Plymouth Parkway Football Club is a football club based in Plymouth, Devon, England. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division South and play at Bolitho Park.
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| Full name | Plymouth Parkway Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Parkway | ||
| Founded | 1988 (as Ex-Air Flyers) | ||
| Ground | Bolitho Park, Plymouth | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 (250 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Mark Russell | ||
| Manager | Chris McPhee | ||
| League | Southern League Premier Division South | ||
| 2023–24 | Southern League Premier Division South, 18th of 22 | ||
| Website | https://www.ppfc.co.uk/ | ||
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History
editThe club was originally formed by Stuart Cadmore in 1988 when a group of players left the youth team Plymouth Kolts and joined the Plymouth & District League in Division 4. In that same year the club secured sponsorship from Exeter Airport, and as part of that deal they changed their name to Ex-Air Flyers. They were the first club in Plymouth to be sponsored from outside the city limits. The club colours of yellow and blue are from the colours of the airport logo and remain the same today.[1]
In their first season the club gained promotion and then moved the Parkway Sports Club. The club carried on to be promoted in successive seasons until it reached Division one and was waiting to join the Premier Division when the Devon League was formed in 1992.[2] The club decided to apply to become members of the Devon League instead as the Parkway Sports Club had sufficient facilities to join the league. The club was accepted into the league but the club had to change its name, so they became known as EAF Plymouth FC.[3]
Before the 1993–94 season the Sports Club offered a number of extra facilities and help to the club, so the club changed their name to Plymouth Parkway FC.[4] Five seasons later in 1998 the club left the Devon league to join the South Western League. On the eve of the 2000–01 season the club became homeless with the loss of the Parkway Sports Club due to a disagreement over the terms of the lease and subsequent maintenance costs. As a result, and with special permission from the league, the club spent that season having to play all of its games away from home. During their build up to the 2001/02 season the club announced they would be developing an area of Manadon as their new ground, to be known as Bolitho Park. While work was being completed, with controversial assistance from Plymouth City Council, they used The Brickfields athletics ground in Devonport, before they moved to their new and current home in August 2003.[1][4]
In the 2006–07 season the club entered the FA Vase for the first time, making it to the second qualifying round in their first attempt.[5] A season later the club became founding members of the South West Peninsula League, when the South Western Football League and the Devon County Football League merged.
In the summer of 2016, Parkway merged with Plymouth and West Devon Football League club Bar Sol Ona, whose team became the Parkway Reserves in the East Cornwall League. It is here where Parkway got the design for their previous FC Barcelona-esque away kit from.[6]
In 2018 the club gained promotion to the Western League and in 2021 was promoted to the Southern League.
Ground
editPlymouth Parkway play their games at Bolitho Park (Stadio Bolithio), St. Peters Road, Plymouth, PL5 3JG. The ground has floodlights, a clubhouse, and has a capacity of 3500 standing and two covered seating areas for around 250 people.
Current squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
edit- Pitching in Southern League Division One South:[5][8]
- Winners (1): 2021–22
- Les Phillips Cup
- Winners (1): 2018–19
- South West Peninsula League Premier Division:[5][9]
- Winners (1): 2013–14, 2017–18
- Runners-up (2): 2008–09, 2012–13
- Plymouth & District League Division 2:[10]
- Winners (1): 1990–91
- Throgmorton cup[11]
- Winners (1): 2010–11 2013–14
- Devon Premier Cup:
- Runners-up (3): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
- Plymouth & District League Division 3 Cup:
- Runners-up (1): 1989–90
- Plymouth & District League Division 4 Cup:
- Winners (1): 1988–89
- George Gillin Trophy:
- Winners (1): 2001–02
- Runners-up (2): 1997–98, 2002–03
- Stafford Williams Trophy:
- Runners-up (2): 2000–01, 2001–02
- Charity Bowl:
- Winners (1): 2014–15
- Edenvale Turf St Luke's Bowl:
- Winners (1): 2013–14, 2017–2018
- Super Bowl Winners (1): – 2012
Records
edit- Highest League Position:[5] 10th in Pitching in Southern League Premier League South 2022–23
- FA Cup best performance: Fourth Qualifying Round, 2024-25 (lost to Worthing)
- FA Trophy best performance: Fourth round, 2021–22 (lost to Spennymoor Town)
- FA Vase best performance:[5] Quarter-finals, 2019–20 (lost to Hebburn Town)
- Highest League attendance: 1,385 vs Truro City, 26th December 2022
Club officials and staff
edit| Position | Name(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman: | Mark Russell | |
| Vice-chairman: | Gez Baggott | |
| Club Secretary: | Genny Turner | |
| Manager: | Chris McPhee | |
| Assistant manager: | Lee Peacock | |
| Life Vice-presidents: | Jim Parsons, Colin Edwards, Gary Doel, Charlie Baggott, Stuart Cadmore, Vic Easterbrook, Alan Horswell & Mark Young | |
| Groundsmen: | Garry Turner | |
| Turnstile Manager: | Colin Edwards |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Plymouth Parkway an interesting history? Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine This is the West Country
- ^ EX-AIR FLYERS PLYMOUTH at the Football Club History Database
- ^ Plymouth Parkway History −23 Apr 2010 Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth Parkway FC
- ^ a b PARKWAY TONIGHT Posted on: Tue 14 Jul 2009 Archived 16 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth Argyle FC
- ^ a b c d e PLYMOUTH PARKWAY at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Plymouth Parkway FC | Home | the Official Website".
- ^ "1st Team Player Stats".
- ^ "League Table: Southern League Div One South – 2021/2022". southern-football-league.co.uk/. The Southern League. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League – Honours". Swpleague.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ PLYMOUTH & DISTRICT LEAGUE HONOURS Archived 11 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine Plymouth & West Devon Combination Football League
- ^ PREMIER DIVISION DIRECTORY 2012/13 SEASON Archived 31 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine South western peninsula football league
- ^ "Life Members".
External links
edit- Plymouth Parkway Official Website
- Plymouth Parkway at the Football Club History Database