STURROCK REVOLUTION

23RD ANNIVERSARY OF 'LUGGY' BEING APPOINTED AS PILGRIMS' BOSS FOR FIRST OF TWO SPELLS

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

OCTOBER 31, 2000, was one of the most significant days in the history of Plymouth Argyle, when Paul Sturrock was appointed as manager.

This year was the 23rd anniversary of his arrival at Home Park and the importance of it still cannot be understated almost a quarter of a century later.

Argyle were floundering around near the bottom of Division Three (now titled League Two) after losing six of their first 10 games under Kevin Hodges, and with chronic under-investment from then owner and chairman Dan McCauley.

Hodges was sacked after a 3-2 defeat by Barnet on September 30, 2000, which was played in front of a crowd of just 3,423 at Home Park. What a contrast to all these years later and the regular sell-outs at the Theatre of Greens.

Kevin Summerfield was the caretaker manager for the next five matches – with a record of two wins, one draw and two defeats – and experienced lower league boss Ian Atkins looked likely to be appointed to the less than coveted role.

However, there was to be a late twist as Paul Sturrock, a household name in Scotland but almost unheard of in far-away Plymouth, was given the task of leading the Pilgrims away from the bottom of the Football League.

At that time, I was in my fourth season as the Argyle reporter for the Evening Herald, as the newspaper was called then. As a fan of football in general, I was aware of Sturrock’s reputation as a player in Scotland.