Argyle Fives on festive matches – Festive Fives

Every fan enjoys football over the festive period. The traditional Boxing Day matches always produce a unique atmosphere and quite often a lot of goals.

In the 40s and 50s games would be played back-to-back against the same side. Local games usually get arranged for this time of year and there is a freshness around the New Years Day fixtures.

Goals, Christmas jumpers, thrilling comebacks, huge wins, managerial sackings; they have all taken place over the Christmas period and Charlie Price, Rob McNichol and Kevin Nancekivell talk through their favourites.

Merry Christmas!
Argyle Fives is also available to watch on Argyle TV - enjoy!

Bursting onto the scene

At 14 he was playing at Twickenham for England juniors, at 16 he was making his Argyle debut and at 44 he is still turning out on a Saturday for Plymouth True Blues.

Lee Phillips packed a lot into a relatively short time at Argyle. He was thrust into the limelight as a teenager, becoming the youngest player to play for the club in 1996. A quick and powerful striker, it was clear to see why he was so quick to make an impression.

He had to wait for his first goal, that came two years later, in one of the most famous matches of lower league football. Most people will have heard the story of goalkeeper Jimmy Glass saving Carlisle United in the final minute of the season. But not so many will be able to tell you that it was against Plymouth Argyle and the Pilgrims' scorer that day was 18-year-old Lee Phillips. A good quiz question answer.

After leaving Argyle Lee became a fans’ favourite at both Exeter City and Torquay United and was, unfortunately, a three-time play-off final runner up.

This is the story of Lee Phillips.

“…not a bad ball in…”

Few Argyle players have experienced as much as Mark Patterson did in his four years at Home Park. Having arrived from Derby Country and once again teaming up with Peter Shilton, Pato experienced a playoff semi-final defeat, then relegation to the basement division and a subsequent promotion at Wembley, where he also claimed the assist.

A North East lad, who played out his dream with Newcastle United legends helping him along the way. Bob Stokoe, Pop Robson and Arthur Cox all helped in his development, a development that would go on to produce three Wembley appearances.

A no nonsense, athletic and technically brilliant player, who was one of Argyle greatest full backs, this is the story of Mark Patterson.