It is almost time for the Forever Green Class of 2026 to be finalised, which this year coincides with the 140th anniversary of Plymouth Argyle.
Every year, we elevate five former players to the status of ‘Icon’. As we did last year, our Forever Green panel, headed by Kevin Nancekivell, have selected three men who they believe stand in the highest echelon of Pilgrims, who excelled on the field, excited the Green Army, and became players who will never be forgotten.
To decide on the remaining two Icons of 2026, we have selected two lists of former players, across the eras. Supporters can select one name from each list, and the person with the most votes from each will join the pantheon of Forever Green Icons.
The names that have already been adorned with Icon status are:
Mike Bickle
Sammy Black
Wilf Carter
David Friio
Kevin Hodges
John Hore
Bob Jack
Jack Leslie
Katie Middleton
Gary Sawyer
Paul Sturrock
Tommy Tynan
Paul Wotton
Now, another quintet is set to join that esteemed company. First of all, let us introduce to the three choices of the Forever Green Panel…
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There is a very real argument to be made that Paul Mariner is the best player ever to play for Plymouth Argyle.
That is a big statement for someone who signed, aged 20, for £6,000, from non-league Chorley. However, Mariner, from the moment he scored twice on his Argyle debut, against Rochdale, became beloved among the Argyle faithful.
A powerful centre-forward, who had seemingly everything a striker should possess, he scored 61 goals in 155 appearances for Argyle, and forged perhaps the most legendary strike partnership in the club’s history, alongside Billy Rafferty. The pair had their best season together in 1974/75, when the Greens were promoted under Tony Waiters, in what is affectionately referred to as ‘The Dream Season’.
Mariner went on to play for Ipswich and Arsenal, playing for years in England’s top flight, and earning 35 caps for his country, scoring 13 times, including at the 1982 World Cup.
Later, Mariner had a stint as Argyle manager, in 2009-10, but it is as one of the finest forwards of his generation that he will be most remembered, and we are so proud that this began at Argyle, in earnest, and that Paul maintained a wonderful relationship with our club throughout his life.
Paul died in 2021, aged 68, and he is sorely missed by us all. It will be a great honour to deservedly award him his place as a Forever Green Icon.
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After Derek Adams became Argyle boss in the summer of 2015, he turned to his native Scotland to make several signings of players he knew of from north of the border. Many became popular players, fans’ favourites who played their parts in the run to the play-off final in 2015/16, and then promotion from League Two in 2016/17.
But none shone quite like Graham Carey.
Arriving in Devon aged 26, the Irishman was in his prime. It was quite a coup for the club to be able to attract Carey, on a free transfer, following his time at Ross County and, before that, St Mirren, where Carey won the Scottish Cup.
Carey scored on his debut, at Wimbledon, and it was the first of 49 goals in 197 appearances over four seasons. Many of them were spectacular, long-range efforts with his sensational left foot. Some seasons, the conversation was not ‘what was the goal of the season?’ but ‘which of Graham Carey’s goals is goal of the season?’
Carey encapsulated what it meant to be a modern ‘number 10’, effortlessly drifting between the lines, making assists as frequently as he scored.
Since departing, Carey has played for CSKA Sofia, St Johnstone and Livingston. He made a fun return to the green and white when representing Argyle at last summer’s TST event in the United States of America.
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Footballers do not come much more fearless than Johnny Newman.
A true leader, a man who played 327 times for Argyle, many as captain, between 1960 and 1967, Johnny died in November last year, aged 91, and left a lasting legacy.
Newman spent several years at Birmingham City and, although his appearances were sporadic, he was part of a Blues promotion to the top tier, and played in the 1956 FA Cup Final.
After three years at Leicester City, Johnny headed to Home Park, where he would have his finest years. For many supporters, Newman was their first captain, perhaps their first idol. He played with determination, desire and leadership throughout his time at Argyle, during which the Greens consistently featured in the second division, at one point finishing fifth. Newman was the skipper when Argyle reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, losing to Johnny’s former team, Leicester City.
When the Player of the Year award was first instituted at Argyle, Johnny Newman was the first recipient, winning in 1965/66.
Newman also played for, then managed, Exeter City, and would also manage Grimsby Town, Derby County and Hereford United.
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The three legends above will be joined by two further Pilgrims, voted for by you. Please click this link to head to a page where you will be allowed to vote for one player from List A, and another from List B.
