberts Yellow card
Hart Yellow card		 Attendance: 9,289
Referee: M Fletcher
6 September 2003 6 Brentford 1–3 Plymouth Argyle Griffin Park, London
15:00 May 27'
Fieldwick Yellow card
Roget Red card 89'		 Stonebridge 9'
Evans 58' 84'		 Attendance: 5,688
Referee: Steve Tomlin
12 September 2003 7 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Luton Town Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Evans 82'
Friio 90'
Wotton Yellow card		 McSheffrey 58'
Coyne Yellow card
Showunmi Yellow card		 Attendance: 9,894
Referee: Anthony Bates
16 September 2003 8 Peterborough United 2–2 Plymouth Argyle London Road, Peterborough
19:45 Arber pen' (27)
Clarke 81'
Legg Yellow card
Shields Yellow card		 Wotton pen' (10)
Capaldi 84'		 Attendance: 4,183
Referee: R Pearson
20 September 2003 9 Wrexham 2–2 Plymouth Argyle Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
15:00 Lawrence 28'
Jones Pen' (42)
Whitley Yellow card
Edwards Yellow card		 Norris 31'
Capaldi 49'
Wotton Yellow card		 Attendance: 3,945
Referee: Michael Ryan
27 September 2003 10 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Barnsley Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Coughlan 38'
Evans 75'		 Gallimore Yellow card
Fallon Yellow card		 Attendance: 8,695
Referee: Richard Beeby
27 September 2003 11 Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Bristol City Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Evans Yellow card Peacock 27'
Butler Yellow card
Lita Yellow card		 Attendance: 13,923
Referee: P Armstrong
4 October 2003 12 Wycombe Wanderers 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Adams Park, High Wycombe
15:00 Vinnicombe Yellow card Attendance: 5,708
Referee: Mike Thorpe
11 October 2003 13 Plymouth Argyle 6–0 Tranmere Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Friio 7'
Wotton 38'
Gilbert 45'
Keith 49'
Evans 56' Yellow card
Norris 79'		 Gray Yellow card
Taylor Yellow card		 Attendance: 7,610
Referee: Andre Marriner
18 October 2003 14 Port Vale 1–5 Plymouth Argyle Vale Park, Stoke-on-Trent
15:00 Keith 35'
Friio 38' 72'
Adams 45'
Wotton 46'		 Burns Yellow card Attendance: 5,786
Referee: Lee Probert
22 October 2003 15 Sheffield Wednesday 1–3 Plymouth Argyle Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
19:45 Reddy 84'
Smith Yellow card
Holt Yellow card		 Friio 22' 64'
Wotton pen' (46)
Norris Yellow card		 Attendance: 20,090
Referee: G Laws
25 October 2003 16 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Blackpool Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Keith 42'
Coughlan Yellow card
Adams Yellow card		 Southern Yellow card
Douglas Red card 55'
Bullock Yellow card		 Attendance: 12,372
Referee: Steve Tanner
1 November 2003 17 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Oldham Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Wotton 17'
Friio Red card 43'
Evans 50'		 Beharall 10' 63'
Sheridan Red card 43'
Murray Red card 76'		 Attendance: 11,205
Referee: M Warren
15 November 2003 18 Queens Park Rangers 3–0 Plymouth Argyle Loftus Road, London
15:00 Gallen 35' 75'
Thorpe 72'
Bean Yellow card		 Attendance: 17,049
Referee: Trevor Parkes
22 November 2003 19 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Hartlepool United Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Keith 45'
Lowndes 48' Yellow card
Coughlan Yellow card
Aljofree Yellow card
Norris Yellow card		 Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Iain Williamson
29 November 2003 20 Colchester United 0–2 Plymouth Argyle Layer Road, Colchester
15:00 Capaldi 4'
Keith 11'
McCormick Yellow card
Connolly Yellow card
Gilbert Yellow card
Hodges Yellow card
Wotton Yellow card		 Attendance: 4,332
Referee: Kevin Wright
13 December 2003 21 Swindon Town 2–3 Plymouth Argyle County Ground (Swindon), Swindon
15:00 Fallon 80'
Parkin 90' Yellow card
Robinson Yellow card Red card 90'		 Capaldi 13'
Norris 76'Yellow card
Keith 90'
Wotton Yellow card		 Attendance: 9,374
Referee: B Curson
20 December 2003 22 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Notts County Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Lowndes 28'
Evans 79' 82'		 Fenton Yellow card
Bolland Yellow card
Caskey Yellow card		 Attendance: 9,923
Referee: R Olivier
26 December 2003 23 AFC Bournemouth 0–2 Plymouth Argyle Dean Court, Bournemouth
15:00 Feeney Yellow card
Cummings Yellow card		 Wotton 22'
Norris 40'Yellow card		 Attendance: 8,901
Referee: Richard Beeby
28 December 2003 24 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Brentford Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Capaldi 48'
Lowndes 63'
Connolly Yellow card
Coughlan Yellow card		 Kitamirike Yellow card
