Leap of Faith

OUR trip to the Northern Commercials Stadium, home of Bradford City, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 will be only the fifth time in Pilgrims’ history that we have played on a Leap Day, February 29.

The most recent of these anomalies came in 1992, when a side including household names like current goalkeeping coach Rhys Wilmot, defender Jock Morrison and Academy Director Kevin Hodges could not prevent a 2-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road. The match was watched by Peter Shilton, who was appointed Argyle manager a few days later, and saw Robbie Turner carried off with a broken leg.

The Greens’ only ever win on a Leap Day occurred in 1964, which is incidentally the only fixture to have ever been played at Home Park on February 29, where a Frank Lord brace helped the Pilgrims to a 3-1 win over Scunthorpe United in Division Two.

The two other competitive games to be contested on February 29 occurred more than a century ago and were played on consecutive leap days.

In 1904, Jack Fitchett scored the Pilgrims’ only goal as they were beaten 5-1 by eventual Western League champions Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Argyle finished third that season, but would avenge their defeat to Spurs in the following campaign as they went on to win the title.

In 1908, in the revamped Southern League, Argyle lost by a solitary goal to Bristol Rovers at the Eastville Stadium.

To download all our 2019-20 fixtures to your digital calendar, follow this link.