Here are the players to choose from:
GROUP ONE
Moses Russell - 402 appearances, six goals. 1914-30.
Ninth on Argyle’s all-time appearances list, defender Russell played for the Greens either side of the Great War. He was captain for many years, and played 20 times for Wales whilst a Pilgrim.
Jack Chisholm - 188 appearances, two goals. 1949-54.
Nicknamed ‘Jumbo’, Chisholm was a fearsome centre-back, who epitomised what it is to be a true leader and captain. An ever-present in the promotion team of 1951/52.
Jack Cock - 92 appearances, 74 goals. 1925-27.
No-one to have scored a significant number of goals for Argyle has a ratio close to Jack Cock’s. He had already played three times for England when arriving at Home Park, and only twice in nearly 100 games as a Pilgrim did he go more than two games without scoring.
Maurice Tadman - 253 appearances, 112 goals. 1947-55.
Fifth in the all-time scoring chart, Tadman’s consistency saw him lead Argyle’s line for over seven seasons, finishing leading scorer in five of them, including scoring 27 goals in the title-winning campaign of 1951/52.
Johnny Williams - 447 appearances, 55 goals. 1955-66.
Only three players have played more for Argyle than Williams, known for fearsome long-range efforts and fearless performances. In one six-season stretch, he missed just three games.
Ray Bowden - 153 appearances, 83 goals. 1927-33
Cornishman Bowden scored at such a rate for Argyle that the mighty Arsenal, managed by the great Herbert Chapman, paid a record £5,000 for him. A title-winner in the legendary 1929/30 side, Bowden has a rare distinction of having scored a Devon Derby hat-trick against Exeter. He also went on to play for England.
Steve Davey - 250 appearances, 55 goals. 1966-74.
A stalwart for Argyle over nearly a decade, Davey’s quality, as well as his versatility, was a huge asset. He played in numerous positions over the years and is surely one of the finest ever local lads to grace the first team.
John Uzzell - 354 appearances, seven goals. 1977-89.
A classic ‘local boy made good’, Plymothian Uzzell came through the ranks and, whether playing at left-back or centre-back, played with total commitment befitting his love of the green shirt.
GROUP TWO
Gordon Nisbet - 334 appearances, 16 goals. 1981-87.
Considered by many to be Argyle’s finest ever full-back, Nisbet epitomised consistency though much of the 1980s at Home Park. A virtual ever-present, Nisbet was a major part of the 1984 FA Cup semi-final team, and the 1985/86 promotion side.
Steve McCall - 160 appearances, six goals. 1992-96, 1998-2000.
There may never have been a classier player to grace Argyle’s midfield than Steve McCall. Twice a player of the year, McCall’s left foot was laser guided.
Steve Castle - 120 appearances, 39 goals. 1992-95.
The epitome of the goalscoring midfielder, Castle’s marauding runs were a feature of the exciting Peter Shilton era at Home Park. He was a fine captain, too.
Mick Heathcote - 235 appearances, 17 goals. 1995-2000.
A true leader, central defender Heathcote was a warrior, a driving force, and the only captain to ever lead out a victorious Argyle side at Wembley.
Ronnie Mauge - 158 appearances, 18 goals. 1995-99.
The scorer of perhaps the most iconic goal in Argyle history, Mauge rose to head home at Wembley in 1996, taking the Pilgrims up via the play-offs in a 1-0 win over Darlington. A hard-working midfielder, Ronnie endeared himself to the Home Park faithful and is now a club ambassador.
Michael Evans - 432 appearances, 81 goals. 1990-97, 2001-06.
The only player to be promoted with Argyle in three separate seasons, Plymothian Evans emerged into the team as a pacey striker, and would go on to adapt to being a classic centre-forward. He is eighth on the all-time appearances list.
Romain Larrieu - 318 appearances, 2000-2012.
Famously training in his garden, without a club, goalkeeper Larrieu came to Argyle as a free agent, and began a career-defining association with Argyle that lasted over a decade. Part of two promotion seasons, including the 2001/02 campaign, in which he kept a club record 27 clean sheets.
David Norris - 243 appearances, 28 goals. 2002-08.
Although the virtue often talked about when it comes to Norris was his boundless energy, he could certainly play, too. Able to provide goals and assists, Norris was in the 2003/04 promotion squad, and a key member of a side that reached the top half of the Championship.
Voting is now open, and will conclude at 6pm on Thursday, 5 February.
CLICK HERE to select your Forever Green Icons for 2026.
