GOOD NEWS coming from Argyle (Rememberence)

Rememberence Membership

GARTH Wright has become the first person to take Argyle up on our offer of free Memberships to Home Park for second world war veterans.

Mr Wright received his membership card and pack from Argyle Chief Executive Martyn Starnes when he visited the Home Park Ticket Office on Tuesday morning.

The club announced earlier this year that all veterans of the second world war would be admitted to Home Park for free, from now on. That was not the incentive for Garth to sign up – he is a long-term committed supporter – but the club were delighted to be able to recognise his distinguished service.

Arriving bedecked with service medals, Garth said: “I came in for my ticket and I heard we were going to have a ticket, buck shee, and the girl quite rightly wanted to see some evidence.

“That’s why I’ve got my mufti on. I’m pretty scruffy really!”

On the contrary, sir. It was a treat to see the sprightly Garth – 97 later this month – with his richly deserved medals.

His is an astonishing story. Originally from Horndon, near Tavistock, Garth was a in the 153 battery of the 51st regiment of the Royal Artillery Territorials, who were then sent to north-east France upon the outbreak of war.

After the German blitzkrieg of Spring 1940, British forces were forced to withdraw, via the extraordinary operation on the beaches of Dunkirk. Garth was there, helping to cover his comrades, as well as volunteering as a stretcher-bearer to assist the injured.

From there, Garth spent the whole war fighting on various fronts, until its merciful conclusion in 1945.

“I was on anti-aircraft, Bofors guns,” he said, of Dunkirk. “We gave what cover we could to the withdrawal. Then we spiked our guns and took a chance.

“I was lucky. We came home first class, to Dover, and joined the armoured division. We went across then to North Africa. We were seasoned troops. If you have one little skirmish, you were off to the next one.

“We got hammered up at Tunis. Four of my dearest friends were killed. Then we stood back until the front got over to Italy, and fought at Monte Cassino. After Cassino, we went north – we were on mortars by that time – and I was demobbed by Milan.

“By the time I came back to Blighty I was a civvy.”

Post-war, working as a driver for Plymouth Corporation, Garth found it difficult to get to Home Park, but after retiring, he made sure that he devoted some time to the Greens.

“I couldn’t get to the matches before, but used to follow it,” he said. “When I retired, Peter Shilton was manager. When he came in, I thought ‘I’ve got to go in and see this now.’

“That’s when I started to take a regular ticket. I’ve not missed many games since. I bring my granddaughter, Lucinda, and we have a great time. We go down the fanfest – always go down there first.”

Garth may be familiar to you – and you may not even realise it. If you ever hear the piercing sound of a lone bugler ringing out from the Grandstand during matches, that’s Garth.

It was a pleasure to present him with his Membership pack for 2016-17, as a token of recognition for everything that he and the other men and women that served this country so gallantly did.

Garth, a modest gentleman, may baulk at that suggestion – but he just may not want to blow his own trumpet.

mut be a mad rush on for 90 years taking the up on the offer.

LOL... You have to be at least 89 to qualify.

Who on earth thought this one up?

Rickler wrote:

LOL...   You have to be at least 89 to qualify.

Who on earth thought this one up?

its a football first

You can bet Brent was pushing for the free ticket to be valid only if said veteran was accompanied by both parents.

Czarcasm wrote:

You can bet Brent was pushing for the free ticket to be valid only if said veteran was accompanied by both parents.

Czarcasm wrote:

You can bet Brent was pushing for the free ticket to be valid only if said veteran was accompanied by both parents.

Running out of ideas up there me thinks!!

Anything to 'look caring'. The reality is much different and darker.

Tringreen wrote:

Anything to 'look caring'. The reality is much different and darker.

Hmmm you could be onto something there...

Talking of good news... I missed some!

Can anybody point me to the winners of the lucky gifts from Peter Hartley?

PAFC on the baggo wrote:

Inspired by a tweet from an Australian fan who is travelling from Down Under to watch the Pilgrims play AFC Wimbledon in the Sky Bet League 2 Play-Off Final, we asked which of our fans are making the most effort to watch the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] this time round.

