1armedboxer

The Times Report
Sunday 27th March 2005

News has just reached The Times from Old Trafford that manager Alex Ferguson has been sensationally sacked by the Manchester United board. Ferguson, who had occupied the Red Devils’ hot-seat for almost twenty years, has had a dismal season by his own standards, and with United adding elimination from the Champions’ League to languishing 5th in the Premier Division, the board have decided that enough is enough.

Speculation is mounting that Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce, a favourite with the Old Trafford faithful, will succeed Ferguson, although with such names as Willem van Hanegem, Nevio Scala and Alberto Zaccheroni currently out of work, the race to become United manager is a far from straight forward one.

A slow start to the season, as well as the recent run of a single victory in eight games have ended Ferguson’s run as manager on a low note. A full twenty points behind leaders Chelsea and trailing 4th placed Liverpool by eight, it is difficult to see anything but UEFA Cup football being played at the club next season.

1armedboxer

Saturday 2nd April, 2005
English Championship Table

------------------------Pld--GD--Pts
Nottingham Forest........39..+37..81
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE..........39..+36..79
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leicester City...........39..+24..70
Sheffield United.........39..+26..69
Wolverhampton Wanderers..39..+23..68
Leeds United.............39..+19..67
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

With the return of Paul Wotton for the final seven games of the season, Mike Rogerson's Plymouth looked to be safely in the automatic promotion spots. A potentially tricky trip to 11th placed Gillingham stood between The Pilgrims and and six game run-in to the end of the season.

1armedboxer

Still not liking the layout then?! Balls.

1armedboxer

Matt Smith: Hello again and welcome to The Championship on ITV1. My name’s Matt Smith and this week, with the help of Andy Townsend, we’ll be going through the this season’s remaining fixtures as the campaign comes to a gripping climax. With Nottingham Forest and Plymouth Argyle looking to run away with the automatic spots it could be down to a fight for the Play Offs for the rest, but you never know in this division.

Andy Townsend: That’s right.

Nottingham Forest:

Wigan
Leeds
Preston
Stoke
Watford
GillinghamTV
Crewe

Plymouth Argyle:

Gillingham
Crewe
Millwall
Sunderland
Rotherham
LeicesterTV
Brighton

Leicester City:

Rotherham
QPR
Brighton
Derby
Sheff Utd
PlymouthTV
West Ham

Sheffield United:

Crewe
Millwall
SunderlandTV
Rotherham
Leicester
Brighton
Derby

Wolverhampton Wanderers:

Leeds
Preston
StokeTV
Watford
Gillingham
Crewe
Millwall

Leeds United

Wolves
Nottm Forest
Ipswich
Coventry
CardiffTV
Wigan
QPR

MS: Andy, Leeds look to have the hardest run-in with trips to Forest and Coventry and a home game against Wolves.

AT: Right Matt. The top two look home and dry in all probability but there are no easy games in this division. It’s been a battle all season and it’ll be a battle to the end.

1armedboxer

The Evening Herald Report
April 2005 Round-Up

2nd
Gillingham 2 (Byfield 45, Nosworthy 63)
Plymouth Argyle 0

Boosted by the return of Stephen Crawford and Ryan Dickson to first team training, Mike Rogerson set about plotting his final six games of the season. With the visit of bottom-of-the-table Crewe Alexandra just around the corner, Rogerson had a full squad to choose from an settled back into his preferred 4-1-4-1 formation, leaving Steven Milne to plough the lone furrow up front once more.

9th
Plymouth Argyle 3 (Ifill 27, 57; Wotton 30)
Crewe Alexandra 0

A hero’s performance by Paul Ifill and a goal on his return by Paul Wotton drag Plymouth to within a win of top spot with only five to play.

16th
Millwall 0
Plymouth Argyle 1 (Crawford 47)

A goal on his return from injury by Stephen Crawford means that Argyle need two points from their final three games to be promoted automatically. Forest are still three points clear but after another slip-up, Leicester are now ten behind the Pilgrims.

retired_tonytranbg79

Welcome to FMS and good story so far

1armedboxer

Thanks Tyrone, it just got better!

1armedboxer

Evening Herald report
Tuesday 19th April 2005

THE GREENS ARE GOING UP!!
Premier Division football coming to Home Park

Plymouth Argyle manager Mike Rogerson, in his first season in charge at the club, has led them into the top flight for the first time in their history. Wild celebrations began at Home Park tonight as the referee blew the final whistle to end a game that Argyle had never looked like losing. In truth they were practically promoted before the match had kicked off, and there was a carnival atmosphere in the city from lunchtime onwards, but the real party only started when things on the pitch went their way.

It took just five minutes for Stephen Crawford to get the home faithful in full voice, turning his marker to smash the ball beyond the despairing goalkeeper. The stadium boomed with the volume of the chants, much of them in praise of manager Rogerson, who looked close to tears at the final whistle. Keeping a steadfastly professional decorum throughout the game, the Pilgrims’ boss leapt for joy as Crawford curled in a brilliant second to clinch a 2-0 victory. Shaking the hand of his opposite number he ran to the end of the ground in which he’d spent his supporting years and bowed before the supporters.

“It’s absolutely magnificent,” declared Rogerson, as he wiped his face. “Look at the faces of the people here – look at what it means to this city. I’m dumbstruck.” Rob Preece, Evening Herald reporter on the night congratulated Rogerson, who was engulfed by fans and players alike and led own the tunnel into the dressing room as the hero worship for him continued outside. “Mike Rogerson’s Green and White Army!” they chanted, and “We Love You Michael, We Do”.

It’s been a wonderful night at Home Park. They’ve thoroughly deserved it all season and today they clinched it. Plymouth Argyle will be playing Premier Division football in 2006!

1armedboxer

Sunday 1st May

Plymouth Argyle 2 (Lowndes 39,75)
Leicester City 0

Saturday 8th May

Brighton and Hove Albion 1 (Ward 89)
Plymouth Argyle 1 (Lowndes 40)

Evening Herald report
Monday 10th May, 2005

Argyle Denied

Plymouth Argyle were cruelly denied the English Championship Trophy on the final game of the season. Brighton’s Ashley Ward scored a last minute equaliser to leave The Pilgrims a point behind Nottingham Forest, who lost 4-2 at Crewe.

-----------------------------------Pld—GD—Pts
Nottingham Forest- - - - - - - -46- - +38- -93
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE- - - -46- - +41- -92
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leicester City- - - - - - - - - - - 46- - +27- -81
Wolverhampton Wanderers- -46- - +24- -78
Leeds United- - - - - - - - - - - -46- - +18- -75
Rotherham- - - - - - - - - - - - - 46- - +26- -74

1armedboxer

End of Season Round-Up

Premiership
Winners. Chelsea
Relegated. Birmingham City, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace

Championship
Winners. Nottingham Forest
Promoted. Plymouth Argyle, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Winners

Italian Serie A. Internazionale
Dutch Eredivisie. Feyenoord
German Bundesliga. Bayern Munich
French First League. Monaco
Portugese Superleague. Benfica
Spanish La Liga. Valencia

UEFA Cup. Dortmund
Champions League. Internazionale