Randell Discusses His New Deal

Some players get nervous taking a pen. Oddly, Adam Randell got a little apprehensive with one in his hand on Monday afternoon.

Signing his name on the bottom of his new contract was probably not that daunting a prospect to him. More likely, the significance of the signature was dawning on Adam, as he committed the next three years of his career to his hometown club.

“I was really nervous signing it. I don’t know why,” the humble 22-year-old told Argyle TV, moments after putting pen to paper. “It’s the most nervous I've been signing a new contract, but I’m just buzzing to be here for another three years.”

One suspects the Green Army will be buzzing to an equal degree. In fact, a glance on social media following the Monday afternoon announcement serves to confirm that opinion.

Yes, the ‘one-of-our-own’ factor plays its part. We have always, as a club and a fanbase, taken that extra bit of pleasure from seeing someone be nurtured through our ranks, especially a Plymothian.

You have to be able to play, though, and boy can Randell play. He has made 81 appearances for Argyle, since making his debut in November 2018, and his is a textbook story of personal development.

A handful of games in the EFL Trophy; a coming-of-age season with Torquay United; then in 2021/22, he played an increasing amount of minutes as Argyle came close to the Sky Bet League One play-offs.

Last season, Adam played 33 league games as the Pilgrims won the division with 101 points, but to flip a saying from the game of golf which Randell partakes in too, sometimes it is not how many, it is how.

Before our eyes, Adam has become a midfielder who can take hold of a game, dictate the pace, pick out a killer pass, and smack in a crucial goal, like he did when equalising in the season-closer at Port Vale, as the Greens clinched the title with a 3-1 victory.

It was Adam’s fifth Argyle goal; all have come away from home, and this was the first time he had scored in a game in which the Pilgrims had won.

Scoring a goal at Home Park is one thing on his to-do list. He now has three years at least to tick off whatever remains, although doing so sooner rather than later would suit him.

“I'm still waiting for the home goal this year,” he said, “but I'm living the dream; I just want to keep it going as long as possible, really.

“It's just the sense of pride. Growing up, all I wanted to do was be a footballer for Argyle. I’m so proud to be playing for the team I grew up supporting. Now that I am, I can carry that on and just see where the journey takes me.

“I never thought it would get this far. I'm just very grateful for the opportunities I've been given and thankfully I've managed to take.

“I really think that I've reached a stage where I believe in myself more. I think that I can still improve a hell of a lot; I've got the capacity to get better. Hopefully, we can keep on climbing as a club as well.

“I wanted to establish myself; that was one of my main goals at the start of last year, to be a regular starter. I got to a point where I was doing that. I got frustrated with the injury that kept me out for a few games, but then I came back in and hopefully I can be an important piece of the puzzle again this year.”

The chance to do so is not that far away. The landmarks that herald the onset of the season are looming, starting with the release of Argyle’s Championship fixtures on Thursday, followed by pre-season training commencing the following week.

The usual reservation aside – that is: pre-season = running – Adam is looking forward to being back with his familiar team-mates, doing the thing we all first fall in love with: being on the grass, with a ball.

Beyond that, his first season in second-tier football beckons.

“It feels like ages since I've kicked a ball about really,” said Adam. “I'm looking forward to playing football. I'm not looking forward to the running, but I'm really looking forward to being back in with the lads and kicking the ball about, getting back into what I love.

“I'm looking forward to packed-out stadiums - mainly here, but also going to other big stadiums and having those experiences playing against other big teams, and carrying on the exciting journey that we've been on, especially over the last year.

“I can't wait. I feel like everyone around the club and the city's been buzzing - myself included - with how things are going.

“I just want to keep that going - and keep the good times coming."