The excitement surrounding Plymouth Argyle's championship magnificent winning season wasn't just confined to Plymothians. For years the Saturday trek of Cornish fans from all parts of the county to support 'their club', was more in hope than ambition, so last weekend was also their big day.
Those Cornish supporters among a packed Home Park ground on Saturday when Argyle defeated Cheltenham Town 2-0, were treated to a day to remember. An early start the following day sent them back again, to swell the multitude of fans who applauded their heroes as they triumphantly drove around the Plymouth city centre, to the civic centre reception.
When new manager Paul Sturrock took over the reigns last year the club was still in turmoil. Despite this the Scotsman quietly set about the task of building a team for the future. Astute buys, a change of formation and renewed confidence began at Home Park. When the current campaign got under way, the new stadium was becoming a reality and previous owner Dan McCauley had agreed to sell his shares and be replaced by Paul Stapleton as the chairman of a new consortium with an equal voice.
Unfortunately the season's campaign didn't get off to the most auspicious of starts. A 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Shrewsbury Town, a 0-0 draw at Hull City, another 1-0 defeat, this time at Watford in the Worthington Cup, was followed by another home defeat by Rochdale 2-1 in front of just 4,198 fans.
But promising signs were beginning to show – all it needed was a result to get the season under way. That day came at Rushden & Diamonds on a blazing hot August bank holiday Monday, when a fightback from 2-0 down to emerge 3-2 winners sent the travelling fans back to the south west with renewed optimism. This win heralded a remarkable unbeaten run of 19 games that ended just before Christmas with a 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe United. As the stadium grew, so did the team and the supporters confidence. Gates that barely reached 5,000 were fast approaching 10,000 and Argyle entered the new year still at the top of the league.
The 3-1 win at Rochdale eventually guaranteed them promotion, but with the winning post in sight they faltered as a 0-0 draw with Southend United followed the 1-0 defeat at Hartlepool United. In a remarkable three days the marvellous travelling supporters hauled themselves off to the North of England for the final push. Carlisle United were dispatched 2-0, followed two days later by the 4-1 thrashing of Darlington to guarantee them the Division Three Championship.