Derby Days

FEBRUARY 21 is a date to put into the diaries as it will signal the 100th Devon Expressway Derby at St James’ Park.

The Devon sides will lock horns for the 99th time at Home Park on just the second game of the season, August 16, when Exeter City come to town.

The first fixture between the rivals was played over 100 years ago in a Southern League clash, which saw the Grecians beat Argyle 2-1.

It is the Pilgrims who have been the more successful of the two sides however, winning 40 of the 98 matches played.

Despite the slight upper hand the Greens hold over their biggest rivals, last season it was Exeter who held the bragging rights, recording their first double over the Pilgrims for 22 years.

After winning 3-1 at St James Park, despite a stunning free-kick from Plymouth born Luke Young, they travelled to Plymouth and overturned a 1-0 deficit at half time to win the match 2-1, in front of the largest Home Park crowd of the season. (13,442)

With other Devonshire rivals Torquay United dropping out of the league last season, the Green Army will only have two local derbies to pencil into their calendars but fixtures against the Grecians are always well anticipated.

The first of the Dockyard Derbies against Portsmouth takes place at Home Park on November 15 with the reverse fixture at Fratton Park on Easter Monday (April 6).

Last season saw the first league meetings between the two naval cities since 1992 and neither club could quite grasp the upper hand.

The first tie at Home Park saw the Greens take the lead through captain Conor Hourihane midway through the first half only for the Blues to pull level 18 minutes later through local lad Jed Wallace.

However, the more entertaining of the two matches last season saw a six goal thriller at Fratton Park on the last game of the season.

In front of over 18,000 fans Argyle came from behind three times to cancel out a Danny Hollands hat-trick, in the 3-3 draw.

All fixtures are subject to confirmation.