Tag: Plymouth

How Kevin Hodges helped shape the history of Plymouth Argyle as his 40-year relationship with the club comes to an end

“A terrible performance, I remember thinking, how awful is this kid? I could never see him being good enough to start for Argyle, he was off-the-pace, weak and couldn’t pick a pass to save his life. Seeing what he went on to achieve, I have never been so happy to be so hideously wrong in all my life” 

The thoughts of lifelong Plymouth Argyle season ticket holder Ian Roper on Kevin Hodges’ first appearance were harsh but ultimately fair. Hodges seemed out of his depth when he lined up for the Pilgrims for the first time. Very few could have foreseen the vast impact the young winger would have on the club over the next 40 years.

Hodges’ journey to becoming an adopted Janner began when AFC Bournemouth disbanded their youth set-up in 1978, a 15-year-old Kevin Hodges was brought down the south-coast by his coach Bobby Howe to join Plymouth Argyle. 

Embed from Getty Images Kevin Hodges [right] tackling Kenny Swain [Left] during a Division 2 match on the 26th December 1986

Hodges made his debut against Bury that same year, but the young wide-player needed to transform into a man as his slight figure was too feeble for professional football. Hodges went away and worked on the physical side of his game and returned a year later stronger than the Janner accent.  

Hodges cemented his place in the Argyle starting XI that season; a position he would hold for the next 12 years. 

The biggest impact Hodges had during his playing days at Argyle was between 1984-86. Throughout this period Hodges was a mainstay in the side that got to the FA Cup Semi-final in 1984 and in Dave Smith’s promotion-winning side in the 1985-86 season. 

Hodges won Argyle’s player of the year during the promotion-winning campaign in a season that Roper believes is the best in the Pilgrims history. 

He said: “He was on another level that year, he made the game seem so simple. It was definitely the best individual season I’ve seen by an Argyle player.”

Hodges made his final of 620 appearances for Argyle against Stockport County in 1992 before leaving for Torquay United. The winger left Argyle after 15 years as their record-appearance holder scoring 87 goals, and as one of a select group to have two testimonial matches for a club. 

Hodges may have parted-ways with Argyle but just like Plymouth’s derelict Dance Academy Nightclub, he couldn’t be gotten rid of as in 1998 he returned as manager taking over from Mick Jones. 

The Argyle legend started well with what was an impossible job. However, with a paper-thin squad and a budget tighter than the squeeze of the Lyndhurst turnstiles he was sacked 18-months later.  

VIDEO: Highlights of one of Kevin Hodges best performances as Argyle manager, a 4-0 win against Torquay United

This signalled a period of separation between Argyle and Hodges until 2008 when he was appointed as a part-time coach for the club’s Football in the Community project. 

This is where the 59-year-old made his biggest impact on Plymouth’s community as he went around schools inspiring children to take part in football. 

This was the case with South-West Peninsular footballer Jack Biscoe who was coached by Hodges whilst attending Yealmpton Primary School in 2009. 

Biscoe said: “The way he worked was like nothing any of us had experienced before, he was so passionate and inciteful. As 9/10-year-olds we couldn’t help but be inspired by him.” 

He added: “His training methods were so personal, he knew each and every player personally and knew what we needed to do to improve. 

“From that group that he trained most of us are still playing football at some level. Whether that be locally at Elburton [Villa] like myself or professionally. I think that in itself shows how inspiring Hodges is not just as a coach but as a man.”

Hodges worked his way up the ladder at Argyle from community football to coaching the under 18’s to his final role as academy director. 

Whilst working his way through, Hodges inspired countless players and parents to take an active part in football whilst also developing quality players through Argyle’s academy such as Tyler Harvey of Truro, Jack Stephens of Southampton and his own son Harry Hodges.

However, Hodges’ finest achievement is how much he positively affected the community around him. Hodges entertained, taught and inspired during his 40 years at Argyle and is a household name across three generations that saw him play, manage and coach football. 

As much a part of Plymouth as Smeaton’s Tower or Pilgrim Pete, Hodges’ roots are so deep into the foundations of Home Park that his loss will send shockwaves through the community. 

