Plymouth Parkway F.C.

Plymouth Parkway
Full name Plymouth Parkway Football Club
Nickname(s) The Parkway
Founded 1988
(as Ex-Air Flyers)
Ground Bolitho Park
Plymouth
Capacity 2500 (250 seated)
Manager Wayne Hillson
League South West Peninsula League
Premier Division
2013–14 South West Peninsula League
Premier Division, 1st

Plymouth Parkway Football Club is a football club based in Plymouth, Devon, England. As of the 2013–14 season, the club plays in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division. Parkway are the highest ranked club and best supported non-league club in Plymouth.

History

The club was originally formed 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 become 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. The club has remained in the premier division of the South West Peninsula League ever since.

Honours

Records

Ground

Plymouth Parkway play their games at Bolitho Park, St. Peters Road, Plymouth, PL5 3JG. The ground has floodlights, a path all the way round the pitch, covered seating for 50 and a further covered standing area for around 150 people.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK Ben Elphick
2 England DF Gavin Coulton
3 England DF Marc Bonney
4 England DF Michael Landricombe
5 England DF Will Stringer
6 England DF Paul Heveran
7 England MF Dan Hart
8 England MF Danny Lewis
9 England FW Adam Carter
10 England FW Levi Landricombe
No. Position Player
11 England FW Ryan Richards
12 England MF Lance Bailey
13 England GK Daniel Law (on loan from Tiverton Town)
14 England MF Steve Colwell
15 England MF Sam Hillson
16 England FW Paul Baker
17 England DF Luke Rundle
18 England MF Jamie Bass
22 England GK Jason Peters
23 England GK Dean Turner

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Plymouth Parkway an interesting history? This is the West Country
  2. EX-AIR FLYERS PLYMOUTH at the Football Club History Database
  3. Plymouth Parkway History −23 Apr 2010 Plymouth Parkway FC
  4. 4.0 4.1 PARKWAY TONIGHT Posted on: Tue 14 Jul 2009 Plymouth Argyle FC
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 PLYMOUTH PARKWAY at the Football Club History Database
  6. "Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League – Honours". Swpleague.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  7. PLYMOUTH & DISTRICT LEAGUE HONOURS Plymouth & West Devon Combination Football League
  8. PREMIER DIVISION DIRECTORY 2012/13 SEASON South western peninsula football league

External links

Coordinates: 50°24′28.25″N 4°08′50.48″W / 50.4078472°N 4.1473556°W