John Uzzell and Michael Evans will officially become Forever Green Icons, following a supporter voting process.
The Argyle legends complete the Class of 2026, the year of the 140th anniversary of the club. They join Paul Mariner, Graham Carey and Johnny Newman in becoming an Icon this year.
The latter three were chosen by the Forever Green panel, chaired by first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell. Supporters were then asked to choose from two lists, with Uzzell and Evans picking up the most votes from the Green Army.
Introducing your Forever Green Class of 2026...
Paul Mariner
There is a very real argument to be made that Mariner is the best player ever to play for Plymouth Argyle. 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.
Graham Carey
Arriving in Devon aged 26, Irishman Carey 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. Carey was part of the League Two promotion squad of 2016/17, and the team that reached the play-off final the year prior.
Johnny Newman
Footballers do not come much more fearless than 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. 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.
John Uzzell
John Uzzell grew up in Plymouth, as an Argyle fan, and perhaps the perfect compliment to his career in green and white is that in each of his 354 appearances for Argyle, he played with the pride of a lifelong fan. And with no little skill. Uzzell was adept at playing at left-back or in central defence, and performed with great distinction across a dozen years as a Pilgrim. Born in 1959, Uzzell came through the Argyle ranks, alongside the likes of Kevin Hodges, and played 54 games in his first season, as a teenager. In the incredible 1983/84 season, Uzzell played 60 games, 18 in the cup, as the Greens famously reached the semi-final of the FA Cup. What it must have meant for a Plymouth boy to be an integral part of one of the club’s most famous days. By the time of his departure in the summer of 1989, Uzzell – or, to use the full name given by the Green Army: ‘Uuuuuuzzzzzell’ - had passed 350 appearances, and moved to Devon neighbours Torquay United, where he finished his career.
Michael Evans
Three promotions, two spells – only one Michael Evans. The Plymothian made his Argyle debut in 1990, aged 17, and sporadically played over the next three seasons, but it was in 1993/94 when he truly began to break through. He was central to Argyle’s promotion in 1995/96, leading the line as the Greens won a Wembley play-off final - Evans scored in a memorable semi-final encounter against Colchester United at Home Park. The following season, Evans moved to Premier League Southampton, and made an immediate splash. He won one Republic of Ireland cap, moved on to West Bromwich Albion and then Bristol Rovers, before Paul Sturrock moved to bring him home. Upon his return, in March 2001, the Greens were stagnating in the bottom division. When he left, just over five years later, they had become established in the second tier. Evans was central to it all. He led the line for the impressive 2001/02 title win, and then again for much of 2003/04, when he was named Player of the Year. His goal against QPR, leaping to head home in front of the Devonport End to open the scoring on a day when Argyle achieved their second promotion in three seasons, will forever be one of the club’s great memories. By the final game of the 2005/06 season, it was known that Evans was leaving, and he had not scored since September – but in one of football’s beautiful stories, on his 435th and final Argyle game, he scored the winning goal against Ipswich Town, and bade farewell to the Green Army that adored him.
--
In Group One of voting, Uzzell was the comfortable winner. Johnny Williams finished second, with Jack Chisholm in third. Steve Davey was fourth, followed by Jack Cock, Ray Bowden, Maurice Tadman, and Moses Russell.
In Group Two, Evans finished first, ahead of Romain Larrieu. Gordon Nisbet was third, followed closely by David Norris. Then came Ronnie Mauge, Steve McCall, Steve Castle, and Mick Heathcote.
Our hearty congratulations to all of our new Icons inductees, all of whom are Forever Green.