Devon and Cornwall Sports Awards

ON a glittering night of sporting celebration, Plymouth Argyle were represented in four different categories at the Devon and Cornwall Sports Awards.

While our Pilgrim nominees just missed out on the top prizes, it was still a great night at the Plymouth Pavilions and all of us at Home Park are very proud of the Argyle stars recognised at this gala event.

The first award involving Argyle was Sports Administrator of the Year and hugely deserved recognition for our finalist, Mark Lovell. As manager of Argyle Community Trust, Mark has overseen the transformation of the Trust into one of the leading community schemes in the whole country.

The Trust works across Devon and Cornwall in the sectors of participation, education, health and inclusion, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved with sport and a healthier lifestyle.

Alongside his Trust work, Mark also stepped into the breach as our interim chief executive in the summer prior to the return of Michael Dunford to the club hot-seat.

Plymouth Argyle Ladies were shortlisted in the category of Team of the Year for their superb achievements in the 2017-18 season.

The Pilgrims performed brilliantly throughout the campaign, sealing the FA Women’s National League Southern Division with a thumping 6-1 victory over Poole Town at Home Park. Not only did the ladies win promotion in the league, there was also cup glory with a comfortable defeat of Torquay United in the Devon Cup Final.

Argyle’s incredible run in the FA Youth Cup last season was shortlisted in the Champagne Moment of the Year category, with specific focus on the last-minute goal scored by Billy Craske at Premier League Burnley.

That goal sealed a second consecutive win over top-flight opposition, as the young Pilgrims had already knocked out the mighty Manchester City in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Home Park.

The final Pilgrim recognised at the awards was Alec Brenton, who was shortlisted for the Stuart Mundy Outstanding Contribution to Sport.

For more than 70 years, the legend that is Alec Brenton has been following the fortunes of Plymouth Argyle and 40 of those years have been spent working for the club in some capacity.

Known to all of us as Al, this fantastic man has spent four decades developing talent in the Argyle youth system, encouraging youngsters to get involved in the game through our Community Scheme and hosting the famed Match-Day Magic at Home Park.

Al is now 82 years-old and a proper football man, who loves the game, loves Argyle and continues to deliver a superb Match-Day experience to thousands of young people visiting Home Park every season.

Congratulations to everyone involved on the night and well done to our Argyle finalists.

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