# 2003–04 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season

The 2003/04 football season saw Plymouth Argyle regain a place in the second tier of English football for the first time in twelve seasons, Along the way to capturing the Division Two championship they accumulated 90 league points, 21 clean sheets and a club record of seven straight clean sheets whilst also losing arguably the most successful manager in recent history in Paul Sturrock to Southampton F.C.

## Players
### First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | FRA | Romain Larrieu |
| 2 | DF | IRL | David Worrell |
| 3 | MF | ENG | Lee Hodges |
| 4 | MF | FRA | David Friio |
| 5 | DF | IRL | Graham Coughlan |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Steve Adams |
| 7 | MF | ENG | David Norris |
| 8 | MF | CAN | Jason Bent |
| 9 | FW | IRL | Mickey Evans |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Ian Stonebridge |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Martin Phillips |
| 14 | DF | NIR | Tony Capaldi |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Paul Wotton (captain) |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Hasney Aljofree |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | FW | ENG | Nathan Lowndes |
| 19 | MF | SCO | Marino Keith |
| 21 | FW | SCO | Blair Sturrock |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Paul Connolly |
| 23 | GK | ENG | Luke McCormick |
| 24 | DF | WAL | Peter Gilbert |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Matt Villis |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Andrew Watkins |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Ryan Trudgian |
| 28 | DF | IRL | Wayne O'Sullivan |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Marcus Martin |
| 32 | FW | ENG | Stewart Yetton |
| 34 | DF | ENG | Ryan Dickson |
* ↑ Evans was born in Plymouth, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in October 1997.
* ↑ Capaldi was born in Porsgrunn, Norway, but also qualified to represent Scotland and Northern Ireland internationally through his father and grandmother respectively and represented Northern Ireland at U-18 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in March 2004.
* ↑ Gilbert was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally and represented Wales at U-21 level.
* ↑ O'Sullivan was born in Akrotiri, Cyprus, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented the Republic of Ireland at U-21 level.

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | DF | NIR | Brian McGlinchey (to Torquay United) |
| 20 | MF | ENG | David Beresford (to Tranmere Rovers) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | DF | COD | Eugène Kangulungu (released) |
| 31 | GK | FIN | Jani Viander (to Brentford) |

## Pre-season
### Matches

Last updated: 5 November 2014 Source:Greens on Screen

## Football League Second Division
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Plymouth Argyle (C, P) | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 85 | 41 | +44 | 90 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
| 2 | Queens Park Rangers (P) | 46 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 80 | 45 | +35 | 83 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
| 3 | Bristol City | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 58 | 37 | +21 | 82 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion (O, P) | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 64 | 43 | +21 | 77 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |
| 5 | Swindon Town | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 76 | 58 | +18 | 73 | Qualification for the Second Division play-offs |

### Matches

Last updated: 8 November 2014 Source:Soccerbase

## FA Cup
### Matches

Last updated: 9 November 2014 Source:Soccerbase

## League Cup
### Matches

Last updated: 9 November 2014 Source:Soccerbase

## Football League Trophy
### Matches

Last updated: 9 November 2014 Source:Soccerbase

## Notable events

* 22 October 2003: Plymouth Argyle defeat Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 at Hillsborough to go top of Division Two.
* 24 October 2003: Argyle receive performance of the week award for their 5–1 victory over Port Vale.
* 1 November 2003: Paul Sturrock named Division Two Manager of the Month for October.
* 6 November 2003: David Friio announced as Division Two player of the month for October.
* 23 December 2003: Paul Sturrock signs a four-and-a-half-year contract with Argyle.
* 26 December 2003: Paul Wotton scores Argyle's 5000th League goal in a 2–0 victory over AFC Bournemouth. Plymouth Argyle become the first League side to score 50 goals in that season.
* 2 January 2004: Paul Sturrock named Division Two Manager of the Month for December.
* 3 January 2004: David Friio scores the first hat-trick for Argyle since Paul McGregor in March 2000.
* 6 January 2004: Paul Sturrock named as winner of the second quarter of the League managers Association's Tissot Managers' Performance League.
* 17 January 2004: Billy Rafferty and Paul Mariner make a guest appearance at Home Park. Argyle played Rushden & Diamonds on that day and won 3–0.
* 5 February 2004: Graham Coughlan announced as Division Two player of the month for January.
* 19 February 2004: The club's first retail outlet in Plymouth city centre opens. The club also unveils next season's away kit – the first to be voted for by fans.
* 2 March 2004: Plymouth Argyle complete the second "double" over Sheffield Wednesday in their history, by beating them for a second time in the season. Argyle won the match 2–0.
* 3 March 2004: Paul Sturrock agrees personal terms to take over as Southampton manager.
* 4 March 2004: Sturrock is unveiled by Southampton as their new manager at a press conference.
* 17 March 2004: The club announces that next year's away kit will be white, instead of tangerine, due to supporter demands.
* 27 March 2004: One hundred former Argyle players returned to Home Park for the game against Wrexham.
* 31 March 2004: Tony Capaldi becomes the first Plymouth Argyle player to win a cap for a home nation since Dave Phillips (Wales) in 1984. Capaldi plays for Northern Ireland.
* 10 April 2004: It becomes mathematically certain that Plymouth Argyle will achieve promotion or a play-off place, following a 2–1 win over Wycombe Wanderers.
* 20 April 2004: Bobby Williamson is unveiled as the permanent successor to Paul Sturrock, following much speculation about the managerial vacancy.
* 24 April 2004: A 2–0 win over Queens Park Rangers hands Argyle both promotion and the Division Two title.
* 6 May 2004: Graham Coughlan is named as the Division Two player of the season.
* 8 May 2004: Mickey Evans is announced as the club's player of the season and Luke McCormick as the most promising player as decided by fans. Plymouth Argyle are presented with the Division Two trophy after their 2–0 win over Colchester United
* 17 May 2004: Paul Sturrock is named as the Division Two manager of the season for his efforts at Argyle.
* 21 May 2004: The club holds its centenary ball to celebrate the previous season. The Plymouth Argyle team of the century, decided by supporters, is announced.

## Transfers
### Out

| Date | Player | Transfer | To | Fee |
| 12 September 2003 | Brian McGlinchey | Three month loan | Torquay United | - |
| 24 September 2003 | Joe Broad | Sale | Torquay United | Free |
| 2 October 2003 | David Beresford | One month loan | Macclesfield Town | - |
| 4 November 2003 | David Beresford | Sale | Tranmere Rovers | Free |
| 9 January 2004 | Jani Viander | Sale | Brentford | Free |
| 13 January 2004 | Brian McGlinchey | Sale | Torquay United | Free |
| 1 June 2004 | Martin Phillips | Release | - | - |
| 1 June 2004 | Jason Bent | Release | - | - |
| 1 June 2004 | Eugene Kangulungu | Release | - | - |
| 1 June 2004 | Wayne O'Sullivan | Release | - | - |
| 6 July 2004 | Matthew Villis | Season loan | Torquay United | - |
| 30 July 2004 | Ian Stonebridge | Sale | Wycombe Wanderers | Free |