To get in touch, please write to contact@greensonscreen.co.uk

Greens on Screen’s first page was published in January 1999. Its early purpose was to bring Plymouth Argyle a little closer to those unable to see their team, and whilst it has changed a great deal over the years, its core themes - sites and sounds for Westcountry exiles - still stand. The site was very lucky to take on the content of Trevor Scallan’s Semper Viridis in the summer of 2007, and in 2009 launched GoS-DB, a wealth of facts and figures from PAFC’s history. A year later we embarked on a complete history of Argyle, with much-valued contributions from chapter authors.

Greens on Screen is an amateur website and proud of it. It is run by one person as a hobby, although Trev's help and support has been considerable and, since 2010, Andy Chapman's hard work and enthusiasm, especially his help with GoS-DB's pen-pictures, has given us a real boost. Then there's the match-day content, which would be much the poorer without the terrific contribution of a small band of photo-taking volunteers.

Greens on Screen is self-taught and as a result, a little bit quirky. Amongst a few stubborn principles, advertisements will never appear (and don’t get me started on the plague of betting promotions on other sites). It began its life before many others, including the club’s official site, when there was a large gap to be filled, and although there is now a wide variety to choose from, GoS’s sole aim, to be a service to fellow supporters, still seems to have a place.

Steve Dean

If you have any comments, criticism, bright ideas, spot any mistakes; even compliments, it's all very much appreciated.

Please write to us at feedback@greensonscreen.co.uk

Thanks!

Tuesday 23 May

PAHA and the future of GoS

You might have read about Plymouth Argyle Heritage Archive and its launch exhibition at Home Park this Saturday. Just a quick note to say that this could be the best way forward for Greens on Screen, if it turns out to suit both parties, but I can't stress enough that such a move would esentially mean ownership (paying the bills etc) and does NOT mean that GoS is therefore secure. PAHA is a volunteer-run body and it is still going to need some extraordinary help, day to day and year on year, to keep GoS going.

However, back to the present for a moment. There is now a link to the Argyle Archive's website in the External Links column, and don't forget their very interesting and free exhibition this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm in The Tribute Lounge (entrance opposite the club shop).

Click here for more details.

Sunday 14 May

Greens on Screen's Future

Just following up from my last post, which so far has resulted in a few general enquiries.

You'll probably appreciate that since I faced up to my inevitable 'retirement', the whole thing's been going around my head, pretty well full time. I understand what a big step it is for someone to come forward and make such a big commitment, which it why I've raised it two years ahead of stepping away. But I also know just how huge it is, which is why I'm wondering if there are alternatives.

At the moment, GoS is (A) one long-term fully-committed person running the show, and (B) a team of medium or even short-term helpers, who are nevertheless vital to the cause. I've no doubt that (B) will continue to be vital, and new helpers are always welcome. But perhaps (A) might need a rethink.

I had the advantage of building GoS and my own skills up over many years, but a successor will need to hit the ground running, even if there is two-year handover. In practice it'll probably be less than that - the clock is already ticking. So I wonder now if (A) needs to be two or three people, sharing the overall management so that it doesn't place too great a burden on one pair of shoulders. A management team if you like: Adams, Brewster and Wottsy, with the helpers the team, although even in that circumstance, I've a feeling that one will need to be in overall charge.

In terms of technology (mentioned by Rich), the deep stuff is not really important. In technology terms, GoS is hosted in a robust way, with all the web server and data base management looked after by the hosting company. If there is a doubt, it's whether the front-end code needs a revamp, and even converting to a different language and/or content platform to make it more future-proof, and I'm still mulling that one over.

But some technical skills will be essential, and if they're not there, they will have to be learned. That will include an appreciation of relational data bases and a decent knowledge of SQL, general coding skills and a willingness to learn specifics. On top of the technology is the ability to write well (actually more than that: someone with high standards in my view) and also to be able to manage day-to-day activities and the people involved.

And on top of all that, I can't stress enough the need to WANT to do this, and do it for the long term. For the two or three running the show, offering your help is very much appreciated but it really isn't enough. You have to have a burning desire, and you also have to imagine yourself doing it in 2025 or even later. There are no guarantees in life of course, but that's the sort of mindset that will make the considerable handover from me worth the effort (my great fear is that we put the work in, I step aside in 2019 and GoS dies in 2020).

Anyway, I'll be writing again next weekend.

Sunday 30 April

Greens on Screen's Future

Some of you will know that each end of season triggers thoughts from me about the future of Greens on Screen. The time has finally come when I need to make that firm decision, which I have now, and I want to share it because the consequences affect us all.

Greens on Screen was conceived on Boxing Day 1998, which means that in 20 months time it will be 20 years old. In that time, with the help of a handful of wonderful volunteers, we have published something like 100,000 match-day photos for approaching 1000 matches, and documented the details of every Plymouth Argyle match, player and manager since its formation in 1903. And that's not to mention so much more.

For me, GoS has been a labour of love, my pride and joy, responsibility, worry, monster; all those words apply, seemingly every day and increasingly so as the years have rolled on. But now that 20 is on the horizon, I have decided that the 2018-19 season will be my last at the GoS helm. Frankly, I am not going to live forever and I now need to enjoy the time ahead in a different way. You never know, I might even make an away game!

Not only will GoS reach the age of 20 in December 2018, but it will also cover its 1000th match that year: 20 of the professional club's 115 years; 1000 of its 5142 matches. To be nearing a fifth of every match played is quite a thought.

With the years moving on all too rapidly and the daily toils taking their toll, in two years time I shall walk away, albeit with a huge mix of emotions. What happens next is in the lap of the Green Army. In the worst case, GoS as a living history will be no more. I'll keep paying for it to exist on the internet, but its use as a accurate and complete reference will gradually erode, and there is a good chance that in a few years, advancing technology will cause parts to fail.

I am proud to say that the club fully supports and endorses Greens on Screen, but it remains an independent initiative and in one form or another, long may that last. But to keep the ship afloat and steaming full ahead, I need a successor and I need one now to allow for a necessarily long handover. Someone who loves the club, who wants a long-term hobby, who is not afraid of technology, who is not daunted by a very steep learning curve and who relishes a huge challenge. Could that be you?

Update:

I've been staggered by your generosity! In the first 24 hours my immediate target has been reached, so thank you so much. However, I'm going to keep the donations button available for people who would still like to make a gesture to GoS - if you see what I mean! That will also allow me to build up a fund that means I won't need to come back to you for a couple of years, and if there is then any excess, I promise that will go to the club, in one form or another.

Original message:

Ever since it's first appearance in 1999, Greens on Screen has been free to access, and I am determined to keep it that way. You probably realise that I've avoided any form of advertising, partly because I don't want any commercial association with the material, but mainly because adverts on web pages detract from the content - and they're so annoying!

But GoS is not free to produce or maintain, and without income from adverts, I've asked for donations in years gone by. There have been so many calls on your generosity in recent times, so I haven't asked for help for quite a while, but unfortunately the time has come when I need to rattle the GoS tin again.

So if this is a bad time for you, please ignore me. If you feel you can help, however small that might be, thank you so much.

And just a couple of things I should add:

If you make a donation, please understand that it is a voluntary gesture to help cover on-going costs. It implies no benefit on your part, or obligation on mine. For instance, if I decide to scale down (or even end) Greens on Screen at any time in the future, that's simply the way it is.

You should also be aware that 3.4% + 20p of your donation is paid to PayPal for the cost of the service.

Many thanks again!

Steve