2001–02 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season

The 2001–02 season was the 107th season in the history of Plymouth Argyle Football Club, their 77th in the Football League, and 5th in the fourth tier of the English football league system. Their 12th-place finish in the 2000–01 season meant it was their fourth successive season playing in the Third Division.

Plymouth Argyle F.C.
2001–02 season
ChairmanPaul Stapleton
ManagerPaul Sturrock
StadiumHome Park
Third Division1st
FA CupSecond round
League CupFirst round
League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Graham Coughlan (11)
All: Graham Coughlan/David Friio (11)
Highest home attendance18,517 (vs Cheltenham Town, 20 April)
Lowest home attendance3,850 (vs Swansea City, 11 September)

Season summary edit

The club began the 2001–02 season in the Football League Third Division, following a disappointing 12th-place finish the previous year.[1] There were signs of change at the club and they finished the season as champions, breaking numerous club records in the process, including a record haul of 102 points.[2] They achieved 31 wins, 9 draws, and 6 defeats, from 46 games. Their leading goalscorer was Graham Coughlan with 11 goals in all competitions – an outstanding achievement for a centre-back. The club reached the second round of the FA Cup, drawing 1–1 at home with Bristol Rovers before losing the replay 3–2. They entered the League Cup in the first round and were eliminated away to Watford 1–0. They also competed in the Football League Trophy, where they bowed out in the first round after a 2–1 defeat away to Cheltenham Town. Notable players to begin their careers with the Pilgrims this season included Coughlan, Marino Keith, and Jason Bent.

Legend   Win   Draw   Loss

Football League edit

11 August 2001 Plymouth Argyle 0–1 Shrewsbury Town Home Park, Plymouth
Report
  • Jemson   73'
Attendance: 5,087
Referee: C Penton
18 August 2001 Hull City 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Boothferry Park, Hull
Report Attendance: 10,755
Referee: G Cain
25 August 2001 Plymouth Argyle 1–2 Rochdale Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 4,198
Referee: R Harris
27 August 2001 Rushden & Diamonds 2–3 Plymouth Argyle Nene Park, Irthlingborough
Report
Attendance: 4,414
Referee: G Hegley
8 September 2001 Torquay United 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Plainmoor, Torquay
Report
Attendance: 4,217
Referee: M Brandwood
11 September 2001 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Swansea City Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 3,850
Referee: P Prosser
18 September 2001 Exeter City 2–3 Plymouth Argyle St James Park, Exeter
Report
Attendance: 5,756
Referee: D Gallagher
22 September 2001 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Macclesfield Town Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 4,227
Referee: J Ross
25 September 2001 York City 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Bootham Crescent, York
Report Attendance: 2,282
Referee: M Cowburn
29 September 2001 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Luton Town Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 5,782
Referee: A Hall
6 October 2001 Oxford United 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Report
Attendance: 6,017
Referee: P Alcock
13 October 2001 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Halifax Town Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 5,065
Referee: M Warren
20 October 2001 Mansfield Town 0–3 Plymouth Argyle Field Mill, Mansfield
Report
Attendance: 4,621
Referee: G Frankland
23 October 2001 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Lincoln City Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 6,572
Referee: M Fletcher
28 October 2001 Bristol Rovers 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Memorial Ground, Bristol
Report
Attendance: 6,889
Referee: M Halsey
3 November 2001 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Hartlepool United Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 5,723
Referee: B Jordan
9 November 2001 Cheltenham Town 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Whaddon Road, Cheltenham
Report Attendance: 5,035
Referee: B Curson
20 November 2001 Southend United 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Roots Hall, Southend
Report
Attendance: 3,716
Referee: P Taylor
24 November 2001 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Carlisle United Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 5,870
Referee: R Harris
1 December 2001 Leyton Orient 0–0 Plymouth Argyle Brisbane Road, Leyton
Report Attendance: 6,342
Referee: S Dunn
15 December 2001 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Darlington Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 5,041
Referee: M Cooper
22 December 2001 Scunthorpe United 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Glanford Park, Scunthorpe
Report
Attendance: 3,602
Referee: G Laws
26 December 2001 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Torquay United Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 13,677
Referee: P Rejer
29 December 2001 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Rushden & Diamonds Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 9,503
Referee: L Cable
12 January 2002 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Hull City Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 9,134
Referee: C Wilkes
19 January 2002 Shrewsbury Town 3–1 Plymouth Argyle Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury
Report
Attendance: 4,796
Referee: D Pugh
22 January 2002 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Scunthorpe United Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 5,804
Referee: M Fletcher
26 January 2002 Plymouth Argyle 4–2 Oxford United Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 8,239
Referee: B Curson
2 February 2002 Luton Town 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Kenilworth Road, Luton
Report Attendance: 9,585
Referee: P Joslin
5 February 2002 Swansea City 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Vetch Field, Swansea
Report
Attendance: 4,060
Referee: S Tomlin
9 February 2002 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Mansfield Town Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 14,716
Referee: D Crick
16 February 2002 Halifax Town 0–2 Plymouth Argyle The Shay, Halifax
Report
Attendance: 2,330
Referee: T Parkes
23 February 2002 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 Kidderminster Harriers Home Park, Plymouth
Report
Attendance: 8,758
Referee: R Beeby
26 February 2002 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Exeter City Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 16,369
Referee: G Cain
2 March 2002 Macclesfield Town 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Moss Rose, Macclesfield
Report
Attendance: 2,557
Referee: P Dowd
5 March 2002 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 York City Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 10,801
Referee: P Prosser
16 March 2002 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Leyton Orient Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 9,438
Referee: M Fletcher
23 March 2002 Lincoln City 0–1 Plymouth Argyle Sincil Bank, Lincoln
Report
Attendance: 4,019
Referee: Trevor Parkes
26 March 2002 Rochdale 1–3 Plymouth Argyle Spotland, Rochdale
Report
Attendance: 4,457
Referee: Mike Pike
13 April 2002 Carlisle United 0–2 Plymouth Argyle Brunton Park, Carlisle
Report
Attendance: 3,080
Referee: Mark Cowburn
15 April 2002 Darlington 1–4 Plymouth Argyle Feethams, Darlington
Report
Attendance: 4,089
Referee: Guy Stretton
20 April 2002 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Cheltenham Town Home Park, Plymouth
Report Attendance: 18,517
Referee: Steve Tomlin

