Pilgrims Podcast

In this Pilgrims Podcast Christmas special, host Archie is joined by Mark Lovell and special guest Marie Hourihan, Head Coach of Plymouth Argyle Women.They reflect on Marie’s impressive playing career at the highest level of the women’s game and chart the rapid evolution of women’s football during her time as a professional. Marie discusses her experiences working under elite coaches, including Emma Hayes, and how those influences have shaped her own coaching philosophy.She talks candidly about the transition from player to coach, the growing pathways now available for women to remain in the game, and the importance of understanding resources, environments and people when building a successful team. The conversation also explores recruitment, with Marie outlining a data-informed, player-focused approach and stressing the value of a strong team spine, particularly the role of goalkeeper.Attention then turns to the current Argyle Women’s season, the challenges faced so far, and the club’s promotion ambitions.The episode concludes with a wider discussion on alignment within football clubs, the importance of visibility and support for the women’s game, and Marie’s hopes for the future.Merry Christmas, Greens. Thanks for all your support this year, and enjoy this episode with the brilliant Marie Hourihan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Argyle collect another win away from home but this time it’s a goal fest. Alex, Mark and Tom dissect a five-star performance from the Greens, who made mincemeat of their opposing Yorkshires: from the individual excellence from hat-trick hero Laurent Tolaj and his assister-en-masse Owen Oseni, to good shows of experience from the likes of Ralls, Edwards and Sorinola - and most notably the systemic changes of recent weeks to a 4-4-2.The panel also continue the conversation as to the extent of the influence of Derek Adams on first team results, what another high scoring win away from home says about the quality of player we have, and whether there corner has actually been turned this time, and the playoffs are in sight, or if the rollercoaster continues to twist and turn after Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two wins in a row. So surely everyone is bouncing off the walls with pre-Christmas cheer. Well, not quite.Liam and Seve join regulars Archie, Mark and Chris, and in Part One pragmatism is the name of the game. Some outstanding performances at the back, slowly tapering the further up the field, punctuated by a great goal just before half-time. Should we expect more, or is it misery to do anything but applaud another back-to-the-wall effort? The bar is low, but we are starting to clear it.We also have a voice note from journalist John Duerden, sharing his full-time thoughts. John has a new website launching on 1st January: “An outsider's view of the ups and downs of Plymouth Argyle FC. Features, news, interviews & much more.” Part Two sees the return of the quiz! We look back a couple of years to a very different Rotherham game and pine for a squad that, in hindsight, had some absolute superstars. Having a copy of the squad from the season before is NOT cheating.Part Three tries to tie things in festive bows. Are we actually improving, or is this a false dawn? Should we be happy with what we’ve got, or demand more? Or should we take it all a little less seriously and enjoy the moment? The diversity of opinion reflects an unusual time for the club, where a slide down or a spring up seems equally possible.Six-pointer next at Doncaster. Let’s hope the rebuild continues… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A vital win in Buckinghamshire for the men's team, plus the Argyle women are flying too! (26:53) Christian Kent - Executive Lead for Argyle Women. To Wycombe and, football purists look away now, but three points in the road (again) provides increasing evidence that shape and solidity are helping, at least away. Chris, Mark and Tom review a game low on chances and skill, but high on heart, commitment and clinical finishing. Lots of 7/10 performances, bodies on the line and good old fashioned fight steal 3 points from a nil nil draw. Gareth Ainsworth (or a certain Mr Adams) would be very proud of the shithousery.Part 2 and focus turns - deservedly and belatedly - to the women’s team. Tom and Mark spend time with Christian to review a brilliant season to date and to discuss ambitious plans for the future.Finally thoughts turn to the weekend for Tom Cleverley's side. Build on the win with another rearguard action or take the momentum to try something a bit more footballery? Who’d be a Head Coach….?COYG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running out of things to say, really. Slightly improved, yes. But the result is sadly, awfully, terribly predictable. Archie, Chris and Mark do their best to think of some original light to shine into the December gloom.Part One, the game. A bright start followed