It's the new season! Southend United v Plymouth Argyle
Southend United v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two, Saturday 3 August at 3pm
Audible cheers can be heard from one corner of the great football divide; audible groans from the other - we may only be barely into August but the 2013-14 football season is already upon us.
Plymouth Argyle travel to Southend United for the first game of the new Football League Two season, with much optimism for the future.
Argyle avoided relegation from the Football League only on the very last day of the 2012-13 season after an almighty struggle. The arrival of John Sheridan as manager in January brought fresh impetus which, together with goals from shrewd loan signing Jason Banton and a spirited team effort, provided an exit from the doledrums and a fresh hope for the club, as it continues to emerge from a troubled and highly precarious period of its existence.
With the club's ambitions underlined by chairman and owner James Brent's plans for redevelopment of the ground and surrounding Higher Home Park area, the new season brings an opportunity to begin the work towards the long-term objective of a return to football's second tier (the Championship) and even beyond.
Fans and players will greet the new season with manager John Sheridan's current mantra ringing in their ears. “We are going to be an attack-minded side,” he has said. The hope is that Argyle will be fighting their battles at the other end of the table this term.
Southend finished 2012-13 in a respectable 11th place in League Two. Manager Phil Brown, who took Hull City to the Premier League during his time there, took over from (former Plymouth boss) Paul Sturrock in March after The Shrimpers had lost at home to Argyle. Goals from Paul Wotton and Reuben Reid sealed both an important 2-0 victory for the Pilgrims, and Sturrock's fate.
While Sheridan has secured deals with the likes of Luke McCormick, Marvin Morgan, Reuben Reid, Lewis Alessandra, Rommy Boco and Andre Blackman, Phil Brown has recently brought in free agents Conor Clifford and Julian Bennett, as well as striker Craig Reid from Aldershot Town on a free transfer.
A tough result to call, with both sides seemingly strengthened and looking for significant progress, it will set the scene on an exciting and crucial new campaign.
The match kicks-off at the Roots Hall Stadium at 3pm.
You can follow the match via regular updates on Twitter @Only1Argyle
The Plymouth Daily will be tracking results and club news throughout the season and you can find full reports of every match and much more on the Plymouth Argyle website.
