Ten Years of Pride, Passion and the Green Army
Ten years of displays, hundreds of flags, countless hours of hard work and memories that will last a lifetime.
As PAFC Displays celebrates its tenth birthday, it’s time to look back at where it all began, remember some of the special moments we’ve been part of, and thank the people who have helped make it all possible.
What started with a passion for creating displays at Home Park has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s been a journey full of hard work, friendships, unforgettable occasions and a shared love for Plymouth Argyle.
It all started with the tifos…
Following the break-up of Forza Verde, Steve Riggs and I continued organising smaller tifos at Home Park, this time as fans rather than as part of an official supporters’ group. From 2016, we carried on creating displays under the PAFC Displays name, building on our previous experience and doing our bit to bring colour and atmosphere to the Theatre of Greens.
Our first Surfer
In 2018, Jamie Yabsley, then Plymouth Argyle’s Communications and Marketing Manager, approached us about organising a “WE ARE ARGYLE” surfer.
That was a significant moment in the group’s journey, helping take things forward and setting the stage for bigger displays in the years that followed.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come. What started with smaller tifos and a shared passion for Argyle has grown into ten years of displays, friendships and unforgettable occasions.
A huge thank you to Jamie for approaching us with the surfer idea, and to Steve for being alongside me from the beginning. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together with so many fantastic people.
Wembley: spine-tingling memories
The Papa Johns Trophy final wasn’t the result we wanted, but the experience of being pitchside at Wembley, looking up at around 40,000 Janners, was something we’ll never forget.
Seeing that sea of green and white, hearing the noise and feeling the atmosphere was genuinely spine-tingling. All the hours of preparation were worth it when we saw the Green Army united on such a massive stage.
Football isn’t just about results. It’s about the memories, the people and the moments that stay with you forever. Wembley gave us one of those moments, and it was a privilege to play our part.
Honouring two Argyle legends
Some of our most emotional displays have been about far more than football. They’ve been about remembering people who will always have a special place in the heart of Plymouth Argyle.
The Paul Mariner display was a particularly poignant occasion. Paul was a true Argyle legend, and being able to help honour his memory through a display was an absolute privilege. The emotion surrounding the tribute was a powerful reminder of what he meant to the club and its supporters.
The display honouring Gordon “Sparksy” Sparks was equally emotional. Sparksy was such a familiar and much-loved voice in the Argyle family, and the affection supporters had for him was there for everyone to see.
Being able to contribute to tributes for these two men was an honour. Both will always have a special place at our club, and these displays remain among the most meaningful moments of our ten years.
They remind us that PAFC Displays is about much more than flags, banners and tifos. It’s about our club, our community and the people who make Argyle what it is.
Supporting our community and the next generation
One of the things we’ve been particularly proud of is helping make matchdays special for more than just those watching from the stands.
We’ve provided flags to support Argyle Community Trust matchday initiatives, helping bring colour and participation to activities involving young supporters and families.
We’ve also been delighted to support initiatives giving younger Pilgrims the opportunity to get involved in the matchday experience. Our junior flag-design competition invited young supporters to put forward their own designs, helping bring fresh ideas and creativity into the stands.
Another initiative we’ve been proud to support is the Guard of Honour, giving young supporters the opportunity to be involved in welcoming the players onto the pitch. Seeing the excitement on their faces and helping create memories they can take away from a matchday is what community football should be about.
These initiatives show that what we do can reach beyond the stands. It’s about involving the next generation, making supporters feel part of the club and creating special experiences for families across the Green Army.
A huge thank you to our people
None of this happens without the people behind the scenes, and we want to recognise those who have helped us along the way.
A special thank you to Andy Biggs and Chris Biggs, who have been involved from the very start, and to James Curnofor his fantastic designs for our players’ flags, the Janner flag and so many other digital projects. His creativity has helped shape the look of PAFC Displays over the years.
Thank you also to Sophie Humperson, Jack Handforth and Nigel Humpherson for their contributions and support.
And to everyone who has helped prepare our tifo displays, whether placing materials on seats, sorting plastic sheets, making banners, moving equipment or packing everything away afterwards: thank you. These jobs can mean hours of hard work, often out of sight, but without them our displays simply wouldn’t happen.
We’re equally grateful to everyone who has donated, supported our fundraising, shared ideas, offered practical help or encouraged us along the way. We can’t name everyone individually, but every contribution has mattered.
Thank you also to Plymouth Argyle Football Club and everyone who has worked with us over the years to help bring these ideas to life. Special mentions to staff, both past and present, go to Jamie Yabsley, James Greenacre, Matt Kimberley, Christian Kent, Ian Dryland, Dan Pippin, Emily Laverick, Chris Ralph, Sam Chown, Kevin Nancekivell and Paul Burne.
All these people have had an input into the success of PAFC Displays over the past 10 years, and we are so grateful for their contributions and support.
Want to get involved? We’d love to hear from you!
As we look towards the next ten years, we’re always keen to welcome new people into the team.
You don’t need previous experience or any special skills — just enthusiasm for Argyle and a willingness to lend a hand. Whether it’s helping prepare flags and banners, sorting materials, getting involved with tifo preparations or helping behind the scenes, every extra pair of hands makes a difference.
Some jobs take minutes, others take hours, but every contribution helps us create something special for the Green Army.
If you’ve ever watched a display and thought you’d like to be involved, get in touch with PAFC Displays through our website or social media. We’d love to hear from you and welcome more supporters into the team.
Ten years down. The next chapter starts now.
From those early tifos in 2016 to the surfer in 2018, Wembley, emotional tributes to Paul Mariner and Sparksy, and the opportunities we’ve helped create for younger supporters, it’s been an incredible journey.
On behalf of PAFC Displays, thank you to everyone who has been part of it. What we’ve achieved belongs to all the volunteers, supporters, designers and friends who have given their time and energy to make it happen.
Ten years ago, it started with a passion for doing something special for Argyle. Ten years later, that passion remains at the heart of everything we do.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of supporters. Every flag, banner, surfer and tifo has been funded by donations from people who wanted to play their part in bringing colour to the Theatre of Greens, and every contribution, no matter how small, has helped turn ideas into the displays that fill Home Park on matchdays. If you’d like to help us keep going for the next ten years, you can donate via the donate button at the top of this page, or by buying some of our merch — every penny goes straight back into creating something special for the Green Army. Thank you for helping make it all happen.
Happy 10th birthday to PAFC Displays, and thank you to the Green Army for being part of the journey.
Here’s to the next ten years, more unforgettable displays and many more memories together.
WE ARE ARGYLE! 💚