Roget Yellow card Red card 42'		 Attendance: 17,882
Referee: P Prosser
3 January 2004 25 Plymouth Argyle 7–0 Chesterfield Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Hodges 4'
Capaldi 11'
Lowndes 12' 18'
Friio 15' 36' 88'		 Davies Yellow card Attendance: 13,109
Referee: Keith Hill
10 January 2004 26 Grimsby Town 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Blundell Park, Grimsby
15:00 Gilbert Yellow card
Aljorfree Yellow card
Friio Yellow card
Hodges Yellow card		 Attendance: 5,007
Referee: Eddie Evans
17 January 2003 27 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Rushden and Diamonds Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Coughlan 47'
Stonebridge 58'
Wotton 90'		 Bignot Red card 59' Attendance: 13,021
Referee: Clive Penton
24 January 2004 28 Stockport County 0–2 Plymouth Argyle Edgeley Park, Stockport
15:00 Friio 29'
Coughlan 62'		 Gibb Yellow card
Lambert Yellow card		 Attendance: 6,608
Referee: Paul Robindon
31 January 2004 29 Brighton 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Withdean Stadium, Brighton
15:00 Benjamin 12'
Knight 34'
Watson Yellow card		 Lowndes 88' Attendance: 6,379
Referee: Phil Joslin
7 February 2004 30 Plymouth Argyle 0–0 AFC Bournemouth Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Capaldi Yellow card Buxton Yellow card
Cummings Yellow card		 Attendance: 13,371
Referee: B Knight
17 February 2004 31 Tranmere Rovers 3–0 Plymouth Argyle Prenton Park, Tranmere
19:45 Dadi 19' 52'
Hume 23'		 Aljofree Yellow card
Norris Yellow card		 Attendance: 7,948
Referee: M Cowburn
21 February 2004 32 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Port Vale Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Phillips 80'
Stonebridge 90'
Capaldi Yellow card
Aljofree Yellow card		 McPhee 53'
Pilkington Yellow card
Paynter Yellow card		 Attendance: 13,371
Referee: B Knight
28 February 2004 33 Blackpool 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
15:00 Evans Yellow card Stonebridge 54'
Adams Yellow card
Aljofree Yellow card		 Attendance: 7,253
Referee: Scott Mathieson
6 March 2004 35 Notts County 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Meadow Lane, Nottingham
15:00 Keith Yellow card Bolland Yellow card
Scoffham Yellow card		 Attendance: 8,057
Referee: Nigel Miller
13 March 2004 36 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Swindon Town Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Keith 11'
Evans 84'
Friio Yellow card		 Gurney Red card 75'
Mooney 90'		 Attendance: 16,080
Referee: P Walton
16 March 2004 37 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Peterborough United Home Park, Plymouth
19:45 Lowndes 55'
Wotton pen' (79)
Connolly Yellow card		 Arber Yellow card Attendance: 13,110
Referee: Joe Ross
20 March 2004 38 Luton Town 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Kenilworth Road, Luton
15:00 Coyne 42'
Holmes Yellow card
Howard Yellow card
Nicholls Red card 46'		 Adams 90'
Friio Yellow card		 Attendance: 8,499
Referee: Graham Salisbury
27 March 2004 39 Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Wrexham Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Norris Yellow card
Lowndes Yellow card
Evans Yellow card		 Morgan Red card 56'
Ferguson Red card 90'		 Attendance: 12,275
Referee: P Taylor
3 April 2004 40 Barnsley 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Oakwell, Barnsley
15:00 Birch 81'
Betsy Yellow card
Neil Yellow card
Shuker Yellow card		 Norris Yellow card Attendance: 9,266
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
10 April 2004 41 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Wycombe Wanderers Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Coughlan 39'
Evans 80'Yellow card
Hodges Yellow card		 Tyson 5'
Nethercott Yellow card		 Attendance: 14,806
Referee: D R Crick
13 April 2004 42 Bristol City 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Ashton Gate, Bristol
19:45 Peacock 85'
Roberts Yellow card
Doherty Yellow card		 Bent Yellow card Attendance: 19,045
Referee: R Pearson
17 April 2004 43 Oldham Athletic 4–1 Plymouth Argyle Boundary Park, Oldham
15:00 Johnson 34'Yellow cardRed card 61'
Owen 42'
Eyres 45'
Murray 67'		 Wotton 51'Yellow cardRed card 53' Attendance: 6,924
Referee: M Cowburn
1 May 2004 45 Hartlepool 1–3 Plymouth Argyle Victoria Park (Hartlepool)
15:00 Boyd 11'
Westwood Yellow card
Williams Yellow card		 Hodges 12'
Lowndes 42'
Tinkler og' (48)		 Attendance: 7,437
Referee: Anthony Leake
8 May 2004 46 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Colchester United Home Park, Plymouth
15:00 Friio 17' Red card 62'
Norris 47'		 Brown Yellow card
Bowry Yellow card		 Attendance: 19,868
Referee: A R Hall