by a slow decline but some positives and some experienced heads did give some temporary hope that midweek cup success may have provided a platform. Instead, a soft penalty (we would absolutely have wanted it given for us) and very little else condemns us to a fourth consecutive home defeat. Should the youth players get more of a chance? Should we at least try to win?Part Two tries to zoom out a little. Relegation seems ever more possible but a few quick wins and the division is tight enough that it could all be okay. Or doomed by February. And a well constructed, well received Chairman’s Chat at risk of being undermined by actions and words on and off the field.What could be better than a trip to Wycombe next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Archie hosts this special, mammoth-length edition of the Pilgrims Podcast, joined by Tom, Mark and James as the gang piece together a dreadful afternoon at PL2. A truly miserable home capitulation to Northampton, capped by Tolaj’s sending off and a second-half showing that drained what little apathetic, resigned energy remained inside Home Park.There’s plenty to chew over: the Fans Forum and what it did manage to clarify, the baffling continued backing of a head coach in Tom Cleverley who appears increasingly out of his depth, and the ever-more troubling details behind the club’s “perilous” financial situation.And yet, even through the gloom, there’s the faintest glimmer, the signs of life shown in that last-gasp win over Leyton’s O-Team, with BBC Radio Devon’s Michael McCann providing us his match report and thoughts. A rare bright spot that might just offer something worth clinging to.All that and plenty more as the pod crew recover from their long, painful trek to PL2, therapy microphones firmly switched on.COYG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We won! We won away! So why doesn’t it feel like it? Tom, Mark and Chris are joined by Radio Devon’s Drew Savage to review a win - an away win! - that had as many questions as answers.Part one balances the relief of a win with ongoing concerns - especially about the first 45 minutes - that there is still much to fix. But there was a great goal, some defensive grit, a resolute and experienced rearguard action that gives some hope. Would we have been so kind if Port Vale had been more ruthless with their chances? Luckily we will never know.Part two focuses on genuine broader positives. A quick review of Derek’s first week before a celebration of the success of the Argyle women’s team, ongoing resurgence and the bigger picture with Foulston Park. Finally, looking forward to a home game against Northampton and the pod team and friends gathering for some Plymouth and some Argyle. Can we build on this? Let’s see….https://ko-fi.com/pilgrimspodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Archie is joined by Tom, Dan and James from One Team In Devon to unpack initial thoughts on the return of Derek Adams.Nostalgia aplenty, the panel discuss whether Argyle’s pivot is a shift back in model, while weighing up the benefits and risks in the short term and the long term of placing faith once again in Adams, who had great success but also a fall from grace when last employed in PL2.The guys also discuss how the arrival of Adams reshapes relationships and responsibilities within the club, notably with Tom Cleverley and David Fox, who have not (yet) been asked to walk the plank.Any contribution towards running costs is always welcome:https://ko-fi.com/pilgrimspodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We lost again.Archie and Tom try to make sense of another miserable game for Argyle, as familiar failings return and the pressure on Tom Cleverley grows. Fans Liam and Paul leave voice messages with their thoughts on the game, setting the tone before the pair of Arch and Tom unpack the performance – a decent start, then a collapse that felt all too familiar.There’s reaction to Cleverley’s post-match comments, questions over tactics and leadership, and a discussion about his remarks on summer recruitment – some finger-pointing towards those above him, and whether airing that frustration publicly undermines Paul Berne’s call for unity. The pair further discuss Berne’s public backing of the manager, the club’s messaging, and whether stability has started to look like stagnation.Fifteen games in, the point Cleverley asked to be judged at, and the verdict feels clear. The pod wrestles with the big question: if not now, when? