Meet the opposition | Plymouth Argyle
As Swansea City prepare to take on Plymouth Argyle at Home Park, we take a closer look at the Pilgrims.
WHAT'S THEIR STORY?
Originally founded as Argyle in 1886, the club turned professional in 1903, and they have played at Home Park since 1901.
Argyle have enjoyed and endured many highs and lows over their existence. Despite winning many titles from the 1950s onwards, they have also suffered relegation relatively frequently after winning some of those titles.
They were relegated into the fourth tier for the first time in 1995, and though they would win immediate promotion in 1995–96, they were relegated again in 1998.
Plymouth secured a record fifth third-tier league title in 2003–04, remaining in the Championship for six seasons until administration and two successive relegations left them in League Two by 2011. In 2016–17 Argyle won promotion to League One, and again in 2019–20 following relegation the previous season.
Now they are back in the second tier after Steven Schumacher led them to an impressive league title success that saw them rack up 101 points.
HOW'S THEIR FORM?
Plymouth have enjoyed a solid start to life back in the Championship, picking up 11 points so far this term.
Their most notable result has been a 6-2 hammering of Norwich on home turf, and Home Park has been the site of all four of their wins in all competitions so far this season.
In addition to beating Norwich, they have also seen off Huddersfield and Blackburn in the league.
WHO'S THE GAFFER?
Steven Schumacher. The 39-year-old has been with Argyle since 2019, and took over the reins in 2021 after Ryan Lowe departed to take charge of Preston.
Schumacher led the Pilgrims to within sight of the play-offs, only for a defeat on the last day of the season to see them drop out.
However, they responded in excellent fashion last season, proving the dominant team in League One as they stormed to the title.
As a player, the former midfielder came through the academy ranks at Everton, playing in the Toffees' FA Youth Cup winning side alongside Wayne Rooney.
He had loan spells with Carlisle and Oldham, before leaving Goodison Park for Bradford in 2004.
Stints with Crewe Alexandra, Bury, Fleetwood, Stevenage and Southport followed before Schumacher moved into coaching having had a brief spell in caretaker charge of Southport.
He had a coaching role at Everton before linking up with Lowe at Bury, and then following him to Plymouth.
WHO'S THE CAPTAIN?
Joe Edwards is club captain for Saturday's hosts. Midfielder or full-back Edwards has been with Plymouth since 2019, and has been part of two promotions during his time at the club.
Having come through the youth ranks with Aston Villa and Bristol City, he made a handful of appearances for the Robins while also having loan spells with Bath City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town, before making a full-time move to the Glovers in 2013.
He went on to have spells with Colchester United and Walsall before joining Plymouth. He has made 196 appearances and scored 20 goals since his arrival.
WHO ARE THE KEY MEN?
A product of the Rangers youth academy, Scottish striker Ryan Hardie completed a permanent move to the Pilgrims after two previous loan spells at Home Park.
His two loan spells saw Hardie score 10 goals in 34 matches, whilst also playing a vital part in Plymouth’s promotion from League Two.
He has continued to be an integral figure, and scored 17 goals in all competitions during last season's promotion campaign.
Hardie has started the new campaign in fine form, scoring five goals and contributing three assists.
Former Swansea forward Morgan Whittaker has had a good start to the season since making a move to the Pilgrims over the summer.
He has scored four goals and created three more, having enjoyed a productive loan spell at Home Park last term before returning to Swansea in January.
A Derby academy product, Whittaker joined the Swans in January 2021. He made 37 appearances for the Swans, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against his current club in a Carabao Cup tie in August 2021.
Defender Dan Scarr joined Plymouth in 2021, and has made 89 appearances for the Pilgrims.
The 28-year-old had spells with Worcester City, Causeway United, Stourbridge and Birmingham City, having a loan stint with Wycombe while with the latter.
A move to Walsall in 2019 saw him get plenty of EFL experience under his belt, and he has been a reliable performer for Plymouth since moving to Home Park.
He made 36 appearances last term, and has featured in all 10 of their Championship games this term.