Last updated: 8 November 2014
Source:Soccerbase

FA Cup

Matches

8 November 2003 Round One Northampton 3–2 Plymouth Argyle Sixfields, Northampton
15:00 Walker 37'
Hargreaves 60'
Asamoah 83'
Sampson Yellow card
Trollope Yellow card		 Friio 32'
Stonebridge 63'
Evans Yellow card		 Attendance: 4,385
Referee: L Cable

Last updated: 9 November 2014
Source:Soccerbase

League Cup

Matches

12 August 2003 Round One Colchester United 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Layer Road, Colchester
19:45 Fagan 22' Yellow card
Pinault 40' Yellow card
Brown Yellow card
Stockley Yellow card		 Evans 24'
Gilbert Yellow card
Capaldi Yellow card
Keith Yellow card		 Attendance: 2,367
Referee: Joe Ross

Last updated: 9 November 2014
Source:Soccerbase

Football League Trophy

Matches

14 October 2003 Round One Plymouth Argyle 4–0 Bristol City Home Park, Plymouth
19:45 Keith 10'
Lowndes 45' 86'
Gilbert 55'
Capaldi Yellow card		 Butler Yellow card
Doherty Yellow card		 Attendance: 4,927
Referee: D R Crick
4 November 2003 Round Two Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Wycombe Wanderers Home Park, Plymouth
19:45 Coughlan 22'
Evans 34'		 McSporran 8' 15'
Johnson Yellow card
Branston Red card 90'		 Attendance: 4,298
Referee: B Curson
Note: (Wycombe Win 4–2 On Penalties)