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning: we lost 2–0, again. And it contains strong language, appropriately.Archie, Chris, Mark and Tom explore a game that was at once unique and exactly the same. A radio-only experience, unless you were one of the poor souls who watched that, in the rain, and some who had 30 minutes of our local rivals winning in Halifax.Less structure, nuance and focus than normal; a pod of raw emotion. Yes, a defeat, but another game with no attacking intent, multiple defensive lapses and a lack of demonstrable heart.Consensus is that the head coach’s position is increasingly untenable, but a public backing in the week leaves everyone wondering what, if not an exit, can come next.It’s a hard listen, and it’s painful. It’s repetitious, but so was the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it Groundhog Day, again? Alex and Chris take the late night shift post Mansfield. Let’s face it we could cut and paste the Exeter description here as that is what played out on the pitch…But - things start at the end with a review of some unusual and potentially insightful comments from the Head Coach. Then to the game from a last minute change of line up (to 6 changes, does that make it 5 or 7?) a comedy goal, impotent attacking, a reprieve after some flair players are finally unleashed and - another comedy goal. Despite best efforts to remain level headed the ghost of Cleverly Out is shaking its chains in the background, ready for Halloween.At least it’s the FA Cup next. Against the bogey teams of bogey teams. Lovely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even a deliberate 48 hours to let the dust settle can’t lift the Devon Derby cloud of doom. Archie, Chris and Mark (and special guest Dewdney the Alien) do their best.A brief Part One reviews the game. Sorry. Even a disallowed goal can’t get everyone angry; instead, there’s a sense that defensive mistakes, slow sideways football and unusual selections achieved an inevitable defeat.Part Two looks at the bigger themes. Is it time to make a managerial change, or does that just exaggerate the instability? Lack of experience and lack of staff is a fact — how do you change that in October? Are we using data, or are we making false comparisons? I write these every week and notice that I’m always asking questions. Does that mean something? Who knows…Mansfield away to come. It can’t get worse. Can it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So excited to be back after a never ending international break. So, this was always on the cards wasn’t it? Home Park continues to pose more problems to the home team than the away side in another frustrating performance.A high quality early goal set false expectations in a game where Argyle never really got going. Is this on the players or the planning is a key part of the discussion , as are two gifted goals and a turgid struggle to drag ourselves back. It never really felt like happening and in summary, it feels like the more deserving team deserved all three points on the day. Part two and thoughts turn to the return of Devon derby. Some historical highlights and preview discussion cannot hide that everyone is more nervous than excited. Finally a brief discussion about a departing Head of Recruitment and a dollop of perspective. On to Thursday we go... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of the Pilgrims Podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by James Greenacre. James is the current Commercial Director at Plymouth Albion, but previously worked for Plymouth Argyle in various capacities over a 19-year period.In Part One, we discuss some key moments from James’s time at Argyle, including administration and the promotions he experienced while at the club. We also turn our attention to Argyle’s new CEO, Paul Berne, and what he will bring to the role. James also shares his thoughts on Andrew Parkinson, his predecessor, and the way he professionalised the club overnight when he took charge in 2019 — perhaps not receiving the credit he deserves for helping to kickstart a positive new chapter in Argyle’s modern history.In Part Two, the focus shifts to James’s boyhood club, AFC Wimbledon, who visit Home Park in a week’s time. We talk about his long association with the Dons and the club’s rebirth following the you-know-what merger with MK. James outlines their impressive journey under Johnnie Jackson, who has taken the club from a difficult start to a recent play-off final victory at Wembley — one that James was finally able to enjoy from the stands.There’s plenty more too, including James’s insights into his current role at Albion, and how the club offers a great alternative day out for Argyle fans on an Argyle-free weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special guest 'Woody' from Bastille joins us for the episode - check out Season 2 of his football 'Away Days' podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/170qs464eGuTSR4VibsSG6Woody joins Chris, Mark and Tom to make them happier after a frustrating draw full of bad blood against Ryan Lowe's Wigan Athletic at Home Park.Part One, the game. With the dust settled, there is agreement that a point was a fair result. Joy - again - for Tolaj, less so for the flaws in defence, a referee wanting to send them off!, and the doom days not quite being behind us just yet.Part Two - the return of the quiz - good grief! An international