Trudging back to my car from Home Park last week a fan asked me why “we” support Argyle?

The Greens had just been knocked out of the FA Cup 2-1 by League One rivals Oxford United and it was hammering down with rain.

Before I had chance to answer him, he darted off in a different direction to the way I was walking as the cascading rainwater threatened to wash me down a sloping path in Central Park in the dark.

I don’t know if the supporter who posed the question reads the Cornish Times – he should – but I couldn’t stop mulling over his question as I took shelter from yet another cloudburst in the comfort of my “local”.

I was meeting lifelong friends and ran the question past them.

The conclusion I came to, after my first pint, was simply: ‘I’ve supported them since my dad took me to my first game at Argyle when I was seven.’

I am now 58.

I am not sure if I have ever questioned why I have supported Argyle beyond the fact that growing up in Saltash, the United I supported did not play in red and white at Old Trafford but at Kimberley Stadium.

When it came to Football League teams the nearest – and dearest – was Argyle.

No questions asked, no contest.

I guess, in truth, I fell for the Pilgrims’ unique kit.

I still love Argyle’s 60s strips all white with a green and black chest band and the green version of the kit with a black and white chest band, so much so that I own a replica copy of the latter.

When I saw those kits it was love at first sight.

In two score seasons of covering Argyle I have never really thought that deeply about “why?”.

It just is.

I also like the idea of not knowing quite what you are going to get from the Greens.

Each and every Saturday is a surprise waiting to happen.

I can’t imagine what it must be like to go to games expecting your team to win every time.

That’s not for me.

Maybe I am not a true supporter in the real sense?

Maybe years of trying my best to be unbiased in reporting on the Greens for national newspapers has tempered my view?

What I do know is Argyle are now focused on the second half of the League One programme because they are no longer in any knockout competitions.

As Derek Adams (above) says: ‘We’ve got 26 big games to go.’

Dare I say: every one a cup tie?

First up: Bradford City tomorrow, back at Home Park.

C’mon you Greens!

(Ross Reid is editor of South West Sports News).