Last updated: 9 November 2014
Source:Soccerbase

Notable events

  • 22 October 2003: Plymouth Argyle defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 at Hillsborough to go top of Division Two.
  • 24 October 2003: Argyle receive performance of the week award for their 5–1 victory over Port Vale.
  • 1 November 2003: Paul Sturrock named Division Two Manager of the Month for October.
  • 6 November 2003: David Friio announced as Division Two player of the month for October.
  • 23 December 2003: Paul Sturrock signs a four and a half year contract with Argyle.
  • 26 December 2003: Paul Wotton scores Argyle's 5000th League goal in a 2–0 victory over AFC Bournemouth. Plymouth Argyle become the first League side to score 50 goals in that season.
  • 2 January 2004: Paul Sturrock named Division Two Manager of the Month for December.
  • 3 January 2004: David Friio scores the first hat-trick for Argyle since Paul McGregor in March 2000.
  • 6 January 2004: Paul Sturrock named as winner of the second quarter of the League managers Association's Tissot Managers' Performance League.
  • 17 January 2004: Billy Rafferty and Paul Mariner make a guest appearance at Home Park. Argyle played Rushden & Diamonds on that day and won 3–0.
  • 5 February 2004: Graham Coughlan announced as Division Two player of the month for January.
  • 19 February 2004: The club's first retail outlet in Plymouth city centre opens. The club also unveils next season's away kit – the first to be voted for by fans.
  • 2 March 2004: Plymouth Argyle complete the second "double" over Sheffield Wednesday in their history, by beating them for a second time in the season. Argyle won the match 2–0.
  • 3 March 2004: Paul Sturrock agrees personal terms to take over as Southampton manager.
  • 4 March 2004: Sturrock is unveiled by Southampton as their new manager at a press conference.
  • 17 March 2004: The club announces that next year's away kit will be white, instead of tangerine, due to supporter demands.
  • 27 March 2004: One hundred former Argyle players returned to Home Park for the game against Wrexham.
  • 31 March 2004: Tony Capaldi becomes the first Plymouth Argyle player to win a cap for a home nation since Dave Phillips (Wales) in 1984. Capaldi plays for Northern Ireland.
  • 10 April 2004: It becomes mathematically certain that Plymouth Argyle will achieve promotion or a play-off place, following a 2–1 win over Wycombe Wanderers.
  • 20 April 2004: Bobby Williamson is unveiled as the permanent successor to Paul Sturrock, following much speculation about the managerial vacancy.
  • 24 April 2004: A 2–0 win over Queens Park Rangers hands Argyle both promotion and the Division Two title.
  • 6 May 2004: Graham Coughlan is named as the Division Two player of the season.
  • 8 May 2004: Mickey Evans is announced as the club's player of the season and Luke McCormick as the most promising player as decided by fans. Plymouth Argyle are presented with the Division Two trophy after their 2–0 win over Colchester United
  • 17 May 2004: Paul Sturrock is named as the Division Two manager of the season for his efforts at Argyle.
  • 21 May 2004: The club holds its centenary ball to celebrate the previous season. The Plymouth Argyle team of the century, decided by supporters, is announced.

Transfers

Out

Date Player Transfer To Fee
12 September 2003Brian McGlincheyThree month loanTorquay United-
24 September 2003Joe BroadSaleTorquay UnitedFree
2 October 2003David BeresfordOne month loanMacclesfield Town-
4 November 2003David BeresfordSaleTranmere RoversFree
9 January 2004Jani VianderSaleBrentfordFree
13 January 2004Brian McGlincheySaleTorquay UnitedFree
1 June 2004Martin PhillipsRelease--
1 June 2004Jason BentRelease--
1 June 2004Eugene KangulunguRelease--
1 June 2004Wayne O'SullivanRelease--
6 July 2004Matthew VillisSeason loanTorquay United-
30 July 2004Ian StonebridgeSaleWycombe WanderersFree

References

[3]

  1. ↑ "FootballSquads - Plymouth Argyle - 2003/04".
  2. ↑ "GoS-DB Season".
  3. ↑ "2003/04 Championship Season". Greens On Screen. Greens On Screen. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
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