Hartley Endorsement

SINCE making the often tricky move to the south-west over the summer, Peter Hartley has settled in well both on and off the pitch for Argyle.

The Hartlepool-born defender joined the Greens before the start of this season from Stevenage, immediately cementing a spot at the heart of the team’s back line, playing in all but one of Argyle’s fixtures so far this season.

Despite straying so far away from his roots, Hartley has quickly grown to living in Plymouth, and has still managed to fit in some time to see his family, in and around his duties for the Pilgrims.

“I am really enjoying it - it is a great place, Plymouth,” he said.

“I am really settled. I love the lads, love the club; everyone at the club has been great.

“Obviously I have a lot of family at home, but I get to see them often, due to good results and getting them down here to watch games.

“My dad is a fisherman, funnily enough, so he comes here down here quite a lot. He has gone to Brixham quite a lot, so I probably see him more than I saw him when I was at home, to be honest with you!

“I am loving life, at the moment.”

Peter will, however, have to separate himself from his family on Christmas Day, as the team travel to Wales for their Boxing Day game against Newport County – something that the centre-back is obviously sombre about, but knows it is par for the course for any committed team.

He said: “I am a family man, to be honest, so it is quite hard, but at the end of the day, it is your job.

“I wake up every morning thinking about getting promoted and moving to another level, so that is my main goal in life, and you have to make sacrifices.”