Plymouth Argyle Legends at Probus

[Chris Davey]

Plymouth Argyle Legends at Probus

On Sunday April 17th a team of Probus AFC Veterans will be hosting a team of Plymouth Argyle legends at St. Georges Playing Field, Probus, in a charity match to raise funds for ‘The Way Forward’.

The game will be kicking off at 2pm and there will be a raffle and refreshments at the pitch, as well as an auction to be held at Probus Comrades Club after the game.

The main game will be preceded by a local derby match between a Probus AFC XI and a Tregony FC XI, in memory of Phil Vickery.

The Plymouth Argyle Legends are a team of ex-Plymouth Argyle players whilst the Probus veterans are former players aged 35 years and over, some of whom haven’t played for several years – it should be an ‘interesting’ game!

The game will be raising money for ‘The Way Forward’, a charity set-up after the son of long-serving Probus player Steve Way contracted meningitis 18 months ago. Ben Way was struck down with meningococcal septicaemia just five days after returning from his first family holiday. He began to experience aching legs, sore throat and a headache, he was rushed into Treliske Hospital with suspected meningitis. Having suffered kidney failure and possible heart failure the only option was to put him into an induced coma to stabilise him before transferring him immediately to Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital. The diagnosis on arrival in Bristol was that Ben’s whole body was devastated by the septicaemia and it was most likely that he would need his legs from thigh down and his hands amputated. Ben remained in a coma for 10 days before being weaned off, on waking he remained in the children’s hospital before being transferred to Frenchay hospital, a day before his 4th birthday.

Ben, in true Cornish spirit, is a fighter and after a series of skin grafts and 8 toes removed he is back to school however he will need continual treatment for many years to come.

‘The WAY Forward’ is aiming to raise approximately £15k a year, its main aim is to help families local to Cornwall, raise awareness of meningitis and septicaemia, to plan support groups for them when they get home. We aim to fund equipment for local hospitals to help improve the services we can offer locally as the strain of being 3 hours from all family and friends is difficult for parents who need to stay strong for their children whilst going through these times. Last year saw 103 confirmed cases of meningitis and septicaemia from the South West region with 71 being aged between 0-18 yrs and unfortunately this is a devastating disease which, at the moment, some strains having no vaccine. A series of events have already been held locally thanks to fantastic support from the Probus village and the Way family, so far raising £3,900- needing only another £1,100 to get full charity status the game is on to hit that mark quickly to launch the charity in an event to be held in the spring.

Please come along and support this worthwhile cause on the day (Sunday 17th April) or if you can provide any raffle/auction prizes the please contact:

Mark Champion – Club Chairman on 07816578746 or

Chris Davey – 1st Team Manager on 07801210761

Any support that you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[Vinny Jones]

What a fantastic cause every footballer in Cornwall should be keen to give at least a couple of quid to show support for such a brave little lad,,, why not go see the game in person !!!!!

[Chris Davey]

This game is going ahead on Sunday with a 2pm kick off, preceded at 11am by a memorial match for Phil Vickery (former player) between Probus and Tregony XI’s.

The Argyle Legends squad that has been named is Gary Penhaligon, Darren Tallon, Kevin Nancekivell, Martin Barlow, Pete Foxwell, Darren Garner, Geoff Battams, Marcus Crocker, Mike Shilton, Mark Rowe, Chris Harrison, Mark Damerell, Ryan Cross, Spencer Cooper, Leigh Cooper, David Byrne, and Steve Davey.

Although I appreciate that the squad might change, we have also been told that Chris Hargreaves, Gordon Nesbitt, John Uzell and Danny O’Hagan are all likely to travel, but might not play.

Many thanks to Phil Lafferty (Lafs) of the Britannia Inn, Par, for his kind donation towards the day.

We are hoping the weather is kind and for a good turnout on the day for the Way Forward charity and your support will make a huge difference to local families devastated by Meningitis.

[Chris Davey]

The charity day went very well yesterday and we have now raised the required money to make ‘The Way Forward’ a registered charity. The monies are still coming in, but it looks as though we have made at least £1500 for the cause. Probus Football Club and the Way family would like to thank everyone for their support before and during the day.

