Club News
Hart Foundation
19th August 2014
PETER Hartley aims to make sure that, enjoyable as the derby destruction of Exeter City was, the Pilgrims’ comfortable 3-0 win over their Westcountry rivals is quickly forgotten.
On Tuesday, the Pilgrims entertain Peter’s previous club, Stevenage, who are making their Home Park debut, looking to frank the weekend victory over the Grecians with another three Sky Bet League 2 points.Peter, 26, said “My job, and Nelse [Curtis Nelson]’s job, as centre-halves, is to keep the backdoor shut and keep the team’s focus on the present moment, not what’s happened in the past, not what’s going to happen in the future – we have got to concentrate on Stevenage now. Saturday is all well and good, but it’s gone now.
“Your home form is massive. You have got 23 home games in a season. It doesn’t matter how you play – it isn’t going to be pretty [on Tuesday] night because Stevenage don’t like to play pretty – but when the whistle goes at the end of the game, it’s about you getting those three points.”
Peter’s insider knowledge of the visitors may prove useful although, like at Argyle, there has been a big summer turnaround of players at Broadhall Way, including the arrival of a former Home Park skipper.
“The gaffer there changes his personnel but he doesn’t change his set-pieces,” said Peter, “and I know every single one of them, so that could benefit us.
“I probably know them a lot better than the new boys there. There have been a lot of players come in, and obviously Simon Walton’s there and it’ll be nice for him coming back to Home Park after the time he spent here.”
Peter joined Stevenage from his home-town Hartlepool at the start of last season, and it is fair to say it was not the happiest season of his career
“I’ve got a lot of friends in Stevenage, players-wise, and it will be good to see a few of them but, to be honest, I’m not really concerned about Stevenage as a club. I had a season there, and now I’ve come to Plymouth. All that really concerns me is getting the three points on Saturday.
“Maybe if it was Hartlepool, it would be a different story, because that’s where I’m from – I used to go and watch Hartlepool when I was a young boy with my uncles – but Stevenage doesn’t concern me. I had a season there, I met a lot of nice people, everyone moves on in their career and I’m here now.”