quiz for Argyle stalwarts from around the wild world.We will miss you for two weeks Argyle - until we are back home for the next match.Bastille open their tour at Plymouth Pavilions on 5th Nov 2025 - tickets here https://tickets.plymouthpavilions.com/shows/show.aspx?sh=BASTILLE25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Never in doubt.No one was dreading a trip to the bottom of the table, were they?A first part that is appropriately full of praise and joy. Riding out an early storm, scorers scoring goals, an exciting and capable midfield, and the return of our first-choice number one with a solid performance. So much to like, let’s revel in it. AND we scored four, AND we could have scored more.Part two starts with a review of recruitment: were we too harsh at the start of the season, given the late joiners and how much they have added to the team? Sometimes humble pie tastes good. A shout-out to the club and the women’s team, a look forward to the return of Ryan Lowe and even further forward with the Devon derby on the horizon.Drink it up, Greens. Drink it all in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Typical Argyle? Building momentum after some positive followed by a home defeat to, at the time, bottom of the table Peterborough. But was it that simple? Alex hosts as Chris, Mark and Tom discuss a game that has polarised support.In an extended part one, is the first twenty minutes another false dawn? Or did it form part of a pattern of improved overall performance? Should our goalkeeper be praised for progress and a penalty save, or are his faults still at the heart of our issues? Are we unlucky hitting the bar and with some great saves or is getting it over the line all that counts? Should the manager be praised for mixing things up or berated for a damp squib of an ending? You get the point. A quick part two moves off the pitch. Injuries, recruitment, youth and a departing CEO - is it time to embrace the quantum of chaos on and off the field?Onto Spurs Under 12s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One for the ages.Tom hosts with Mark, Chris and Archie to deconstruct an absolutely batshit afternoon in Luton. Two penalties (could have been at least four), two red cards (one on and one off the field), five goals (including a comedic winner), ten minutes of injury time, another injury, too many heroic clearances to count, and too many standout performances for just one man of the match. League One – we love you, we do.In Part Two, a review of the Fans’ Forum and the ultra-transparent overview provided of club finances. There’s alignment on the strength of the content, but differing opinions on where the focus could or should have been. Overall, though, it has been a great week for everyone at Home Park – even if the CEO remains conspicuous in his absence.Onwards to bottom-of-the-table Peterborough at home, in confident mood. Don’t make us regret typing that, Argyle.COYG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We won! We won convincingly! Alex hosts with Chris and Seve both over the moon to talk through the best performance of the season. So far…In part one, a review of all four - four! - goals. Improved set plays, a couple of strokes for the ages and a competent, clinical number 9 all draw praise. Some comical defending, a dodgy penalty and a late consolation for the visitors do little to dampen the mood. Part two sees a wider perspective. Managerial flexibility, loan signings, some confusing club comms and, sadly in a sign of the times, the club statement on racist abuse are the focus before a sense check on League One and our progress to date.One for the ‘you are too negative’ listeners, it’s amazing what a win can do. Bring on Luton Town. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two alternative Choose Your Own Adventure pods in one this week - a mammoth deconstruction of another day of doom or, skip to (01:25:55) for a quick 30 seconds of relative positivity.For those with the stomach for it, part one looks at the game itself. A clear mismatch of player capability, aptitude and attitude doesn’t give much room for positivity and it’s difficult for everyone not to look to bigger themes of summer recruitment, system rigidity and a continued long term cycle of away day challenges. A defense of data cynicism also features: it’s not a barrel of laughs…Part 2 looks more deeply at the challenge at hand and the potential approach to the months leading to Christmas. Does everything rest on a huge transfer deadline day or should the club - and the head coach - finally stick and stop waiting for a magical twist. Does the Papa John’s or whatever it’s called matter? How should we approach Stockport? You decide.Finally, huge thanks to our listeners for sticking with us as well as the team in hard times. Huge shout outs to those of you who have contributed to keep us on air: you know who you are.COYG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.