In the morning Phil Vickery memorial match the game ended with Tregony running out 5-3 winners. The Tregony goals were scored by Ross Vickery (3) and Paul Biddick (2), whilst the Probus goal scorers were Dan Vincent, Andrew Pearce and Chris Shackley. Tregony were deservedly presented with the Phil Vickery Memorial trophy. Thanks to Kevin Bennett for refereeing the game.

This was followed by Probus Veterans against Plymouth Argyle Legends, where the Legends ran out 3-1 winners on a very warm day.

The Legends starting line-up was Gary Penhaligon, Gordon Nesbitt, Ryan Cross, Chris Harrison, Leigh Cooper, David Byrne, Darren Garner, Mark Rowe, Mark Dammerell, Danny O’Hagan and Tommy Tynan, with Spencer Cooper and Pete Foxwell as the substitutes. Steve Davey and John Uzzell also travelled, but both are currently injured.

The Probus starting XI was James Hosking, Jason Bullen, Pete Davey, Paul Miles, Ian Lloyd, Tony Penrose, Guy Wignall, Chris Davey, James Lobb, Steve Flack and Steve ‘Rusty’ Rowson. The substitutes were Ian Peters, Tony Paddock, Robbie Stephens, Darren Hooper, Ian Boyce, Phil Webster, Graham Bishop, Pete Hunt, Howard Stokes and Clive Jones.

Argyle took the lead through a Tommy Tynan penalty after about 10 minutes, after Jason Bullen had brought down an Argyle forward. Probus created a few chances and James Lobb played in Guy Wignall who was denied by an excellent save by Gary Penhaligon. James Hosking, in the Probus goal, also made a couple of good saves to keep the score at 1-0.

Plymouth passed the ball so well it was really hard for us to get the ball back and in the hot conditions our starting XI were glad that we had several substitutes!

Argyle scored their second when a cross by Darren Garner was nodded in at the far post by Tynan.

Most of the rolling subs for Probus were brought on before half time. We continued to create chances and James Lobb, Tony Paddock (twice), Ian Peters and Rusty Rowson (with a shot from the halfway line that Penhaligon pushed onto the post) all went close to reducing the deficit.

We were however handed what we thought was a lifeline just before half time when the referee Paul Roberts, awarded a penalty for a foul. As Pete Davey was nearest the ball and with no forthcoming volunteers to take the spot kick (with Rusty Rowson and James Lobb off the pitch at the time) he stepped forward to take the penalty. In what can only be described as probably the worst penalty ever scene, he scuffed his shot into the ground, bouncing at least 3 times before it passed Gary Penhaligon’s left hand post!!! At half time no-one was buying his excuse that the ball bobbled before he struck it!

The second half started in much the same way as the first with the Probus players chasing the ball all over the park, with Leigh Cooper, Mark Rowe and Darren Garner all knocking the ball around with ease and with their ability to pick out Danny O’Hagan up front each time we hard to work really hard to get the ball back. The third goal came when David Byrne crossed for the right for O’Hagan to volley in from 6 yards.

Probus continued to attack, but almost every time that we got near goal Gary Penhaligon would deny us. He was beaten however 10 minutes from time when Pete Davey (brought back on in an unaccustomed midfield role) was played through on the left hand side, before slotting the ball under Penhaligon, to in some way atone for his earlier embarrassment!

The final score was 3-1 and it was great to play against a team that kept the ball on the floor for virtually the whole game and played the game as it was meant to be played.

Many thanks to Paul Roberts the referee and his assistants Peter West and Calvin Matthews. Thanks also to all of the Plymouth Argyle Legends for giving up their time and for posing for photographs with Ben Way during the day and to everyone who donated raffle and auction prizes and all those that attended the day.

Thanks to all Probus Football Club members who worked really hard to make the day a success.

We achieved what we set out to do, which was to raise the funds to enable the Way family to make ‘The Way Forward’ a registered charity, which will in turn support the families of Meningitis sufferers in the local area.

Thanks to everyone.