League table edit

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Plymouth Argyle 46 31 9 6 71 28 +43 102
2 Luton Town 46 30 7 9 96 48 +48 97
3 Mansfield Town 46 24 7 15 72 60 +12 79
4 Cheltenham Town 46 21 15 10 66 49 +17 78
5 Rochdale 46 21 15 10 65 52 +13 78

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 edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 31 9 6 71 28  +43 102 19 2 2 41 11  +30 12 7 4 30 17  +13

As of games played 20 April 2002[3]

FA Cup edit

First Round

17 November 2001 Whitby Town 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Turnbull Ground, Whitby
Gildea   42' (Report) Phillips   72' Attendance: 2,202
Referee: Neale Barry

First round replay

27 November 2001 Plymouth Argyle 3–2 Whitby Town Home Park, Plymouth
Bent   16'
Stonebridge   39'
Phillips   44'
Evans   36'
(Report) Burt   70'
Robinson   72'
Attendance: 5,914
Referee: Paul Durkin

Second Round

8 December 2001 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Bristol Rovers Home Park, Plymouth
Wotton   27' (Report) Walters   60' Attendance: 6,141
Referee: Richard Beeby

Second Round Replay

18 December 2001 Bristol Rovers 3–2 Plymouth Argyle Memorial Ground, Bristol
Ommel   56'
Hogg   71'
Ellington   87'
(Report) Friio   76', 86' Attendance: 5,763
Referee: Richard Beeby

Football League Cup edit

First Round

21 August 2001 Watford 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Vicarage Road, Watford
Gayle   82' (Report) Attendance: 9,230
Referee: Paul Armstrong

Football League Trophy edit

Southern Section First Round

16 October 2001 Cheltenham Town 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Whaddon Road, Cheltenham
Victory   53'
Alsop   63'
(Report) Friio   16' Attendance: 1,310
Referee: Paul Rejer

Players edit

First-team squad edit

Squad at end of season[4]

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   FRA Romain Larrieu
2 DF   IRL David Worrell
3 DF   ENG Jon Beswetherick
4 MF   FRA David Friio
5 DF   IRL Graham Coughlan
6 DF   ENG Craig Taylor
7 DF   NIR Brian McGlinchey
9 FW   IRL Mickey Evans[notes 1]
10 FW   ENG Ian Stonebridge
11 MF   ENG Martin Phillips
12 MF   ENG Steve Adams
14 MF   ENG Lee Hodges
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF   ENG Paul Wotton
16 FW   SCO Martin Gritton
17 MF   ENG Kevin Wills
19 FW   SCO Marino Keith
20 MF   CAN Jason Bent
21 FW   SCO Blair Sturrock
22 MF   ENG Joe Broad
23 GK   ENG Luke McCormick
24 DF   ENG Paul Connolly
25 MF   ENG Neil Heaney
28 MF   CGO Marly Malonga

Left club during season edit

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
8 MF   ENG Sean Evers (on loan to Stevenage Borough)
18 FW   ENG Nicky Banger (released)
19 FW   ENG Dean Crowe (on loan from Stoke City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 FW   ENG Steve Guinan (to Shrewsbury Town)
26 GK   ENG Chris Adamson (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

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 are listed by position and then surname.[5]