Play-off semi-final hero Peter Hartley will select his top five Pilgrimages, and the winners will be given an Argyle play-off gift to add to what is already going to be a special occasion.

Read more at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Was it you Tringy?

Can't believe you didn't make the top 5 Ricks, diabolical liberty

Oh, I am sure there were many more 'worthy' than I.  

I just wonder who they were, where they came from, and what they won?

I'd be very surprised if there were 5 people who'd travelled further than you for that shitfest of a performance. Probably depends who was picking the winners I suppose, wouldn't have been Hartley that's foreshore. I suspect someone close to the club would've steered dear old Pete toward selecting 5 'appropriate' candidates.....wonder if any of them weren't pasoti members

The Pilgrims from Down Under and the Far East will have me beat...

I don't think it was just being judged on distance traveled, I think 'sacrifice made' probably also influenced the decision - mine was mostly monetary.

I'm just surprised that after announcing a competition and inviting people to enter, and telling some of their stories in press releases, that so little has been made by PAFC about who did win.  There seems to have been no announcement from the club, or any 'social media' from the actual winners themselves?

It's almost like the prizes weren't awarded...    ...as if nobody actually won?

Ask the AFT, or use the Customers' Charter

Customers' Charter 2016-17

Points of Contact

The primary contact is Supporter Liaison Officer Rick Cowdery, who, on a day-to-day basis, will: attend to any complaints requiring immediate resolution; collate all other complaints and forward them to the appropriate official for action and reply; maintain a record of complaints; and ensure prompt and substantive replies.

Rick can be contacted in normal club hours, 9am-5pm each weekday. In his absence, please contact Rob McNichol, on general matters, or Mark Lovell, if your query concerns the Argyle Community Trust.

The club prefers comments to be made in writing to:

Plymouth Argyle Football Club
Home Park
Plymouth PL2 3DQ

Rick can also be contacted via:
01752 562561 (telephone);
01752 606167 (fax); or
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (email).

The club will make its substantive reply via post, e-mail or fax within 14 days. If circumstances dictate that this is not possible, an interim response will be made and a substantive response made as soon as possible thereafter.

Tgwu wrote:

Ask the AFT, or use the Customers' Charter

The AFT has much more important things to focus on...

... and I was hoping somebody might easily be able to point to some ' Pilgrimage awards news' before having to go the charter route.

Argyledad should know, he as his contacts in the directors box

Cringeworthy, just how many people will this benefit? and in any case how many people at 89 are inclined/able to want to go to live football? If this offer had been made 10-20 years maybe it could be taken at face value but this is just a publicity stunt that only fools the stupid, of which pafc has plenty of such fans among its ranks

Just like with the "statement of intent" 4 year contract, which if you look at the substance is just an insurance policy, it's more cackhanded propaganda to be trumpeted as fantastic news from the Brerald - to paint the owner in the most charitable and ambitious light before he gobbles up the stadium ownership and any other treats PCC want to throw his way.

This stuff is so transparent, but then again the reluctant bespectacled pig****er dod promise that didnt he

A James Brent Plymouth Argyle has no shame.

Rickler wrote:

The Pilgrims from Down Under and the Far East will have me beat...

I don't think it was just being judged on distance traveled, I think 'sacrifice made' probably also influenced the decision - mine was mostly monetary.

I'm just surprised that after announcing a competition and inviting people to enter, and telling some of their stories in press releases, that so little has been made by PAFC about who did win.  There seems to have been no announcement from the club, or any 'social media' from the actual winners themselves?

It's almost like the prizes weren't awarded...    ...as if nobody actually won?

You won your prize by seeing me at Wembley mate!
Following the dismal Wembley defeat, there was very little coming out of the club. I'd imagine that they were kicking themselves over all the lost shite merchandise opportunities that were gone with the result.
I mean, if you can bring out dvd's, t shirts, mugs etc for a 'derby double' over that rubbish team up the road...

How about returning the Poppy Sponsorship money James????

PatDunne wrote:

How about returning the Poppy Sponsorship money James????

theres more chance of Real madrid lending us Ronaldo for 2days game...thats the kind of person he his ruthless shows no shame whatsoever taking money from a charity