I grew up in the Plymouth area and went to a few games with my Dad. My first game was against Preston, probably in about 1982? Around this time we stood on the Lyndhurst terraces and I was aware of what seemed like hundreds of people who stood to my left who seemed to spend the whole game goading the away fans (and even throwing umbrellas at them!)
When I started to become interested in football as a young boy, I was a Villa fan as they were doing really well in the early 80's. They played a friendly at Argyle and I was mesmerised watching my heroes like Gary Shaw and Mark Walters. I was even mascot for Villa at Argyle and met the likes of Nigel Spink.
We then moved to Cornwall and for a couple of seasons (1989/90?) my Dad and I travelled up to most home games
.
But Argyle were not yet 'in my blood'. This happened when I went to University in Salford. I went to Stockport v Argyle for my first away experience. This was a great way of maintaining my south west identity when surrounded by Mancs and Scousers. The match was a cracker. Argyle had Alan Nicholls sent off but still won 4-2. Richard Landon scored a couple, from memory.
I then got the bug and started following Argyle at away matches at places like Blackpool, Mansfield, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Chester etc.
I moved to London in 1996 and started to see Argyle at some new grounds, like Brentford, Barnet, Southend, Watford, Peterborough, Fulham, Luton etc.
After a few years in Bristol I returned to London and watched some great away games in the Halmosi/Paul Gallagher era at places like QPR, Watford, Crystal Palace, Charlton and the League Cup game at West Ham. That era was probably my favourite as we were on the up, had some exciting players and seemed to be a well run community club.
I remember low points being away at Huddersfield when (I think) Hodges was in charge and we just looked so weak against a side that had Andy Booth up front. Also, away at Southend when we had Lee Power up front and we were losing 3-0 and the away fans were calling for the final whistle to put us out of our misery.
I'm now back in Bristol and the Memorial Ground has probably become my most visited away ground.