No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline Notes
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals     [6]
- GK   Chris Adamson 1 0 0 0 0 0 1* 0 [7]
- GK   Romain Larrieu 45 0 4 0 1 0 50 0 [8]
- GK   Luke McCormick 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [9]
- DF   Jon Beswetherick 32 0 3 0 0 0 35 0 [10]
- DF   Paul Connolly ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 [11]
- DF   Graham Coughlan 46 11 4 0 1 0 51* 11 [12]
- DF   Brian McGlinchey 29 1 3 0 1 0 33 1 [13]
- DF   Craig Taylor 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 [14]
- DF   David Worrell 42 0 4 0 0 0 46 0 [15]
- DF   Paul Wotton 46 5 4 0 0 0 50 5 [16]
- MF   Steve Adams 46 2 4 0 1 0 51 2 [17]
- MF   Jason Bent 21 3 3 1 0 0 24* 4 [18]
- MF   Joe Broad ¤ 7 0 0 0 1 0 8* 0 [19]
- MF   Sean Evers ¤ 7 0 1 0 1 0 9 0 [20]
- MF   David Friio 41 8 4 2 1 0 46 10 [21]
- MF   Neil Heaney 8 0 0 0 0 0 8* 0 [22]
- MF   Lee Hodges 45 6 4 0 1 0 50 6 [23]
- MF   Martin Phillips 39 6 4 2 1 0 44 8 [24]
- MF   Kevin Wills 18 0 2 0 1 0 21 0 [25]
- FW   Nicky Banger 10 2 0 0 0 0 10* 2 [26]
- FW   Dean Crowe 1 0 0 0 0 0 1* 0 [27]
- FW   Mickey Evans 38 7 3 0 1 0 42 7 [28]
- FW   Martin Gritton ¤ 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
- FW   Martin Green¤ 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
- FW   Marino Keith 23 9 2 0 0 0 25* 9 [29]
- FW   Ian Stonebridge 42 8 4 1 1 0 47 9 [30]

Goalscorers edit

Scorer Goals
  Graham Coughlan 11
  David Friio
  Marino Keith 9
  Ian Stonebridge
  Martin Phillips 8
  Mickey Evans 7
  Lee Hodges 6
  Paul Wotton
  Jason Bent 4
  Steve Adams 2
  Nicky Banger
  Brian McGlinchey 1

Awards edit

2001–02 Awards Pos. Player
Player of the Year DF   Graham Coughlan
Young Player of the Year MF   Steve Adams

Transfers edit

Permanent edit

In

Date Pos. Player From Fee
24 August 2001 FW   Nicky Banger Dundee Free
21 September 2001 MF   Jason Bent Colorado Rapids Free
6 November 2001 FW   Marino Keith Livingston Free
1 December 2001 FW   Blair Sturrock Dundee United Free
4 December 2001 MF   Neil Heaney Dundee United Undisclosed

Out

Date Pos. Player To Fee
3 July 2001 FW   Sean McCarthy Exeter City Free
8 July 2001 MF   Martin Barlow Exeter City Free
10 July 2001 GK   Jon Sheffield Yeovil Town Free
1 August 2001 MF   Michael Meaker Northwich Victoria Undisclosed
6 August 2001 DF   Michael Heathcote Shrewsbury Town Free
17 August 2001 MF   Stuart Elliott Carlisle United Free
26 November 2001 FW   Nicky Banger Free agent Released
28 March 2002 FW   Steve Guinan Shrewsbury Town Free
29 May 2002 DF   Jon Beswetherick Sheffield Wednesday Free

Loans edit

In

Start Date Pos. Player To End Date
10 August 2001 FW   Dean Crowe Stoke City 5 September 2001
10 January 2002 GK   Chris Adamson West Bromwich Albion 7 February 2002

Out

Start Date Pos. Player From End Date
24 November 2001 MF   Joe Broad Yeovil Town 24 December 2001
29 November 2001 FW   Martin Gritton Shelbourne 31 May 2002
1 February 2002 DF   Paul Connolly Bideford 31 May 2002
28 March 2002 MF   Sean Evers Stevenage Borough 31 May 2002

Notes edit

  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.

References edit

  1. ^ GoS: 2001–02
  2. ^ Team Page
  3. ^ League Table
  4. ^ "FootballSquads - Plymouth Argyle - 2001/02".
  5. ^ "Appearances". Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  6. ^ Soccerbase Statistics
  7. ^ Chris Adamson
  8. ^ Romain Larrieu
  9. ^ Luke McCormick
  10. ^ Jon Beswetherick
  11. ^ Paul Connolly
  12. ^ Graham Coughlan
  13. ^ Brian McGlinchey
  14. ^ Craig Taylor
  15. ^ David Worrell
  16. ^ Paul Wotton
  17. ^ Steve Adams
  18. ^ Jason Bent
  19. ^ Joe Broad
  20. ^ Sean Evers
  21. ^ David Friio
  22. ^ Neil Heaney
  23. ^ Lee Hodges
  24. ^ Martin Phillips
  25. ^ Kevin Wills
  26. ^ Nicky Banger
  27. ^ Dean Crowe
  28. ^ Mickey Evans
  29. ^ Marino Keith
  30. ^ Ian Stonebridge