Thanks to Dave Rowntree for many of the player images after 1984.
Can you help? This page is the result of the best endeavours of all concerned. If you spot a mistake or know of facts to add, or have a better photo, please get in touch using 'Contact Us' (top, right).
NIALL CANAVAN
Full Name: Niall David Stephen Canavan
Born: 11 April 1991
Came from: Rochdale Went to: Bradford City
First game: 14 August 2018 Last game: 02 January 2021
Appearances: 92 (84/8) Goals: 5
Canavan became Argyle's second summer signing for the 2018-19 season, on the same day that Sonny Bradley announced on social media that he would be leaving the club.
Born in Leeds, the centre-back joined Scunthorpe United's youth system, where he made his under-19 team debut whilst only 14 years old. He played for the Iron's youth team for four seasons before taking the captain's armband as a second-year apprentice. During this time he also had a trial at Liverpool.
Canavan signed his first professional contract at Glanford Park in April 2009, and made his first-team debut that August, scoring his first goal just three days later. Near the end of the 2010-11 season he enjoyed a four-game loan at Shrewsbury Town, including a League Two Play-off semi-final against Torquay United at Plainmoor.
Although born in Leeds, Canavan was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad in March 2011 and went on to make seven appearances at that level between 2011 and 2012.
He went on to miss just one match in Scunthorpe's promotion-winning campaign of 2013–14 and signed a new two-year contract at the end of that season. In February 2016 he joined Rochdale on an emergency loan, playing eleven games and scoring once, and was then released by Scunthorpe at the end of the 2015-16 season, having played a total of 173 times and scoring an impressive 16 goals across seven seasons, encompassing the Championship and Leagues One and Two.
In May 2016 Canavan returned to Rochdale on a two-year deal, making a further 39 appearances and scoring twice before a knee injury in November 2017 resulted in surgery that ended his season.
He was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2017–18 season, allowing him to join Argyle in June 2018.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION
If you can add to this profile, perhaps with special memories, a favourite story or the results of your original research, please contribute here.
APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
I'm very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree, the PAFC Media Team and Colin Parsons for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
Greens on Screen is run as a service to fellow supporters, in all good faith, without commercial or private gain. I have no wish to abuse copyright regulations and apologise unreservedly if this occurs. If you own any of the material used on this site, and object to its inclusion, please get in touch using the 'Contact Us' button at the top of each page.