Hodges is more than a footballing-icon in the south-west, the honorary Plymothian has been a part of everything good about Plymouth Argyle over the last 40-years. He has become a vital pillar of our community and with his departure all those involved in football in the south-west owe him a massive show of gratitude.   

Plymouth Table Tennis Star Gemma Kerr looks forward to Olympic challenge

“It never started as anything serious, just playing games whilst on holiday… I would never have seen myself where I am today. Back then I much preferred playing hockey.” She laughed

Sometimes the most important landmarks in a person’s life can go unnoticed until we look back and appreciate the small things that got us to where we are today. This has never been truer than with Britain’s next table tennis star Gemma Kerr. 

IMAGE: Kerr [right] accepting her trophy as she won gold at the National League Championships

Kerr currently trains with Paul Whiting at JOOLA Plymouth and is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in British table tennis. 

However, Kerr never had aspirations of playing table tennis but without even searching her family unearthed a gem in the south of France. With the hustle of a JOOLA training session in the background, Kerr reminisced over how her story began.

She smiled: “I started playing table tennis when I was about ten, but it was just when I went on holiday.

“They have tables everywhere so when I went to France and there was always a place to play table tennis so me and the family would just play. 

She added: “It was never anything serious but most of the time my brother would win as he was training with Paul [Whiting] at the time.” 

It wasn’t until Kerr’s family returned from the holiday that her brother’s coach Paul Whiting suggested that she come along for a few sessions. 

This was a major landmark in Kerr’s budding career as she had to make the choice between her beloved hockey or a new adventure into table tennis. 

She said: “One night Paul asked my mum if I wanted to hit a ball and maybe start up here [Joola Plymouth]. 

“After a few weeks, I realised that I was quite good but I had to decide whether to carry on or not.

“Hockey was on at the same time as table tennis as I would normally go there whilst my brother trained.”

IMAGE: Paul Whiting [Centre-left] and Gemma Kerr [Far-right] at the National Table Tennis Championships

Kerr continued: “I gave up table tennis for a few weeks, but after about a month Paul told my mum that I had to come back as I was too good to just give up.

“I’m so grateful that he convinced me as without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Whiting played a vital role in kickstarting Kerr’s career and after helping her to represent England and win numerous 4* tournaments such as the Chippenham Juniors, the duo’s attention has turned to representing Team GB.

Whiting said: “She has everything it takes to reach the very top of the sport, obviously as her coach I am a little bias but I would see no reason why she shouldn’t be on the plane to Japan in the summer.”

Video: Paul Whiting taking a training session at JOOLA Plymouth

Whiting has high expectations of Kerr and his drive and determination has helped push the Plymouth girl to all the success she has had so far.

However, Kerr thinks that next summer’s Olympics is not realistic and is instead setting her sights on tournaments further down the line. 

“Obviously it’s always been a dream since I started table tennis to play at the Olympics or at the Commonwealth games.

“Although, I think Tokyo might have come a little too soon.” She laughed. 

The speed of Kerr’s voice grew faster than one of her serves when she spoke of Olympic and Commonwealth games. The excitement she had for representing her country was clear.  

She rushed: “But definitely the next Commonwealths or even Paris in four years time would be the target, to represent Team GB at either of those would be a dream come true.”

TOP IMAGE: Olympic rings
BOTTOM IMAGE: Gemma Kerr playing at Durham City Table Tennis Club

However, despite shooting up the national table tennis rankings over the last 18-months, the 17-year-old knows she must keep her feet firmly on the ground if she wants to achieve her full potential.

The atmosphere in JOOLA’s changing room switched as Kerr spoke about how she keeps focused, highlighting the seriousness she places on her grounded attitude; a trait that has been ingrained into her by both her coach and family.

In a more serious and measured tone, she said: “My family and Paul are so important they make sure I get my school work done, they make sure I’m always training right and eating right. 

“Without their help, I would never have been able to achieve half as much as I have.”

A trip to France, a family game and a fantastic coach, the three ingredients that helped cook up Britain’s next table tennis prodigy. Kerr began her sporting journey unknowingly in the south of France whilst on holiday with her family.

An innocent game of “Ping Pong” turned into a lifestyle built around table tennis. At the time it may have seemed an unimportant side note in a standard family holiday. Nevertheless, it marks the start of Kerr’s rapid development that has seen her become Britain’s next Olympic star.