The 1886–87 football season marked the formation of Plymouth Argyle Football Club. The team was originally called Argyle F.C.

History

The club was formed in September 1886 by former college and public school students who wished to continue playing the game. The inspiration for the name Argyle is thought to have come from Argyle Terrace, a local street in a suburb of Plymouth called Mutley.[1] At this time organised League football did not exist. Instead "first class matches", otherwise known as "exhibition matches", were arranged on a largely ad hoc basis and supplemented by cup competitions. Official records from these matches are sketchy at best, but what is certain is that the club played its first match on 9 October 1886 against Dunheved College (now Launceston Technology College) in Launceston.

The club continued in this manner, playing matches at numerous venues in the area, until the decision was made to set up a professional club in the city in 1903. Frank Brettell, a football administrator, was invited to achieve this goal and gain entry to the Southern Football League.[2] He achieved them both, Plymouth Argyle Football Club were elected into the Southern Football League and Western Football League that same year, and they played their first match on 1 September 1903 against West Ham United, winning 1–0.[3]

Exhibition Matches

9 October 1886 Dunheved College 2–0 Argyle Football Club Launceston, Cornwall
16 October 1886 Caxton 4–2 Argyle Football Club
[4]
30 October 1886 Plymouth College 1–2 Argyle Football Club Plymouth, Devon
6 November 1886 Argyle Football Club 5-0 Royal Artillery Granby Barracks, Devonport, Devon
[5]
13 November 1886 Tavistock Grammar School 3-1 Argyle Football Club Tavistock, Devon
[6]
20 November 1886 Argyle Football Club v Mannamead School Plymouth, Devon
4 December 1886 Argyle Football Club v Hotspur Football Club Plymouth, Devon
11 December 1886 Argyle Football Club v Plymouth United Plymouth, Devon
15 January 1887 Old Plymothians 10-0 Argyle Football Club Ford Park, Plymouth, Devon
[7]
22 January 1887 Mannamead School v Argyle Football Club Plymouth, Devon
29 January 1887 Plymouth 1-2 Argyle Football Club Plymouth, Devon
[8]
5 February 1887 Hotspur Football Club v Argyle Football Club Plymouth, Devon
19 February 1887 Argyle Football Club v Corporation Grammar School Plymouth, Devon
5 March 1887 Plymouth United v Argyle Football Club Plymouth, Devon
12 March 1887 Argyle Football Club v Plymouth College Plymouth, Devon

References

  1. ↑ "The Argyle Story". Archived from the original on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "Frank Brettell". Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  3. ↑ GoS:1903–04
  4. ↑ "HOW ARGYLE WAS CREATED". Western Morning News. 10 April 1934. Retrieved 27 February 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "ARGYLE V. ROYAL ARTILLERY". Devon Evening Express. 8 November 1886. Retrieved 27 February 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Tavistock Gazette. 19 November 1886. Retrieved 27 February 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ "OLD PLYMOTHIANS V. ARGYLE". Western Morning News. 18 January 1887. Retrieved 27 February 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "PLYMOUTH v. ARGYLE". Western Morning News. 31 January 1887. Retrieved 27 February 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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